I’ve lived in Colorado all my life with our rugged Rocky Mountains as everyone’s beacon for which direction is West (thereby making North, East, and South easier to find). I assumed all mountainous regions were the same – until I went to Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Gentle, undulating hills, plush with trees of all kinds, including flowering ones, meandered along my drive. Stunning, they seemed to welcome me with their “southern hospitality,” as did the people I met. 

Just look at those beautiful layers of mountain and greenery! Imagine it in the Autumn when the leaves change.

Where to eat in Blowing Rock:

Blowing Rock’s website can give you the low-down in an easy-to-use listing of area restaurants. There are dining options from a casual place to grab something and go, to elegant places to linger and savor and everything in between.

On our visit, we ate at:

Mellow Mushroom – Yes, a chain, but the locals gather there as much as the tourists so it feels like a local hangout. And the food is good.

Blowing Rock Brewing Company Alehouse and Inn – We’d already become fans of Blowing Rock’s brews while visiting Winston-Salem. So we were glad to be at the “Mother Ship,” so to speak. Woodsy and casual, the homey setting invites you to nestle in for a bite and a brew.

Twigs – The highlight of restaurant dining for me was an evening at Twigs, a cozy spot owned by brothers David and Doug Beach. It feels just dressed up enough to feel fancy but without any hint of snobbiness. Twinkly lights make it romantic but it’s just as appropriate for gathering with friends. For a more casual air, the bar area is available for eating too. And on Friday and Saturday nights, count on live music to complete the evening.

The aptly-named Twigs restaurant exterior.

A wine flight at Twigs restaurant is a perfect way to start off a good meal – enjoy each on their own, then experiment with pairing them with your food.

A delicious, creamy take on traditional gumbo, at Twigs

The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop looked busy and fun every time we went by, but we didn’t have a chance to stop – next time.

Six Pence Pub, right on Main Street, drew us in to share a couple of appetizers and a plate of fish and chips in a fun, English pub atmosphere.

Clockwise, a Loaded Banger with mashed potatoes, bacon, and cheese; Fish & Chips, and Mac ‘n Cheese balls; a cold ale, at Six Pence Pub.

What to see and do in and around Blowing Rock:

Tweetsie Railroad is a theme park with a carousel, ferris wheel, Mouse Mine Train and Chair Lift to Miner’s Mountain. It also has a zoo, live shows, and special events throughout the year like the special Halloween and Christmas-themed trains on weekends during the holiday season.

High Gravity Adventures Aerial Adventure Park is also located next door to Tweetsie. It has three levels of courses plus a Zip Line Tour that covers 1700 feet of zipping.

Moses Cone Manor, home to the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and an official Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center, it’s a stunning surprise to come upon while on a drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The stately home of the wealthy textile entrepreneur is a 20-room mansion in the Colonial Revival style. Take a tour and be sure to sit a spell on one of the porch rockers to take in the amazing view.

Coming across the Moses Cone Estate in the woods of Blowing Rock is a complete, but wonderful, surprise.

The view from the porch of the Moses Cone Estate.

The Blowing Rock itself is open year-round. Grandfather Mountain is another major attraction with a Mile High Swinging Bridge, walking and hiking trails, a nature museum and wildlife habitats.

The area is a big ski destination in the winter with Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain nearby

Spring, summer and fall are great for hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding and all types of outdoor activities. Fall, in particular, I’m told, is amazing for leaf peeping because of the variety of types of trees.

For more ideas for attractions and recreation, visit https://blowingrock.com/attractions/  and https://blowingrock.com/recreation/.

Upcoming events in Blowing Rock: 

Any time is a good time to visit Blowing Rock, North Carolina. But if you want to time a visit in conjunction with some of their hallmark events. I suggest subscribing to their enewsletter to be kept apprised of all of the fun happening, year round.

Where to sleep in Blowing Rock:

Meadowbrook Inn was the perfect place to rest our heads. It’s an easy walk to the main path through town which meant easy access to restaurants, shops, and the park. Our room was comfortable and quiet. The plentiful, complimentary breakfast varied slightly each day but included eggs, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, pancakes, fruit, a variety of juices, coffees, and more.

A very comfortable home base, at Meadowbook Inn, while taking in things to do in Blowing Rock.

The grounds are beautiful with a creek running through it, and ponds, lush greenery, a small bridge, walking paths, and families of ducks that call the area home. When we were there, a new, interactive gardening area was being set up to show visitors some of the native plants that grow there such as varieties of tomatoes, flowers and herbs. So charming!

More than just pretty, the grounds around Meadowbrook Inn are a wildlife habitat.

Another thing I appreciated about Meadowbrook Inn was their commitment to social responsibility. That includes energy and water conservation, the use of a geothermal HVAC system, that lovely duck pond area being a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, the use of compostable plates and bowls at breakfast, the education garden, and a rooftop bee apiary. They also support causes in their community such as Habitat for Humanity and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. So, basically, there’s a lot to feel good about when you’re staying at the Meadowbrook Inn, in addition to having a nice, comfortable place to stay!

The lobby of Meadowbrook Inn, in Blowing Rock. Guests often gather around the fire and meet each other, with a glass of wine in hand.

Jump in, the water’s mighty fine inside the Meadowbook Inn.

Blowing Rock, North Carolina is that perfect blend of quaint, modern, friendly, sophisticated, natural, and cultured, all in one. And it’s just plain beautiful, too. As part of a full and varied North Carolina experience, put a few days in Blowing Rock in your schedule.

 — Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor of RealFoodTraveler.com

Hungry for more? Make the most of your time in North Carolina with the help of these articles: A Perfect Weekend in Winston-Salem, where to find the Surrey Sonker Trail, and Where to Eat in Asheville.

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Note: Travel writers may receive discounted or free opportunities to travel in order to facilitate being able to write about the true experience for the reader. However, opinions are unbiased and are an honest and true account of our experiences.