Travel Tuesday: Boone + Blowing Rock

When fall weather is approaching, I immediately want to start planning a mountain trip. Although I'm definitely a beach over mountains type of person, I do love heading west before all the ice and snow, and when the leaves change into their autumn splendor.

Visiting Boone and Blowing Rock always reminds me of my childhood, as my family would often take mountain trips and stay up in a cabin for a week or weekend. My grandmother's family is originally from that area, so it holds a special place in my heart as well.

If you have a chance to visit the North Carolina mountains anytime soon, make sure you stop at some of these spots and enjoy the scenery of Appalachia.

Photo via 

To Eat

These are just a few of my favorite spots I love to stop in while in the area, including a country breakfast (Melanie's) and a fried green tomato + pimento cheese sandwich (Best Cellar). For dinner, Hob Knob Farm Cafe offers an extensive menu of farm to table food - you don't want to miss out!

Boone:

Coyote Kitchen
Hob Knob Farm Cafe
Woodlands Barbeque
Melanie's

Blowing Rock:

Best Cellar
Bistro Roca
The Village Cafe

To Shop

Take a stroll down King Street in Boone and Main Street in Blowing Rock. Quaint, eclectic boutiques line these two streets, and I love searching for local clothing, handmade jewelry, pottery and artwork.

To Do

Blueridge Parkway - Get in your car and just take a drive. The whole parkway spans 467 miles, but even if you just have an hour or two, you'll want to take a leisurely drive winding around the beautiful mountains. If you're lucky, you may even find vendors on the road selling local jam and honey.

Grandfather Mountain - Make sure you check out the mile-high swinging bridge while you're in town. You'll find an amazing view of the Appalachian landscape, so you'll want your camera handy. If you're up for adventure, hike the Grandfather Trail or take a walk on another one of Grandfather's 11 trails surrounding the mountain.

Valle Crucis - If you have a chance, stop by this little community just a short drive from downtown Boone. Nestled high in the mountains, this town has everything from white water rafting to horseback riding, to the original Mast General Store. In October, Valle Crucis hosts a "Pumpkin Festival" with old-fashioned games like apple bob and sack races.