Blowing Rock, North Carolina offers a picturesque winter getaway perfect for a weekend adventure with kids. If your family loves winter snow like mine, pack your bags and head to the mountains of North Carolina!
Here, you’ll find a quaint town in the Blue Ridge Mountains that resembles a setting from your favorite Hallmark Christmas movie.
On this particular three-day winter weekend, we were going to meet a group of friends to try our luck at three adventurous family activities: snow tubing, ice skating, and alpine coaster riding. We even took a hike at Moses Cone Park during a winter storm.
What was in store for us was a winter weekend packed with fun activities, adventure, exceptional cuisine, and snow to remember. Come with me to western North Carolina, where I’ll show you all the best things to do near Blowing Rock.
Winter Weekend Blowing Rock itinerary
- Stay at a historic cottage in downtown Blowing Rock
- Ride an alpine coaster in Banner Elk
- Go snow tubing at Hawksnest
- Go ice skating at an outdoor ice rink at Appalachia Ski Resort
- Hike Bass Lake Trail in Moses Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock
- Spend some time shopping for outdoor and travel apparel downtown
- Drink a beer at Speckled Trout Outfitters in Blowing Rock
- Shop Main Street in historic downtown Blowing Rock
3-day Blowing Rock Itinerary
Day 1 (Friday): Arrive to downtown Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Eat at the Speckled Trout Restaurant and have a drink at Speckled Trout Outfitters if you’re waiting for a table. Shop downtown and check out Speckled Trout Outfitters and Footsloggers. Check-in at Suddreth Cottage on Main Street.
Day 2 (Saturday): Ride the alpine coaster in Banner Elk in the morning (don’t forget to make reservations!). Next, grab lunch at William’s Bakery and Deli. Go snow tubing at Hawksnest in the afternoon. Finally, eat dinner at Storie Street Grille and try their famous pecan-crusted trout.
Day 3 (Sunday): Eat brunch at Bistro Roca, followed by ice skating at Appalachian Ski Resort. Come back to Blowing Rock for a hike around Bass Lake. Lastly, order pizza or a large salad at the Mellow Mushroom before departing on Sunday afternoon.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is located in Watagua County in the mountains of western North Carolina.
It borders the Blue Ridge Parkway, a common destination for must-see fall leaves as they change from green to vibrant colors of orange, red, yellow, purple, and brown.
Incorporated in 1889, the town gets its name from the unique wind effect that travels through a giant rock formation. This cliff overlooks Johns River Gorge and is North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction.
Local Chickasaw legend states that the wind was so strong that it was able to reunite two lovers with the Great Spirit.
Over half a million tourists visit Blowing Rock each year, and it’s easy to see why. From photographing wildflowers blooming in the spring along the parkway to fishing the
Grandfather Trout Farm on a summer day. No matter the season, there seems to be an activity for everyone near Blowing Rock.
Other tourists come to visit Tweetsie Railroad and nearby Grandfather Mountain National Park and Swinging Bridge. But we weren’t here for the flowers, fall colors, fishing, or Tweetsie; we were here to see some snow. And, it was snow we got!
Snow in Blowing Rock
When we arrived at Blowing Rock, there was only a 30% chance of snow. However, our crew got lucky.
Our weather app’s snow prediction quickly turned to 100% as the weekend progressed. And, before we knew it, the “white stuff” filled the air on Main Street in Blowing Rock.
Even if you can’t go when it’s actually snowing, the nearby ski and snow tube slopes make their snow! So, there’s almost always a chance to experience snow in the winter in North Carolina.
Snow-making season lasts about 3 to 4 months on the slopes near Blowing Rock. The most common slopes nearby included Beech Mountain, Appalachian Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain.
Pro-tip: If you’re planning a trip to Blowing Rock or the Blue Ridge mountains in the winter, check the weather before you go. While the roads are plowed and salted quickly, you should consider a 4-wheel drive vehicle if they call for snow. A lot of locals even have snow chains on their tires.
Planning a Trip to Blowing Rock
If you’re planning a trip to Blowing Rock for a winter weekend, book accommodations and restaurant reservations as soon as possible! Below are some suggestions for your next family travel adventure to Blowing Rock. As always, we only recommend places we have experience with.
