Anne’s Guide to the Boone Area and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Hiking
Historic trail leads to waterfall. Choose a 2.4 or 3.2 mile round trip. https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/glen-burney-trail/
24 locals recommend
Glen Burney Falls Trailhead
243 Laurel LnHistoric trail leads to waterfall. Choose a 2.4 or 3.2 mile round trip. https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/glen-burney-trail/
Largest falls along the Blue Ridge. Less than one hour from condo. Choose from a range of easy to moderate hikes.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/linville-falls/
436 locals recommend
Linville Falls
Largest falls along the Blue Ridge. Less than one hour from condo. Choose from a range of easy to moderate hikes.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/linville-falls/
Take a 1 mile or 2.4 mile hike to falls along the Blue Ridge.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/the-cascades/
39 locals recommend
Cascade Falls
Take a 1 mile or 2.4 mile hike to falls along the Blue Ridge.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/the-cascades/
One hour from the condo in Tennessee. Great views. Range of hikes from easy to strenuous. Follow part of the Appalachian Trail.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/roan-mountain-summer/
67 locals recommend
Roan Mountain
One hour from the condo in Tennessee. Great views. Range of hikes from easy to strenuous. Follow part of the Appalachian Trail.
https://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/roan-mountain-summer/
Beautiful hike to gorgeous waterfalls. Not far off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
155 locals recommend
Crabtree Falls
39000 Blue Ridge PkwyBeautiful hike to gorgeous waterfalls. Not far off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A 5.2 mile loop hike through laurel tunnels, open prairie and pine forests. You scramble over rocks, following the Boone Fork much of the way. Beautiful views of the cascading river.
39 locals recommend
Boone Fork Trail
Boone Fork TrailA 5.2 mile loop hike through laurel tunnels, open prairie and pine forests. You scramble over rocks, following the Boone Fork much of the way. Beautiful views of the cascading river.
This park has a fascinating history and has over 25 miles of carriage trails for hiking (or an easy stroll). A good break from some of the strenuous hikes in the area.
138 locals recommend
Moses Cone Manor
This park has a fascinating history and has over 25 miles of carriage trails for hiking (or an easy stroll). A good break from some of the strenuous hikes in the area.
Although you have to pay admission, this place is worth a visit, just for the hiking. The trails up to McCrae Peak and Calloway Peak (the tallest peak in the Blue Ridge) are strenuous but worth it. Paths to the peaks require climbs up ladders and along cables.
716 locals recommend
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock HwyAlthough you have to pay admission, this place is worth a visit, just for the hiking. The trails up to McCrae Peak and Calloway Peak (the tallest peak in the Blue Ridge) are strenuous but worth it. Paths to the peaks require climbs up ladders and along cables.
Easy hike (3 mile round trip) to 100 foot falls -- a series of cascades. In Pisgah National Forest, just 25 miles north of Asheville. A ways off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but a beautiful destination. You can to CrabTree Falls and Catawba in one drive from the condo.
37 locals recommend
Catawba Falls Trailhead
3074 Catawba River RdEasy hike (3 mile round trip) to 100 foot falls -- a series of cascades. In Pisgah National Forest, just 25 miles north of Asheville. A ways off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but a beautiful destination. You can to CrabTree Falls and Catawba in one drive from the condo.
This trail begins south of the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I would park at the Stack Rock Parking Area as the first 0.8 mile starting from Beacon Heights Parking Area is not as interesting. From Stack Rock it's less than a mile to where you actually walk under the Viaduct, which may not sound very nice, but it's really amazing. You can hike on from there as long as you like (up to 13 miles) but you can turn around anytime and hike back to the car. The path can be pretty rocky so wear good shoes.
Tanawha Trail
Tanawha TrailThis trail begins south of the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I would park at the Stack Rock Parking Area as the first 0.8 mile starting from Beacon Heights Parking Area is not as interesting. From Stack Rock it's less than a mile to where you actually walk under the Viaduct, which may not sound very nice, but it's really amazing. You can hike on from there as long as you like (up to 13 miles) but you can turn around anytime and hike back to the car. The path can be pretty rocky so wear good shoes.
