Travel: Boone, North Carolina

Distance from Greenville: 158 miles
By car: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town of Boone, North Carolina, anchored by Appalachian State University, has earned the distinction of being a top destination for outdoor activities. But don’t let the notion of its being a sleepy little mountain town fool you. Sure, most of its stores do close by 6 p.m., but beyond that, Boone’s got a bustling, citified vibe from boutiques to espresso bars, with plenty of art and crafts and, of course, sports stores (hiking, snowboarding, skiing, and bicycling) in between.

The town’s best kept secret may be its inspired cuisine. Just ask New Orleans transplant Erin Bernard, a sophomore at Appalachian State who works at Boone Drug Company, an old-fashioned soda fountain and deli counter established in 1919. “We do have a surprising variety of food, and it’s nice to support local business,” she says. “There aren’t any Starbucks here.”

Instead, start your day at Espresso News for the best-tasting caffe outside of Italy (they also sell truffles like lemon-mint or Hungarian hot paprika, a bonus to the varied menu), while you peruse the offerings upstairs at Mosaic Books. Walk a few blocks to the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, which houses an impressive rotating and permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, and photography among five galleries with donation-based entry. After whetting your appetite for art, wind your way down West King Street to Tupelo’s World Café and quench your thirst with a Tuppelini, their version of a Bellini, and sample savory dishes from Cuba, India, Scandinavia, and beyond (with organic, seasonal ingredients), like a sweet-potato enchilada with a confetti of pumpkin seeds on top, a Kobe beef burger with Thai curry sauce, or even sushi.

Next, pop into Lucky Penny or Gladiola Girls for fashion picks on par with that of the big city (Lucky Penny, upstairs, boasts a hair salon, yoga studio, and massage). Just down the street, find Caravan Botanicals and Fiona’s Fountain homemade soaps in delectable scents. If vintage finds are your fancy, there are more than a few on West King Street. Looking for a signed photo of Fanny Brice, the original “Funny Girl”? It’s there. So are an antique Carousel horse, martini sets from the 1960s, and much more.

Set aside time for the Art Crawl which takes place the first Friday of every month with galleries and shops open late. There’s also great music (banjo, accordion, harmonica, and guitar-fueled bluegrass) at various downtown locations, or just assembled on the street, which adds to the thriving scene. For dinner, try Char on Howard Street with its sleek, modern, yet unpretentious vibe, offering extraordinary fare such as almond- and coconut-encrusted sea bass. After 10 p.m. (Thursday through Saturday), the restaurant transforms: Artwork comes down, tables get pushed back, and disco lights turn on as a DJ spins music for a dance-happy crowd.

Sleep it off at the historic Lovill House Inn (rooms start at $119), an 11-acre, wooded, and elegant retreat with six guest rooms, though standard accommodations (Best Western, Country Inn & Suites) abound as well.

A mountain town with heart and spark, Boone will welcome you back time and time again.

Eat

Char
Unique American fare in a chic setting.
179 Howard Street
(828) 266-2179, char179.com

Espresso News
Transport yourself to Roma.
267 Howard Street
(828) 264-8850

Tupelo’s World Café
Tame your craving for world cuisine.
506 West King Street
(828) 262-5000, tupelosworldcafe.com

Sleep

Lovill House Inn
Quiet, wooded setting with six elegantly appointed rooms.
404 Old Bristol Road
(828) 264-4204, lovillhouseinn.com

Seek

Boone Drug Company
Old-fashioned drugstore and soda fountain, turn-of-the-century charm intact.
617 West King Street
(828) 264-3766, boonedrug.com

Caravan Botanicals & Fiona’s Fountain
Homemade soaps, good for the soul as well as the skin.
555 West King Street
(828) 719-0618

Gladiola Girls & Lucky Penny
Stylish threads for any occasion.
549 West King Street (828) 264-4120, gladiolagirls.com;
Lucky Penny
132 Appalachian Street
(828) 264-0302, luckypennyboone.com