Boone
Around Boone
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Town and around · North Carolina · 54k people
Boone
Locals say High Country
High country air, mountain town heart.
Appalachian State goldAppalachian State black
Welcome to the High Country! Whether you're here for the mountain views or the small-town charm, you'll find plenty to love. Grab a coffee and a slice of apple pie, and let's chat about what makes this place special.
Clubs for Boone
No clubs for Boone yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Boone. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Boone. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic highway with overlooks and trails.
- Grandfather Mountain Mountain with the Mile High Swinging Bridge.
- Linville Gorge Wilderness area with dramatic cliffs and trails.
- Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Estate with carriage roads and a crafts center.
- Tweetsie Railroad Theme park with a historic steam locomotive.
- Appalachian State University University campus with the Mountaineers football stadium.
- Outdoors Hiking the Appalachian Trail
- Outdoors Skiing and snowboarding
- With kids Tweetsie Railroad
- With kids Gem mining
- Evenings Brewery hopping
- Evenings Live music
- Locals love Ski resorts
- Locals love Hiking trails
Through the year
- An Appalachian Summer Festival Summer Performing arts series at App State, July–August.
- Boone July 4th Celebration July Fireworks, parade, and music in downtown Boone.
- High Country Beer Fest Fall Craft beer tasting with local breweries and food trucks.
- App State Football Games Fall Mountaineers home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
- Blowing Rock Winterfest Winter Winter activities, ice carving, and holiday lights.
Mountain climate with four distinct seasons; summers are mild, winters are snowy, and fall is spectacular. Best: Fall is the best time to be out, with crisp air and brilliant colors.
Talk like a local
- “Leafers”
- Tourists who come for fall foliage.
- “Flatlanders”
- People from lower elevations.
- “High Country”
- The region's nickname.
- “Mountaineers”
- App State students and fans.
Getaways
- North Wilkesboro MerleFest music festival and NASCAR racing.
- Johnson City College town with the ETSU campus and Bristol nearby.
- Hickory Furniture museums and the Hickory Motor Speedway.
- Marion Lake James for boating and hiking at Linville Gorge.
Local flavour
Teams
- Appalachian State Mountaineers NCAA Division I
- Appalachian State Mountaineers NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Mountain trout Fresh from local rivers, often served at farm-to-table restaurants
- Sorghum A sweetener made from local cane, used on biscuits and in baking
- Apple cider donuts A fall favourite from local orchards like those in the High Country
- Country ham Salt-cured ham common in Appalachian cooking
Where people go
- Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic highway winding through the mountains, a local landmark
- Ski resorts Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Beech Mountain are nearby
- Mountain cabins Rustic rentals and year-round homes tucked into the hills
- Apple orchards U-pick farms and farm stands in the fall
- Craft breweries A growing local scene with mountain-themed taprooms
Heritage and traditions
The High Country is proud of its deep Appalachian roots, from bluegrass music and mountain crafts to the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the spirit of Daniel Boone.
This time of year in Boone
- Apple butter stirs Fall Communities gather to make apple butter in the fall.
- Valle Country Fair October A traditional mountain fair in Valle Crucis with crafts, food, and music.
- Hickory Ridge Harvest Festival October A living history event with colonial crafts and demonstrations at the Horn in the West site.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July A Scottish heritage festival with athletics, music, and dancing held at Grandfather Mountain.
- Valle Country Fair October A traditional mountain fair in Valle Crucis with crafts, food, and music.
- Hickory Ridge Harvest Festival October A living history event with colonial crafts and demonstrations at the Horn in the West site.
- Blowing Rock Art & Craft Festival July Showcases local and regional artists and craftspeople.
- Todd Festival August A small-town celebration in Todd with music, food, and community spirit.
Landmarks with a story
- Mast General Store A working general store in Valle Crucis since 1883, now a landmark.
- Horn in the West An outdoor drama about Daniel Boone and the frontier, performed since 1952.
- Hickory Ridge Living History Museum A collection of log cabins and interpreters demonstrating 18th-century mountain life.
- The Blowing Rock A natural rock formation with a legend of a Cherokee maiden and a brave warrior.
- The Jones House A historic home in Boone that hosts community music events and jam sessions.
- Appalachian Cultural Museum On the Appalachian State campus, showcasing regional history and culture.
Food traditions
- Cornbread and pinto beans A staple mountain meal, often cooked with ham hock and served with chow-chow.
- Ramps Wild leeks foraged in the spring, celebrated with ramp dinners and festivals.
- Apple butter making Community stirs in the fall, simmering apples with cider and spices for hours.
- Biscuits and sausage gravy A hearty breakfast tradition, often served with country ham.
- Chow-chow A tangy relish made from green tomatoes, cabbage, and peppers, served with beans and meats.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and old-time music The High Country is a hub for traditional Appalachian music, with jam sessions and festivals.
- Mountain dulcimer A traditional stringed instrument often crafted and played in the region.
- Outdoor drama The Horn in the West is a long-running theatrical production about mountain history.
- Mountain crafts Weaving, pottery, and woodworking are practiced and sold at local fairs.
A little history
- 1760s Daniel Boone explored the area that now bears his name.
- 1872 The town of Boone was incorporated.
- 1899 Watauga Academy, the forerunner of Appalachian State University, was founded.
- 1935 Construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began, connecting the High Country to the national park system.
- 1952 The outdoor drama 'Horn in the West' premiered, celebrating the frontier spirit.
Rivalries
- App State vs. Western Carolina In-state FCS rivalry.
- App State vs. Georgia Southern Sun Belt conference clash.
- Boone vs. Blowing Rock Friendly competition over the best mountain town.
- Game day App State football tailgating
- Game day Yosef the Mountaineer
- Outdoors Hiking the Appalachian Trail
- Outdoors Skiing and snowboarding
- With kids Tweetsie Railroad
- With kids Gem mining
The High Country dialect is a blend of Scots-Irish and Appalachian English, with a slow, friendly drawl and distinctive mountain vocabulary. Locals often say 'y'all' and use terms like 'holler' for a valley and 'crick' for a creek.
Only here
- Boone is the highest elevation town of its size east of the Mississippi River.
- The Horn in the West is one of the longest-running outdoor dramas in the United States.
- The Mast General Store has been in continuous operation since 1883.
- The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are the largest Scottish games in the Southeast.
New here? A few tips
- Bring layers; the weather changes quickly, especially in the mountains.
- The altitude can make you short of breath; take it easy the first few days.
- Learn to love the mountains: hiking, skiing, and scenic drives are part of daily life.
- Try the local food: country ham, biscuits, and apple cider donuts are musts.
- Be prepared for snow in winter; roads can be icy, and four-wheel drive helps.
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Nearby
Every areaMountain CityTennesseeHigh country charm and mountain air.North WilkesboroNorth CarolinaWhere the Blue Ridge meets the backroadsBurnsvilleNorth CarolinaMisty peaks, quiet hollows, and mountain time.High CountryNorth CarolinaHigh in the Blue Ridge, where the New River runs clear.HickoryNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the furniture craft.Johnson CityTennesseeMountain charm, Appalachian spiritMarionNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the riverKingsport–BristolTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the music, and the race never stops.
Boone, NC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.