MerleFest 2026

guy playing banjo

April 23-26, 2026: A Celebration of American Music and Heritage

Moving Forward After the Storm

Photo by Leslie Restivo

The High Country community has banded together and reopened for business since the havoc Hurricane Helene wreaked in September 2024.

High Country Hiking Trails

Friends on top of the mountain enjoying beautiful autumn scenery. Blue Ridge Mountains, near Asheville, North Carolina, USA

The High Country has hundreds of miles of hiking trails to explore with varying lengths, terrain and difficulties.

Music in the Mountains 2025

guy playing banjo

The music scene in North Carolina’s High Country is hot all year long, even when the temperatures outside are at their lowest.

High Thrills in the High Country

Bike riding

A lot of people look to the High Country as a place to relax and unwind, and it’s certainly an ideal location for kicking back. By Arielle Patterson, with updates by Julie Matthews However, others are born with a yearning for adventure, and it’s these people who look to the High Country as a place to […]

Destination: Boone

Images supplied by Explore Boone

Recognized as an Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Destination in the Southeast

Get to Know APP State

boone skyline

Appalachian State University, also known as App State, is a top-ranking public university located in downtown Boone