Just behind the crest of the Blue Ridge, there's the village of Blowing Rock, a small mountain town that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its historic downtown buzzing with a 19th century charm, authentic little shops with the doors wide open, tucked-away green terraces, and spectacular majestic mountain views everywhere you look will sweep you right off your feet. I doubt there's a more charming town on the planet in the Carolinas.
The Blowing Rock
The Blowing Rock at 4000 feet above sea level was our first stop. And we're still in awe from all the panoramic gorge views we enjoyed from a rocky outcrop. Well known for its rock formation above the John's River Gorge, the park also features an observation tower, a turtle/fish habitat, a mineral museum, picnic areas, short trails, and a visitor center. This park is no less than a natural paradise. And when you start thinking that those mountain views can't get any more magical, the fall rolls around, and the scenery blows your mind all over again. Nature is full of surprises after all.
Then we headed straight over to downtown Blowing Rock where our jaws dropped more often than we care to admit. With charming sights around every corner, it was easy to fall in love with the town's elegant downtown. We definitely were in for a treat.
Downtown Blowing Rock
A four-block historic district boasts old brick fronts, tucked-away green terraces, gardens, historic buildings, authentic little shops, fountains, and a bonus playground at Memorial Park. There are many historic buildings along the main street that still retain its original turn-of-the-century look: The Robbins House, community library, Memorial Park, 1888 Museum, The Martin House to name a few. Walking along those streets, its so easy to picture yourself back in time with a scattering of first settlers, farmers and awe-struck visitors.
Memorial Park
After popping in and out of the shops along the main street, we found ourselves in a city park with a wonderful play area for kids of all ages, rubber-like ground, and plenty of play structures. When traveling with children, you begin to appreciate those play pockets a whole lot more.
Annie Cannon Gardens & Glen Burney Falls
To complete the walk, we visited Annie Cannon Gardens where we took a 1.6-mile out-and-back trail to Glen Burney Falls. It's a 50-foot gentle cascade on New Year's Creek with a lush canopy overhead. Once you reach it, the views from the main trail are mainly obstructed by all the greenery and trees around. If you prefer the close-up views, there's a short dirty path that branches off the main trail to the base of the waterfall. It's brief but VERY steep, but so worth a scramble down.
Overall it's a short, wide and fairly easy trail. However, the closer you get to the waterfall, the more ups and downs you have to traverse. We visited in October and the views were amazing.
Located just outside of downtown, this is the perfect spot to
escape the hustle and bustle of the busiest part of the town without
actually leaving it.
Good to know:
- 2.5 hrs from Greenville, SC
- Parking is extremely limited at The Blowing Rock park on weekends, so arrive early or try to visit during the week.
- Free and unlimited on-street parking is on Sundays in Downtown Blowing Rock.
- If you are in the area, there is also another amazing spot you can add to your itinerary - Linville Gorge and Falls.
It will never cease to amaze me that a place like this exists. And why didn't we discover it sooner? If you are planning your next road trip to the western North Carolina look no further, Blowing Rock looks like exactly the place to visit in the fall and over the holidays.
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