When it comes to things to do in Boone with families and kids, Boone is the perfect place to base yourselves in the high country. So what are some fun activities in Boone with kids?
- Hiking ☀️❄️🔄🌳
- Rock Climbing ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Ziplining ☀️❄️🔄🌳
- Tweetsie Railroad ☀️❄️🔄🌳
- Berry Picking ☀️🌳
- Horn in the West ☀️🌳
- Farmers’ Markets ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Picnic with a View ☀️🌳
- Ice Cream ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Horseback Riding ☀️🌳
- Playgrounds ☀️❄️🔄🌳
- Gem Mining ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Festivals and Events ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Go For a Swim ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- River Tubing ☀️🌳
- Canoe or Kayak ☀️🌳
- River Wading ☀️🌳
- Visit a Winery ☀️🌳
- Booneshine Brewing Company ☀️🌳
- Free Outdoor Concerts ☀️🌳
- Sporting Events ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Greenway Trail ☀️🌳
- Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park ☀️🌳
- Camping ☀️🌳
- Bowling ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Children’s Playhouse ☀️❄️🔄🏢🌳
- Movie Theater ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Do Some Art ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Apple Hill Farm ☀️🌳
- Skiing and Snowboarding ❄️🌳
- Snowtubing and Sledding ❄️🌳
- Ice Skating ❄️🌳
- Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster ☀️❄️🌳
- Mini Golf ☀️🌳
- Mystery Hill ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Escape Room ☀️❄️🔄🏢
- Moses H Cone Memorial Park ☀️🌳
Things To Do in Boone With Kids: Key
☀️ Summer Activity
❄️ Winter Activity
🔄 Year Round Activity
🏢 Indoor Activity
🌳 Outdoor Activity
Hiking
Hiking is the activity in Boone that probably draws the most visitors. And there are plenty of hikes nearby that are suitable for kids and families!
If you’re looking for creek play, you could check out Goshen Creek. If you’re wanting a hike close to town, your family could hike up Boone United Trail. Or if you’re looking for an adventure, you could even try Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Peak.
And for a whole list of hiking options in Boone for kids and families, check out Best Hikes in Boone, NC for Families with Young Kids.
Rock Climbing
For those without a fear of heights (or those looking to tackle their fear), Boone offers a number of options for rock climbing.
In downtown, the whole family can scale the outdoor rock wall at Rock Dimensions. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can test out your skills on the real deal. Rock Dimensions also offers full and half day tours for climbers of all ability levels.
And if the weather isn’t cooperating, Center 45 is an indoor bouldering gym that the whole family can enjoy. Not everyone keen to climb? Not a problem! Center 45 is right next door to the best family friendly coffee spot in Boone - Hatchet Coffee.
For a full list of where to find the best coffee in Boone, check out this article.
Ziplining
Speaking of heights, Boone also offers a few ziplining options to send you and the kids soaring through the trees with the birds.
Sky Valley Zip Tours is the closest to town. And they even have a special kids ziplining area suitable for kids as young as 4 years old. Their regular canopy tour is available for kids 10 and up.
High Gravity Adventures offers both ziplining and a high ropes course. Plus, it shares a parking lot with Tweetsie Railroad, a wild west theme park that kids just seem to love. (See below for more info on Tweetsie)
And finally, there’s Hawksnest that offers their Hawk tour with 11 cables to kids aged 5 and up, and their Eagle tour with 3 miles of cables to kids aged 8 and up. Plus, in the winter they offer snowtubing… and winter ziplining!
If you're looking for a place to stay in Boone, my new favorite tool is Booking.com. Yes - I think it has finally surpassed Airbnb on my travel planning top ten list!
Why? Booking.com offers a mix of hotels and rental properties. Many of them have free cancellation policies. Cleaning fees are included in the price you see!
Pro tips for using Booking.com:
- If you book through their app, you'll often get an additional "mobile only" discount.
- Create a free account and get an additional 10% off certain stays with their "genius" discount.
- Once you click on a property, be sure to look below the bolded price. It will show you how much will be added for taxes!
Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad is one of the most popular things to do in Boone with kids. Tweetsie calls themselves a Wild West Theme Park. And you can certainly fill an entire day there! Check out the old steam trains, go for a spin on the carnival-like theme park rides, enjoy some live entertainment, pet some animals, or even go gem mining.
