Blowing Rock, North Carolina is one of my favorite East Coast destinations. It’s just one of those towns you can go back to again and again and never get tired of it. We go about once a year, and we’re always finding something new to eat, see or do in Blowing Rock. Which means, I have all the Blowing Rock vacation recommendations for your next trip to the high country.
If you’re looking for the quaintest town in Appalachia, Blowing Rock just might be it. Blowing Rock reminds me so much of a real-life Stars Hollow, and I would honestly move there if it was possible. Read everything I recommend for your next trip to Blowing Rock below!
I also created this handy map to help you best plan your Blowing Rock getaway or Blowing Rock vacation. Click on the map to explore the sights and eats I talk about below!
Where to Stay in Blowing Rock, North Carolina
There are quite a few different types of places to stay in Blowing Rock. We always stay at a family friend’s cabin, but there are a few accommodations we have heard great things about. As an added note, there are quite a few VRBOs and AirBnbs for Blowing Rock!
Chetola Resort – Some of the rooms here might be a little dated, but this hotel is a classic! It’s in walking distance to downtown, which is a huge plus. The grounds are beautiful, and I think so much time could be spent just on the property. We drove by and saw a wedding reception in progress- looked amazing!
3 Bedroom Cabin with Amazing Views – The views here are incredible!
Blowing Rock Manor – This looks like the coziest, most updated hotel you could find in Blowing Rock. It’s really close to downtown and definitely walkable.
Where to Eat in Blowing Rock, North Carolina
This is most likely going to be the longest portion of this post, haha. There are so many good restaurants in Blowing Rock, and today I want to roundup up the best restaurants in Blowing Rock for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner and dessert.
The Best Coffee and Breakfast in Blowing Rock
The Village Cafe
This is the quaintest cafe tucked off the main street in Blowing Rock and down a little, magical alleyway. The fugasa toast is incredible, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on this menu. It’s a pretty tiny cafe, so reservations or an early start time are recommended.
Sunny Rock Eggs and Things
This is one of our go-to Blowing Rock spots, and we can’t help but stop by on our way out of town each time. They have very classic breakfast menu items, and I seriously think almost anyone could find something to like here.
They don’t currently offer reservations, but they get people in and out pretty quickly. If you drive by and see a long line, don’t let that scare you out of stopping to check the wait time!
Camp Coffee
While this coffee shop doesn’t look as hip and cute as some coffee spots, the coffee and their drink offerings are amazing. They also have a lot of pastries and things that look so good for picking up a small breakfast to go.
Bald Guy Brew
Bald Guy Brew leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to a cute coffee shop! It’s fun to stop by and get something before you walk around to shop the day away in the cutest Blowing Rock spots.
The Best Lunch Restaurants
Blowing Rock Market
We stop in Blowing Rock Market every single time we’re in town at least to peruse their offerings (such unique items), but we also like stopping in and ordering a sandwich at their to-go counter. They can make almost anything you want, but we like the Blue Ridge and the David’s Special.
Six Pence Pub
This was the very first restaurant we tried in Blowing Rock, so we’re pretty partial to it. There can be quite a wait here as well, but the classic fish and chips makes it more than worth it!
Blowing Rock Brewing
If you’re looking for good, local beer or some classic, easy food, this is the perfect place to sit and hang out for a while on the weekends or even for dinner on a week night. The cheese curds and chicken sandwich are our favorites!
The Best Dinner Restaurants
Bistro Roca
There are so many good items at Bistro Roca. It’s a little off the main street of Blowing Rock, so it feels more like a local, hidden gem. The pizza is always good, and their menu changes pretty seasonally to stay fresh.
Twigs
Twigs is a classic! If you’re looking for a nice, romantic restaurant, it’s a great choice.
The Best Dessert
There are two main places that come to mind when thinking about dessert in Blowing Rock, but there are also always really yummy desserts at many of the restaurants I’ve talked about above. Here are the two dedicated dessert spots you’re sure to love in Blowing Rock.
Home to delicious cookies, ice cream and ice cream cookie sandwiches, you will get lost in the amount of enticing options here.
