Do you love charming small towns? Are the mountains calling you? Are you looking for some great hikes? Do you want to marvel at some of the best fall foliage in the country? If so, Blowing Rock, North Carolina is where you need to go!
I was lucky enough to visit the western region of North Carolina 3 times in the last year and I’ve fallen in love with the area even more each time. I love being surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains while also feeling that homey southern charm. Of all of the places I’ve visited in North Carolina so far, Blowing Rock is my absolute favorite!
If you’re looking to plan a trip to Blowing Rock, keep reading to find out what my top 5 favorite things to do in the area are!
5. Go see The Blowing Rock
Fun fact: The Blowing Rock is North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction!
Here you will find a cliff that overhangs the Johns River Gorge with gorgeous views of Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock in the distance. The trails are easy and accessible and definitely family friendly! It only takes about 15-30 minutes to walk the whole trail but you could easily spend an hour here. Be sure to visit their website for info regarding admission, hours, maps, history, etc.
4. Take a walk around Bass Lake
Right outside the town of Blowing Rock you will find the beautiful Bass Lake. Here you can walk the 0.9 mile paved loop around the lake and take in views of Cone Manor which sits above the lake in the distance. This is a very easy hike and is especially pretty during sunset! You can also fish here (hence the name Bass Lake).
3. Walk around town enjoying the shops/restaurants
Blowing Rock is the CUTEST little town! Main Street is lined with dozens of local shops, restaurants, coffee shops and art galleries just waiting to be explored. You could easily spend a few hours perusing in the boutiques and specialty shops. Whether you’re looking for a new outfit, some artwork to bring home, outdoor gear for your next hike or some handmade pottery, there’s something for everyone!
2. Visit Grandfather Mountain
There are 2 ways to visit Grandfather Mountain – Grandfather Mountain State Park or the privately owned Grandfather Mountain attraction (Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Inc.)
At the private attraction you can walk across the amazing mile high bridge for some incredible views or visit the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery which is a great interactive wildlife museum. At the Wilson Center you can check out the wildlife habitats of black bears, elk, cougars, otters and eagles!
Both the state park and private park offer many hiking trails to explore (many end up overlapping). My favorite was the hike up to Macrae Peak (from the private park). On the way to Macrae Peak you will have to climb ladders, use ropes and scale cliffs. It’s definitely not a hike for those afraid of heights, but it is a challenge worth accepting! The rewarding views from the top make the climb so worth it!
1. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile highway that passes right through Blowing Rock. It starts at Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park at mile 0 and ends in Cherokee, NC at mile 469. You can hop on the Parkway and head Southwest towards Asheville or you can head Northeast towards Virginia to end up at Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. There is so much to see and do along the Parkway!
Tip: Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall to see all of the fall foliage! It’s an incredible fall drive but it’s pretty no matter the season!
Let me know what your favorite things to do in Blowing Rock are! And stay tuned for more Blue Ridge Parkway blog posts in the future.
