<p>My daughter has become interested in looking at Appalachian State. One of her teachers told her it is great for education majors. But it looks very rural and it is 2 hours from the airport. Are there many out of state students? Any info would be great. We are trying to plan our spring break college trip.</p>
<p>My family visits Boone a lot, and I know a bit about App State. 10% of women and men are OOS. App State is great for education majors, and it has a good reputation in the arts, especially English. App State also has fairly strong science programs, especially forensic science and archaeology. The library is a decent size, and there's an interlibrary system with Western Carolina and UNC Asheville.</p>
<p>App State isn't that rural, and Boone is undoubtedly the best college town I have encountered (including Chapel Hill). It's extremely pedestrian friendly, and there's a ton of cool little shops and restaurants. The only real drawback is a severe lack of parking downtown. Boone has a lot of school spirit, and the whole town decks out in Mountaineer gear when there's a football game.</p>
<p>Thanks warblersrule, is the airport really 2 hours away? The distance to the airport might be a problem. Another concern might be the weather. My daughter is a Florida girl. She wants to see snow, but maybe not every day. The town sounds nice. We definately need to visit.</p>
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is the airport really 2 hours away?
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The closest airports I can think of are in Charlotte and Greensboro, both of which are ~1 1/2 hours away. App definitely gets a lot of snow. Blowing Rock (close to Boone) is very popular with skiers.</p>
<p>Maybe we should plan some skiing along with a college visit! I just looked at a Boone website. I didn't realize there were ski resorts so close to the school.</p>
<p>Any more thoughts on App State? We are planning our spring break trip. Any hotel suggestions? My daughter wants to know about the student body. My neighbor says she would need to "stock up on flannel". That has to be a broad generalization. Are all types of students represented? Is the greek scene active? She also wants to know about dorms. Thanks</p>
<p>Facetiously known as UNC at Tweetsie</p>
<p>The skiing is at Sugar Mountain (near Banner Elk, NC )and Beech Mountain.It's about 20 to 30 minutes away. The snow has been pretty pitiful this year and the ski resorts have been open off and on. I think they just had a snowfall but I wouldn't say it snows everyday. It has been a little less every year. It's a beautiful area. Lots of hiking and outdoors stuff to do.Blowing Rock is an artsy kind of town. Lots of fun too(also about 15 minutes away). Boone has plenty to so within walking distance. Movie theatres and cafes. Lots of crafts type shopping.</p>
<p>If you staying in Boone there is the usual suspects. Blowing Rock has a nice lodge place called Chetola Resort. There is a spa resort there to called Westglow. Lot's of Bed and Breakfasts that are nice to stay at. If you want a neat B@B there is one at Valle Cruis called the Mast Farm Inn. Very old and really cool. It's between the ski mountains and Boone. The food is really good there.Here is a website that might help:<br>
<a href="http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/boone-north-carolina.html%5B/url%5D">www.bedandbreakfast.com/boone-north-carolina.html</a></p>
<p>Tweetsie??</p>
<p>Tweetsie Railroad is a kind of theme park thing that's in the Boone area.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tweetsie.com%5B/url%5D">www.tweetsie.com</a></p>
<p>Yes, it is really 2 hours to either airport and shuttle service isn't a great option. Boone area is beautiful with a lot of restaurants for a town that size but can get really boring in winter if you aren't into the whole winter outdoor thing. Great place to visit for a few days but not as great for living for several months, especially if you aren't close enough to go home regularly. </p>
<p>If you are looking for a hotel that isn't too expensive and don't need the whole lodge/b&b experience, just stayed at the country inn and suites. It's only a few months old and still feels brand new. Staff down to the maids were very hospitable and does a good free breakfast. Ask about their "economy" room which isn't really economy at all. Just doesn't have fridge and micorwave and is about the size of a regular hotel room at any other mid range hotel. Prices for hotels jump tremendously on Fri and Sat during the ski season. </p>
<p>Shopping, etc consists of Walmart, Lowes, a small Penney's and Belks and then some charming boutique type stores in Boone and Blowing Rock. However, building is booming and may be a few more things added in the next year. Closest real shopping is in Winston-Salem 90 minutes away.</p>
<p>I went to Boone recently and stayed at the Broyhill Inn. It's owned by the University and sits on a hill, literally just above the campus. I don't think you have to be there on University-connected business to stay there, but it does fill up quickly. It was very nice and convenient.
<a href="http://www.broyhillinn.com/welcome2.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.broyhillinn.com/welcome2.htm</a></p>
<p>I'll just add here, since you asked about the student body . . . Boone itself is like an old hippie town. Honestly. I've never seen so many laid-back hippies (of all ages) in my life--all in one place (in 2007). The students are really nice and very laid-back, too. I really liked it there. I also got to talk to a lot of students while there-- very real, very friendly, and--again--just really laid-back. Everybody is into the cold weather up there, too, and it does get cold. Any student I know who currently goes there (or has gone there in the past) loves it. I saw a student I know this past summer who had just finished up her freshman year there. I asked how she liked it, and she practically gushed. She said she considered it her "home," and she missed that home and couldn't wait to get back in the fall.</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested in education, make sure to check out whether North Carolina (or any state) and the specific institution has a teacher certification agreement with your home state. They should, but it always pays to know upfront. A good resource is: <a href="http://www.ncate.org/public/reciprocityGraduates.asp?ch=154%5B/url%5D">http://www.ncate.org/public/reciprocityGraduates.asp?ch=154</a></p>
<p>Candace, please post about your visit. I think Appalachian State might be of interest to my 09 son, but he will also be OOS, although he will be able to drive home occasionally. How far is it to Atlanta, NC residents, Warbler?</p>
<p>cangel: Boone to Atlanta shouldn't be any more than about 5 hours--~300 miles, maybe less (not all on highways).</p>
<p>my adventure camp counselor(the camp based out of Asheville..well at least the program i was @) just graduated from it this past december...its pronounced in that area Appalachia state..(or appalachi state i always corrected him) hes a atlanta resident born and raised...very outdoor focused that school is..he does everything outdoors this and that</p>
<p>Thanks Jack, that makes it about 10 hours home. He wouldn't get home too often, but we could also meet in the middle. He'd love having a football team to follow.</p>
<p>This may help with the teacher info - <a href="http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/lifaq.htm#3%5B/url%5D">http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/lifaq.htm#3</a></p>
<p>Boone has one of THE best bagel shops around - right in the neat downtown area LOL. And yes - it is a very outdorsy atmosphere at APP State - has great fresh air :)</p>
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He'd love having a football team to follow
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</p>
<p>And it's a very fine football team at that. Two time defending I-AA champions. That's some good football -- very competitive and very talented without the out of control commercialism of the BCS schools.</p>