Things To Do In Boone, North Carolina, Home To Grandfather Mountain

Aisyah
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
Things To Do In Boone, North Carolina, Home To Grandfather Mountain

Boone, North Carolina, USA, is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a humble population of just over 17 thousand. Interestingly, the town was named after one of the first folk heroes of the United States, the American pioneer Daniel Boone. There are several other places in the USA that were named after him too, including the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Sheltowee Trace Trail, and he has also had seven counties named after him, including Boone County, Illinois, Boone County, Indiana, and Boone County, Nebraska.

Boone is known for its laid-back and cultural vibe. Indeed, it was named by the US News as one of the 10 best places to retire in the US. Planning a visit? Here are the best things to do in Boone:

Why Trust Trip101?


Over 50,000 articles reviewed and published by our experienced team

Over 50 years of combined experience researching, writing and reviewing travel articles

Over 40,000 hours spent on research and fact-checking from credible sources (last year’s data)

Optimizing content from data-driven insights collected directly from users on our platform

Focus on authentic and up-to-date information by collaborating with local guides, global travelers and other industry experts

Long-standing partnerships with credible brands like Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, GetYourGuide, Viator, RVShare and more

Full disclosure on any partnerships or sponsored content

Trip101’s team of writers, editors, and content managers oversees the publication of all travel content, including destination guides, accommodation recommendations, and travel tips. They have extensive experience in the travel industry and no content, written or visual, gets published without a review. Many of our team’s work has also been featured in Travel+Leisure, National Today, The Indian Express, The Telegraph (India), Robb Report, The Adventure Handbook, Tripoto, Korea Tourism Organization, and Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Some of them are also members of professional organizations like the Society of American Travel Writers and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance.

Each member of the team follows Trip101's methodology and strict editorial guidelines to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and relevance.

1. Enjoy the views from Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is a North Carolina state park located in Linville, and it has been one of the city’s well-known and frequently visited landscapes for many years. With its stunning scenery and vast geological and ecological diversity, this place has been a favourite place to go for many locals and travellers.

Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in Blue Ridge and also the world’s only privately owned International Biosphere Reserve. The mountain is also wheelchair accessible and leads to the very famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, which will offer you breathtaking 360-degree views of mountain ridges while being thousands of feet above the Carolina Piedmont.

Accompanying the mountain is the 2,456-acre (994-hectare) backcountry that offers amazing hiking and backpacking opportunities. However, Grandfather Mountain is known for its severe weather and challenging terrain that might make it difficult for beginners. The weather can also be considered as some of the most severe experienced in the South.

Grandfather Mountain

Address: 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646

Opening Hours: Daily, except for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day

Duration: around 3 hours required

Access: Entrance to Grandfather Mountain is located on U.S. 221, two miles (3.2 kilometres) north of Linville, North Carolina, and one mile (1.6 kilometres) south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 305

Website: Grandfather Mountain

Visited this place?

2. Visit the 19th-century Linville Caverns

Linville Caverns was founded in 1822 and is the only privately owned limestone cavern system in North Carolina that is open to the public. It is located near the village of Linville Falls and guided tours are held for the public all year round. In fact, it has been organising tours since the 1930s! Visitors can enter the caverns and learn more about the Humpback Mountains and the wonders and creations within.

It was founded by a group of fishermen who saw that there were fish swimming in and out of what appeared to be a solid rock. There was then a small opening made in the mountainous terrain that allowed them to enter the cave. Since the first tour was held, there have been many upgrades and lighting fixtures to improve the safe touring experience. It is suitable for people of all ages.

Also, during the fall and winter months, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the eastern pipistrelle and little brown bats, who hibernate in the cave from late fall to early spring. Join a tour to see the unique formations and breathtaking colours for yourself!

Linville Caverns

Address: 19929 US Hwy. 221 N. Marion, NC 28752

Price: from 8 USD

Contact: (828) 756-4171

Website: Linville Caverns

Visited this place?

3. Take a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Running for 469 miles (755 kilometres), the Blue Ridge Parkway is known for being America’s longest linear park and for boasting very scenic beauty. It was built to connect Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although it is not a national park, the parkway has been the most visited road in the National Park System since 1946. Also, the land on each side of the road is owned and maintained by the National Park Service. Additionally, in 2015 it was named as North Carolina’s version for the quarter (25-cent) coins in the programme of America the Beautiful.

During the spring, the parkway is filled with flowering shrubs and wildflowers that include rhododendrons and dogwoods. It is also known for its gorgeous autumn foliage during the months of September and October. In fact, every single season can be easily noted by just looking down to the valleys from the parkway.

Driving along the parkway would be perfect for someone that is looking to having a scenic drive during their trip, to experience some of nature’s finest. Enjoy views of the rugged mountains, as well as the Appalachian Highlands, without even leaving your car. There are several hiking opportunities available on the parkway, and there are also varied concerts along the route throughout the year as well.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Address: Milepost 384 Asheville, NC 28803

Website: Blue Ridge Parkway

Visited this place?

4. Unleash your inner adventurer at High Gravity Adventures

Posted by High Gravity Adventures Zip Line & Aerial Park on Friday, 24 April 2020

How about getting your adrenaline pumping by going for an aerial park adventure? At High Gravity Adventures, there are over 75 aerial obstacles that are 100% safety ensured, so as long as you’re above the age of 5, you’ll be able to enjoy exploring and climbing through the park while testing your physical and mental stamina from about 15 to 50 feet (4.6 to 15.2 metres) above the ground!

The park takes its safety procedures very seriously. Even before you enter the park, you’ll be given a full body harness, complete with helmet and safety tethers. You’ll also attend an on-ground orientation that will provide you with detailed information for you to get around the park. You will then choose an element to challenge yourself with and also how high you want to be off the ground. There is also a huge observation deck available for those who just want to be there for peer support!

There is a kid’s course that will keep the experience low to the ground with easier to navigate challenges, meaning that no member of the family needs to miss out.

High Gravity Adventures

Address: 215 Tweetsie Railroad Rd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, United States

Price: from 10 USD

Opening Hours: Friday: 3 pm - 10 pm, Saturday: 10 am - 10 pm, Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm

Contact: 828-386-6222

Website: High Gravity Adventures

Visited this place?

5. Shop in a 19th-century company!

No “Things to Do” list would ever be complete without a shopping option, right? At Mast General Store, you can shop for all kinds of fashion-related goods as well as cookbooks, tents, and more. This shopping destination goes way back, with its original store opening its doors back in 1883! They were originally located in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, selling everything that the local community needed, from food to caskets.

And, they really do sell just about everything! Toys, candies, sweaters, gift ideas, books … you name it, they have it. They even sell items for pets! Also, they carry well-known brands as well, such as Birkenstock, Kuhl, The North Face, and Sperry, to name just a few. They have an online store too, so you can shop from the comfort of your fingertips without having to deal with the crowds and carrying heavy shopping bags.

Mast General Store

Address: 630 West King Street Boone, NC 28607

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm, Friday - Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm, Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm

Contact: 828-262-0000

Website: Mast General Store

Visited this place?

A little bit of everything

With these great things to do in Boone, you’ll notice that Boone offers something for everyone. From historical tours to adrenaline-pumping adventures, you’re sure to have a good time here!

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Aisyah's devotion lies in the written word, a passion evident in her daily routine of reading and writing. Outside of crafting words, she enjoys leisurely Netflix sessions at home, accompanied by...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Register Here
0 Comments
Explore Boone
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.
5 Neighborhoods To Hang Out In Charlotte, North Carolina, At Night

5 Neighborhoods To Hang Out In Charlotte, North Carolina, At Night