Avoid Asheville Crowds At This Artsy North Carolina Mountain Town
By Christine Dulion
VACATIONS
North Carolina's Asheville is known for its artsy personality, culture, and foodie scenes, but Boone is a nearby town that has the same perks with fewer costs and foot traffic.
About two hours north of Asheville, Boone isn't as well-known. As a Reddit user wrote, "Boone feels isolated, get a breather in summertime with less students, more tight knit."
Boone has a collection of award-winning breweries, the Tweetsie Railroad theme park, galleries, museums, and historical sites like The Jones House and The Lovill House Inn.
In addition, the town has many monuments and statues dedicated to American pioneer Daniel Boone. Hickory Ridge History Museum recreates the frontier days with live actors.
Boone's culinary scene highlights the best of farm-to-table Appalachian ingredients. The town also features shops, craft studios, and pottery galleries that offer unique souvenirs.
In Boone, outdoor enthusiasts can go hiking, bird watching, ziplining, tubing, kayaking, and angling. Travelers who visit in the winter can also go skiing and snowboarding.