Boone & Blowing Rock, North Carolina are towns in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. There is so much to do and see in North Carolina’s High Country. You’ll get to explore the winding Blue Ridge Parkway with scenic overlooks. Also take in the golden colors of the fall foliage, and explore many historic places! Here’s your ultimate guide with 20 things to do in Boone & Blowing Rock NC this fall!
And if you want a full Google Map of 80 things to do in Boone & Blowing Rock, click HERE!
1. Relax at a Cozy Cabin
The first part of planning a trip to Boone, NC is deciding on where to stay. There are many great options such as a mountain inn like Lovill House Inn or Graystone Lodge. Or a mountain resort outside of Blowing Rock like the Chetola Resort. You could stay at a hotel near downtown Boone like the Horton Hotel. Or my favorite choice is visiting Airbnb and staying in a cozy cabin with great views. There are plenty of options available from luxury cabins fit for your whole family, unique glamping domes, or little cozy cabins with a lived-in feel.
2. Hike the Grandfather Mountain Trails
Explore the many trails of Grandfather Mountain, known for its stunning fall foliage. Located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you pay an entrance fee to drive to the top. Here, you will experience the Mile High Swinging Bridge that offers breathtaking views. There are plenty of trails depending on how much of a hiker you are. From as easy as taking the elevator up to the bridge or the challenge of hiking around the mountain. The crisp autumn air and colorful landscape make hiking here a memorable experience!
3. Explore the Original Mast General Store
This historic general store in Valle Crucis is a charming place to shop for unique gifts and local goods. In the fall, the store often features seasonal decorations and treats. It’s also a great place to pick up supplies for your outdoor adventures!
The Original Mast General Store was built in 1883 and is still open with the original feel of the store. There is an operating post office with old fashioned post office boxes. The Mast General Store still serves coffee for only 5 cents and more than 500 varieties of old fashioned candy! One of the original ads that appeared in the 1923 edition of The Rhododendron, the Appalachian State University yearbook, proclaimed “Goods for the living, coffins and caskets for the dead.” That is because the Mast General Store used to sell just about everything, even coffins!
4. Go Apple Picking at a Local Orchard
Head to a nearby orchard, like the Orchard at Altapass in Spruce Pine, NC. Pick fresh apples and enjoy the autumn harvest with a great view. Apple Hill Farm offers other activities such as animal tours and farm store. It’s a fun and family-friendly way to celebrate the fall season!
5. Enjoy a Wine Tasting at a Local Vineyard
Did you know North Carolina has a wide variety of local vineyards and wineries? Sample local wines at vineyards like the Banner Elk Winery or the Grandfather Vineyard and Winery. The fall setting provides a scenic backdrop for a relaxing tasting experience. Many vineyards also offer special autumn events and live music.
6. Explore Blue Ridge Overlooks
The Blue Ridge parkway is a great way to see beautiful views of the North Carolina mountains. Some easy overlooks that require no hiking are off of this parkway and other roads nearby!
- Grandfather Mountain Overlook
- Linn Cove Viaduct View – Yonahlossee Overlook
- Thunder Hill Overlook
- Yadkin Valley Overlook
- Moses Cone Overlook
- Tompkins Knob Overlook
7. Visit the Intriguing Mystery Hill
Is it a natural phenomenon or a quirky optical illusion? The gravity vortex at Mystery Hill is an attraction that is fun for all ages. It will cause you to think and may have some strange side effects like vertigo! The gravity vortex at Mystery Hill was my most viral video yet at a whopping 24 MILLION views! Talk about some controversy and sparks of conversation where people commented wondering if it is real or not. I highly recommend visiting for yourself and see if it is real or fake!
8. Hike Elk Knob State Park
Get ready for some panoramic hilltop views, beech forest hikes, and colorful fall foliage! Elk Knob State Park is located in Watauga County only 11 miles north of Boone. There is an overlook summit that will reward hikers with a panoramic view of North Carolina’s high country. There are also tent camping sites in the beech forest with natural streams and wildlife around every corner!
9. Explore Linville Caverns
You will be going up in elevation with the overlooks and Grandfather Mountain. Now, let’s go down deep to the Linville Caverns! Discovered in 1822, these caverns are renowned for their impressive stalactites, stalagmites, and unique rock formations! Take a guided tour and explore under the ground!
- Adults: $13
- Ages 62 & Older: $12
- Children: $11 ages 5-12
- Children under 5 admitted free with adult/senior.
10. Check Out the Todd Mercantile General Store
Located in Todd, NC and was built in 1910, this general store maintains a lot of the original interior like the oak floors, chestnut walls and pressed tin ceiling. This spot has a lot of charm and is worth the stop if you are around Todd, NC!
And, if you would like to have a pre-made Google Map with 80 pins around Boone, and Blowing Rock then THIS is for you!
