Feeling “Seen”!
When the Arts are Seen, Our Community is Seen
We were thrilled to see Boone and the High Country recently featured in Travel + Leisure—and especially encouraged to see the arts named as a defining part of what makes this place special. Art was mentioned as the first attraction in the title - America’s Best Small Mountain Town Has a Thriving Local Art Scene, Cozy Boutique Hotels, and Stunning Natural Beauty.
More than just outdoor recreation
and pretty views!
From Buskers Fest and Boonerang Music & Art Fest to Art in the Park, Music in the Valle, and Music on the Lawn, the High Country hosts more than 250 outdoor music and arts events each year. That creative energy continues downtown, where shops like Hands Craft Gallery, Common Good, and Ellison feature handcrafted work by local artists and makers.
National recognition like this affirms what we at WAC have long believed and worked toward: that the arts are not an accessory to our community’s identity, but an essential cornerstone of it. When a publication like Travel + Leisure highlights Boone’s creative energy, cultural offerings, and sense of place, it reinforces the value of sustained investment in the arts and the people who make them possible.
The article celebrates Boone as a town where creativity, culture, and connection thrive—and that recognition belongs to our artists, musicians, makers, educators, and supporters who show up every day to make this place what it is.
We invite you to read the full Travel + Leisure article and see how the arts help tell the story of our community—and why we’re proud to be part of it.
