Comin' to Appalachia!!

PikesPeakPoke · Unread post by **PikesPeakPoke** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:30 am

Howdy Mountaineers!

As a Wyoming Cowboy fan for the past 50 years, I've had the opportunity to visit some special places, but I'm excited to say that my wife and I will be visiting your beautiful part of the country for the first time. In fact, we've elected to make a week long vacation of it, starting in Nashville and then traveling over to Boone on Friday and then down through Ashville, up through GSMNP to Pigeon forge and then back to Nashville and the Grand Ol' Opry for Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert. Should be a great time!

Anyway, since I see the ASU/UW game time has now been posted as 3:30 pm, I guess we'll have Saturday morning to experience what Boone has to offer. This is where you come in.......in this limited amount of time, what do my wife and I go see or do? Blue Ridge Parkway? Cascade Falls? Downtown Boone? Blowing Rock? I'd really like to get your thoughts on this. Also, is there anything (other than GSMNP and Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg) that we shouldn't miss between Nashville and Boone?

I'm also looking forward to seeing Kidd Brewer Stadium and watching a good football game. The Pokes are off to a miserable start with 2 injured QB's, and a ton of young players on the field. I read they are playing 23 freshmen and redshirt freshmen, which is the most in the country. Talented bunch, but their inexperience is really showing.

Anyway, looking forward to the game and meeting some Mountaineer fans!

GIVE EM HELL WYO!
PikesPeakPoke

EastHallApp · Unread post by **EastHallApp** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:15 pm

Welcome in advance! Smart move to make a trip of it. Downtown Boone is great for pregame lunch, shopping and atmosphere. It's just a few minutes' walk from the stadium and/or campus as well. Plenty of good tailgating as well, if that interests you.

The parkway should be pretty spectacular around that time, as it's (hopefully) when the leaves will be changing. It's a beautiful drive, regardless. Grandfather Mountain is also worth a visit, if you have time.

Might want to allot a few extra minutes before kickoff to get into the stadium, as the lines at the gates can occasionally back up a bit. Plus you'll be walking uphill, so it can leave you winded if you're in a rush.

I haven't lived in Boone in quite a few years, so I'm sure others can give more suggestions.

proasu89 · Unread post by **proasu89** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:24 pm

PikesPeakPoke wrote:Howdy Mountaineers!

As a Wyoming Cowboy fan for the past 50 years, I've had the opportunity to visit some special places, but I'm excited to say that my wife and I will be visiting your beautiful part of the country for the first time. In fact, we've elected to make a week long vacation of it, starting in Nashville and then traveling over to Boone on Friday and then down through Ashville, up through GSMNP to Pigeon forge and then back to Nashville and the Grand Ol' Opry for Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert. Should be a great time!

Anyway, since I see the ASU/UW game time has now been posted as 3:30 pm, I guess we'll have Saturday morning to experience what Boone has to offer. This is where you come in.......in this limited amount of time, what do my wife and I go see or do? Blue Ridge Parkway? Cascade Falls? Downtown Boone? Blowing Rock? I'd really like to get your thoughts on this. Also, is there anything (other than GSMNP and Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg) that we shouldn't miss between Nashville and Boone?

I'm also looking forward to seeing Kidd Brewer Stadium and watching a good football game. The Pokes are off to a miserable start with 2 injured QB's, and a ton of young players on the field. I read they are playing 23 freshmen and redshirt freshmen, which is the most in the country. Talented bunch, but their inexperience is really showing.

Anyway, looking forward to the game and meeting some Mountaineer fans!

GIVE EM HELL WYO!
PikesPeakPoke

Welcome to the High Country! Since you're getting into our area on Friday, I would recommend hitting up downtown Blowing Rock on Friday afternoon and finding a nice spot for dinner there. Then on Saturday you can take in downtown Boone and campus leading up to the game. Allow some extra travel time on your way south so that you can take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville.

Try this link to get started

http://highcountryhost.com/

MtnDevil95 · Unread post by **MtnDevil95** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:37 pm

That should be a beautiful weekend if the weather holds. The high country leaves should be about in full color and make for some amazing views. I double up on the suggestion to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock to Asheville. That stretch of the drive offers some of the best views on the entire Parkway.