Beautiful, well-maintained hiking trail to the top of Elk Knob with magnificent views. We were there on a clear day and could see mountains further away than those depicted on signs at the two viewing areas on top -- more than 60 miles!
94 locals recommend
Elk Knob State Park
5564 Meat Camp RdBeautiful, well-maintained hiking trail to the top of Elk Knob with magnificent views. We were there on a clear day and could see mountains further away than those depicted on signs at the two viewing areas on top -- more than 60 miles!
Sightseeing
Great hiking, Mile-High Swinging Bridge, nature museum, interpretive programs.
716 locals recommend
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock HwyGreat hiking, Mile-High Swinging Bridge, nature museum, interpretive programs.
Visit East King Street in Boone -- lots of shops, restaurants, happy places, including Mast General Store (practically historic).
285 locals recommend
Boone
Visit East King Street in Boone -- lots of shops, restaurants, happy places, including Mast General Store (practically historic).
Magnificent estate and home -- a perfect day trip from the condo. plan to spend the day there
1485 locals recommend
Biltmore
1 Lodge StMagnificent estate and home -- a perfect day trip from the condo. plan to spend the day there
Natural formation, great views. The only place snow falls upside down.
95 locals recommend
The Blowing Rock
432 The Rock RdNatural formation, great views. The only place snow falls upside down.
Food scene
Our Daily Bread
627 W King StGreat food, vegetarian and non-veg.
Fabulous breakfast -- try the Multigrain Pancakes and the Potato Madness (potatoes, veggies, eggs your style, and cheese, I did gist cheese and it was amazing).
95 locals recommend
Melanie's
664 W King StFabulous breakfast -- try the Multigrain Pancakes and the Potato Madness (potatoes, veggies, eggs your style, and cheese, I did gist cheese and it was amazing).
What a find! Excellent bread and pastries. Try the chocolate cherry sourdough bread for a real treat!
92 locals recommend
Stick Boy Bread Company
345 Hardin StWhat a find! Excellent bread and pastries. Try the chocolate cherry sourdough bread for a real treat!
Hole Lotta Doughnuts
494 W King StIf you love donuts, you have to come here. Creative flavors!
It's a little hard to find -- behind a climbing wall -- but excellent coffee and espresso drinks. Also beans by the pound. Nice pastries as well.
46 locals recommend
Espresso News
267 Howard StIt's a little hard to find -- behind a climbing wall -- but excellent coffee and espresso drinks. Also beans by the pound. Nice pastries as well.
Spa
Heavenly spa treatments -- massages, facials, traditional Ayurvedic treatments.
Shankara Ayurveda Spa
913 Rock Cliff RdHeavenly spa treatments -- massages, facials, traditional Ayurvedic treatments.
Theater
Horn in the West Drive
Horn in the West DriveHistorical theater production about Daniel Boone.
Films, concert, and theater at the university. See the appstate.edu website, under Events. Check out The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.
113 locals recommend
Appalachian State University
287 Rivers StFilms, concert, and theater at the university. See the appstate.edu website, under Events. Check out The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.
Sports
Holmes Convocation Center
111 Rivers StGreat college basketball.
Appalachian Ski Mtn
940 Ski Mountain RdSkiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
Sugar Mountain Resort, Inc
1009 Sugar Mountain DrSkiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
Outfitters for kayaking and tubing down the New River.
29 locals recommend
Wahoo's Adventures New River Outpost
3380 Big Hill RdOutfitters for kayaking and tubing down the New River.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
1007 S Beech Mountain PkwyLarge skiing area in Banner Elk.
Museums
Outdoor museum of log cabins with re-enactors (May through October).
18 locals recommend
Hickory Ridge Living History Museum
591 Horn in the W DrOutdoor museum of log cabins with re-enactors (May through October).
Turchin Center For the Visual Arts
423 W King StArt exhibits and workshops.