Glenn’s Ten: Boone! The “Paradise of Adventure” in the North Carolina Mountains!
By Glenn Arnette, lll
Grandfather Mountain and the Swinging Bridge
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the world of Watauga County, North Carolina! I am talking about Boone, North Carolina. Ever heard the saying, “Been there, done that”? Well, not true, as I have been around a number of years and this trip I discovered excitement beyond my imagination.
I want to tell you about the Dutch Creek Trails and the Poetic Cowboy, a Mast General Store that is truly a one stop shopping wonder, the famous Grandfather Mountain, a Scream Zip line running 2000 feet over valley’s and the roof tops of houses, the Foscoe Trout Fishing excursion, rock climbing with Rock Dimensions, a visit to one of the most popular outdoor dramas in the United States, Horn In The West, my adventure with a real Mountain man, and great restaurants out of a chef’s magazine. All of that and more can happen to you and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg!
First, start by staying at the Colorado styled La Quinta Inn and Suites, located right in the heart of Boone, North Carolina across from Appalachian State University. With a free continental breakfast and one of the most comfortable beds you won’t find everywhere, and a room with a view and plenty of space, free Wi-Fi, and more, this is a stay you will certainly enjoy. The personalities of the property are exceptional and they truly treat you as a member of the family. By-the-way, dogs are permitted! From this location you are close to everything I will be telling you about! Boone is the place and certainly a place with all the action!
A real Mountain Man from Horn In The West Drama and Grounds.
Boone is like the hub of a wheel surrounded with just about everything you would enjoy while on a vacation. Each little community offers something special and the magnificent scenery is a vision combining beauty and nature. There is an old saying up there, “If you go to buy a large parcel of land you will always end up with a church or cemetery on your property.” The little churches and cemeteries certainly offer a great deal of history to the Watauga County. Just riding the hills and finding “out of the way” things makes a wonderful day trip or afternoon. One place that really delighted me was Valle Crucis just outside of town. By-the-way, you make a turn at the Ham Shop and that is worth a lunch or a sweet! Valle Crucis is the perfect place to bike, bird watch, shop and fish. It is quiet and a great place to fall on the grass at their lovely park and totally relax. Within a few miles you have Banner Elk on one side and the community of Foscoe on the other. This is where you will discover the world of Orvis and some of the best fishing guides in the business. Right over the next hill stands the Godfather of them all, Grandfather Mountain. This is an established park where thousands go each year to see the views from the mile high swinging bridge. Oh, don’t forget just down the road from that you have the Linville Caverns, a place to see the inside of the mountain.
The poetry cowboy!
Other places of interest while staying in Boone would be a trip down to the Blowing Rock community and a stop at the Mystery House and Tweetsy Railroad. That is just the beginning of all the many things to do in the Mountains and staying at the La Quienta Inn and Suites made all of the travel very easy.
There is so much more; i.e., the food at the Daniel Boone Inn, the Red Onion Café and the Vadalia Restaurant and Wine Bar. There is rafting and gem mining, outlets to shop and the wonderful Blue Ridge Parkway where you ride at the top of the mountains.
Now are you ready to hear the rest of the story? Soon I will take you into each adventure. So pack your bags and head to the hills. Remember to order sweet tea and fried eggs with “liver mush” and grits!
For other travel adventures, go to www.worldtravelbyglenn.com.