If you've got time once you hit Asheville, and any interest, there is always the Biltmore House. Otherwise bear in mind that Asheville is Beer City USA with over 17 breweries in walking distance of each other near downtown. I've a special love for Highland (which is not downtown) or Hi-Wire (which is downtown).

I would highly recommend breakfast at the Dan'l Boone Inn while you're in Boone. There's nothing quite like it, but get there early the line will wrap around the building and into the parking lot.

boonetown1 · Unread post by **boonetown1** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:49 pm

Welcome. Do not go to Daniel Boone Inn, way too touristy and overpriced for what the food is. Boone is filled with excellent places to eat....Our Daily Bread, Proper, Black Cat, Woodlands (in Blowing Rock), The Local, Lost Province to name a few....try those. I recommend going for an easy hike up rough ridge as well; it will be very nice views that time of year. Also, don't forget to walk around the tailgate scene and check out the campus.

Other than that, just explore and have a good time. There are a lot of good shops, good people, breweries (Appalachian Mountain Brewery is best) and events to see.

appbio91 · Unread post by **appbio91** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:00 pm

Speaking of Beer make sure to stop by the Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Boone for a pint or two. This place epitomizes the laid back college town atmosphere that is Boone. If you like IPA try the long leaf IPA.

Also Boone has a ton of great local restaurants. Stay away from the chains, not that they are bad but you are here to experience Boone. The Comeback Shack has great burgers, Woodlands in Blowing Rock has good BBQ, Black Cat for the best burrito around, Coyote Kintchen for unique tex mex. Take a look at trip advisor or yelp and you should be able to find some great food.

I'll second or third the parkway that time of year. Head out toward the Lincove Viaduct very cool bridge built around the mountain with spectacular views. Also a visitor center just past and you take take a short hike out there. Mentioned above Rough Ridge is awsome but some would not call it an easy hike. Not too bad but I would say moderate. Looking forward to welcoming you for App Homecoming 2015, shoukd be a great crowd.

APPdiesel · Unread post by **APPdiesel** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:37 pm

If time permits make a drive up Grandfather Mountain. You've seen it before...there's a scene in Forest Gump where he's rounding a hairpin turn and running up a mountain...Grandfather Mountain.

Also, try to use the correct (local) pronunciation of App-uh-latch-un, NOT App-uh-lay-shun. Other than that have fun, ask around - the locals in Boone are great.

PikesPeakPoke · Unread post by **PikesPeakPoke** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:49 pm

Special thanks to EAstHallApp, ProASU89 (good link by the way), MtnDevil95, boonetown1 and appbio91 for all the good information. With your suggestions, I'm sure my wife and I will be able to spend our Saturday morning time well.

A couple of you mentioned the Lost Province Brewing Co. The UW Alumni Association will be having our Friday night gathering there. And then on Saturday, the Cowboy Joe Club (our booster organization) will be meeting around 1:00 at the River Street Ale House. Looking forward to trying some local microbrews.

I'm sure we'll also find time to walk around the tailgating and meet some of you good folks. Most likely, I'll be in boots and a stetson.........but then again, that's basic Wyoming fan apparel.

Good luck tomorrow against ODU.

GIVE EM HELL MOUNTAINEERS!

PikesPeakPoke

Rekdiver · Unread post by **Rekdiver** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:54 pm

Drive the Parkway to Grandfather Mtn. Dont wast time at Cascade Falls. If you like game and dont mind the price I recommend The Gamekeeper Restaurant. In Blowing Rock..the Story Street Grill, Bistro Roca, Inn at Ragged Gardens or The Blowing Rock Ale House...there are others. I'll think of some other things to do this weekend.

appfanjj · Unread post by **appfanjj** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:24 pm

Take in Boone and Blowing Rock. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock all the way to Asheville. In Ashevillle eat at Tupelo Honey downtown. Thanks for coming. Hope you enjoy your visit to the NC High Country and our campus in particular. You will be treated well. Guaranteed.

