Plus: Vivian Howard in Iceland; a weekend in Huntsville

PHOTO: EXPLORE BOONE

Downtown Boone, North Carolina.

Whether you’re headed to Boone, North Carolina, for an end-of-winter ski trip or planning a Blue Ridge summer sojourn, this high-country gem is well worth a visit. Scenic drives, miles of hiking trails, seasonally driven restaurants, and style-conscious boutique hotels complement Boone’s laid-back college town vibes. Read on for a lay of the land.

CAROLINE SANDERS CLEMENTS

Huntsville, Alabama. A few years ago, one of my best friends moved to Huntsville, a place I had only thought about before for its contributions to space engineering and national defense. But when I visited a few weeks ago, I realized that the city full of literal rocket scientists also boasts a robust arts and culture scene, which my friend and I had the best time exploring over the course of the weekend.

Pasta party. Huntsville may get overshadowed by its foodie neighbors Birmingham and Nashville, but Rocket City boasts culinary gems of its own. For dinner one night, my friend and I snagged bar seats at Le Petit Bijou, a cozy, bustling wine bar that felt stripped right out of a Nancy Meyers movie. The house-made Bolognese was worth the trip. The next day we headed to Rafael’s Table, a charming kitchen shop that also hosts regular cooking classes. The two-hour class flew by as the shop’s knowledgeable owner, Abbe Diaz, taught us how to make absolutely delicious pappardelle.
Feeling at home. Very rarely when visiting a city do you get to see how locals really live, but my visit to Huntsville perfectly synced with the city’s Art Tour of Homes, which benefits the local nonprofit Arts Huntsville. My friend and I spent an afternoon peeking into colorful houses across town before using that inspiration to peruse the art and antiques at downtown shops like Railroad Station Antiques and Harrison Brothers Hardware.
Mountain time. In the late 1800s, people would flock to Monte Sano—the mountain that overlooks downtown Huntsville and literally translates to “Mountain of Health”—for the fresh air, mineral springs, and breathtaking views, and we followed suit. At Monte Sano State Park, we joined joy-riding mountain bikers, dog walkers, picnicking families, and one very cute kindergarten Cub Scout troop as we trekked to the Stone Cuts, a mesmerizing rock formation with gorgeous views of the valleys below.