Boone
Boone, North Carolina, was named for Daniel Boone, legendary frontiersman and patriot, who had a hunting camp in the area from 1760 to 1769. Located off the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, Boone offers its residents and visitors a four-season playground for outdoor activities such as bouldering, rock climbing, snow sports, water sports and cycling. Boone captures the feel of a small, charming mountain town along with the sophistication of a college town with outstanding academic opportunities (and free tuition for residents over the age of 65) at Appalachian State University.
Boone is favored by travel journalists as an "ultimate outdoor adventure destination" in the Southeast and has been listed in multiple editions of "The 100 Best Small Towns in America." Restaurants feature everything from modern mountain cuisine to fine French and Italian dining. And shopping is plentiful, ranging from malls and national chains to local shops, antique fairs and roadside vendors.
Boone is also home to the recently expanded Watauga Medical Center, part of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System; scores of businesses, large and small, as well as tourist attractions and an impressive array of cultural events, many of which are part of the Appalachian Summer Festival.