On our way to the top for leaf peeping, we stopped here for a bit and enjoyed the scenery. Located…read moreat milepost 297 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the part encompasses over 4200 acres of rolling mountainous terrain that include campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic sites and Price Lake. The highlight is the Tanawha Trail that runs 13.5 miles and includes Grandfather Mountain. There are canoes available for rental and the lake is stocked with fish. This time of year with the leaves turning, it was a beautiful spot and we enjoyed our time here. Five stars. [Review 15917 overall - 3132 in North Carolina - 1422 of 2021.]

The trail around Price Lake is an easy walk, ducking in and out of the tickets along the shore…read more If it's rained or snowed recently, make sure to bring footwear that can tolerate a little mud. While trail improvements have eliminated some of the messier areas, the reality is that well worn walking trails also make for welcoming drainage paths. Parking is readily available in a lot adjacent to the dam, or in a larger lot just down from the amputheater (near the boat rentals).

Beautiful park in the heart of Blowing Rock's downtown area. The space is well maintained with…read moregardens, tennis and basketball courts and even a large playground to let your kids run around and burn off some energy. I was very impressed by the playground, rather than dirt or mulch, the entire space is finished with a rubberized ground cover, with a good bit of spring and cushion to it, offering a soft landing spot for any kids that fall. There is also a large public restroom, which was clean and well maintained. Bravo on the well maintained public space!

This is a lovely little park along Main Street in Blowing Rock - well maintained, and includes a…read morecouple nice sitting areas, a playground, and a covered gazebo-type space with multiple benches. The building along the side (which contains The Gifting Tree on the outer wall) includes restrooms as well. While the park isn't especially large, it's feels proportional to the area... and it's a great place for people watching, passing through, or taking a moment to relax. Lovely and highly recommended.

About 1.6mi to the end of the trail. Do you need hiking shoe, not really unless the ground is wet…read more There are a lot of rocks so when it is wet you can slip and fall. The are muddy spot too but you can walk around it carefully. Another thing is there are about 500' of elevation change so hiking back to the parking lot will raise your heart rate. These are all the caution I can think off. Now the views, yes it is not a big waterfall but still nice. Glen Marie fall you can walk next to it if water flow is not too heavy. Trails are clean which is good, meaning people pick up after themselves. If you can't find start point, just drive slow on Laurel lane and you will see a small sign for parking.

Beautiful!!!! The falls were so fun. I loved seeing them. Also, this is a really convenient…read morelocation (so close to downtown blowing rock!) and it was not very crowded. This might be a difficult hike, though. If you want to get all the way to the falls, there is a lot of elevation change. It's tiring! We also saw a snake on one of the bridges and had to be extra careful to cross without disturbing the snake.

Gorgeous views! Wonderful hiking…read more We fished at Trout Lake and enjoyed the 1/2 mile hike from the parking lot to the dam. Next time we'll go all the way around. About 1 mile total.

This pull-off from the Blue Ridge Parkway is not far from Boone. It is apparently an abandoned…read moreestate that was once an apple orchard. Signage indicates that lead and arsenic were used as pesticides in the area so staying out of the soil is advised. Still, there is plenty to do, with the estate's house offering a collection of local art and a view of the valley, and numerous trails for both humans and horses. The lake at the bottom was nothing special, but it's all about the journey. Notably, the amount of tree coverage on the trails was high, making them a viable option on a hot day.

We traveled to Blowing Rock, NC to visit friends and to explore the area - what I didn't know is…read morethat our friends live only a few hundred yards from this beautiful marvel in a cliff side home over-looking the beautiful valley below. The Blowing Rock itself is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea-level overhanging John's River Gorge 3,000 feet below. I've read the legends of this rock and my friends have told me during the winter storms the snow blows upward from the cliffs and from their back porch the snow rises from the valley and appears to fall upward. The air currents that flow upward prompted scientists to surmise this location is "the only place in the world where snow falls upside down". I climbed up the blowing rock that protrudes over the valley to get the best view possible and felt the breeze rising upward, it was pretty cool while a little unnerving at the same time, I admit it was a crawl to the very edge and not a place I felt comfortable standing it's very steep and treacherous in my opinion. The entire facility is well maintained and the staff here was very friendly and knowledgeable. They have a snack bar with outdoor tables and a nice gift shop. On the day we arrived there were several artists with their canvases painting the blowing rock and backdrop. There's plenty of parking and as beautiful as it is I think allowing less than an hour here is more than enough time to see it all and explore the observation platform and hiking trails...

