Facebook Tracking Pixel

High Country: The Heart of the High Country – Boone Area

Find Beauty and Adventure in the Heart of the High Country

The high country of the Blue Ridge Mountains entices with an intoxicating mix of rugged natural beauty and picturesque panoramic views. Nestled in between winding mountain ridges, Boone’s vibrant art, history, and cultural scene makes it an ideal destination for year-round fun. Explore this welcoming mountain town using the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.

Boone, NC

Nurture your creative spirit at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace. The space is home to four separate galleries and a gift shop that features pieces from more than 60 local artists. Looking for a hands-on experience? Partake in one of their classes that cater to artists of all ages.

Hands Gallery provides a unique chance to admire local art and meet the talent behind the pieces. The cooperative collective is staffed by featured artists and provides a welcoming foray into Boone’s art community.

Doe Ridge Pottery showcases local pottery in their welcoming space that serves as a store, gallery, and studio. A variety of home décor and functional pieces from various local potters fills the gallery.

Art and music find a home at the Jones House in Boone. The historic building hosts seasonal art exhibits and is home to weekly musical jam sessions.

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts invites guests to experience the power, joy, and healing power of the visual arts. Two wings and six galleries feature exhibitions by international, national, and regional artists.

Blowing Rock, NC

The picturesque Blowing Rock Art & History Museum celebrates local history and mountain heritage. Admire pieces from their permanent collection, explore a seasonal exhibition, or partake in one of the numerous workshops and classes.

Founded in 1992, Traditions Pottery carries the legacy of six generations of potters. The shop is home to handcrafted functional pieces, folk art, and decorative pottery.

 

Three generations work in tandem at High Country Candles in Blowing Rock. The Main Street shop produces hand-carved candles that are works of art in addition to traditional jar candles, pillars, and votives.

The splendor of the past is preserved at the Southern Highland Craft Guild in Moses Cone Manor. The historic Gilded Age manor offers stunning architecture, 25-miles of carriage trails, a short walking trail, and a craft guild that features pieces from hundreds of regional artists.

The Mountain Thread Company celebrates the unique art of rope basket making. The studio and shop offers rope basket and quilting classes in addition to finished products and take-home kits.

Sugar Grove, NC

Capozzoli Guitar Company provides an immersive look into the art of handmade guitars and furniture. Luthier and craftsman Chris Capozzoli often incorporates sustainable woods, including reclaimed wood from local barns, into many of his creations.

 

Not to Miss

  • Immerse yourself in Boone’s natural beauty with a visit to Julian Price Memorial Park. The family-friendly 4,300-acre park includes a small lake perfect for fishing and canoeing, hiking trails, guided walks, camping opportunities, and evening campfire programs.
  • The past comes alive at the Hickory Ridge History Museum with knowledgeable interpreters and authentic historic cabins that recreate daily life in colonial America. In the summer, the museum hosts the family-friendly outdoor drama “Horn in the West.
  • Explore the local craft beer scene with a pint or two at Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Lost Province Brewing, and Booneshine. The breweries specialize in creating beers with a flavorful local twist. 

For more dining and lodging information, visit ExploreBoone.com.

Hands Gallery in Boone

Hands Gallery

All hands on deck in this storefront partnership Some truly distinguished and exquisite work spill...
Jones House serves as a cultural center in Boone

Jones House

An ongoing legacy of community, jam sessions and art that binds Built by medical doctor...

How It Works

Look for destinations and click the + button to include them in your trip! Drag and drop (sandwich icon) to rearrange the order of your trip, and then click "Send to Google Maps" to get driving directions, or Bookmark Link to save the page for later.

Use these buttons to Add, Remove, and Organize your destinations.

 

The Regions of the Blue Ridge

In planning the best use of your NC mountains vacation days, know that the region can be divided into three sub-regions for ease of exploration:

Far West

  • Cherokee
  • The Nantahala Gorge
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Central

  • Asheville
  • Hendersonville
  • Chimney Rock State Park
  • The waterfalls of Transylvania County
  • Many more highlights

High Country

  • Grandfather Mountain
  • Linville Falls
  • Boone
  • Blowing Rock
  • High northern mountains

Foothills

  • Mt. Airy
  • Lenoir
  • Elkin