The Ideal Spot for a Budget Vacation: Boone, North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Mountains cross through North Carolina. This is a place where you can see some of the most beautiful natural scenery around. There are many different activities that you can do in this area that will entertain the whole family. This is not only a great place to relax but a great place to create memories that everyone will cherish for years to come. In the Boone NC area there are many things to do. Boone is located about 70 miles from Ashville and only 50 miles from Johnson City Tennessee.

About 19 miles from Boone there is Grandfather Mountain. One of the biggest attractions at Grandfather Mountain is the Mile High Swinging Bridge. This isn't for the faint at heart. This is a 228 foot suspension bridge that is 1 mile above sea level. You walk across 80 feet of this bridge to get to the other side. Then 80 feet back. The scene is beautiful but the bridge will sway when the wind blows or when other people are walking on the bridge. This is part of the admission price of entering the Grandfather Mountain Park. Also at the park you can see the habitats for black bears, otters, bald eagles and other animals native to the area. There are many different walking trails for you to walk and hike through. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the settings at one of the many tables they have throughout the park. When we went it wasn't crowded, and it was a beautiful day. There is a nearby RV site that you can bring your camper, RV or stay in a tent.

Near Grandfather Mountain there is an amusement park Tweetsie Railroad. This park has the feel of the Old Wild West. You can ride a steam engine train and be part of a train robbery while on the ride. There is also a place there that you can pan for gold. People at the park are dressed as cowboys and Indians so there are plenty of great photo opportunities there to get pictures taken with them.

While in Boone you will want to visit Linville Caverns, this is the only cavern that you can visit in North Carolina. Inside you will find a stream flowing through the cavern and some local history left in there from many years ago. It was a great experience to visit the caverns.

While Boone offers many more things and entertainment these were my favorite places to visit and take the kids. My children really enjoyed visiting these places. The nice thing was none of these places were really that expensive to visit and we had a great time.