Adventures in the High Country: Five Days Exploring Northwest North Carolina

Depending on your location and convenience, the airports in Charlotte, Greensboro and Asheville are all around two hours from Boone, depending on traffic. The drive from Charlotte is the most scenic since it is a towering scale up the Blue Ridge Mountains from Lenoir to Blowing Rock over the last thirty minutes.

Assuming you arrive between lunch and dinner, a great hike to start your trip is the Glen Burney Trail. This is a unique trail since it starts in the middle of Blowing Rock and takes you to a beautiful waterfall. The trail is about a mile there and a mile back. This is an enjoyable hike that ends at a misting waterfall that feels relaxing in all weather.

After the hike, plan to make a reservation at The Speckled Trout in downtown Blowing Rock. Here, you will enjoy fresh Western North Carolina trout that can be cooked in a variety of ways. There are many American options to choose from for those who are not craving fish, along with an immense bar selection. After dinner, take a stroll around the vibrant Blowing Rock area and stop at Kilwin's for dessert.

After waking up, start your day with brunch at Troy’s 105 Diner. Located on Route 105 just south of Appalachian State in Boone, this old-fashioned diner offers a variety of low-cost options and delicious food that will make you crave more.

Next, explore downtown Boone. Appalachian State University is nearby and Boone thrives on the college community and school spirit. There are a variety of boutiques, gear shops, bars and restaurants to try out. You can explore the Mast General Store, get a sweet treat at Insomnia, feel spiritual at Dancing Moon Earthway Bookstore or take in a show at the Appalachian Theatre. If you are with a group, a must-do is the Mysterium Escape Adventure which is the only escape room in the area.

Continue your stroll around Boone with a walk into Appalachian State’s campus. Strolling down Howard Street, you can see how well the city of Boone connects with the beautiful campus. Relax with a picnic at Sanford Mall, walk through the Plemmons Student Union, and wander alongside the bridges and creeks of Durham Park. Nearby, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts provides free art exhibits of student work.

End your day on downtown King Street. For dinner, great downtown dining options include Boone Saloon, takeout from Sabeing, Macado’s and Wild Craft Eatery. Afterward, treat the kids to Ben and Jerry’s for dessert and return to your hotel to end the night.

You have explored Boone and Blowing Rock and now it's time for a day trip to the town of West Jefferson and Grayson Highlands State Park. This is a day trip that is an absolute must if you like driving rural, winding roads.

Start at Plaza Del Sol in West Jefferson, which is 35 minutes north of Boone on US 221. This delicious Mexican eatery opens at 11 am and provides an infinite amount of food options and terrific service.

Afterwards, you will make your way toward Grayson Highlands State Park. Parking is $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends. The Mast Gap and Wilburn Loop Trails will give you a scenic loop of the beautiful scenery of the Grayson Highlands. Wild ponies are often spotted on the trail and, if you are lucky, you may see some. After your two mile hike, finish the drive up to the visitors center and hike the 1.6 mile Twin Pinnacles Trail. This trail is over 5000 feet in elevation and provides some spectacular photo opportunities of the Grayson Highlands area.

Afterwards, you can drive back down to North Carolina and have the rest of the evening to eat at one of the many Boone, Blowing Rock or West Jefferson eateries. Highlights in Boone include Coyote Kitchen, a southwestern eatery with an abundance of allergy-friendly options, and Makotos’s, a Japanese steakhouse where you can sit in the quiet section with a sushi bar or at the hibachi tables for an experience to remember.

Spend your last full day in Watauga County and the area immediately surrounding Boone.

Start your day with brunch at the Grandview Restaurant on Route 105 for a scenic meal. Afterwards, take a short 15-minute drive to Valle Crucis. This tiny community is home to the original Mast General Store and its neighboring annex. Both stores are similar and are truly a time machine back to over 100 years ago. Afterward, take a stroll in the beautiful Valle Crucis Park and view the incredible mountains surrounding the park.

Now it is time to explore the world-famous Blue Ridge Parkway. This magnificent scenic byway stretches 469 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, NC to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park near Waynesboro, VA. There is an abundance of hikes along the section of the highway closest to Blowing Rock. You can take a scenic looped lake stroll at Trout, Price and Bass Lakes. For a more demanding hike, check out the five-mile Boone Fork Trail which offers mountain views, open fields, rivers, rock scrambling, ladders, ropes and waterfalls.

If you only have time for one hike, Rough Ridge is a must. This incredible part of the Tanawha Trail provides overlooks where you can see the mountains from miles away. This hike is not too strenuous, so children will enjoy it and feel as though they are on top of the world. If time allows, stop for coffee after your hike at Camp Coffee Roasters in Blowing Rock. This coffee shop is right next to a hiking store, so this is a great two-in-one activity for you to explore.

In the evening, choose from one of the many dining options in the area. My recommendation for your last dinner is The Cardinal on Route 105 in Boone. This restaurant is known for its incredible burgers, addicting fries and savory beverages. This is the perfect place to close out the trip.

Since the drive to the airport may take as long as two hours, it is difficult to plan specific activities for your final day. But if you have a later flight and are an early riser, it could be fun to grab brunch in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro or Asheville, depending on yoru airport.