The North Carolina High Country (which includes popular towns like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and Boone) is home to an abundance of delicious eateries. Home to Appalachian State University, Boone is located approximately two hours north of Asheville. The hip mountain town offers an array of attractions for locals and visitors alike. There are all sorts of art … Read more
Located in the North Carolina High Country, Boone is a scenic college town with a surplus of art galleries, shopping, restaurants, hiking trails, Christmas Tree Farms, and beautiful overlooks. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right through Boone, which is close to small towns such as Blowing Rock, Seven Devils, Wilkesboro, Newland, Linville, and Banner Elk. This … Read more
The history of the Blue Ridge Mountains is riddled with Appalachian folklore, including the Mysterious Brown Mountain Lights of Morganton NC. They range from various age-old superstitions to mythical monsters such as Bigfoot, Mothman, and the Snallygaster, a half-bird, half-reptile chimera that reportedly terrorized 18th century German immigrants. One of the more famous Appalachian folktales … Read more
[Updated August 3, 2021] The Blue Ridge Mountain town of Boone NC is best-known for its Christmas tree farms and outdoor recreation opportunities, offering everything from mountain biking and rock climbing to whitewater rafting and snow skiing. The county seat of Watauga County has a population of around 20,000, which is pretty big for the Western … Read more
For me, the monolithic majesty of Grandfather Mountain preceded itself. On a few occasions in the past, my wife Emma and I visited friends who had a distant view of it from their mountain cabin. They were always thrilled to point the iconic summit out as a centerpiece of the High Country landscape. In a … Read more
[Updated August 12, 2021] A relatively new tourist attraction in the Western North Carolina mountains, Otter Falls isn’t anywhere near the biggest of the waterfalls in North Carolina’s High Country. The waterfall doesn’t have a huge volume of water running through per second, or an especially impressive drop. It doesn’t even require an epic hike … Read more
The short stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs from just east of Boone NC to just west of Blowing Rock is particularly packed with special sites and things to do. Over this 36-mile span, you’ll see the monolithic landmark of Grandfather Mountain, stunningly colorful mountain lakes, and jaw-dropping scenic vistas from the lofty NC High … Read more
There is no shortage of stunning state parks in the North Carolina mountains. We’ve been fortunate to visit a good number of them, staring up at wondrous waterfalls and conquering skyscraping climbs to mountain summits with panoramic views. Nevertheless, our trip to the oft-overlooked 4,400-acre Elk Knob State Park last week proved to be another unique … Read more
The Southern Appalachian Historical Association was formed to preserve the history and cultural heritage of Watauga County and the surrounding areas in the North Carolina mountains. It does this in a variety of ways– through theatrical performances, educational programs, and an excellent living history museum. Located in Boone, the seat of Watauga County, the Hickory … Read more