Beloved North Carolina Mountain Town Recognized As No. 1 Place To See Fall Foliage Nationwide
Sorry beach lovers, nothing beats the mountains in the fall. And I’m a beach/summer person through and through. But that weekend (or weeklong) road trip in the fall has to be to the mountains. The gorgeous hues of the leaves, the crisp mountain air, an easy hike, and perhaps a beer, glass of wine, or some cider overlooking the mountains. It’s the perfect fall excursion. And the best of the best? It’s a short two-hour drive from Charlotte. The outdoor experts at Outside Magazine ranked a North Carolina Town as the top spot on a list of “The 9 Best Mountain Towns To See Fall Foliage”.
The winner is a town I have visited numerous times, though admittedly most often in the summer. It’s the small town of Blowing Rock North Carolina. It’s a little less than a 2-hour drive from Charlotte straight up 321. You’ll come across Blowing Rock a few miles before you reach the college town of Boone. The town is easily walkable and offers numerous places you can stay and access shops, restaurants, a brewery, and more without ever getting in your car. In the summer the downtown park is filled with flowers, but the backdrop of the red, orange, and yellow leaves is something to see.
You will want to grab that car and cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway to get some of the most stunning North Carolina fall foliage views imaginable. Peak season in the region is mid to late October.
What other cities made the list?
- Blowing Rock, NC
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Stowe, VT
- Taos, NM
- New Paltz, NY
- Leavenworth, WA
- Crested Butte, CO
- Eureka Springs, AR
- Stanley, ID
So as you can see, there are truly places from all over the county recognized. This makes it even more impressive that Blowing Rock North Carolina is Outside Magazine’s number 1 place to see fall foliage in the entire US. You can read the full Outside Magazine article here. Or keep reading to check out some of my favorite things to do in Blowing Rock any time of year.
11 Must Dos When Visiting Blowing Rock, North Carolina
One of my favorite mountain towns to visit any time of year but especially in the summer months is the town of Blowing Rock. Just a short drive up 321 before you hit the college town of Boone, you’ll find the quaint village of Blowing Rock. The town boasts a rich history dating as far back as the 1700s. You’ll see some of that history reflected below. It’s also home to some charming mountain inns and the luxurious Chetola Resort. Blowing is close to the previously mentioned Boone, Linville Falls, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Banner Elk among other towns. So with so much to do in the general area what are the must-dos in Blowing Rock itself?
That’s where I come along. I grew up going to Blowing Rock with my parents as a kid every summer. In fact, my mom often reminds me that the first “vacation” I ever went on was a week in this North Carolina mountain town. So I’d say I have some qualifications to tell you the must-do activities. As a child, I would have told you about the playground in the park. They had the most fun slide I still remember to this day. The park has since been redone, and at this point, I’d look a little odd on a playground. But I bet it still brings the same joy to kids today as it did to me then. And while I didn’t include that park on my must-dos in Blowing Rock list, I did include another of my childhood favorites.
On this list, you’ll find activities, restaurants, shopping, places to grab a drink, and more. If hiking is your thing, you’ll have to do your own research. Outside of a leisurely stroll, I didn’t include any of that on this 11-item list. I’m not known for my outdoorsy spirit that’s for sure! So check out the collection of must dos and adventures in the town of Blowing Rock North Carolina.
Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.
