If you want to get to know a town, try getting stranded during a snowstorm. That’s how I fell for Boone, North Carolina. My husband had taken the family car to nearby Beech Mountain, and I, not content with sitting around in our hotel room, hailed an Uber ride downtown in a mud-crusted pickup truck. Sitting at Espresso News, a Boone staple in a former auto shop, I marveled as flurries morphed into fat, sticky flakes and realized my glittery slip-on sneakers weren’t going to cut it. After a quick stop at gear shop Footsloggers for my first ever hiking boots, I was set for an afternoon of munching, shopping, and coffee shop hopping. My husband came to my rescue a few hours later, and I left feeling smitten with the town.
For our winter getaway, my husband and I wanted very different things. A novice skier, he sought tame slopes. I was more into après-ski and lodge vibes. Boone gave us both what we wanted. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains just two hours north of Asheville, it offers a wealth of outdoor recreation year-round. It’s also a laid-back college town where local pride runs deep, found in its shops, breweries, and restaurants.
You don’t have to get stranded to love Boone. Here’s how to make the most of a trip there, regardless of the season.
Stay
Just a few minutes from downtown, Rhodes Motor Lodge occupies a 1950s motel where Appalachian-themed macramé and wood furnishings warm up the minimalist fifty-four rooms. The midcentury-modern lobby invites lounging with its curved sofa and freestanding fireplace, and at night, the bar becomes a local watering hole. With its well-stocked market and spacious rooms, Rhodes makes an easy landing pad for families and late-night snackers.
For a luxury boutique stay, the Horton Hotel charms with its 1920s architecture, rooftop bar, and mountain views. Details like exposed brick, live-edge wood furnishings, and locally crafted artwork give each of the fifteen rooms its own character. A reservation includes breakfast, but the best perk may be the hotel’s prime downtown location.
In nearby Blowing Rock, Chetola Resort and Westglow offer posh accommodations to those who seek spa services and a more secluded mountain setting.
Eat
Boone’s dining scene skews casual but focuses on seasonally driven dishes touting local producers and growers. Downtown, standout restaurants include Melanie’s Food Fantasy, where hearty breakfast fare—like the grits and greens with eggs—shine in a sunny dining room on King Street; Lost Province, a brewery that serves wood-fired pizza; and Wildwood Community Market, which satisfies at lunchtime with deli bites like garlicky-dill pasta salad and creamy mushroom soup.
Beyond downtown, diners queue up at the Cardinal for log cabin vibes, hearty burgers, and clever cocktails like the Mental Vacation (featuring gin, fino, pear, and coconut). Taqueria El Paso lacks frills but turns out tamales and sopes with house-made masa. For an upscale evening, Café Violette in Blowing Rock serves French-Mediterranean dishes in a floral-wallpapered dining room. And for sweets lovers, Appalachian Cookie Company bakes gooey, made-to-order treats in flavors like cookies and cream and frosted animal crackers, while the Local Lion serves doughnuts and house-roasted coffee into the evening. Other worthy stops include Stick Boy Bread Co. for tender cinnamon buns and galettes and Drip Coffee for a caffeine fix.
Play
The Blue Ridge Parkway, with all its scenic lookouts and offshoot hiking trails, runs through Boone, but be sure to check the road’s conditions before striking out, as weather and repairs from Hurricane Helene can lead to closures. For the skiers, Appalachian Ski Mountain is a quick fifteen-minute drive from downtown Boone, while Beech Mountain Resort is closer to an hour’s drive. About a half hour away, Hawksnest specializes in snow tubing for all ages.
In the warmer months, hikers set their sights on nearby Grandfather Mountain and Roan Mountain, but intown trails like the Boone Greenway, which follows the New River, or the Glen Burney trail in Blowing Rock are great for those who want something flatter. Fly fishing enthusiasts abound on the nearby rivers—High Country Guide Service and Due South Outfitters help equip anglers of any level.
If shopping is your idea of recreation, downtown Boone delivers. On King Street, Common Good Company carries an eclectic selection of home decor items, crafts made by local artists, and jewelry. An espresso bar hides in the back in case customers need a pick-me-up. Other popular retailers include Appalachian Antique Mall and Anna Banana’s, a beloved consignment boutique.
