In the early days of automobile travel, a loose association of chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and cities came together to jointly advertise the beautiful scenery found along an auto trail pieced together from Quebec, Canada, to St. Petersburg, Florida, and then on to Miami. Part of this trail runs down King Street in Downtown Boone, which used to sport several motels capitalizing on the Black Bear Trail name. 

The primary goal of this group was to map out a safe, direct route to historic and scenic sites. A few of the sites depicted on the map are popular tourist destinations in today’s High Country including Grandfather Mountain and Linville Falls (access from the Blue Ridge Parkway is currently closed for Helene-related repairs and limited access from Wiseman’s View area). You can get a taste of what it was like to travel on the “auto trail” by taking a drive along Highway 194 (the Mission Crossing Scenic By-Way in Valle Crucis) or traveling Highway 194 North from Boone to West Jefferson and beyond (the New River Valley Scenic By-Way) or perhaps driving Highway 221 from Deep Gap, NC, to Galax, VA, which is part of the route followed by the Black Bear Trail. 

You might enjoy exploring some of the backroads that are part of North Carolina’s Scenic By-Ways. More information is available in this guidebook. And if you want to step back in time for your accommodations, try the Blue Ridge Tourist Court, which was built in 1950 and has recently been restored.  

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year! It is filled with festivals, crisp temperatures, clear views, and brightly colored mountainsides. We asked our Mast Store employees in Valle Crucis and Boone to share their favorite fall activities.  

Boone Store 

Lenore, Sales Associate, employee since 2000 
I love hitting the backroads of the High Country and exploring estate sales and thrift shops. I look at it as an adventure and approach it with an attitude of “what am I going to find on this road?” when I “plan” my routes. I loved growing my own pumpkins when my kids were younger. We’d carve them and then roast the seeds. It was also fun making huge leaf piles in the yard to jump in. 

Lillie, Sales Associate, employee since 2018 
One of my favorite places to take a walk is around Bass Lake on the Cone Estate near Blowing Rock. There are lots of wildflowers there to enjoy. I also love decorating my house for fall. Every year, I tell myself, “I don’t need any more decorations,” but then I end up finding something that I have to have. 

Emily, Store Training Coordinator, employee since 2025 
One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to put together a puzzle. When I get a chance to, Bass Lake is one of my favorite places to go for a walk.  

Sara, Sales Associate, employee since 2021 
I enjoy taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The colors and the views are always so beautiful. It’s also a good time to pick up on some cooler weather crafts, so I enjoy crocheting purse accessories and granny squares while I watch episodes of the Gilmore Girls (the ultimate Fall show!). 

Celeste, Area Manager, employee since 2017 
I have a full fall calendar. I love heading out to Valle Crucis to visit the corn maze and finding all the clues to win a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch. Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad is a long-running fall tradition. On the way to get on the Parkway near Blowing Rock, I stop off at Birdie’s Coffee - It’s really cute and really good coffee. I recommend their Pecan Pie latte. 

Sarah, Sales Associate, employee since 2022 
I love making a costume out of clothes that I wear year-round. Last year, I used some pieces I purchased at Watsonatta Western World combined with a bandana and sheriff badge from Mast Store to go to the Appalachian Theatre’s showing of Blazing Saddles. Also in the fall, I like to stop in at Little Wing Ice Cream for a cone of their Nana’s Banana Pudding ice cream (yum!). 

Shelby, Sales Associate, employee since 2024 
I enjoy hiking at Moses Cone – the terrain is fairly easy there – and Rough Ridge, which is also along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 303 and features long-range views of the Linn Cove Viaduct and more. (If you go, there are many fragile plants along the trail, so it is important to stay on the trail). I also like to bake pumpkin rolls and make apple cobblers. 

Maria, Area Manager, employee since 2016 
I like to go rock climbing and bouldering during the fall. When climbing outside, I like to head to the Linville Gorge, but if the weather is bad, Center 45 gives me a chance to hone my skills.  I also like hiking on Rich Mountain and going to Storyteller Rock, which is off the Boone Fork Trail.  

Gil, Inventory Support Coordinator, employee since 2025 
I love the home football game experience with the Appalachian State University Mountaineers are in town. It’s not just the football game; the marching band gives me goosebumps. Our town offers the perfect environment to enjoy a game! With the cooler weather, I like making chili and pairing it with my Mom’s skillet cornbread recipe. It’s similar to the one that’s in the Celebrating Southern Appalachian Food cookbook we have at the store. Shhhh...The secret ingredient is... Bacon grease! 

The Mast Store Annex 

Lloyd, Area Manager, employee since 2016 
Fall is my favorite time to hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. (The MST stretches 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Outer Banks.) I like to go for a swim at the new Watauga County Recreation Center, and for a wake-me-up, I head over to Bald Guy Brewing for a black dark Sumatra pour over.   

Autumn, Inventory Support Coordinator, employee since 2019 
I love to pick up a Warm Hug latte from Hatchet Coffee on a cool fall morning. Then in the evening, I enjoy having friends over to watch Over the Garden Wall and bake cookies.  

Gay, Sales Associate, employee since 2022 
After a long summer of working cattle on my family’s farm, I enjoy the slower days of fall to rest up and see the colors. It’s also time to head out into the woods to cut wood for the winter.  

The Original Store 

Cora, Sales Associate, employee since 2025 
One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to drive out to and on the Linn Cove Viaduct. This bridge lays like a ribbon on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain and was the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be completed. Here’s a video from Queen City News that shows the colors from a couple of years ago.   

Olivia, Sales Associate, employee since 2025 
I love to get a pumpkin butter mocha from next door at Pearl’s Kitchen. It tastes like fall. When I’m not here at the store, I enjoy playing with the chickens and alpacas on my family’s farm.  

Alice, Area Manager, employee since 2022 
I enjoy getting out on the Tanawha Trail during the fall. This trail stretches from Price Park on the Parkway all the way to the Linn Cove Viaduct. It can be hiked in sections and is also a part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.  

Our staff members enjoy spending time with their friends and families and in the community with all it has to offer. We hope you gathered up some new ideas of places to go and shops to visit the next time you’re up the mountain. For even more travel information, click over to Explore Boone or High Country Host.