One of our favorite weekend trips is to the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically the Boone or Blowing Rock area. Whether skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, there is always something to do there. With amazing views and great food, the mountains are the perfect getaway for families or just a group of friends.
We sat down with Jennifer, the owner of the Blue Ridge Escape on WIllow Mountain near Boone, to learn about her recent trip to the area and what she likes to do when there. As a Boone native, she always has great suggestions for places that only the local knows!
I went to Boone with my husband, my Mom, and two children for our Annual Snow Trip and stayed at The Blue Ridge Escape on Willow Mountain. We lucked out with snow prior to our arrival and immediately wanted to take advantage by sledding down the hill in front of the house. The snow was too soft to make a snowman but we could make snow angels and had an epic snowball battle.
To add to this snow adventure, we made s’mores in the firepit and soaked in the hot tub. My son and Mom (a.k.a Grandma) played ping pong in the Game Room (Grandma won 😀) while my daughter kept score, and myself and hubby put together a puzzle. If you look around the house, you’ll see many puzzles he has put together and framed. It’s our favorite pastime at The Mountain House.
The next day, we went to Hawksnest to Snowtube and afterward did acrylic painting at The Drawing Room in Foscoe (7 minutes from the house). The owner, Susan, is great and can accommodate small or big groups of people at her studio. My husband and I left the children with Grandma that evening so he and I could have dinner out. We settled on The Local in downtown Boone near ASU. The menu is quite vast with huge appetizer options, of which we ordered many plus an entree to share.
We ended the night with a drink at The Horton Hotel and Rooftop Bar; a favorite of ours. This boutique hotel (originally built by H.W. Horton in the 1920’s) has a speakeasy vibe with incredible mixologists for both bars, a 360 degree view of Boone from the rooftop bar, and it is located in the heart of Boone.
In the morning we woke to deer frolicking outside our door in the side lot and had a cup of coffee on the porch while looking across the street at the wintry trees and hillsides of the Willow Valley Golf Course.
On our way out of town, we made a quick stop at The Mast General Store in Valle Crucis to get candy at The Candy Barrel. Fun Trip!