And if you have any time left in your day, head next door to High Gravity Adventures for a high ropes course and ziplining!
Berry Picking
Snow Farm specializes in blueberries usually starting in late June. Their roadside sign notes that they are an organic farm. They post updates on their website so you know what days and hours they are open each week based on the status of the berries. They are cash only, some come prepared!
Greene Family Tree Farm stays open in the summers for visits to their Blueberry Patch. Their website notes that they are an organic farm, so you don’t have to worry about the kiddos eating pesticides when they do some sampling at the patch.
Swinging Bridge Farm is another Christmas tree farm that offers upick blueberries in the summertime. They also offer farm tours that include a visit to their orangery and suspension bridge.
If you’re on a hike, you may even find some blackberries to snack on. There are a few spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway that are listed on this website, or we’ve also found some at the start of the trail from Brookshire Park.
Please note: Berry picking in NC state parks is illegal! So if you find yourself hiking at Elk Knob, Grandfather Mountain, or Mount Jefferson state park, leave the berries for the birds.
Horn in the West
If you’re interested in activities for kids in Boone that involve learning about high country history, a visit to Horn in the West could be worth it for your family.
Check out historical cabins and artifacts at Hickory Ridge Museum, or even a live show at the Horn in the West Outdoor Theater. And Mutz-Mag is a show specifically geared toward children. Check out the show dates on the Horn in the West website.
Farmers’ Market
Sharing a parking lot with Horn in the West, you’ll find the Watauga County Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 8-12 April - October, and 9-12 in November.
There is always a kids table with crafts and other activities to keep little ones busy - so you can pick up all the local veggies, baked goods, crafts, and other local goodies. One of our favorite playgrounds, Jaycee Park, is just around the corner as well if the kids need to shake more of the sillies out.
On Tuesdays evenings from May to October, you’ll find the King Street Farmer’s Market open from 4-7pm. It’s smaller, but has a little bit of everything you would both need and want… including a kids’ table. Plus, it’s walking distance from downtown and offers free onsite parking.
And if you’re visiting Boone in winter, there’s even a farmers’ market for you! On Saturdays December - April from 9am - 12pm, you can visit Boone’s Winter Farmers’ Market. And don’t worry - it’s indoors! And, you guessed it… a kids’ table!
Picnic With a View
If you’re looking for a calmer activity, there are a number of overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway. These overlooks often have grassy areas perfect for spreading out a picnic blanket and soaking in the views. Some even have picnic tables available!
Some of the most popular overlooks include Rough Ridge and Thunder Hill. But there are a number of other local overlooks that can be just as spectacular, like Boone’s Trace, Grandview, and Osborne Mountain.
Off the parkway, you can even find some incredible views right from Boone’s Caldwell Community College parking lot. And don’t worry, you won’t be that weirdo picnicking at the community college. It’s a well-known area to locals. We even had our family photos taken there!
If you're looking for accommodation with a view, and have every meal admiring the mountains, check out this rental property.
Ice Cream
After your picnic, if you’re looking for something else to do in Boone or are feeling the need for a sweet treat, there are a couple of places to get some ice cream in Boone.
Downtown, it’s hard to miss the Ben and Jerry’s (always with multiple dairy free options!). There are some rocking chairs outside that are popular for ice cream eating and people watching. But in the summer months, they’re often occupied. So we like to take our ice creams up to the picnic tables at Jones House Cultural Center.
There is also often a cart selling frozen ice cups along King Street. And if they aren’t there, you can always get shaved ice from J&J’s Hawaiian Ice, or even from the freezers at Wildwood Community Market (which even has a small kids’ play kitchen inside).
Don’t need dairy free? Blue Deer on King has build-your-own ice cream cookie sandwiches and espresso drinks. Though if all you’re after is coffee, I have some better recommendations in this article.
Not downtown? Close to Walmart, you’ll find a Sweet Frog that usually has at least one dairy free option.
Horseback Riding
There aren’t too many options for trail rides in the area, especially if you don’t have your own horse! But Leatherwood Mountain offers guided trail rides, or even leadline rides for kids as young as 3 years old.
VX3 offers guided trail rides at Moses Cone Memorial Park starting at age 12. Moses Cone Park also offers a number of hiking trails, tours of the Manor, and craft demonstrations.