I went here for the penny, I have to admit but I'm glad that I did. The views are stunning from the…read moreobservation area. It was beyond foggy the day we went, they warned us before we paid but I wanted to press on. The gift shop is nice and has literally something for everyone. The properly has 3 kitties roaming around. The rock itself is sorta a gimmick but the story behind it is full of culture and myth. The property is VERY well maintained and beautiful. There is a small cafe/snack shop halfway to the observation tower. There are some stars but also a ramp. There is a view finder for a few quarters on the deck you can make use of. The paths are short and this place is pretty accessible. I really liked the gem room too it was very interesting, there is also a tiny museum with some history and artifacts. Blowing rock is pet friendly!!

Blowing Rock really has a lot going for it, from the busy downtown scene with restaurants, shops,…read moreboutiques, sweets, breweries, fine dining, you name it. And then just a 15min walk (or 2 minute car ride) from downtown, Bass Lake is right there for your hiking pleasure. The lake itself is serene with great views from the circumferential hiking path around it. But it doesn't end there. Miles and miles of trails break off from the main lake for a longer outdoor experience. Plenty of parking with clean bathrooms at the main parking area. This is perfect for a shorter stroll around the lake, or a day's adventure across the many trails leading from here.

Loved running on these beautiful trails! Beautiful park with a lot of trail options. Go check it…read moreout you will not be disappointed

Located at the intersection of Skyland View Drive and US-321, this marker recalls the place where…read morean educator had an impact on the local community. The marker reads, "Emily Prudden, 1832-1917. Missionary. Founded 15 western N.C. schools including Pfeiffer College forerunner. Her Skyland Institute stood here." Online, there is more information. "Few educators were better known in western North Carolina at the turn of the century than Miss Emily C. Prudden (1832-1917). In his eulogy Congregational minister George Dickerman estimated that no less than 10,000 students had passed through her schools." "Prudden was one among many "Yankee schoolmarms" who came South in the late nineteenth century. At age fifty-one, she left her native Connecticut, where she had raised her late sister's orphaned children, to serve as housemother at Brainerd Institute in Chester, South Carolina. Her accomplishments over the next thirty years were all the more remarkable in light of the fact that from the age of seventeen she was deaf. She began her work in North Carolina in 1884 when she acquired fifty acres at All Healing Springs in Gaston County. Her school there was known in time as Jones Seminary and later as Linwood College. In 1888, she established Lincoln Academy nearby for black females. From this beginning she went on to found schools at Blowing Rock, Connelly Springs, Saluda, Elk Park (one white, one black), Mill Springs, Cedar Valley, Lawndale, Brevard, Tryon, and near Lenoir. This last one was her greatest success. Oberlin Home and School, transferred to the care of the Woman's Home Missionary Society in 1903, was the direct forerunner of Pfeiffer University at Misenheimer." "The strategy she followed at Oberlin was the one she used elsewhere: to establish a school and, after a few years, transfer control to an organization (usually religious and most often the American Missionary Association) better able financially than she to keep it going. Consequently Prudden usually did not stay in one community more than two or three years. Upon retirement in 1909 she returned to Blowing Rock, site of her Skyland Institute founded in 1887. Prudden's body was returned to Connecticut for burial. The site of Skyland Institute and her home is now the location of a condominium complex." [Review 15910 overall - 3126 in North Carolina - 1415 of 2021.]

Wonderful location in downtown Lenoir to bring your sweet fur baby to play. They have a selection…read moreof beer (and other non-alcoholic beverages) to enjoy while you watch your dog enjoy their play time indoor (as well as outdoor) with other patrons and their dogs. They are also part of the social district which means you can take your drinks with you! They have an agility course for dogs, even a ball pit, and pools are located outside. Everyone is super friendly and they also have a few other dog related items for sale such as buddy budder, lick mats and even a dog beer called Tailwaggers. How cute is that!?!?! They offer training, dog nail trims and do fun crafts. Give them a visit, you won't be disappointed when you see how much your dog enjoys running around.

From the owner: Barks and Rec Play Park specializes in: Dog Park, Dog Socialization, Dog Training, Pet Photography,…read moreDog Bar, Dog Obstacle Course, agility, Dog Beer, Dog Products