Boone, NC is a gorgeous mountain town nestled within a picturesque valley. This is a place surrounded by outstanding outdoor activities as well as boasting its own unique downtown with cozy restaurants and exciting attractions. The following is a look at just ten outstanding things to do the next time you visit Boone, NC:
Top 10 Things to Do in Boone, NC
Tweetsie Railroad
Located just south of Boone, Tweetsie Railroad is one of the oldest attractions in the area. This themed park first opened on Independence Day in 1957 as an excusing train ride featuring a coal-fired steam locomotive. That locomotive is still in operation today, but is by no means the only attraction in the park. Today, Tweetsie Railroad features a variety of amusement rides, shows, food venues, and more.
Mystery Hill
Mystery Hill is an attraction based around North Carolina’s only known gravitational anomaly. Here, balls roll upward, and you can look up at someone whom you know is actually much shorter. The theme park also includes several fascinating museums as well as family-fun activities like ax throwing and riding a mechanical bull.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Photo Credit by @appalachianskimtn on Instagram
While maybe not the most inspiring name, Appalachian Ski Mountain is one of the most popular ski slopes in the greater Boone area. This local ski center prides itself on offering a variety of ranges to meet the needs of all skill levels. They also are equipped for more than just standard downhill skiing. Other activities here include snowboarding and even outdoor rink skating. The organizers at Appalachian Ski Mountain are so proud to have developed such a wonderful winter attraction that they invested in a massive snowmaking machine that has ensured their slopes are properly filled in every day of the season.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Moses H. Cone Park, more commonly called just Cone Park by the locals, is a 3,500-acre national park that includes two popular fishing lakes, over 25 miles of carriage trails, and a centerpiece mansion that was once home to the Cone family. The trails alone here make it an excellent stop for those looking for a shorter hike thanks to their relative flatness and being comprised of densely packed gravel. Make sure to check out the Bass Lake Trail during late spring to enjoy fantastic flowering.
Booneshine Brewing Company
Situated in East Boone, the Booneshine Brewing Company is a well-established food and beverage operation. And they certainly are quite the operation. This location features a full-service tasting room, fully-outfitted kitchen and restaurant, brewing space, outdoor beer garden, and even an onsite food truck if you can’t find what you want on their menu. A big part of the mission at Booneshine Brewing Company is connecting people, and they certainly deliver on that with an engaging atmosphere where even strangers feel like a community.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery
When Appalachian Mountain Brewery opened its doors in 2013, it did so as the very first brewing company and taproom located within Boone, NC. The very next year, they won several prestigious awards for their fresh-tasting IPAs and have continued to win awards over the last decade. Check out those award-winning brews as well as their beautiful location for yourself to see what all the fuss is about.
High Gravity Adventures Zip Line
Zip lines have become quite popular in recent years, but quite arguably among the best places to take part in this type of activity is in the mountains where you can really look out across the hills. High Gravity Adventures Zip Line is just the type of place that takes advantage of the altitudes. Guests of this park can enjoy soaring across the mountains and over a beautiful valley with zip lines and over 75 aerial challenges.
Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park
Did you bring your mountain bike to Boone, NC area with you? If so, then you should consider a visit to the beautiful Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park. Rocky Knob Mountain Park was built by Watauga County in collaboration with a local cycling non-profit. It is now considered the premier network of dedicated biking trails throughout this region. There are six specific trails that you can take, including the extended Boat Rock trail boasting several elevated wooden bridges and trails that will have you bounding around the many massive boulders that give the trail and others their names.
Hike Hebron Falls Trail
The Appalachian Mountains are full of beautiful waterfalls, some of which are easier to reach than others. Hebron Falls is one that will require a bit more effort than others. This Boone, NC trail is about five miles in total and includes traversing across a variety of terrains. The waterfall at the very end offers a perfect place to lay out a picnic and enjoy a relaxing break after the extended walk. Plan for the entirety of this hike to take about a half a day.
Hike The Cascades Trail (E.B. Jeffress Park)
If you’re not quite ready to dedicate an entire half-day to a hike, then consider instead the Cascades Trail within E.B. Jeffress Park. This hiking trail is a paved trail that is rated extremely easy and short, just a one-mile loop. The trail will take hikers along a crest and out to Falls Creek where its waters shoot out across the cliff. This trail is especially popular during the end of spring when nearby mountain laurels and flame azaleas ar in bloom, and during the autumn weeks when all the leaves change colors and offer another fascinating type of hiking experience. Make sure to bring your camera!
Learn More About What Boone NC Has to Offer
The above are certainly some of the most-visited attractions and locations that Boone, NC has to offer, but this list only skims the surface. Learn more about what this historic area has to offer its residents and guests like you by visiting our other pages.
