Elisha Brown and her husband were App State college students when they first started working at Boone Bagelry. The relaxed, diner-style restaurant was a Boone mainstay that drew them in. In 2023, almost 20 years later, they bought the place. From her post behind the counter, Brown helps her customers make the important decision of which bagel will start their day — and what they’ll do after they polish it off.
“We have a great mix of college students, locals, and tourists,” she says. “After their breakfast, people will ask my advice for how they should spend the rest of their day.”
Boone, NC delights visitors year-round with breathtaking vistas, endless outdoor adventure, and the town’s thriving arts, culture, shopping, and culinary scenes.
As fall’s chill gives way to wintery days, Brown relishes the chance to make suggestions. “Here, we have a real, true winter. Even after all these years, I still think there’s something magical about snow,” she says. “I like being able to bundle up and go outside, then come back in to get all warm and cozy.”
Brown says that even on the coldest and snowiest of days, it’s “business as usual” for Boone’s small-business owners. “We really have a lot available, even in cold weather. There’s so much to do up here, whether you’re inside or outside.” So, lace up your boots and button your coat — and turn to these activities to keep you cozy.
Take in the snowy surroundings as you relax in Beech Mountain’s European-inspired Alpine Village. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
The only skill required for successful snow tubing: Embrace your inner Flintstone. Lenny Cottom, co-owner of Hawksnest Snow Tubing, loves the variety that tubing lends to traditional winter recreation. “It’s something everybody can do together, including grandparents and grandkids,” he says. “As long as you can put your feet down and drag them a little, like you’re Fred Flintstone, you’ll love it.”
Hawksnest, one of the country’s largest snow tubing operations, features three conveyor lifts that give tubers a ride back to the top of the mountain, plus four unique parks with various run lengths for tubing.
“I always send the big families out to Hawksnest,” Brown says. “Even when conditions aren’t perfect for skiing, snow tubing is good!”
The Powder Bowl at Beech Mountain is designed for beginner to advanced skiers and snowboarders. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
Since it began in the 1960s, the French-Swiss Ski College instructors at Appalachian Ski Mountain have ushered more than one million beginner ski and snowboarders through their first trips down the slopes. Beginner students are placed in small groups of six or fewer, all of whom are at similar skill levels. As a result, people leave their lessons feeling confident and ready to navigate the snow.
“If you’re a beginner skier, App is the place for you to go,” Cottom says. “If you’re an enthusiast, go to Sugar Mountain.”
Sugar Mountain Resort, about a 30-minute drive southwest of Boone, is an easy day trip. With the largest vertical drop in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, 125 acres of ski terrain, and 21 slopes, there’s plenty to keep you challenged. When you’re ready for a break, grab a seat at the Last Run Lounge Restaurant & Bar, which gives you a view of the slopes while you warm up by the fireplace.
About 45 minutes west of Boone, Beech Mountain offers skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, and sledding. Snowboarders can choose from two terrain parks. Novice snowboarders head to The Meadows, while The Powder Bowl’s half pipes, grind rails, and jumps appeal to more adventurous, advanced boarders.
“The show-stopper here is the view,” Brown says. “You drive up through the ski chalet Alpine Village, and it really sets the tone. Inside, they do a great job of making it feel warm and cozy, and around the holidays, it’s a great festive environment.”
Brown and Cottom appreciate the unique flavor each destination lends to Boone’s winter recreation scene. “I learned to ski at Beech Mountain, and it has great terrain. Beech is a little different from Sugar and a little different from App. It’s nice to hit them all so you get the variety,” Cottom says. “Most people don’t want to ski every day; they want to try different things. Around here, we complement each other.”
Fuel up after a successful day on the slopes with a pizza and pint. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
When the mountain chill sets in, cozy fireside spots make it enjoyable to remain outdoors. Photography courtesy of Explore Boone
On the first Friday of every month (from February through December), downtown Boone embraces folks who gather for an art crawl and community celebration. But in December, King Street’s lights shine brighter for Festive First Friday.
“Everyone tries to do something special,” Brown says. Boone Bagelry provides a hot chocolate bar, while Santa Claus takes his post at the Mast General Store. Over at the post office, Mrs. Claus opens a letter-writing workshop for children who want to be extra sure their wishes are received. It’s all capped off with a tree lighting at the historic hilltop Jones House Cultural Center, where the Appalachian State Sustainable Energy Society illuminates the town centerpiece: a solar-lit tree.
Western North Carolina is rich in heritage art, and you can shop for handcrafted pieces and meet the craftspeople as you journey along the Blue Ridge Craft Trail. This self-guided route can be broken up over three days if you want to visit each of the 10 galleries between Boone, Blowing Rock, Cove Creek, and Cove Creek. Start with exhibits of paintings and photography at Mazie Jones Gallery in the Jones House Cultural Center. Next, stroll over to Hands Gallery, which makes aesthetic and functional pottery. In addition to works by regional crafters, you can check out talented national and international artists at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
Follow the trail to the nearby Blowing Rock Art & History Museum or Capozzoli Guitar Company if you want to see luthier Chris Capozzoli working in his studio. Back in Boone you can conclude your cultural excursion with a show at the 1938 The Appalachian Theatre.
Pan for treasures in the gem mining locations around Boone. photograph by Florida Chuck/iStock/Getty Images Plus
There’s a reason why amateur and professional geologists refer to the Blue Ridge Mountains as the “Blue Ridge belt.” The ancient mountains are home to gold and gemstones ranging from emeralds and rubies to sapphires and topaz. They’re yours for the taking — if you can find them, that is — at gem mining stops around Boone.
In the mine’s ore buckets at Doc’s Rocks, it’s not uncommon to find rose quartz or even rubies, sapphires, and garnets. The experts on site will fill you in on the treasures you find and if any of your gems are eligible for “cutting,” or transforming into jewelry.
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine has two locations, their Boone headquarters on U.S. Highway 321 and an outpost on U.S. Highway 105. At both, you can take your pick of five different-sized buckets of rough ore and sift through until you find a gem. Owner Nik Vames, who took over the business from his mother, Dana Morace, guarantees a gemstone in each bucket of ore.
Ready to experience the mountains in their frosty season? Whether you want to wander through a picturesque mountain town or send your adrenaline soaring on the slopes, click here to start planning your winter trip to Boone and its nearby communities.
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