Best lodging in Blowing Rock:
- Suddreth Cottage: 818 Main Street, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-9187
- The Manor: 567 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 414-2800
- Chetola Resort: 185 Chetola Lake Dr, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-5500
The best places to shop on a winter weekend in Blowing Rock:
- Speckled Trout Outfitters: 916 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 773-8852
- Footsloggers Outdoor & Travel Outfitters: 921 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-4453
The best places to eat in downtown:
- Bistro Roca: 143 Wonderland Trail, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-4008
- Storie Street Grille: 1167 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-7075
- Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottleshop: 922 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-9819, (located next to Speckled Trout Outfitters)
- Mellow Mushroom: 946 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 295-3399
Best things to do on a winter weekend near Blowing Rock:
- Hawksnest Snow Tubing: 2058 Skyland Dr, Seven Devils, NC 28604, (828) 963-6561
- Ice skating at Appalachian Ski Mountain: 940 Ski Mountain Rd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, (828) 895-7828
- Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster: 3265 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604, (828) 898-7866
Day 1: Arrive at Suddreth Cottage
Our family stayed at Suddreth Cottage, a turn-of-the-century two-story, private residence built around 1900.
Homes similar to this one used to line the streets of Blowing Rock, but many were torn down for commercial interests. This lovely restored home was a great place for my family to stay.
We arrived at 4 pm after check-in. Early check-in is available, but you must contact Blueridge Rentals to see if they can accommodate you before you arrive.
Checkout is at 10 am, and all required is to lower the thermostat and take out trash upon departure.
Walk to Main Street in Blowing Rock
Suddreth Cottage is within walking distance of excellent shopping and table fare found on Main Street. Parking is limited downtown, so being able to walk was an incredible plus for my family.
We took advantage of the proximity to downtown Blowing Rock by eating at nearby restaurants. The cottage is close enough that if you have older children, they can safely walk back if you want to spend more time out and about.
Pro-tip: If you’re not staying at Suddreth Cottage, our two other lodging recommendations are also walkable from downtown. If you’re looking for other accommodations, check out Chetola Resort or The Manor. The Manor is more private and would be my first choice over Chetola.
A Blowing Rock house with a history
Anywhere you walked on the oak floors in the Suddreth house creaked. Now to some, this might be annoying. But I loved the thought of how many people had set foot in the same place I had throughout the history of the cottage. And, I was reminded of this with each noisy step I made.
The home had a small footprint, but just the right size for a small family. We had an extra bed to spare, and the listing through Blueridge Rentals said it could sleep 7.
As our family nestled in the family room in front of the fire, with its old, leather couch and twin rocking chairs, I began to think that this might be the coziest cottage I’ve ever slept in.
blowing Rock Winter Weekend Pack List
- Merino long underwear (mid to heavyweight)
- Sweat pants
- Waterproof pants (i.e., Kuiu)
- Wool sweater
- Winter jacket (i.e., Helly Hansen)
- Ski bibs
- Toboggan
- Balaclava
- Wool socks
- Winter boots (i.e. Sorel)
- Ski gloves
- Ski goggles
Shop Main Street, Blowing Rock
There’s excellent shopping in Blowing Rock. I saw high-end antiques and men’s and women’s clothing, all of which seemed unique. I’m not much of a shopper unless it’s travel or adventure-related, and two stores in particular fit the bill.
If you stay at Suddreth Cottage, one of the first shops you’ll visit is Specked Trout Outfitters, a unique establishment.
This fly shop and fly-fishing travel agent can put you on the fish locally or even book a trip to places as far away as Cuba. What’s most entertaining about this place is its massive bar with several home brews and wines.
Before and after Christmas, Main Street has incredible decorations. An antique firetruck is kept near the park for kids to play on, and most trees are illuminated with Christmas lights.
If you have time, check out the sculpture at the Hanna Family Building at 1107 Main Street in Blowing Rock (photo above, far right). The sculpture has protruding faces on the left side wall of one of the shops.
Even though the faces look a little creepy, I really like the decor. It goes well with the surroundings and the fact that Blowing Rock is such a historic area.
One can only assume that these are the faces of the building’s current or former owners. I could not find any information to back up my theory.
However, next time I’m in Blowing Rock, I’ll ask some gift shop owners if they know anything about the giant sculpture with multiple heads.
Speckled Trout Outfitters
Speckled Trout Outfitters has a large, wooden bar in the middle of their retail space. It spans most of the left side of the retail space and is used as a bar and checkout counter for any fly fishing gear you might purchase.
The wraparound bar is a clever idea. It allows those who may not be interested in fishing to have a drink while their spouses shop for fishing and other outdoor gear. I’d not seen this setup before, but I liked it.
It was cozy, and the staff (e.g., the bartenders) were friendly and informative. The shop had high-quality fly fishing gear, such as Orvis and Patagonia, that I’d not seen anywhere else.
I even found a rain jacket that fit so well I purchased it. I can’t wait to use it this year when I’m back flossing for salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska. It almost always rains in Alaska, and that heavy rain jacket should be perfect for keeping me dry.
They also had a great selection of fishing waders, wading boots, fly-tying products, fly rods, and fly reels. Clothing brands included Arc’tyrx, Patagonia, Howler Brothers, Orvis, and Free Form. There was also a great selection of outdoor and fishing-related ball caps.
Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters
My second favorite store to browse was Footsloggers. Similar to Speckled Trout Outfitters, they had a lot of outdoor clothing to choose from. To get there, just walk catty-corner across the main street from Speckled Trout Outfitters.
I found a blue Arc’teryx raincoat that fit well, and best of all, it was on sale. I rarely find clothes that fit me because I’m so tall, so I bought them to use on a future trip when I might need a lightweight rain jacket.
Footsloggers had a greater selection of clothes, but they were geared more towards traveling and outdoors than fishing like Speckled Trout Outfitters. They also had some cool knickknacks like survival gear, hatchets, and axes that adorned one wall. When you entered the shop, the vibe was definitely “outdoors.” The staff were both friendly and helpful.
Downtown blowing Rock
There’s too many other shops worth visiting on Main Street in Blowing Rock to mention. Most of the stores are on the same side as Footsloggers. So once you leave there, start walking away from Suddreth Cottage and you can go in each one, one at a time.
Day 2: Wilderness Run alpine Coaster ride
Now, let’s travel a short distance away from Blowing Rock towards Banner Elk. Banner Elk sits at a higher elevation than Blowing Rock, and sometimes, it snows there when it’s not in Blowing Rock.
That day, there was snow, and we were able to take our alpine coaster ride before the business shut down.
If the tracks get too wet, they might not work properly, and the entire operation might close. Even though it started snowing, we were lucky enough to get our ride in.
You must make reservations online ahead of time. I’d recommend making reservations at least a few days in advance, and more if you’re going on a busy weekend like we did.
You don’t actually purchase your tickets online; you’ll buy them at the Wilderness Run Alpine Center. Using their online contact form, you’ll request a parking time, including the number of people in your party. Parking is limited, so you’ll need this reservation in order to ride.
However, they do take walk-ins on occasion, but only if they have availability. Once you get there, head upstairs, give them your name, and pay for your tickets. Kids below a certain height have to ride with an adult.
For a quick and quality lunch, check out Williams Bakery and Deli, which is about 5 minutes from Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster.
Use their easy paper and pencil order forms to order your soup, salad, or sandwich. The restaurant is very clean, and the warm soup and salad were just what we needed after a morning in the cold.
Pro-tip: Dress appropriately, and if you have ski goggles, they really help you see since you go fairly fast! Also, don’t forget to reserve your parking early (3 to 7 days in advance) to ensure you get a spot on the alpine coaster.
Hawksnest’s Snow Tubing
Have you ever gone snow tubing? Whether a newcomer to the sport or a seasoned veteran, you should try snow tubing in Sevin Devils, North Carolina, at Hawksnest. It’s the perfect winter activity for snow lovers, both young and old.
About a half-hour drive from Blowing Rock is Hawksnest Snow Tubing, the largest snow tubing park in the Southeast. Here, dreams of fresh powder and high speeds fill the minds of adult and child snow tubers alike.
It’s a great family activity, and if you’re an adult, it will likely bring back memories of what it was like to be a kid again.
The excitement on other adults’ faces was very apparent. From sheer fun to a little bit of apprehension, the parents to the left and right of me smiled and laughed throughout their snow adventure.
Like me, they probably were remembering what it was like to be a kid again as they went snow tubing down steep, well-maintained ski slopes.
But, make no mistake, these slopes are so well designed that you can reach speeds that you could only dream about as a youngster.
Dress warm
I have a few recommendations if you’re going snow tubing at Hawksnest. First, dress warm! Wear lots of layers—in other words, dress like an onion. I like four layers, and I’d wear at least three.
For my bottom half, I wear merino wool long underwear. Next, I wear sweatpants. My sweatpants are sort of loose-fitting, unlike my long underwear.
Since they don’t hug my body, they create an air barrier that seems to trap air and keep me warmer. My third layer is a pair of waterproof pants. I use my Kuiu hunting gear since I already have it, but any waterproof pants will work.
Lastly, I wear ski bibs. Mine don’t always keep out water, so that’s where my Kuiu pants come in handy.
For the top half of my body, I wear a wool T-shirt followed by long wool underwear. You can use any weight of long underwear, but I prefer mid- to heavy weight.
When we were at Hawksnest, the temperatures were in the teens, so you really appreciate the heavier underwear. Next, I wear a wool sweater. LL Bean sells great wool sweaters if you’re in the market for one, or pick one up at Footsloggers before you go. The last piece of upper clothing I wear is a heavy winter jacket.