Rekdiver · Unread post by **Rekdiver** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:48 pm

The Copper Barrel Distillery in Wilkesboro uses recipes passed down from the old moonshiners and theer is another one there I cant think of. about a 30 min drive from Boone and 20 minutes off the Parkway. take the tour and a taste

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 · Unread post by **/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:50 pm

I agree with all of the food places mentioned for Boone. They are all fantastic. While you're in Boone you should make it a point to eat at these places and support our local businesses. While visiting the south, particularly Tennessee and N.C. you must try Bojangles, Krystal's, Cookout, to name a few. They are fast food chains, but a nice quick stop that I make a point to visit when I visit the south (I live in the chaotic area of Northern Virginia). Bojangles everything is good. Krystal's has mini burgers, and Cook out has some slamming shakes and hush puppies. If you're new to hush puppies, try them, and you will love them. Of course you must have Carolina style BBQ. You're visiting the western part of the state which if memory serves me right tends to be more ketchup based (Help me out fellow Mountaineers). All food in the south is good. Period. Ha-ha. Enjoy your visit. You've come to the right place for a friendly recommendation to enjoy your visit.

proasu89 · Unread post by **proasu89** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:53 pm

PikesPeakPoke wrote:Special thanks to EAstHallApp, ProASU89 (good link by the way), MtnDevil95, boonetown1 and appbio91 for all the good information. With your suggestions, I'm sure my wife and I will be able to spend our Saturday morning time well.

A couple of you mentioned the Lost Province Brewing Co. The UW Alumni Association will be having our Friday night gathering there. And then on Saturday, the Cowboy Joe Club (our booster organization) will be meeting around 1:00 at the River Street Ale House. Looking forward to trying some local microbrews.

I'm sure we'll also find time to walk around the tailgating and meet some of you good folks. Most likely, I'll be in boots and a stetson.........but then again, that's basic Wyoming fan apparel.

Good luck tomorrow against ODU.

GIVE EM HELL MOUNTAINEERS!

PikesPeakPoke

River St. Ale House has excellent bar food. The Mountaineer Meatball Addiction is worthy of its name.

PikesPeakPoke · Unread post by **PikesPeakPoke** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:24 pm

Wow, can't thank you enough for all the good advice. Seems Like I should have made our Boone stay a day or two (or at least a half-dozen meals) longer! Can't wait to come.

GIVE EM HELL WYO!
PPP

S.Lewis15 · Unread post by **S.Lewis15** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:24 pm

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote:snip... Of course you must have Carolina style BBQ. You're visiting the western part of the state which if memory serves me right tends to be more ketchup based (Help me out fellow Mountaineers). All food in the south is good. Period. Ha-ha....Snip.

Correct on the BBQ. Western NC shredded pork BBQ has a tomato based sauce, while Eastern NC has a vinegar based sauce. Cookout serves Eastern Style BBQ.

As for the OP...
I'd recommend going up on the Blue Ridge Parkway early in the morning for some beautiful lighting on the landscape. You may even see some wildlife, deer or bears, crossing the road. Head south for more grandiose views of the mountains. Heading south will also take you on the Linn Cove Viaduct which wraps around the backside of Grandfather Mountain.

The breakfast at the Sunrise Grill is very good, and I love the service. Appalachian Mountain Brewery is my favorite place for beer in Boone, and their food truck has amazing wood fired pizza and is experimenting with new tacos at the moment. Woodlands in Blowing Rock has great BBQ and is a must visit restaurant to many people visiting the area. Black Cat, in downtown Boone, has fantastic burritos. Basically, all of the local restaurants in Boone have great food, you just have to decide which ones work for you haha.

DaphneUrquhart · Unread post by **DaphneUrquhart** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:26 pm

PikesPeakPoke wrote:Wow, can't thank you enough for all the good advice. Seems Like I should have made our Boone stay a day or two (or at least a half-dozen meals) longer! Can't wait to come.

GIVE EM HELL WYO!
PPP

Travel safely. Boone is a great little town. Be prepared for anything from high 70's to mid-30's ... and maybe in the same day. Watch for the game weather forecast here on Yosef's Cabin from our resident weather expert. He usually updates us several times during the week.

I live in Asheville and can speak to that leg of the journey. The Biltmore House is amazing if you enjoy American history. Biltmore Village (not to be confused with Biltmore Park) is an enjoyable walking tour of small shops. I recommend lunch at The Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village. New Morning Gallery (in Biltmore Village) has a great selection of local crafts.

