Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Tracy Brown was justifiably proud that the town found itself near the top of the Southern Living list, and not for the first time. “We couldn’t ask for a better endorsement,” Brown said. “Votes from readers mean votes from real travelers- our neighbors.”
Southern Living notes that when the awards first began, readers were simply asked, “have a favorite?” For this year’s South’s Best awards, the magazine remarks that the lists “include dazzling newcomers, repeat champions, hidden gems, and tried-and-true classics in states across our region.”
Of Blowing Rock, magazine editors wrote, “This mountain town is named for its most famous feature, a 4,000-foot cliff that overlooks a spectacular gorge, distant peaks, and dense forests. But Blowing Rock is no one-hit wonder. Expect plenty of High Country character from a community of talented craftspeople and chefs inspired by their surroundings.”
Readers were invited to participate through promotions in Southern Living magazine, email newsletters, social media platforms, and on southernliving.com. The resulting list is diverse. Other NC towns on the list include Boone, Hendersonville, and Beaufort. Finishing ahead of Blowing Rock in the Best Small Town category were Dahlonega, GA, Gatlinburg, TN, Beaufort, SC, and St. Augustine, FL.
Southern Living’s South’s Best awards celebrate the “people, places, and communities that make our home more vibrant than ever.” For more information on the South’s Best awards, visit southernliving.com/souths-best
March 9, 2023