Guidebook for Boone
Food Scene
Close to our home, this little local place is frequented mostly by folks in the area only. Go here if you want simple menu, home town prices, and good local conversation.
The Blue Ridge Diner
5176 Old US 421 SClose to our home, this little local place is frequented mostly by folks in the area only. Go here if you want simple menu, home town prices, and good local conversation.
A Boone area favorite for breakfast. It can get busy on weekends during tourist seasons so go a few minutes before 8am to get a seat. Great pancake specials.
31 locals recommend
Sunrise Grill
1675 NC-105A Boone area favorite for breakfast. It can get busy on weekends during tourist seasons so go a few minutes before 8am to get a seat. Great pancake specials.
Best restaurant for views in the area. Food is about average. Sometimes has live music on weekends, great lunch spot while touring around Blowing Rock.
11 locals recommend
Canyons Restaurant
8960 Valley BoulevardBest restaurant for views in the area. Food is about average. Sometimes has live music on weekends, great lunch spot while touring around Blowing Rock.
Popular spot for Breakfast and brunch, this little place is a good start to a morning walking around downtown Boone and ASU campus. Get here a few minutes before the hour to get a seat or your name on the list!
95 locals recommend
Melanie's
664 W King StPopular spot for Breakfast and brunch, this little place is a good start to a morning walking around downtown Boone and ASU campus. Get here a few minutes before the hour to get a seat or your name on the list!
Best local coffee and donuts. Don't go anywhere else for a morning snack and great cup of coffee. Best place in town to sip a cup o joe and check out the local scene.
58 locals recommend
Local Lion
791 Blowing Rock RdBest local coffee and donuts. Don't go anywhere else for a morning snack and great cup of coffee. Best place in town to sip a cup o joe and check out the local scene.
Connected to the actual bakery, this place has a sit down area for breakfast and that breakfast is tasty. Atmosphere is average, food is excellent.
55 locals recommend
Stick Boy Kitchen
211 Boone Heights DrConnected to the actual bakery, this place has a sit down area for breakfast and that breakfast is tasty. Atmosphere is average, food is excellent.
A favorite of our family, the service, atmosphere and food is above par at this bed and breakfast restaurant. Stop in anytime before or after exploring main street Blowing Rock
12 locals recommend
The New Public House & Hotel
239 Sunset DrA favorite of our family, the service, atmosphere and food is above par at this bed and breakfast restaurant. Stop in anytime before or after exploring main street Blowing Rock
Mixing urban flair with mountain class (CoBo is actually short for Colorado and Boone), this place has fantastic sushi and a little bar scene.
104 locals recommend
CoBo Sushi Bistro & Bar
161 Howard StMixing urban flair with mountain class (CoBo is actually short for Colorado and Boone), this place has fantastic sushi and a little bar scene.
Hard to beat this Valle Crucis resturant with typical mountain cuisine, excellent atmosphere and great service.
82 locals recommend
Over Yonder Restaurant and Fresh Market
3608 NC-194Hard to beat this Valle Crucis resturant with typical mountain cuisine, excellent atmosphere and great service.
Excellent bar and resturant with some of the best menu items in the high country. Great atmosphere.
136 locals recommend
Bistro Roca
143 Wonderland TrailExcellent bar and resturant with some of the best menu items in the high country. Great atmosphere.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great local bar with great beers and typical mountain bar scene.
141 locals recommend
The Appalachian Mountain Brewery
163 Boone Creek DrGreat local bar with great beers and typical mountain bar scene.
Classiest brewery in town, connected with Basils, a perfect lunch spot any day of the week.
137 locals recommend
Booneshine Brewing Company
465 Industrial Park DrClassiest brewery in town, connected with Basils, a perfect lunch spot any day of the week.
Pizza and beer are a great mix. A few steps off of King Street, this is a great place to tell stories of the days' bike rides.
131 locals recommend
Lost Province Brewing Co.
130 N Depot StPizza and beer are a great mix. A few steps off of King Street, this is a great place to tell stories of the days' bike rides.
Parks & Nature
Most rewarding views in shortest walk time in the High Country. Milepost 302.8 on Blue Ridge Parkway. Park and walk 1/3 miles up trail (few step ups, moderate difficulty) to enjoy spectacular views. Keep walking a mile and you get more of the same, with great photo ops. Out and back trail.
105 locals recommend
Rough Ridge Lookout - Grandfather Mountain, NC.
3218 Blue Ridge PkwyMost rewarding views in shortest walk time in the High Country. Milepost 302.8 on Blue Ridge Parkway. Park and walk 1/3 miles up trail (few step ups, moderate difficulty) to enjoy spectacular views. Keep walking a mile and you get more of the same, with great photo ops. Out and back trail.
Wooded, Easy walk or jog through woods and fields.
Milepost 294 on Blue Ridge Parkway. Explore the 25 miles of multi use trail and walk to Bass Lake or up to either Flat Top Mountain or Rich Mountain
138 locals recommend
Moses Cone Manor
Wooded, Easy walk or jog through woods and fields.
