Boone, NC delights visitors with breathtaking vistas, endless outdoor adventure, and the town’s thriving arts, culture, shopping, and culinary scenes.
Need a quick getaway? Boone, N.C., a scenic two-hour drive from Charlotte, is a great option for a short trip. Head up to Boone during the week for a crowd-free trip and explore these 7 fun things to do in the mountain city:
Explore new exhibitions at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
10 minutes from Boone’s city center, in Blowing Rock, is the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. The museum serves as a community cultural center with a focus on engagement, enrichment and education for all who visit. BRAHM’s goal is to connect people to the history and heritage of the Southern Appalachian region and enrich their appreciation of the region. The museum is open 11am – 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 11am – 4pm on Sundays.
Cost: FREE
Have a fantasy-filled breakfast
Melanie’s Food Fantasy, in Boone since 1991, is a popular breakfast staple on King Street. Melanie’s prides itself on offering organic and locally-grown produce as often as possible. The eclectic menu has something for just about every palette, like its Western Omelet, Avocado Eggs Benedict, Patty Melt, Chicken Philly, or classic Waffles. The restaurant also offers fresh-squeezed fruit juice, farm-raised eggs, and housemade apple butter. Melanie’s Food Fantasy is open 8am – 2pm daily.
Cost: Varies, most meals around $15
Purchase some local honey (and other souvenirs)
Locally-made honey with special infusions is a great souvenir option for a trip to Boone. Inside High Country Souvenirs on King Street, shoppers can find locally-crafted gifts like Lavender or Ginger-infused Honey from Blue Ridge Apiaries, t-shirts, hiking gear, Appalachian State apparel, and more. The souvenir shop even offers free popcorn and candy as a shopping incentive.
Cost: Varies by item, Lavender Honey $8.99
Totally Unwind through Halotherapy
Radiant Well-Being is the area’s only spa that offers Halotherapy, a 45-minute relaxing treatment that involves time in the spa’s salt room. The specially designed floor of the room is made entirely of 7,000 pounds of pink Himalayan salt. Visitors can expect to feel totally relaxed during Halotherapy. Absent from their phones inside the salt room and nestled into the spa’s zero-gravity chairs, visitors often meditate, sleep, or simply be during treatment sessions.
The technique utilizes special equipment to pump micro-ground salt into the air of the room, prompting both internal and external benefits, like skin softening and detoxifying, according to Radiant Well-Being’s owner, Megan. Radiant Well-Being also offers traditional massage services in addition to Halotherapy sessions.
Cost: $35 for one 45 minute session
Hike through beautiful trails
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a more casual novice, Boone has the right trail for your next hiking adventure. Full of many popular trails, Boone is also home to a piece of the one of the most popular trails in the country, the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail sees more than a million visitors each year and is a great place to check off your hiking bucket list. Well-known for its many breath-taking views and picturesque overlooks, the Boone region of the Blue Ridge Parkway boasts 50 trails and options for everyone from first-time hikers to professionals.
Cost: FREE
Grab takeout at a local favorite
Come Back Shack, one of Boone’s most popular eateries, is a casual grab-and-go (or grab-and-sit) restaurant that’s well-known for its burgers, shakes, and fries. The no-fuss restaurant offers ordering through a kiosk and a laid-back environment. With nearly limitless menu options to build a burger, fresh-cut fries, and milkshakes with seasonal flavors like this season’s blueberry shake, Come Back Shack is an essential takeout dinner option in Boone. Visitors can expect a casual set up with booth-lined walls inside as well as tables on the outdoor patio, a view into the kitchen, and self-serve wall of sauces for their condiment needs.
Cost: Varies by item, most entrees around $11
Find a few vintage hits
From Jamaican du-wop to modern Jazz and everything in-between, if it’s on vinyl, there’s a chance it can be found at 6 41Rpm, an independent record shop in Boone. The music shop specializes in vinyl records and has an ever-changing inventory of classics, independent, and modern releases. While no specific album is guaranteed, rummaging through the selection at 6 41Rpm is part of the shop’s allure.
Cost: Varies
Bonus: Stay over with a view
Boone has lots of great places to stay, check out a full list here. One in particular is the newly renovated Courtyard By Marriott Boone, located less than a mile from Appalachian State and the heart of downtown. Nestled among nice views of the city and the mountains, this hotel is a prime option for an overnight stay. The hotel offers a sleek lobby with ample seating, a full service bar, and casual on-site dining for breakfast and dinner. Visitors can expect lots of places to gather and engage at this hotel, a welcoming staff, and great views. The Courtyard’s spacious rooms boast nice views of the mountain scenery while the hotel’s outdoor fire pit adds a warm, quaint feel to the hotel’s social areas.
Cost: Varies by season