11. Hike Scenic Waterfall Trails
What better way to enjoy fall than with a beautiful waterfall hike! Surrounded yourself by autumn colors and the rushing sounds of water. These relaxing hikes will be a great addition to your fall trip. Here’s a few to add to your list!
- Crab Orchard Falls
- Otter Falls
- Linville Falls
- Hebron Falls
- Elk River Falls
- Cascade Falls
12. Coast Down Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
One of the best rides in fall you can do! This place is full of views and thrills as you go at your own pace down this mountain coaster. You have a handbrake where you can control your own speed. Or just keep your hands off of the break for some real excitement. It says you can reach speeds up to 27 miles per hour! Located in Banner Elk, this is only a 24 minute drive from Boone. They also have a ropes course as well. This is a great spot to keep the family busy and to make memories.
13. Visit Flat Top Manor
Developed during the 1890s and early 1900s by Moses and Bertha Cone. This is a peaceful retreat you need in your plans as you tour the blue ridge parkway! This is only 17 minutes from Boone, and you can explore this property as well as attend events held here throughout the year. There is a 10,000-tree apple orchard, hiking trails, man made lakes and more to explore here!
14. See a Movie at The Appalachian Theatre
Located in downtown Boone, this iconic spot is hard to miss with its large glowing sign out front! This theatre was built in 1938 and it had a grand re-opening in 2019 where many renovations were completed. In fact, the renovations were designed to closely resemble the original! Now you can see live acts, film screenings, movie nights and more! We stoped a few years ago and saw Harry Potter during the fall time, it was so much fun!
15. Zipline at 3 Different Spots!
Hawksnest Zipline, Sky Valley Zip Tours and High Gravity Adventures area all around Boone and offer slightly different experiences. Hawksnest has one of the largest collections of biplane cables in the East and 3 swinging bridges. Sky Valley has forest canopy walks, cliff jumping, off-road electric vehicles and the only nighttime zipline experience around! High Gravity Adventures is right beside Tweetsie Railroad which makes for a great addition after a fun train ride! Ziplining is a great way to see nature from an elevated point-of-view and do it in an eco-friendly way as well!
16. Explore Roan Mountain
These mountains have an alpine meadow feel to them, and it offers incredible views with hiking trails all around. They are blooming rhododendron and also has some incredible views of the surrounding landscape. This is a great spot for those looking to hike and get that alpine meadow feel right here in North Carolina!
17. Explore Scenic Lakes
It doesn’t really get much better than the views of golden foliage and lakes in the mountains of North Carolina. There are plenty of lakes to explore around Boone, so let’s name a few. Bass Lake is disability accessible, and Price Lake is great for family boating. Here you can paddle board, kayak and canoe which are available for rent at the lake. You can also fish here as well with bait for sale. Wildcat Lake is great for picnics, swimming boating and fishing as well. Watauga Lake is a much larger lake spanning 6,430 acres and offers amazing mountain shorelines for more than 16 miles. This is a little further out from Boone (45 minutes) but well worth the drive if you are looking for some amazing scenery.
18. Farm to Fork Dining
Nothing beats a farm to fork dining experience. Especially knowing the food has not passed through the overly processed procedures most food does these days. Here is a list of some in the area that are worth trying!
- Basil’s Fresh Pasta and Deli
- The Beacon Butcher Bar
- Bistro Roca & Antlers Bar
- Cafe Violette
- Gamekeeper Restaurant
- F.A.R.M. Cafe
- Proper
- Over Yonder
- The Speckled Trout
19. Coffee and Breakfast Spots
If you are like us, you need a good coffee spot at every town you visit! Here is the list you need to find great coffee and breakfast as well.
- Bald Guy Brew (Boone & Blowing Rock)
- Drip Coffee Bar
- Espresso News
- Hatchet Coffee
- Higher Grounds Coffee Shop
- Kovu’s Coffee
- Stick Boy Kitchen (breakfast)
- Betty’s Biscuit
- Boone Bagelry
- Everybody’s Bruncheon Club
- Grandview Restaurant
- The Penny Path
- Vicious Biscuit
- Sunrise Grill
20. The Blowing Rock
A can’t miss when visiting the Boon & Blowing Rock area! This is one of the best views of the mountains, especially during fall. I have a full blog post on this iconic spot so check out my post here!
That wraps up your list of 20 things to do in Boone & Blowing Rock NC in the Fall! There are of course many more that we did not include in this list, so it is in no way a comprehensive list. This guide will get you ready to visit in the fall with some of the best activities to do in the area! If you visit some of these, make sure you tag me @magnoliamegan on your stories so I know!
Don’t miss your chance to grab my Google Map with 80 spots saved to make your next trip even more convenient for you!
Leave a Reply