Up in the High Country of western North Carolina, Boone sits at over 3,300 feet, which means summers stay cool, falls turn into a full-blown color show, and winters bring enough snow to make it one of the South's unlikely ski destinations. It's mountain living with a college town heartbeat, thanks to Appalachian State University anchoring the whole place.
Boone was founded in 1872 and named for Daniel Boone, who scouted and hunted through these mountains in the 1760s long before a town was ever here. It stayed a small trading outpost for decades until Appalachian State, founded in 1899 as a teacher's college, grew it into the mountain college town it is today.
Boone has that rare mix of outdoor access and small-town energy. You can hike the Blue Ridge Parkway, climb Grandfather Mountain's Mile High Swinging Bridge, or just wander King Street downtown, with its local shops, breweries, and live music spilling out onto the sidewalk most weekends. On fall Saturdays, the whole town turns out for Mountaineer football, and the energy is as big as anywhere in the state.
It's also just the kind of place that gets under your skin. People come for a semester at App State and end up building a life in the mountains, because once you've had a Boone sunset over the ridgeline, it's hard to settle for anything else.
For Carolina Forever fans who call the High Country home, or just dream about it, rep Boone with our Boone High Country Pocket T-Shirt, or go broader with our Carolina Forever - NC Mountains Pocket T-Shirt, both built for crisp mountain air and everywhere else you wear your Carolina pride.
Finish the look with our Carolina Headwear - North Carolina Mountains hat, made for shading your eyes on a ridgeline hike or just repping the High Country around town.
Got a Boone memory or a favorite High Country spot? Send it our way.
Three High Country places to explore from Boone
Make Boone, North Carolina your starting point, then head beyond town for these Blue Ridge Parkway stops. They're a driving outing through the surrounding High Country, not three stops on a downtown walking route.
- Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, milepost 294: Explore the grounds around Flat Top Manor and choose a walk along the estate's carriage trails. The historic manor and craft shop add another side to a day usually spent chasing mountain views.
- Julian Price Memorial Park, milepost 297: Bring a picnic or choose a trail around Price Lake. The 47-acre lake also offers canoeing and kayaking; check rental availability separately if you'd like to get out on the water.
- Linn Cove Viaduct, milepost 304: See the Parkway curve around Grandfather Mountain, then use designated overlooks or trails for a closer view. You cannot stop or walk along the viaduct itself.
Check current Parkway road closures and trail conditions before setting out. The National Park Service's guides to Moses Cone, Julian Price Park, and Linn Cove Viaduct can help you choose stops that fit your day.
Keep the High Country close
Boone High Country Pocket T-Shirt
$35–$37 USD, depending on your selected variant.