10 Best Things To Do Around Blowing Rock, NC
Blowing Rock, NC is a small town located in the northern part of North Carolina. Is relatively close to Boone, which is a huge tourist destination, so it is commonly overlooked by many. There are only 1,000 residents in this small town! BUT, there is truly so much to do and see! I’m going to share the Best Things To Do Around Blowing Rock, North Carolina so you can plan your trip accordingly!
Blowing Rock is surrounded by other neat towns (like Banner Elk, Boone, and Sugar Grove), so some of the listed items below are actually in neighboring towns! It’s easy to visit each of these within a weekend trip as they’re all very close by one another!
PS: If you love Small Towns like I do, check out this guide to the Must-Visit USA Small Towns!
Best Things To Do Around Blowing Rock, NC
Visit “The Blowing Rock”
432 The Rock Road, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Did you know that the town of Blowing Rock is actually named after a legend & a rock. There is a really unique story behind the name! Legend has it that a Cherokee boy fell in love with a Chickasaw girl – but the boy had to leave and leapt from the rock to the wilderness below. Later on, the wind is said to have blown the boy back to the girl upon the rock.
Blowing Rock is known as North Carolina’s oldest attraction, since it opened back in 1933. There is a short trail to reach the rock (about 1200 feet long) and gives you views of the observation tower, overlook, waterfall, gardens, and the Blowing Rock itself!
Walk Around Downtown Blowing Rock
1182 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
This is an obvious must do! Walking around Main Street in Blowing Rock gives you all the best small town vibes! You can truly spend an entire day walking in and out of all the stores and restaurants on Main Street, enjoying time in the local park, and relaxing at the Blowing Rock Alehouse or Sunset & Vine store. My favorite places on Main Street include:
- Coffee: Camp Coffee // The Bald Guy Brew
- Lunch: Town Tavern
- Dinner: The Best Cellar // The Speckled Trout
- Ice Cream: Kilwins
- Drinks: Blowing Rock Alehouse // Sunset & Vine
- Other: The Spice & Tea Exchange
Hike the Glen Burney Trail
243 Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
This Hike is located right in the heart of Blowing Rock which is one of the reasons its become so popular! You start this trail near the Annie Cannon Park near Main Street. Glen Burney Trail is 3.2 miles round trip (out and back) and is considered slightly strenuous. The path and rocks can get wet so be mindful of slippery terrain.
This hike will reward you with 3 majestic waterfalls and even some ruins from the 1800s! You can download a printable version of the trail map HERE.
Grandfather Mountain
9872 Highway 105 South, Banner Elk, NC 28604
This is a MUST SEE attraction when in this area of North Carolina – Grandfather Mountain has been deemed the #1 Scenic Attraction in NC and it’s easy to see why! The number one thing to do here is to walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge – this will give you stunning views of the town below and surrounding mountains. This state park is also filled with tons of hiking options (my favorite is Macrae’s Peak), a fudge shop, an animal rescue shelter, and more! You can easily spend half the day here at Grandfather Mountain!
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Grandfather Mountain
Original Mast General Store
3565 Hwy 194 S, Sugar Grove, NC 28679
The Mast General Store has a long standing history here in the South. For decades, its been the go to shop across small towns in the south. Opening in 1884, they provided everything you may need (think of it as the Walmart of the 1800s)! Now, you’ll find 11 Mast General Stores across the southeast (in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)! Mast Store offers a variety of goods from fashion to fried chicken cookbooks and toffee to tents.
You can visit the Original Mast General Store and their Annex here near Blowing Rock!
I will note – it is a little out of the way – the drive out there though is nice. You pass a lot of farms and you’ll see a local Beef Jerky store that was fun to stop at as well!
Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
225 Vineyard Lane, Banner Elk, NC 28604
Locals and tourists alike will flock to Grandfather Vineyard & Winery on the weekends to enjoy great wine, live music, and great vibes. When we visited on a Saturday in May, it was PACKED with people all enjoying their Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, the lines aren’t long for wine, and there was ample seating (though some people opted to bring their own). This vineyard is located on a river where kids can play and adults can relax. You can also stroll along in the mountain vineyards. This was one of my favorite experiences in Blowing Rock/Banner Elk!
Enjoy The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is an iconic drive here in North Carolina. It’s deemed “America’s Favorite Drive” due to the gorgeous mountain scenery. It is so much more than just a road or means for transportation.
Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll find dozens of waterfalls, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and so much more! It is worth spending a few hours of your trip cruising down the parkway and enjoying the views!
Best Places to Stay in Blowing Rock?
There are a few quaint and charming resorts in Blowing Rock. I’ve provided two of my favorites below, but feel free to use the search bar to explore other hotel options in Blowing Rock.
That’s my roundup of the best things to do around Blowing Rock, NC! This area of the state is truly so special and unique – it might be one of my favorite places in North Carolina. It’s easy to fall in love with the beautiful mountains and landscape around.
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Looking for other places to visit in North Carolina? Check out the posts below:
ASHEBORO:
Getaway House: Tiny House Cabin in the Woods
BLOWING ROCK/BANNER ELK:
Best Things To Do Around Blowing Rock
Visiting Grandfather Mountain
BRYSON CITY:
15 Things to Do in Bryson City, NC
Treehouse Cabana Soaking Tub Experience
LINVILLE:
Things to Do in Linville, NC
MOORSEVILLE:
Swimming in the Quarry at Carrigan Farms
WILMINGTON:
Self Guided One Tree Hill Tour
Wow! That’s such an amazing post. All the photos are incredible. I so love visiting such small towns and countryside. These parts have a different vibe altogether.
Blowing Rock looks and sounds awesome! I love how there are great hiking trails and wineries too. I’ll have to keep this all in mind when I head back to the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC one day. 🙂
I love the look of all the hikes and viewpoints, it’s really beautiful there. And that general store is definitely a place I would want to check out. I love hearing the reasons behind names of places, and that one is really interesting and unique
Blowing Rock looks like a fun adventure! I’d love to check out that vineyard. Thanks for the inspiration!
This looks like a beautiful area to visit, especially if you love being outdoors. I think I would like to hit up that winery!
Thanks for introducing me to Blowing Rock! It sounds like a hidden gem with hiking & waterfalls to visit too. I’ll save this article for later!
I’ve always loved Blowing Rock. It’s such a cute little town. Lots of great hiking and the restaurant scene is surprisingly good for how small it is.
I’ve never heard of Blowing Rock but it looks beautiful and a cool name! I like the story behind blowing rock as it makes visiting more interesting. Going on the Glenn Burney hike sounds awesome if there are waterfalls! And I would definitely enjoy ending the day sipping wine at the vineyard!
This looks like a wonderful place to spend a fall weekend! I’d love to wander through the Mast General Stores.
Wine, hiking, and beautiful scenery? It sounds like my kind of place! We were in Asheville last year, but I’d love to come back to North Carolina to explore more of the state. Thanks for sharing!