10 Reasons To Fall In Love With Boone, NC

Do you have that one special place that you love so much, that when you’re there, you get ALL the FEELS that stay with you until the next time you’re able to go again? Or you get those same feelings even when you just think about it? That place for me (and for so many others) is BOONE, NC.

[ReviewDisclaimer]

If ASU was your college home or you have been to Boone before, I’m sure you would agree that it’s one of the greatest and most special places out there. Boone is a small town with a population of around 18,834 people, and God knew exactly what was He was doing when He created this place.

My fellow P2Ms and I absolutely LOVE Boone in its entirety. For one, it hosts the greatest college ever…ASU. It’s where we met each other and made The. Greatest. Memories. The college has so much to offer and has a way of capturing your heart from the moment you arrive.

I try and go back as often as I can, and strongly encourage YOU to visit the Magical Mountains of North Carolina, if you haven’t before.

Here are just a few of the reasons that make Boone so special:

1.) The Small-Town Feel

Boone is a precious, laid-back, slow-paced college town. One of my favorite things to do when I’m there is to walk around King Street or the ASU campus. It brings back so many positive emotions, and it’s fun to walk through the shops. (Plus, one can never have too many ASU t-shirts.) ASU and Boone coexist so wonderfully, I’d like to think they share a mutual love for one another.

 2.) The Mountain Air

Cool, clean, and refreshing; it’s a different type of air. There always seems to be a coolness and cleanness to it. The second we start driving up the mountain, we love to put our windows down and soak it all in. *Disclaimer* – The air may not seem as glorious during the winter months when the temperatures are in the negatives and the wind about blows you over…but hey, this only adds to the true mountain experience.

3.) The Local Food and Breweries

There are so many great, local restaurants and breweries in the area. Most have been around for a while and will not disappoint.

Dan’l Boone Inn – famous for its southern food, and delicious breakfasts. There is rarely a time when there’s not a line wrapped around the building on a Sunday. It’s the place to be!

Macados – the biggest menu with so much variety. They recently added an awesome extension (because so many people want to eat here.) It has a mountain feel, and the love for Boone/ASU is documented throughout the restaurant.

Dos Amigos – where else can you get the most affordable, cheesy, and delicious Mexican food in town? If you have never been to Dos, you aren’t really living. When we have a reunion, Dos is usually first-up on our restaurant list.

The Ridgeline – (formerly known as Canyons) – it’s all about the location. If you want to enjoy a great Sunday brunch, while staring at the Appalachian Mountains, head to The Ridgeline in Blowing Rock for an unbeatable view and experience (opening in May 2018.)

A few other fan favorites are: Black Cat Burrito, Boone Bagelry, Melanie’s, and Coyote Kitchen. Many of these restaurants have been serving the Boone community for a long time and they consistently exceed all expectations!  Oh, and we can’t forget about the ASU Cafeteria (home of the famous breakfast burrito.)

Along with so many great dining options, there are some awesome breweries, too. App Mountain Brewery, Lost Province Brewing Company, and Booneshine Brewing Company are my favorites. Great atmospheres, good craft beer, and each unique in their own way. You’ll also want to check out Blowing Rock Brewery Co.

4.) Outdoor Adventures

Hiking.

Skiing.

Snowboarding.

You can do it all!

If you like to ski, snowboard or tube, check out Appalachian Ski Mountain or Sugar Mountain Resort for different activities, all year long.

If you want to entertain the little ones, take them to Tweetsie Railroad, or Grandfather Mountain for the small zoo and the historic swinging bridge.

In the summer, a great activity is to float down the river. You can start at Wahoos to rent your tubes. A van will take you to the starting point and you’ll float your way to the end. We love tying our tubes together, putting a cooler in the middle, and enjoying the water.

If you love hiking, waterfalls and swimming, you’ll want to head to Hebron Rock Colony, Trash Can Falls, Snake Pit Swimming Hole, and Twisting Falls for a good endurance and strength-building excursion.

5.) The Views/Overlooks

In my opinion, nothing beats a beautiful mountain overlook. Seeing miles and miles of God’s masterpiece, from the top of a mountain, puts me in a different state of mind. When I’m surrounded by mountains and beauty, all cares and worry seem to disappear.

I have discovered that these are the best places to go to experience the scenic views and overlooks: Howards Knob, The Firetower, Blue Ridge Parkway. Hawksbill, Grandfather Mountain, The Blowing Rock.

6.) KIDD BREWER Stadium

Despite the rain, sleet, and 0 degree temperatures, cheering at this beautiful stadium will always be one of the highlights of my college experience. This stadium is amazing. I can still hear the “App….State” echoes through the mountains as the cool, crisp air (or 100 mph winds) hit my face. You get to stare at the most gorgeous surroundings and listen to the greatest football fans that exist. I don’t know about you, but I’m already ready for football season!

(Side note: Kidd Brewer is also where Josh and I got engaged!)

7.) Yosef

App State’s mascot, Yosef, is legendary. You can usually find him being followed by a crowd of people, dying to get their picture taken with him on Game Day. *If you don’t have a picture with Yosef, you need to get on it!*

8.) The Amazing People

Boone is where I met some of my very best friends….and the love of my life. When you have so many positive experiences and great memories, it’s hard to not fall madly in love with it (we even named our dog “Boone.”) 🙂 It’s safe to say we bleed Black and Gold. I love this place, and love all of the incredible memories we’ve made even more!

9.) Traditions

There are so many traditions that come with this territory. An annual cabin retreat, ASU Football game (Homecoming is what we live for), picking out a Christmas tree around the holiday season with your family, taking the kids to Tweetsie Railroad each year, or booking a skiing/snowboarding trip with friends are just a few options. I look forward to keeping the traditions we have started and adding many more along the way.

10.) It welcomes you back with open arms time and time again.

Boone/ASU/TrAPP State will forever be my Happy Place! It’s a place that’s filled with so many activities and thousands of memories. It breeds traditions and is a place that is good for the soul. There is something so special about Boone, and it will keep you coming back for years to come!

Where is your happy place? I’d love to hear about it!