Getting There -- Boone lies 1 hour from I-77, I-81, and I-40, and is accessible from a trio of major highways, including U.S. 321, U.S. 421, and U.S. 221. N.C. 105 provides access from U.S. 221.

The nearest airport is at Asheville (tel. 828/687-9446).

Visitor Information -- The Boone Convention and Visitors Bureau, 208 Howard St., Boone, NC 28607 (tel. 800/852-9506 or 828/262-3516; www.visitboonenc.com), is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Information is also available at the High Country Host, 1700 Blowing Rock Rd. (tel. 828/264-1299; www.mountainsofnc.com), which is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm.

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