Boone is a cute little mountain town in northwest north carolina!
Boone Tips:
You can definitely see this small town in a weekend! Fall is absolutely the best time to visit so you can leaf peep your heart out, but it is also the most crowded time to visit so keep that in mind!
Boone is also home to Appalachian State University so just be aware of things like Homecoming and football games that can lead to traffic.
Lost Province Brewing
Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:
Stay at Glamping Unplugged: I have stayed here twice and absolutely loved it! They have secluded domes on a peaceful river just 20 minutes from Boone!
Lost Province Brewing: A great brewery right downtown with delicious food options! I love their pizza and that they have a dog-friendly enclosed patio space. They have a rooftop seating area as well with a fun atmosphere.
Their second taproom, Lost Province Hardin Creek, is home to their production facility and a small taproom. Coyote Kitchen is also owned by Lost Province with their beers on tap and Southwest Caribbean Soul Food.
Stick Boy Kitchen: The best spot for breakfast in town! Get there early or order ahead online to avoid a wait.
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway: This gorgeous drive has numerous viewpoints, picnic areas, and trails to explore.
Rough Ridge via Tanawaha Trail: 5.5 miles long with 839ft of elevation and takes just under 3 hours. The Linn Cove Viaduct and Rough Ridge are both gorgeous but they are at the start and end of the trail, the rest of the time you’re just in the forest with no views.
Flat Top Mountain Trail: 5 miles with 593ft of elevation gain and takes just under 2 hours. It is only 13 minutes from downtown Boone. This trail is rated moderate but not bad at all, just a moderate incline the whole way up to a fire tower.
Bass Lake: There is a 1 mile flat loop trail around the lake or you can just stop for a good spot for a picnic or beer.
Skip: Green Knob Loop Trail which is 2 miles long with 528ft of elevation gain and takes just under an hour. There are no views aside from the pond at the trailhead (AllTrails address is incorrect, it is the next pull-off west of AllTrails). It is buggy and boring.
Hike at Elk Knob State Park: I did the Summit Trail that was a little over 4 miles—2 of which are straight up and 2 of which are straight down. There were great views throughout the trail and at both viewpoints. The trailhead is about 25 minutes north of Boone.
Booneshine Brewing: A solid brewery right on the edge of town with a full food menu and beer garden.
Glamping Unplugged
Other ideas:
Appalachian Mountain Brewery: Another brewery option located near ASU’s campus with a large tap list.
Local Lion: A cute coffee shop with baked goods selection as well!
Visit Blowing Rock! This is another cute mountain town just a few minutes from Boone. The picturesque downtown is full of restaurants and shops. Parking here can be awful as a forewarning.
Blowing Rock Brewing Company: A cute brewery in downtown Blowing Rock with a full food menu and outdoor seating. If the main taproom has a wait they have a back window for beer and snacks too.
Hike the Boone Fork Trail! This trail is less than 10 minutes from downtown Blowing Rock and right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It ended up being about 6.5 miles and there were a couple of ladders and steep stairs to keep in mind for dogs/kids.