This is a chain store, but it’s still incredibly quaint and delicious. Their ice cream is incredible, and they have what seems like hundreds of options when it comes to sweets to take home to friends and family or indulge in yourself.
What to do
One of my favorite aspects of Blowing Rock is just how much there is to do. From shopping on the main street to serious time outdoors, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for things to do in Blowing Rock North Carolina, here’s your answer!
Shopping on Main Street
Perhaps the most popular to-do in Blowing Rock is browsing the quaint and unique shops on Blowing Rock’s Main Street. There are so many cute shops, I would just recommend going in any that strike your fancy. Luckily there are plenty of amazing restaurants within easy shopping and stopping distance for a mid-browsing bite.
There are also outlet stores just on the edge of town. It’s a smaller collection of stores, but they have Banana Republic, Gap and a few other stores if you’re looking to take on that kind of shopping day!
Visit the Blowing Rock
If you have an hour or two and want to see some amazing views, do not miss the actual Blowing Rock. These are the most amazing views! It does cost $9 per person, but I think it’s worth it a least once. It’s amazing for soaking in the views and snapping a few photos. There’s a cute gift shop too that has a few fun things.
Hiking at Bass Lake
Perhaps my second favorite Blowing Rock activity is hiking at Bass Lake. There are so many trails to wind your way through, or you can just do a simple lap around the lake and take a picnic lunch. We usually pick up sandwiches from Blowing Rock Market and picnic at Bass Lake for the perfect lunch.
Visit Cone Manor
Going off of hiking at Bass Lake, visiting Cone Lake is a fun little look at what a vacation home would have looked like for the rich and wealthy once upon a time.
Drive Over to the Linville Falls Winery
Linville Winery is one of the cutest spots ever! It’s about a full hour from Blowing Rock, but it’s more than worth it in my opinion. They carry a wide array of their own really good wines, and they also sell pre-made and delicious charcuterie boards and several amazing quality items to make your own little picnic. They seriously sell everything you need to arrive on site and have an amazing day! We went when they were having live music, and it was extremely fun.
Definitely make time for this if your Blowing Rock vacation is more than one or two days!
Visit Boone and Appalachian State
Just under 20 minutes from Blowing Rock is the cute college town of Boone, North Carolina. Home to Appalachian State University, this town has several cute stores and really good restaurants. It’s usually not as busy as Blowing Rock, so we have never really needed reservations anywhere!
Cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway
If you are local to Tennessee, North Carolina or Virginia, you’re probably familiar with the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a stunning 469-mile parkway known for its scenic views. It’s amazing to visit during almost any season but especially during the fall! Getting on the parkway is really easy from Blowing Rock, so just hop on and drive where the wind takes you.
Visit Grandfather Mountain
Lastly, we have never done this, but it’s been highly recommended to us multiple times. This will definitely be on our list the next time we find ourselves on a Blowing Rock Vacation.
When is the Best Time to Visit Blowing Rock, North Carolina?
There are so many things to love about Blowing Rock, all of which can be enjoyed in all four seasons. Here are a few great things about each season in Blowing Rock!
Fall
Perhaps the easiest season to understand when it comes to Blowing Rock, the fall colors are amazing here. The chilly weather is amazing, and with the right packing and planning, you can do almost any of the outdoor activities even when it gets cold.
Winter
We have never personally visited the closest ski resort, but if you love skiing, there is another reason to visit Blowing Rock in the winter. It would also be so cozy in the snow, but I would make sure you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle!
Spring
We had never visited Blowing Rock in Spring until we went on Memorial Day Weekend (I know that’s the unofficial start to summer, but it’s still technically in Spring), and my favorite part of going around May 28 was rhododendron season… Oh my goodness, amazing!
Summer
All the outdoor activities are possible during a summer Blowing Rock vacation, and if you just so happen to be there over the Fourth of July, their celebration is legendary.
If you have any Blowing Rock vacation questions or want to comment something I missed from this Blowing Rock roundup, please comment below so we can all see! I love this little town so much, and I hope you discover it’s just as amazing as I think it is.
I also have a 48 hours in Charlotte, NC post if you’re looking to plan an epic North Carolina vacation with multiple stops and have Charlotte on your list!
