Elk Creek Outfitters - Explore Boone

Explore Boone is the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority—a destination marketing organization based in downtown Boone, North Carolina. They maintain an office at 171 Grand Boulevard and serve as the primary resource for visitors planning trips to the Boone and Watauga County area.

Explore Boone manages comprehensive tourism services and information:

• •Visitor Planning Resources: Digital and print visitors guides, live webcams of downtown Boone, weather information, and transportation guidance
• •Event Promotion: Listing and promotion of local events including concerts, sports (Appalachian State University athletics), festivals, and seasonal activities
• •Group & Wedding Services: Coordination resources for group accommodations, group dining, meeting venues, wedding planning, catering vendors, and special event coordination
• •Travel Itineraries: Pre-planned trips including the Boone Area Wine Trail, Blue Ridge Craft Trail, Romantic Mountain Weekends, Fabulous Long Weekends for Families, and holiday-themed itineraries

The organization promotes tourism across Watauga County and surrounding communities including Boone, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Foscoe, Todd, and Valle Crucis. Featured attractions and activities include:

Outdoor Activities: Hiking (Grandfather Mountain, Boone Fork Trail, Glen Burney Trail, Tanawha Trail), backpacking at Elk Knob State Park, mountain biking at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, fishing, Blue Ridge Parkway exploration, whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking, horseback riding, bird watching, climbing and bouldering, ziplines

Winter Sports: Skiing and snowboarding at Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain Resort, and Sugar Mountain Resort; ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow tubing

Attractions: Grandfather Mountain, Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park, Mast General Store, Horn in the West, The Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill, Linn Cove Viaduct visitor center, local gem mines, and museums

Dining & Shopping: Farm-to-fork restaurants, breweries, wineries, farmers markets, antique shops, local boutiques, and downtown Boone retail

Explore Boone maintains an active staff including:

• •L. Wright Tilley, Executive Director
• •Hope Thingelstad, Director of Partnerships and Outreach
• •Emily Neeley, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
• •Lisa Clements, Administrative and Guest Services
• •Reggie Hunt, Executive Director of the Boone Area Sports Commission

• •Contact Information:
• •Phone: (828) 266-1345
• •Email: [email protected]
• •Address: 171 Grand Boulevard, Boone, NC 28607

The organization publishes e-newsletters, press releases, and maintains digital accessibility standards for website visitors.

Explore Boone's mission centers on carrying out tourism-related marketing and infrastructure development initiatives as directed by the TDA Board of Directors, positioning the Boone and Watauga County region as a year-round destination for adrenaline seekers, leisure travelers, families, and event groups.