Known as the heart of the High Country, this vibrant and welcoming community draws travelers to experience the arts, outdoor adventures, and Appalachian culture all year round.
An Escape Through Time at Rhode’s Motor Lodge
A renewed love for mid-century style is seeing new generations of families return to make memories at places like Rhode’s Motor Lodge in Boone.
Welcome Winter Fun in Boone
From zipping down the slopes to finding precious gemstones and meeting folk artists, here are six ways to embrace the winter months in the Blue Ridge.
Wild at Heart
A High Country restaurant has made a name for itself by tapping into the wild side of fine dining. Inside the stone walls of The Gamekeeper, an avowed outdoorsman finds a connection to flavors past.
Peak Beauty at Arborcrest Gardens
Not far from downtown Boone, a lifelong gardener tends his 26 acres with the precision of a doctor and the vision of an artist.
Peanut Pit Stop
In Watauga County, a roadside shop named for the owner’s mother is the place to find Appalachian foods, hospitality, and peanuts — perfectly boiled and salted right on the front porch.
The Go-Getter
Since moving to the High Country in the early 1970s, one woman has proudly advocated for nearly every cause in her Watauga County town.
A Locals’ Guide to Downtown Boone
The spirit of the mountaineers who settled here echoes through the streets of this High Country town.
5 on the Flat-Top: Country Retreat Family Billiards
Locals gather at this unlikely Watauga County establishment to shoot pool — and to eat first-class chargrilled burgers known far and wide.