Head, feet, and eye protection
As I said, it got cold when we were there. To complete your attire, I’d recommend a face mask or balaclava and ski goggles. You’ll really like wearing the ski goggles, as they’ll protect your eyes and face from the strong winds common at Hawksnest. They also work well when riding the alpine coaster and ice skating.
A quality pair of boots and wool socks are essential to keeping your toes warm. I’ve had the best success with Sorel boots. You can look for deals on Amazon or REI, where they often have them at discounted prices.
Dinner at Storie Street Grille
Be sure to make all reservations in Blowing Rock ahead of time. Storie Street Grille is a little more upscale than the Speckled Trout. The restaurant is well known for its pecan-crusted speckled trout.
You can dress up or even wear your snow attire. Anything seems to go in Blowing Rock. It’s a pretty laid-back place, and it is a ski/snow town in the winter, so most businesses seem to be accommodating to whatever you wear.
Day 3: Ice Skating at Appalachian Ski Resort
After a fantastic brunch at Bistro Roca, we returned for another snow-related activity. This time, we went ice skating at Appalachian Ski Resort.
Check-in was easy even without reservations. To get your tickets, go to the ice skating ticket office and use the kiosk to select an ice skating time.
Each time slot ends, no matter when you start skating. So, to get the most time skating, go at the beginning of a new time slot. A large fire pit outside the rink helps those not skating stay warm.
Pro tip: Our family has been ice skating at Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Resort. In my opinion, the staff was most accommodating at Appalachian Ski Resort.
Most importantly, there was sufficient parking, which Sugar Mountain lacks. While the ice rink was a little larger at Sugar Mountain, it won’t do much good if you cannot find a place to park.
Hike Bass Lake Trail in Blowing Rock
Last but not least, we continued our trip by going on a last-minute hike to Bass Lake Trail, which is located in Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
We hiked in a snowstorm and had a blast! You can park near the trailhead or, like us, hike about a half-mile to the park from downtown.
Distance: 0.9 mile loop
Elevation: 19-foot elevation gain
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Located a half-mile south of the US 221/Business 321 junction just off Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock.
The trail goes all the way around Bass Lake and you can even hike to the historic mansion called Flat Top Manor. Moses Cone, an antebellum aristocrat, once owned it before he donated it. The National Park Service now manages the 3,600-acre estate.
This last-minute hike was just enough to exercise before driving home.
More Time in Blowing Rock
Linville Caverns
I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest visiting Linville Caverns while you’re in Blowing Rock. It’s a 53-minute drive, but so worth it! If you go, buy tickets ahead of time. Also, from December to February, they’re only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The caves will probably be icy in the winter, but if you dress warm, it’s doable. For more tips on touring the caves, read our article about our experience visiting Linville Caverns.
wordschooling blowing Rock
We like to teach our kids unique information about any place we travel to. Here are some educational talking points for anyone homeschooling or traveling around the world with their kids like we did.
- Geography of the Blue Ridge Mountains: The Blue Ridge Mountains around Blowing Rock are some of the oldest in the world (over one billion years old). Consider going gem mining at one of the following mines: Dock’s Rocks, Foggy Mountain, and Prospector Hill.
- History and culture: Blowing Rock has a rich history, being incorporated in 1889 and is known for its unique wind phenomenon. Consider a history lesson of Flat Top Manor inside Moses Cone Park to better understand antebellum architectural styles.
- Physical education: Activities like ice skating, snow tubing, snow boarding, and hiking, which we did, provide lessons on fitness, coordination, and the importance of outdoor play.
- Environmental stewardship: Hiking in Moses Cone Memorial Park or visiting nearby Linville Caverns is a great opportunity to teach others about the importance of protecting natural habitats, discussing the importance of human activities, and practicing responsible tourism.
Skiing and snowboarding near Blowing Rock
One last winter activity worth mentioning is skiing and snowboarding at one of the local ski slopes near Blowing Rock, such as Beech Mountain Resort.
If time allows or if someone in your group wants to split from the group, Beech Mountain offers well-maintained slopes with ample parking.
Two other ski resorts are Sugar Mountain Resort and Appalachian Ski Resort. We’ve been to all three, and we like the conditions at Beech Mountain the best. However, for customer service, Appalachian Ski Resort gets our vote. In our opinion, Sugar Mountain doesn’t have enough parking.
No matter which slope you choose, there can be a wait for lifts, and the slopes can get crowded on busy weekends, so plan accordingly. Buy tickets and rental gear ahead of time.
If you’re renting gear, you can also try doing so in Boon,e where you won’t have to wait in long lines to get equipment.
I hope you get the opportunity to explore Blowing Rock and the surrounding communities. It has one of the best downtowns I’ve been to. It reminds me of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but on a smaller scale.
Do you have any questions about how best to spend a winter weekend in Blowing Rock? Let me know in the comments below!
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