the outlets are just outside of town and you should def not skip Blowing rock. you can avoid the tackyness easily.

Dayle....MouseRD pretty much suggested everything I was going to suggest! lol

I live in Asheville, and it's a nice town to walk around for a day. Nice shops, restaurants, etc, and at night you can usually find a nice bar/pub with a live band. Asheville is known for it's ecclectic musical talent. If you were to do that, I recommend Jack of the Wood. It's on Patton Avenue, right there in downtown. The downtown area is the best place to just walk around and find things to do.

I ditto the comment on not skipping Blowing Rock. The outlets are small and outside of town. Go to downtown Blowing Rock, grab some ice cream at Kilwins and then walk across the street to the park and just people watch. I went to college at ASU in Boone. It is such a fun area. You might also check out Howard's Knob. Drive all the way to the top and you get great views of Boone. Watauga Lake just over the TN border os so gorgeous at sunset. Banner Elk is a quaint little town. Have a blast.

Thanks so much everyone for all the great recommendations. Personal comments always mean so much more than guidebooks. Although, now Fodor's is quoting lots of us in their books!

I haven't googled the exact location of the cabin/home, but it does look to be up in the forest and not right in town. Anything is fine with me, this will be a whole new adventure.

It's fun listening to you "locals" talk about the area like I talk about all the small towns and details of UT. We know our homes so well, but first time visitors really don't know anything! Just goes to show you have to go somewhere yourself to really form an opinion.

Now, if I could just find a non-stop from SLC to Charlotte. Seems the days of quick and esay air travel really have ended. I'm seriously considering shipping my 1 bag through Fed Ex. At least I get a guarantee for my money.

Happy travels

Dayle, today's edition of the Winston Salem Journal features an article on expected fall color this year. The writer says the best color is likely to be right around Boone, Blowing Rock. Looks like you are in for a treat.

cmcfong,

Thanks! That's good to hear, although I'm not going until next Oct. Our own leaves are turning fast and a little early. Very brilliant this year, I think due to the big snow year we had.

My geraniums didn't make it last night. Lows got down to 33...the basil plant spent the night indoors - still lots of pesto and caprese to come!

Oh goodness, I thought you were coming next month, not 2009! Looks like I will be in Park City before you get here.

I have brown crunchy leaves in my yard today! We are an hour from Boone. I will try to pay attention to the color in higher elevations this week and give y'all a report.

This weekend is the Autumn at Oz festival in Beech Mountain, near Boone.

In the early 70's, there was a small Land of Oz theme park on the top of Beech Mountain. I have home movies somewhere of my only visit. The theme park died around 1980 and eventually some really nice homes were built right where the park used to be since it's great mountain real estate with some wonderful views.

Every year at the site there's a gathering of people who used to work at or just love the park. There are some remnants of the park like the Yellow Brick Road, which has mostly been restored, and some of the buildings. My husband and I explored the area a few years ago on a whim and found it in better shape than we expected.

http://www.emeraldmtn.com/LandofOz/oz.htm for info on this weekend's festival.

Cades Cove is beautiful...just do all you can to avoid Pigeon Forge and its evil twin Gatlinburg.

www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

Cades Cove is at least three hours from Boone, probably more as there are many two-lane roads between the two.

This is a good time to plug one of my favorite websites, I can't believe it didn't occur to me until now.

http://www.highcountrywebcams.com/ has webcams from all over the Boone - Blowing Rock - Grandfather Mountain area. I use it for ski and snow info, but you can also click the different webcams to check out the leaves (during the day, of course ).

Thanks for more you wonderful people. I'll keep checking all this out, since I do have plenty of time.

Our leaves are right a peak this weekend, but they are predicting a foot of snow that will quickly remove them from the trees.

The leaves have been amazingly brilliant this year and we've had super weather all month.

Dayle,

It's just turned midnight on October 19th in Boone. Some miscellaneous comments from a resident:

The colors are peaking just about now. If you're not here yet, you may well miss them. The Wooly Worm Festival is/was this weekend in Banner Elk. Though you have to get a permit (not hard to do), there are some great hiking trails on Grandfather Mt., of varying difficulty. You HAVE to go up on the Grandfather anyway; it's worth it. The Linville Viaduct on the Parkway is also worth seeing, but beware of hiking in Linville Gorge. It's very rough; people get lost there regularly.

Depending on how long you plan to be in the Boone/Blowing Rock area, I wouldn't spend too much time driving to other areas. Asheville is great, but at least two hours away in each direction. Unless there were some very special occasion, I wouldn't go for a day. (Although I know some people who go to see movies, as Boone is movie-deprived for independent films, about the only complaint I have.)

If you like off-road hiking and/or biking, you might try the new Elk Mt. State Park off Hwy. 194 between Boone and West Jefferson. Ask for directions.

Re the Tanger Outlets outside Blowing Rock: Yes, they are outside of the town, but actually are the least tacky outlets I've seen anywhere. They work hard to give it an upscale atmosphere. Blowing Rock, as mentioned, is an old-time tourist town which is enjoyable, though a litte snooty. Knight's on Main is a good casual dining spot where locals (as opposed to tourists) eat. However, I personally prefer downtown Boone, if you can find parking. Since it's both a college and a tourist town, it's a lot funkier. Hands Gallery, on W. King St. is great. And try Cha Da Thai (yes, a Thai restaurant) a bit further west and one block south on Howard St. It's very good.

A Boonie

I meant to say "Linn Cove Viaduct," as per the previous poster, but it's late!

Again, Dayle, if you're not on your way or here already, here's my take on flights: You're not likely to find non-stops to any airport in N.C. Hence, since Charlotte is a lot closer than RDU, a 1-stop on Northwest through either Detroit or Minneapolis, is probably your best bet. (I prefer RDU as an airport, but why double your drive time?)

Another choice might be the Piedmont Triad Airport (GSO), which is between Greensboro and Winston-Salem. It's probably the easiest drive. They also have 1-stop flights on Northwest, but the flight schedules do not appear to be nearly as good as those for Charlotte.

oldbutonthego,

Thanks for your additional info! I'll check the other airport too. I'm actually doing this trip in October 2009, so I have plenty of time.

I already had plans for this October so when we agreed on the home exchange, we made it for next year. I'm so glad the airfare has come down from what they were showing a month ago!

You have some really good suggestions here- IF you were able to make it the first week in October next year- the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is always held the first Saturday in October in Wilkesboro. (just at the foot of the boone mountains). You do not say what state you are in- but if you like the mountains- you will find plenty to do in the Boone area. Personally- I would not be too interested in Winston Salem- considering how much there is to do around Boone.
The Ashe mountains- the area of Boone- the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway- rather than thinking of W Salem- I would opt for Cashiers area- lots of waterfalls- and the area of cades cove etc- I like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg- but they are touristy and busy places. Yet if you have never seen them- I would give them consideration. The Nanahala River is not such a far ride and great scenic area and popular river rafting area-although I would say too cold in October for rafting.
You should have a great time in Boone for a week- I spent 53 years in the area- and have never tired of it yet!! Have fun.