Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Boone, NC

This pleasant property has a homey and cheerful lobby, with high ceilings, a fireplace framed by natural stone, a book lending library, and free coffee and cookies set out for guests to help themselves throughout the day. A covered porch with several rocking chairs provides another inviting area to relax when weather allows for it. The breakfast area is bright and pleasant, but it can get crowded during peak times and seating can be hard to find. Outdoor tables overlooking the busy highway provide some relief in warm weather, but it isn't the most comfortable place to sit. Expect to see a mix of travelers touring the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as faculty and parents visiting students or attending meetings at nearby Appalachian State University. 

The hotel is located on Highway 421, a busy, six-lane highway that runs through the heart of Boone in North Carolina’s majestic high country. It’s a three-minute drive to Appalachian State University and downtown Boone. Several restaurants, a movie theater, and a grocery store are within a five-minute walk from the hotel, but it requires crossing the busy road. Access to the Blue Ridge Parkway is less than 15 minutes away by car, and Grandfather Mountain State Park (home to the state’s tallest peak) is 30 minutes away. It’s less than an hour by car to the ski slopes at Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Appalachian Ski Mountain. Winston-Salem is a 90-minute drive, and Asheville is two hours away.

The spacious guest rooms at The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Boone have pleasant, contemporary decor, and they're also considerably well-equipped. Gray carpet and walls are accented with dark gray, but olive bed throws, bright-white linens, and framed prints of colorful landscapes keep things bright. Matching wood furniture in an amber finish adds a nice glow and completes the look. Standard Double Queens come with desks, armchairs, and two smaller chairs. Two-room suites feature sleeper sofas in separate living rooms, and larger suites also are available, some of which have en-suite heart-shaped whirlpools for extra fun. Standard amenities are a plus, as all units have microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, though they lack safes. Bathrooms are average in size, with wide granite vanities, shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and bottled toiletries. On the downside, rooms facing the busy highway can be noisy. Some units offer nice views of the surrounding mountains.

This limited-service hotel offers solid amenities plus a few freebies, including a daily breakfast buffet with eggs, make-your-own waffles, and other hot dishes. Free coffee and cookies are available in the lobby all day, and there's no charge for on-site parking, daily newspapers, or Wi-Fi throughout. The hotel doesn't have a full-service restaurant or bar on-site. 

There's a computer and printer in the lobby that's free for guests to use, and a book lending library, which is a nice touch. For wellness, a lovely indoor pool and whirlpool is housed in area with large windows and seating, and there's a fitness center that's a bit small but it has two treadmills, two elliptical machines, and a universal strength-training machine. Other features include a guest laundry room, valet dry cleaning and laundry, and vending machines.