If you are looking for a place or area that has amazing sights and great activities for you and your loved ones, then you should consider taking a look at Blowing Rock, a tourist destination located in the humble state of North Carolina. There are so many fun and exciting things that you and your friends or family can do or see in Blowing Rock, and you can even try season-exclusive activities in the area like skiing or trekking. To learn more about those activities, here are some of the fun things to do at Blowing Rock to make you consider going on a trip to North Carolina.
Have Fun at Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad is arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Blowing Rock, and its popularity is mainly attributed to its unique design and setup, where the amusement park is surrounded by a railroad that showcases some of Tweetsie Railroad’s most famous trains. The railroad is approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) in length, and you can explore this railroad by going on a road on one of two historic narrow-gauge steam locomotives owned by the park. In addition to the exciting train ride, Tweetsie Railroad also has a zoo and other rides that you and your loved ones can surely enjoy. You will never run out of things to do at Tweetsie Railroad, as they offer plenty of rides and attractions that are fun and exciting.
Go Fishing at the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir
If you want to go fishing, then you should visit the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir, which is located near Blowing Rock in the town of Wilkesboro. According to historical records, the dam was completed in 1962 and was built in order to control the flooding that had been problematic in the town before the creation of the dam. After its completion, the dam was then named after W. Kerr Scott, who served as the 62nd Governor of North Carolina from 1949 to 1953. While you can enjoy looking at the impressive dam, you also have the option to go fishing at its reservoir, which is filled with black bass, a species of game fish that is usually caught for bass fishing.
Relax at Westglow Resort and Spa
If you just want to have a relaxing time in Blowing Rock, then you should consider booking at Westglow Resort & Spa, an establishment that is situated near some of the most popular tourist sites in the town. Because of its close proximity to different tourist attractions, the spa is ideal to be visited by tourists that also want to go to other areas of Blowing Rock after relaxing at the spa. Besides the spa, the Westglow Resort and Spa also offers a hotel room service, as well as free breakfast and a public pool. The resort also has great restaurants surrounding it, which include Storie Street Grille and The New Public House. In addition to the Westglow Resort and Spa’s hotel, there are also numerous vacation cabins for rent in Blowing Rock, and most of these cabins are surrounded by great tourist spots, much like the Westglow Resort and Spa.
Visit the Blowing Rock Flat Top Manor
One of the tourist spots that are near to the Westglow Resort and Spa is the Flat Top Manor, a peculiar house that is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic road in Blowing Rock. The Flat Top Manor is also known to locals as Moses Cone Manor, which is derived from the person who built the house, Moses H. Cone. In the historical records, Moses H. Cone constructed the manor with his wife Bertha from 1899 to 1901. The manor has 23 rooms, and it is said that Cone designed the place while taking inspiration from the Biltmore Estate, a historic house that was built by art collector George Washington Vanderbilt II around 1895 in Asheville, North Carolina. Today, the Flat Top Manor is open to the public, and you don’t have to pay an admission fee to go inside.
Take on the High Gravity Adventures
One of the newest attractions that you can find in Blowing Rock is High Gravity Adventures, an adventure park that boasts more than 75 aerial elements that you can enjoy riding, walking, or running on. Visitors ages 5 and up can explore the various contraptions and locations on the park, but they would need a little bit of physical strength to go through each attraction, as they would need to climb, hold on, or swing to different parts of the park. The attractions in the park include sky bridges, swinging loops, and cargo nets, and in order to safely traverse these contraptions, the trained staff members would give visitors a full-body harness, safety tethers, and a sturdy helmet to prevent injuries.
Trek the Glen Burney Trail
Considered to be one of the most difficult trails in Blowing Rock, the Glen Burney Trail offers a good challenge for trekking experts. The Glen Burney Trail begins at Annie Cannon Gardens, which is located at Laurel Lane. Then, along the trail, you will be able to see some of the most beautiful waterfalls that the area has to offer, like the Cascades, the Glen Burney waterfall, and the Glen Marie waterfall. Because the trail is an out-and-back location, the terrain you will be stepping on may be quite steep and slippery. So, you should only take on this trail if you already have experience in trekking.
Those are just six of the many fun things that you can do at Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Even if you aren’t visiting any tourist attractions in the area, you can still enjoy the wonderful sights in the great outdoors of Blowing Rock. But, it would still be better to plan where you want to go in the location so that you will know which tourist spots can be overcrowded or peaceful.