Spend the day in Blowing Rock. A charming town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Town
We started off the day with shopping on Main Street. Parking is hard to get right on the street but we paid for a spot in the public parking lot. We arrived on a warm June day and there were tons of flowers blooming. The scenery can feel straight out of a story book with the flowers and architecture. Plenty of unique shops here to buy souvenirs and gifts. Grab a yummy treat at Kilwins Chocolates. Walk the charming area, SouthMarke Shopping Center. The architecture at this shopping center is adorable. Grab a coffee at Bald Guy Brew Blowing Rock.
Mayview Lake
Right from Main Street you can walk to Mayview Lake. A quaint spot to enjoy the summer scenery. There is a path that circumnavigates the entire lake. Watch the ducks from the beautiful gazebo.
Glen Burney Falls Trail
From Mayview Lake you can find the trailhead to Glen Burney Falls Trail. This hike is a shaded path with Rhododendron flowers blooming this time of year. The trail to the falls is 2.7 miles roundtrip. Bring proper shoes, as the hike gets closer to the waterfall it gets slippery. The trail heads down so plan to hike back up on your way back out. At 0.4 mile in you will find the ruins which was an old sewage treatment system from the 1920's.
Wheelie's Refresher
After hiking we headed to Wheelie's Refresher for dinner. The back porch has a great view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy a burger, sandwich, tacos or salad while you take in the views. They are open for lunch and dinner.
Blowing Rock Recreation Area
After eating we headed up to Blowing Rock to explore the park which is only a few miles drive. The cost to enter is $9 per adult. They have a gift shop and some short trails. The surrounding mountain views are incredible as you stare into the Blue Ridge Mountains. I wish this park was open until sunset. The sunset would be epic here.
The Cone Manor
After Blowing Rock park we drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway to view The Cone Manor. A beautiful neocolonial home and craft center housing some locally made items. The Manor is open to the public and has some trails on site. Parking is free
Sims Pond
Right off the Blue Ridge Parkway is a quaint pond with beautiful fall foliage. It is a short walk to get to. If you are looking to add more walking then continue on the Green Knob Trail.
Visit Blowing Rock in the Fall
