One of our favorite travel destinations in North Carolina is Blowing Rock! We recently spent a few days in the coziest, cutest home and had many tourist-y adventures that I want to share! Blowing Rock has the best of both worlds when it comes to outdoor adventures and indoor fun. That means you can bring the whole family rain or shine. Here are all of our favorite things to do!
Where to Stay
Our family was generously hosted by Misty Mountain Hop. Our rental house was beyond amazing! It was in a very quiet location, tons of room to spread out, a chef’s kitchen which is perfect for hosting large events and the most gorgeous sun room I have ever seen (my favorite place in the house!). What makes the property even better? An elevator making the basement and second floor extremely accessible. The rental home was truly a vacation on its own. Our kids loved the amenities, including shuffleboard, ping pong, pool table, hot tub, and fire pit.
If you’re hosting a big group, there is plenty of seating in the living rooms and dining rooms. One of my favorite perks was that there were several refrigerators! Lots of kids = lots of food and snacks on hand.
The outdoor kitchen was perfect for grilling while the kids played in the hot tub. We gathered around the fire pit every night for smores and popcorn!
Check out their Instagram to book your next adventure!
What to Do in Blowing Rock
There is so much to do both indoors and outdoors in Blowing Rock. Here are our favorite places for adventuring! Be sure to pack a mixture of activewear and casual to dressy when visiting this fun town!
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is amazing in the mountains. We highly recommend Dutch Creek Trails, which is about 20 minutes outside of Blowing Rock. We did book this excursion a few days prior as we were a party of eight!
Doc Rocks Gem Mine
The kids had a blast at Doc Rocks Gem Mine! This is a great place for some scientific indoor fun! There is a fossil museum and Paleo Putt-Putt!
Hiking
Our top recommendation for hiking in the area is Grandfather Mountain. I definitely recommend crossing the suspension bridge! There are many trails to choose from depending on your skill level.
Glen Burney Trails is a great spot too! This one isn’t necessarily a hard hike, but it was very steep in some areas and made me nervous with the boys. Hiking sticks are available to borrow at the bottom of the trail.
I have no words to describe Mystery Hill, but it’s a fascinating spot where is the center of gravity is changed and they aren’t sure why. Truly, the kids could’ve stayed for hours. Most of the adults in our group got nauseous so limit your time in the areas where the gravity is off-center! It’s a great indoor-outdoor spot!
This place is WORTH the drive! Take a tour through caves and see stalactites and stalagmites. It’ll be the highlight of your trip, I promise. Make sure to buy tickets early and take a rain jacket, regardless of the time of the year. My kids also love wearing headlamps here!
Where to Eat (everything is very casual and the food is fantastic)
We typically seek local restaurants that are casual when we are traveling with kids. All of these places have fantastic food and cool, casual environments.
We love this spot! It’s super popular, so be sure to make reservations. They are closed every day from 3-5 pm, so make sure you get there early for lunch if you plan to stay a while!
The food here is fantastic. It’s a down-home kind of place, so service is a little slow! A great place to go if you’re not in a rush to eat and want to just enjoy some time together.
Mellow Mushroom
This downtown location has great pizza and sandwiches! An easy place to eat!
If you love southern, all-you-can-eat places, this is the spot for you. I’ve been coming here since I was little. It’s definitely an institution for the area. Food is served family-style at the table! An all you can eat type of style – think fried chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes!
If you’re looking for a great place with delicious soul food, look no further. This Southwest Caribbean hotspot has HUGE portions and kids eat free with some of the meal options.
Where to Shop in Blowing Rock
One of my biggest tips when heading to Blowing Rock: shop the local spots downtown. Let the kids play on the playground while you drink coffee from Bald Guy Brewing! It’s a great way to spend the day!
Another favorite is the Mast General Store. It’s fun for the whole family! There’s candy, hiking gear, local swag, toys, and more. My family could spend hours here!
Have you ever been to Blowing Rock? Share your favorite places to visit in this fun, family-friendly town in the comments below!
