North Carolina
The Crown of the Blue Ridge
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Blowing Rock perches at 4,000 feet along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a tiny village that has been drawing visitors to its cool mountain air since the 1880s. Named for a rocky outcropping where updrafts return light objects thrown over the edge, the town offers panoramic views of the Johns River Gorge and Grandfather Mountain.
Main Street is a postcard of mountain charm—stone cottages and clapboard storefronts housing antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants serving elevated Southern cuisine. The pace here is deliberately slow, with rocking chairs on every porch and no traffic lights in town.
Nearby attractions include Grandfather Mountain's Mile High Swinging Bridge, Moses Cone Manor with its network of carriage trails, and easy access to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.
The namesake cliff formation with stunning views and unique wind patterns
America's most scenic drive passes directly through town
Charming downtown with galleries, antique shops, and mountain restaurants
Historic estate with 25 miles of carriage trails and the Parkway Craft Center
Blowing Rock is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina. Summer brings cool temperatures when lowland areas swelter. Fall foliage is spectacular from late September through October. Some businesses close in winter.