Cooler temps, fewer tourists: Boone is the summer retreat you didn’t know you needed

Tucked into the ribbons of Appalachia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone is one of North Carolina’s hidden gems, a small mountain enclave that is one part college town, one part remote outdoor oasis. It’s only two hours northeast of its more popular cousin Asheville, but there are so many good reasons why it’s a perfect weekend jaunt, especially if your vision includes a temperate wilderness ripe with outdoor activities, rich history and great food.

People who know Boone can’t stop talking about it. Durham-based musician Sara Ward has been traveling to Boone for a decade and says that “it’s a great place to escape, chill out, slow down …” Lawyer and professor Seth Blum lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, but is a four-season fan of Boone as a “cornucopia of outdoor wonders” for foliage, snow, rafting and hiking with “all the inspiration of a college town and accompanying charming business district.” But what makes it an especially ideal summer getaway?

Secret sauce: less crowded & lower temps

In the fall, Boone can explode into a mini-city when Appalachian State’s home football games are on. But from late spring through summer, when the 20,000-plus student body is mostly gone, you can truly luxuriate in the quiet that is harder to find in Asheville and enjoy all things Boone.

Not only will you have more elbow room in Boone, you won’t need to suffer the elements. Thanks to Boone’s moderate climate, it’s almost always comfortable enough to take advantage of everything the mountains have to offer. Boone’s summertime temperatures average in the high 70s, a striking difference when compared to North Carolina’s Piedmont region — where you’ll find Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill feature average highs in the high 80s and even low 90s.

Where to stay: Rustic luxury abounds

Of course, being a college town, Boone has plenty of chain hotels. But if you want to experience something a bit beyond the typical fare, there are plenty of options.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, less than 20 minutes away, in the nearby town of Blowing Rock, Westglow is a former mountaintop manor turned boutique hotel, spa, restaurant and salon whose building and grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1917 by renowned artist and writer Elliott Daingerfield, the property underwent a thorough renovation in 2023 at the hands of a group of new local owners, and today offers an unparalleled stay packed with amenities, all overlooking the mighty Grandfather Mountain.

Back in Boone, the 1850 Hotel is a 20-suite hotel smack in the heart of town on King Street, Boone’s main thoroughfare. Here, guests can enjoy a cocktail at the hotel’s beautifully appointed bar, Daniel and the Dog, or grab a snack at its fast-casual restaurant, the Come Back Shack.

Then for a modernist twist on old-school nostalgia, Rhodes Motor Lodge delivers the charm and perks. It also has an on-site restaurant, Over Yonder, known for combining local tradition with modern execution.

What to do: Ziplines, fly fishing & treats galore

Boone is an outdoors lover’s playground, with miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, cycling routes, dozens of fishing holes, zipline adventures, stables for horseback riding, whitewater rafting adventures, and just about any other type of mountain-based activity you can imagine.

Boone Outdoor Adventures, just 15 minutes by car from King Street, can outfit you and point you to the best grounds for your adventures. And if standing knee-deep in the crystalline mountain waters of western North Carolina is your idea of a good time, book a guided trip with High Country Guide Service, whose guides know the area’s best fly-fishing spots like the backs of their hands.

After a long day on the trails or the rivers, you can head back to King Street to visit Mast General Store, a local mercantile that has been in business since 1883. They have gear, but are more known these days for their incredible selection of made-in-America candy — from possum flavored (yes, really) to lemon-blueberry crunch bars — plus mementos to remember your time in Boone.

Food and drink: Cornmeal-battered frog’s legs, anyone?

Come dinnertime, the options at your fingertips are plentiful, as Boone punches far above its gastronomic weight. Whether a high-end experience such as The Gamekeeper, something a bit more classic like The Daniel Boone Inn, or The Local, which is somewhere between the two, Boone’s focus on locally sourced food at locally owned restaurants means your meal will always be as fresh and seasonal as possible.

And as western North Carolina has long been one of craft brewing’s hotspots, you might want to check out some of Boone’s local breweries, such as Appalachian Mountain Brewing, Booneshine Brewing Co., and Lost Province Brewing. A bonus? Many of these breweries are pet friendly and have restaurants or food trucks on site — which only makes choosing where to eat harder, but more delicious.

Getting there: Enjoy the ride, but mind the gaps

The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is known as “America’s favorite drive” and cuts right through the mountains near Boone, so you can experience breathtaking views on some of the Parkway’s most scenic stretches. Note that because of the impact of Hurricane Helene, some parts of the parkway may include detours, and updated information can be found on the NPS maps. A possible upside is that your route may mean you experience some lesser-known towns along the way.

From the low temperatures to the lack of crowds, plus endless activities and charming places to refuel, whatever summer fun you go for in Boone, it’s more than likely you’ll leave wondering how soon you can return. And in the meantime, you’ll probably become a Boone booster, telling everyone that they too should go.

This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Cooler temps, fewer tourists: Boone is the summer retreat you didn’t know you needed."