Playgrounds
When the kids just need to be kids for a bit, there are a number of playgrounds around Boone to suit your family’s needs. The Tot Lot is the most popular playground, Junaluska is closest to downtown Boone, and Boone Jaycee Park can easily be paired with a visit to the Watauga County Farmers’ Market.
For a full list of all the best playgrounds in Boone and the surrounding high country, check out this article.
Gem Mining
If you’ve never gone “gem mining”, you may be surprised to learn that you aren’t actually going into a mine. You aren’t given a pick axe. And it won’t be a problem if you tend to be claustrophobic.
Instead, you are given a bucket of rocks. You then sift through those rocks to find your gems. You generally pay by the bucket size, and will always find at least one gem. Some of the gem mines in the area even include polishing and shaping services!
There are a lot of options for gem mining in Boone and the surrounding high country including Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, The Greater Foscoe Mining Co, Prospector Hill Gem Mining, Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine, and Sugar Creek Gem Mine. Some offer other activities as well, so it all depends on what you’re looking for!
Festivals and Events
Especially over the summer months and around holidays, you’re likely to come across some festivals, events, parades, and live music in Boone and the high country. These seasonal events can be some of the most fun things to do in Boone for the whole family! For an up to date and convenient way to check for the going ons when you’re visiting is to head over to the High Country Events Calendar.
Go For a Swim
Even though Boone is cooler than a lot of other parts of North Carolina, that summer sun can still get hot! If you’re looking things to do in Boone to cool off in the summer months, there are a few places to swim in the high country.
Robbins Pool in Blowing Rock is heated (trust me, it's important here), allows guest passes (meaning you don’t have to be a resident of Blowing Rock to swim), and even has a splash zone for little ones. For the big kids, there’s a waterslide. Lifeguards are on duty, and there’s a concession stand for snacks and refreshments.
Near Banner Elk, there’s Wildcat Lake. You can go swimming, hang out in the sand, or even visit the playground. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer and there is a sheltered picnic area if you want to escape the sun for a bit.
And if the weather isn’t cooperating, you can always check out the indoor pool at the Watauga Community Recreation Center. When you purchase a day pass, you do need to pay an initiation fee. So that first visit will cost you a pretty penny. But it does get you access to the entire rec center - including the fitness center, lap pool, kids pool, and gymnasium. The pool features a water slide and splash zone.
River Tubing
For another cooling off option, floating down the river is definitely a popular activity in the high country. Most trips take 2-3 hours, but Wahoo’s Adventure allows unlimited floats for the day. So if you get to the end and want to start again, it’s no extra cost! And most companies will bus you there and back from town.
A number of companies will rent you tubes, drop you off, and meet you down river. A few options include High Mountain Expeditions(minimum age of 3), Wahoo’s Adventures (no age limit but BYO infant life vest), River and Earth Adventures (no age limit specified), and Appalachian Tubing Co (no age specified plus allows dogs).
Canoe or Kayak
A number of the tubing companies also offer canoe and kayak rentals, including Wahoo’s Adventures, River and Earth Adventures, and High Mountain Expeditions.
And if you’d rather paddle on water that isn’t moving beneath you, kayaks and canoes are available to rent at Wildcat Lake, where you can also spend the day swimming. Also, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and close to a number of kid-friendly hikes, you can rent canoes and kayaks at Price Lake.
River Wading
Finally, if you’re only looking to get a little bit wet, there are plenty of places for some creek play in Boone. There are a number of kid-friendly hikes that follow a creek or river. And you can check out those options in the article Best Hikes in Boone, NC for Families with Young Kids.
In addition to those hiking trails, you can also find some fun creek play at the Greenway and at Brookshire Park. Or even at Grandfather Vineyard and Winery. Just be sure to check the water quality before you go using the Watauga River Keepers Swim Guide.
Want a place to stay where you can go wading in the stunning Goshen Creek right from your backyard? Check out this rental property - my kids would seriously love this one 😍
Visit a Winery
I know, I know. At first glance, visiting a winery doesn’t seem like the most kid-friendly thing to do in Boone. But wineries provide ample green space for kids to run around. Plus they usually allow you to picnic in your own food. Some even have lawn games out, and Grandfather Vineyard and Winery has a creek to play in.