Thue Folk Art Center (on the Blue Ridge Parkway) and the Southern Highland Craft Guild shop both have fine regional crafts. Downtown Black Mountain is a treasure and is similar to Blowing Rock.

The Blue Ridge Parkway will get you from Boone to Asheville. It will take a bit longer than several other routes between the two, but it's worth the time if you're driving in the daylight and can enjoy the sights. The beauty of our mountains is a graceful, timeless beauty - a completely different picture from the raw power and grandeur of the Rockies or Big Horns.

As for Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge, my personal opinion is that Gatlinburg (first US town built specifically as a tourist town) has become a bit run down since the economic downturn. What used to be a main street of quaint shops and interesting restaurants is more like a string of cheap t-shirt shops and ticky-tacky souvenirs. Pigeon Forge is in a bit better shape economically. If you enjoy shopping at outlet malls, Pigeon Forge is a good place. In both cases, stay off the beaten path and you'll have much more fun.

We're looking forward to hosting the Cowboys! See you in Boone.

AppAlum1 · Unread post by **AppAlum1** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:45 pm

Pike:
I was there in Wyo. back in 2004, with my wife & two sons. We got hammered!! 55-7, I think. And, there was that thunderstorm that sort of gave us two halftimes. But, the Cowboy fans were really nice and we had a blast!

App's real problem that day was that it was our first ever game running the spread option. It looked like we'd never played a down of football before. Well, we have improved some since then.

BTW, I'm not sure about the fall leaf season some others have suggested will be good. I think Oct. 3 is too early for that. I hope you'll like our mountains. They are completely different from those in the West.

But, for things to do, I suggest Mast General Store (the Boone one is nice, and the Valle Crusis one is even better) and downtown Boone in the morning, and tailgating beginning about Noon. Come visit our tailgate, Duncan lot, space 56. Wear your colors. We'll share. If you are in town Friday, there will be a Homecoming parade that evening in the downtown.

Oh yeah, and the Lost Province Brewery is REALLY good beer and pizza.

Good luck! Safe travels! And, I hope the Mountaineers win!

HighlandsApp · Unread post by **HighlandsApp** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 10:08 pm

You may want to spend more time in Boone Asheville area and reconsider Gatlinburg area unless you really like wax museums, fake everything and lots of cheesy bad restaurants and shows.

I live in Highlands, NC which is in the Southern Highlands. You can visit lots of interesting towns in and around Asheville that would be far better than Gatlinburg area.

Here is an example watch the video:

http://highlandschamber.org/

I would go visit Chattanooga on the way to Nashville and skip Gatlinburg area.

Have fun.

proasu89 · Unread post by **proasu89** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 5:36 am

Agree with HighlandsApp about skipping Gatlinburg and hitting Chattanooga instead. Went to Gatlinburg twice in the same trip, first and last!

HkyMtneer · Unread post by **HkyMtneer** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:30 am

I will say that one big + Gatlinburg has going for it is 4 moonshine/whiskey joints and 2 wine tasting rooms within walking distance of each other. If you're into sippin' a little shine (or as often my case when going to G'burg - lots of sippin'!) you won't find a better place to drink for free. Get a hotel near downtown, park, and walk everywhere...no worries at the end of the night. Within a half-mile of each other you have the "big" boy on the block, Ole Smoky Moonshine, best known for their shine-infused cherries and best sweet tea of the bunch. Just feet from there you'll find Sugarlands Distilling, which probably has the most "unique" taste of the bunch, drier, less sugar, and more corn. Cross the road and walk a few hundred more feet and you'll find Davy Crockett's Distillery...this one has lots of unique flavors, like a milky-fireball type shine. The newest shop on the stretch is the furthest away from the core but worth the walk in my opinion. It's called Doc Collier's and the price point is just a tad higher than the rest but I think the quality is a tad higher as well. Be sure to give their Rum, Vodka, and Moonshine Brandy a shot. If you're into vino you can mix-in two tasting locations: Sugarland Cellars and Bootlegger's homemade wine located between the bunch. Once you're done, and if you're still upright, start all over again and just go to a different sampling station, as they're usually so busy they don't even know you've been in there an hour or two ago. Ha! All-in-all and if something you're interested in...can make for a fun (and FREE) night and suddenly Gatlinburg seems a lot cooler!

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