Downtown Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock, NC is known for its quaint village charm and signature cultural and creative spirit. It’s been named the “prettiest Small Town in North Carolina” by a pool of in-state travel professionals and writers, and a “Favorite Southern Destination” by the readers of Southern Living.

Only 3 square miles, it boasts more than 100 shops and a range of culinary options. Grab a bite to eat on MK’s pet-friendly patio or stroll down Main Street with an ice cream cone from Kilwin’s Chocolates. Blowing Rock is a year-round destination with picturesque winters and an average July temperature of 75 degrees—an ideal choice to escape summer’s heat.

The Blowing Rock

Named for the Indian legend about two star-crossed lovers—a brave leaps from the windy cliffs to his death and a distraught maiden begs the Great Spirit to return him—The famous Blowing Rock cliff is the town’s namesake. This dramatic rock outcropping overlooking the Johns River Gorge, 3000 feet below, has drawn visitors from far and wide as a beloved attraction since 1933.

Grandfather Mountain

This natural wonder, which sits proudly at 5,945 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers an endless array of activities for families, from a mile-high swinging bridge and behind-the-scenes habitat tours to numerous walking and hiking trails.

Ski Resorts

The Blowing Rock area is no stranger to winter fun with some of the best snow east of the Mississippi. Within an hour or so of SweetGrass are 3 legacy ski mountains–Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Sugar Mountain. These winter play-lands offer everything from skiing to snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating.