Part 3: Best of The North Carolina High Country | Day Trips
Rounding out this series of all the things to love about the North Carolina High Country with some of my favorite day trips. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to talk about places to go away from our little haven on a hill but even the most devout lovers of the High Country can tell you that sometimes it does the heart good to get “off the mountain.” Maybe it gives us a breather and a chance to not feel as isolated or maybe we need to get away to appreciate going h o m e but whatever the case, there are plenty of little spots to check out within an hour (ish) of Boone.
Heading east
I’ve burned some rubber heading east - blame it on the ease of everything you need so close or maybe its the lead foot, who knows. Midtown Market in N. Wilkesboro is the first stop for all the plant lovers and home decor enthusiasts. This sweet little shop hosts classes on the back patio and happens to be owned by one of my past clients who hands down had the most fun wedding I’ve gotten to be a part of - go tell Blair I said hey :)
Continuing on Highway 421, you’ll soon find yourself in Yadkin Valley. Established as an American Viticultural Area in 2003 after its long history of tobacco farming, the climate and soil resembles that of Napa Valley, Tuscany, and Bordeaux making it a great spot to visit a few of the areas 70+ wineries. Raffaldini Vineyards is one of my favorites for its Blue Ridge views, Italian architecture, and space to spread out and enjoy vino (& charcuterie) with friends.
Aside from the obvious pull towards Winston-Salem (read: Target & Trader Joe’s), I love this big-little city. It reminds me loosely of my hometown of Franklin, TN with it’s beautiful historic homes, landmarks from its rich history in Old Salem and the pull to accommodate the desires of a new generation with breweries, coffee shops, and continued revitalization downtown. Some of my favorite eats are Crafted, The Porch, and Yamas - you can’t go wrong with any of these for lunch or dinner!
With threads of The High Country woven into these next two businesses, I can’t help but mention them. The ladies of Sifted graduated from Appalachian State and are truly some of the most inspiring small business women I’ve crossed paths with - their love for thrifted goods and laughter is evident through the sometimes life-less world of social media. They’ve popped up (and decorated) Dough-Joe’s coffee shop located in Reynolda Village where I’ve loved spending hours reading and working on recent visits. Owners of this doughnut and coffee shop’s mommas combined forces starting Mountain Laurel Floristry in Blowing Rock and I have loved getting to see their talent working with them on weddings and personally - entrepreneurship must run in the family:)
heading west
My inner monologue is singing “Tennessee Bound” by my favorite artist, Old Crow Medicine Show [sidebar: they were discovered busking in Downtown Boone by Doc Watson who lived next door to me - wayyyy cool, right?]. I digress. Watauga Lake is just along the TN/NC line and is one of the most beautiful, non-commercialized lakes I’ve spent time on. Grab a group of friends, a picnic, lots of beverages and rent a boat for the day or a few hours. By the end of the summer, I always regret not doing this more often. If you want to log more hours on the lake, get there early for standup paddle boarding that Briana offers (see previous post here).
My next spot close to Watauga Lake is Roan Mountain at Carver’s Gap, one of my favorite hikes. Spend the night camping in between the lake and Roan or head back to Boone and adventure west another day - Carver’s Gap is part of the Appalachian Trail so you can never run out of miles. Through hikers say this is one of their favorite sections with the balds looking one way towards TN and the other towards NC making it stunning no matter what time of year you find yourself here. To avoid the doozy of the lake drive around Highway 321, head towards Banner Elk and stop to eat at Reid’s Cafe - you’ll be glad you did with the modern aesthetics combined with the Appalachian cuisine.
I hope I’ve inspired you to get out and explore where you live or where to visit next - there is so much more that I didn’t mention in this little corner of the country :)