Milepost 294 on Blue Ridge Parkway. Explore the 25 miles of multi use trail and walk to Bass Lake or up to either Flat Top Mountain or Rich Mountain
Beautiful Woods hike, Exceptionally rewarding views up top.
9.5 miles north of Boone. About 20 min drive from our house.
A very well constructed 2 mile hike up 1,000 ft to 5,520 feet elevation with great views up top. Out and back trail.
94 locals recommend
Elk Knob State Park
5564 Meat Camp RdBeautiful Woods hike, Exceptionally rewarding views up top.
9.5 miles north of Boone. About 20 min drive from our house.
A very well constructed 2 mile hike up 1,000 ft to 5,520 feet elevation with great views up top. Out and back trail.
One of the Blue Ridge Parkways best and most visited overlooks.
Milepost 290.4. 3,795 elevation. A simple overlook that affords spectacular views from your car. Drive about 15 min from our home. Walk on the Mountains to Sea Trail right across the street if you like. Best place to catch a sunrise.
8 locals recommend
Thunder Hill Overlook
One of the Blue Ridge Parkways best and most visited overlooks.
Milepost 290.4. 3,795 elevation. A simple overlook that affords spectacular views from your car. Drive about 15 min from our home. Walk on the Mountains to Sea Trail right across the street if you like. Best place to catch a sunrise.
Flat, Easy, hike around this picturesque mountain lake.
Milepost 296.7
A 2.5 mile hike that offers views of the lake, Grandfather mountain, and classic mountain vegetation. Well marked and easy to follow. There are also canoe and kayak rentals here for $10-$15 an hour and makes for a great activity.
43 locals recommend
Price Lake
Flat, Easy, hike around this picturesque mountain lake.
Milepost 296.7
A 2.5 mile hike that offers views of the lake, Grandfather mountain, and classic mountain vegetation. Well marked and easy to follow. There are also canoe and kayak rentals here for $10-$15 an hour and makes for a great activity.
A 5 mile challenging hiking loop that starts and stops at Price Park at Milepost 297 on the Parkway. The loop takes you along creeks, up and down small hills, and through fields. Generally considered the best all arounder for a fun and challenging mountain hike
39 locals recommend
Boone Fork Trail
Boone Fork TrailA 5 mile challenging hiking loop that starts and stops at Price Park at Milepost 297 on the Parkway. The loop takes you along creeks, up and down small hills, and through fields. Generally considered the best all arounder for a fun and challenging mountain hike
Milepost 271.9 on Parkway. This short hike takes you to a nice waterfall. It’s only about 15 min drive from our home, north on the Parkway and good for kids. Bathrooms and nice little picnic area is at the trailhead. Enjoy!
39 locals recommend
Cascade Falls
Milepost 271.9 on Parkway. This short hike takes you to a nice waterfall. It’s only about 15 min drive from our home, north on the Parkway and good for kids. Bathrooms and nice little picnic area is at the trailhead. Enjoy!
Very fun to take a picnic and spend half a day up here. Beware the high cost of entry, but its worth it if you are visiting the area. Views are unparalleled.
716 locals recommend
Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock HwyVery fun to take a picnic and spend half a day up here. Beware the high cost of entry, but its worth it if you are visiting the area. Views are unparalleled.
Great walking and running around the lake. About one mile, flat smooth and just fun.
66 locals recommend
Bass Lake Trail
1 Bass Lake DrGreat walking and running around the lake. About one mile, flat smooth and just fun.
Shopping
Outlets are better than real stores. Outlets in the mountains is the best shopping .
109 locals recommend
Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock
278 Shoppes on the Parkway RdOutlets are better than real stores. Outlets in the mountains is the best shopping .
Essentials
Food Lion
3555 Tynecastle HwyJust 1.5 miles from our home.
Lowes Foods of Boone
267 New Market CentreSecond closest grocery store to our home.
Walmart Supercenter
200 Watauga Village DrBecause any guidebook should have Wal Mart mentioned.
Sightseeing
Offers the best view of Boone and surrounding areas. Easy access from parking. Closed during winter and evenings. Don't drive up in bad weather.
28 locals recommend
Howards Knob County Park
604 Howards Knob RdOffers the best view of Boone and surrounding areas. Easy access from parking. Closed during winter and evenings. Don't drive up in bad weather.
There's a town named after this point. Local don't go cause its too much money to go in.
95 locals recommend
The Blowing Rock
432 The Rock RdThere's a town named after this point. Local don't go cause its too much money to go in.
Drive this for at least 5 miles, any direction any entry point around Boone and the High Country. Beautiful, relaxing, quintessential mountain driving. Bring a picnic and pull off anywhere. Take your time. Enjoy
91 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
Drive this for at least 5 miles, any direction any entry point around Boone and the High Country. Beautiful, relaxing, quintessential mountain driving. Bring a picnic and pull off anywhere. Take your time. Enjoy