Grandfather Winery can get crowded in the summer months, so you may not find an available table, or you may need to park pretty far away. Other options in the area include Banner Elk Winery and Old Barn Winery and Vineyards in West Jefferson.
Booneshine Brewing Company
Speaking of booze, a lot of families find themselves relaxing on the lawn and at the picnic tables of Booneshine Brewery in the summer months. They usually have a food truck outside, a drink stand outside, and lawn games set up for kids and adults to enjoy together. Sometimes they even have live music on the lawn.
Free Outdoor Concerts
In the summer months, Jones House Cultural Center has free concerts every Friday night starting at 5:30pm on their front lawn in downtown Boone. So bring a blanket, grab some sandwiches and drinks from Wildwood Community Market, and enjoy the music with the family!
Alcoholic drinks are allowed on the lawn… they just have to stay there. You can’t go walking off downtown with your drink in hand. Open containers aren’t a thing in Boone!
In Banner Elk, Tate-Evans Park has free Summer Concerts in the Park on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. For families, the best part about these concerts is that the playground is located just behind the stage. So you can push your little one on the swing to the beat of the music instead of missing out.
Sporting Events
Being a college town, you have your options of sporting events to choose from in Boone. Obviously, the most popular being football. But you could also check out App State baseball, basketball, and volleyball (among others).
In addition to App State sports, we love going to Boone Bigfoots games. It’s baseball. What, that wasn’t intuitive? They are super low key, low cost games, and the team doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
We always opt for the lawn seats as it most easily allows the kids to run around, play catch, make a mess with their snacks, etc. There’s always a food truck, concession stand, and drinks table there, but you can BYO just about anything!
Greenway Trail
The main entrance to Boone’s Greenway Trail is located right next to the ever popular Tot Lot playground. And it's probably one of the most popular things to do in Boone for locals and visitors alike.
The actual Greenway is a paved path in a bit of nature that is bike-friendly, dog-friendly, and kid-friendly. There are portable toilets at the entrance and sometimes by the soccer fields. And you can find plenty of covered picnic shelters by the main entrance.
There are multiple access points for creek play for kids and canines alike. And if you’re looking for a break from the pavement and the flatness of the Greenway, the Kennedy Trails spur off from the Greenway and give you just that.
Other places to access the Greenway are found in a neighborhood (with no parking available), at a parking lot by the skate park, at the App State intramural fields, and next to the Boone Loyal of the Moose.
Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park
If you and your family are into mountain biking, you may want to check out Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park. Not only is it a 185 acre park dedicated to mountain bike trails, but there’s also a playground by the parking lot that has some incredible views.
If you don’t have a bike with you, Magic Cycles in downtown Boone has bikes you can rent. Rocky Knob’s website also mentions renting from Boone Bike and Touring, but as of right now they are no longer offering this service.
Go Camping
One of the most popular camping spots in the area is at Julian Price Campground. They have both tent and RV spots. And they always reserve a few spots for first come, first serve. So if you haven’t made a reservation, if you get there early, you should still be able to find an available site!
If you’re looking for other options, this website lists 10 options for all types of camping - from glamping pods to backcountry campsites.
Bowling
Another activity for kids in Boone for when the weather isn’t cooperating is bowling. High Country Lanes is the local bowling alley and offers standard bowling, arcade games, and pub-like food. And if you’re visiting in the summer, High Country Lanes participates in the Kids Bowl Free program. You can learn more here.
Children’s Playhouse
You can’t have a list of things to do in Boone with kids without including Children’s Playhouse. For families with little ones seven and under, this miniature children’s museum is a much welcome respite for kids that just need to be kids for a bit.
They have rotating art activities, a play cottage, rock wall, ball pit, train set, building toys, and so many more kid-perfect activities. Children’s Playhouse is open Tuesday - Saturdays and you can find out more information about pricing and their hours on their website.
Movie Theater
If the weather isn’t cooperating, or you need a break from the sun, or that movie your kids have been dying to see happens to come out during your trip to Boone - don’t worry. There are a few movie theater options in the area.
The most standard, typical movie theater is Regal Cinemas in Boone. They’re the ones to go to if you’re looking for new releases and the most options for showtimes. Sometimes the concession line can be long. Download the app ahead of time and place a mobile order to beat the que!
For a more affordable option, Parkway Theater in West Jefferson usually has two movies playing with one showtime per day. They are cash or check only, but one of the movies is usually kid friendly, and tickets and concessions are very reasonably priced!
In addition to live shows and music, App Theater in downtown Boone also does movie screenings semi-regularly. They are generally throw back classics, but some of them are kid friendly. And in summers in the past, they’ve offered free Saturday morning movies for kids!
Do Some Art
Blowing Rock Art and History Museum isn’t just a place to constantly remind your kids to look and not touch! They also offer art classes for preschool aged kids all the way up to 10 years old. Check out their current scheduling here. They also offer “Backpack Art Camps” that includes all the materials and instructions needed for multiple art projects to take home (or back to the hotel) with you!
In Boone, Let’s Be Artsy offers “sip and paint” type classes as well as craft classes. But they’re open to anyone aged 8+. And if you have at least 10 in your group, you can book a private event just for your friends and family.
Apple Hill Farm
Apple Hill Farm is an alpaca farm in Banner Elk that offers daily farm tours that last around an hour. You’ll learn about all the animals on the farm and observe them going about their day. In addition to alpacas, you may come across goats, donkeys, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, and dogs.
They also offer “Tot Tours” that are around 30 minutes and share information that’s more little kid friendly. Both tours are all outdoors and operate rain or shine!
Skiing and Snowboarding
Probably one of the main draws to winter visitors of Boone, skiing and snowboarding are certainly popular activities in those colder months. Closest to Boone is Appalachian Ski Mountain, and it’s the smallest. Further afield you’ll find Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain, which are bigger and offer more variety of runs.
For more detailed info on the pros and cons of each, check out this article: Winter in Boone, NC - What To Do Outside With Kids.
Snowtubing and Sledding
If you’ve brought your own sleds and there’s enough snow on the ground for sledding, you’ll find great sledding spots at Jaycee Park, Moses Cone Park, and at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock.
If you need to rent snowtubes or if the weather calls for artificial snow, Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain also offer snowtubing. Plus, there’s always Hawksnest, where you can also do winter ziplining!
Ice Skating
There isn’t anywhere to ice skate indoors in Boone, but in the winter you can find ice skating at both Appalachian Ski Mountain and at Sugar Mountain. So if the kiddos need a break from skiing, they can try out their skating skills!
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
A roller coaster through the canopy of the forest? Yep. Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster runs year round and is a fun activity for any adventure seeker aged 3+ and 38” tall. Don’t worry, if they’re under 9 years old or 54” tall, they’ll ride with an adult. They also offer a high ropes course for anyone seeking a slower-paced adventure.
Mini Golf
For a pretty standard minigolf course, Sunrise Mountain Mini Golf is right here in Boone. Currently, they’re only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To check out their Facebook page for updated hours.
If the weather isn’t so great, Doc’s Rocs Gem Mine also offers a 9-hole indoor “Paleo Putt-Putt”. Plus while you’re there, why not try out some gem mining or check out their fossil museum for any budding archeologists?
Mystery Hill
Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock has a little bit of everything and you could certainly spend an entire day there. You can purchase tickets to individual attractions, or buy bundles.
You ready for this? Here are all the activities available at Mystery Hill… Ax Throwing, Gem Mining, Old Time Photos, a “Sideways” Gravitational Room, Giant Bubbles, Hands-On Science Exhibit, Small Animal Farm, Native American Artifact Museum, Historic House Tour, Bull Riding, and Milkshakes. Phew!
Escape Room
Doing an escape room can definitely be a fun activity for the whole family. So if you’re in downtown Boone and are looking for an indoor activity, or a way to challenge the entire family to work together, check out Mysterium Escape Adventure.There’s no age limit, and their rooms are child-friendly.
Moses H Cone Memorial Park
Do an easy hike on the carriage trails while enjoying the views. Or maybe go for a trail ride. Or take a tour of the mansion - Flat Top Manor. Or even see some local craftsmen at work at the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Moses Cone offers plenty of activities for the whole family. Plus, it’s conveniently located near Julian Price Park and a number of other attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
If you’re looking for a more specific list ideas of what to do with kids in Boone and the surrounding High Country, some of these articles may be helpful: