The Blue Ridge Mountains provide an inspirational backdrop for makers of all types. Blowing Rock has been a favorite location for creative people for a long time, and many artists now call this little town home. From the legacies of Artists Alley, creative pursuits are always at home in Blowing Rock.
You can tour the sights, sounds, and flavors created by local artists all over town! Check out tour inspiring itinerary below.
2 days | 17 stops
Day 1
Breakfast at Social on Main–
This spot is a local favorite, and with good reason. You’ll find everything from classic egg plates to waffles and fruit for breakfast. Everything feels approachable and home made because it’s cooked just like family makes it. Managing partner Tim Knight has been behind a diner griddle since he was 12 and his expertise shows in the dishes. Try one of the breakfast plates named for local personalities, like the Jack Hall (owner of Sunset Tee’s & Hattery): cat head biscuits topped with scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, and bacon. Lunch selections are equally crowd-pleasing!
Check out the Blowing Rock Art & Sculpture Trail –
As you make your way through town, be sure to note all the sculpture and art in gardens and lawns and on buildings. From wood carvings to murals, there’s a lot to see- 15 locations in all. We’ve created a handy list and map for finding them!
Lunch at Blowing Rock Ale House
This small-scale brewery is always serving up special seasonal brews. In fact, at any given time, about half of the taps are dedicated to small-batch recipes that aren’t distributed in cans. The brewers here love to capture the essence of the seasons in their creations. Take a seat in this friendly spot to enjoy creative flavors from both the brewery and the kitchen! There’s a beautiful mural on the wall in the dining room, too.
Blowing Rock Maker Shops
There are several artisans creating beautiful things right inside their shops in Blowing Rock! You can often watch the creation process and even ask some questions about their work or order custom pieces. Find these in town:
1. The Mountain Thread Company: Katherine Lile, a fourth-generation quilter, creates works that marry the modern and the classic in her rope baskets and quilts. Many of the creations are made at the sewing machine right in the shop!
2. High Country Candles: The Ziegler family established High Country Candles, hand-dipping candles into a distinctive pattern of their own, crafting unique keepsakes at their on-site studio. They passed this special technique to the new owners, the Mixon family. All the candles in the shop are hand made.
3. Gaines Kiker Silversmith/Goldsmith: Gaines Kiker makes one-of-a-kind and custom jewelry and sculpture with silver and other metals. His gallery workshop is full of works-in-progress, including newer forays into large-scale wood projects and hand crafted knives.
4. Traditions Pottery: The Bolick family has been crafting traditional pottery for generations. Lula Bolick brings her family’s heritage craft from Seagrove, NC to blend with the influence of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She taught the craft to her husband, Glenn, and later to her daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Michael Calhoun. The Bolicks and Calhouns still mix their own clay in a process that comes from Lula’s family. Their gallery shop in downtown Blowing Rock holds shapes and glazes that tell the family’s history. Their studio is located just south of town.
5. Grounded Works: Hunter Allen is a Blowing Rock native. His main focus is hand-made leather work, and you can see the full process inside his studio shop. Grounded Works’ designs are often customizable- choose what color leather and thread you prefer.
6. McCoy Minerals: Here, find a lapidary workshop tucked into a corner where the staff cuts and sets various stones, complete with two viewing windows! You can watch them work at times, and even bring rough gems and stones to be cut for jewelry or display. They also create custom jewelry.
Don’t miss the Galleries!
Spend time today checking out local art in our galleries. Note any you might not have time for today so you can stop in on your second day!
Dinner & Music
Several local restaurants feature live entertainment during dinner! Local bands and entertainers liven up the evening. Enjoy some tunes for a pre-dinner drink, or make reservations for a meal to enjoy during the performance time. Your options depend on which day of the week you’re in town.
Day 2
Breakfast at Hellbender Bed & Beverage
Scratch-made Grits Bowls and satisfying biscuit sandwiches are highlights of the breakfast menu at this local favorite. This spot features a mixed menu of classic and new ideas, with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients.
What’s with the name? The Hellbender Salamander is a large amphibian indigenous to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their goal is to bring more attention to this beautiful local, as well as its need for clear and protected mountain streams.
Walk the Figure 8 Trail
Take in the beautiful view and the impressive manor when you arrive to Flat Top Manor at Moses Cone Memorial Park. The Cones were “naturalists” before the term became popular, working to preserve and enrich their land. The estate was once a major apple producer and source of employment for local families. Before heading inside the manor, take some time to walk along the Figure 8 Trail by the house. This short, flat route was enjoyed by the Cones each morning. The trail is part of a vast network of carriage trails that the Cones made for access and leisure.
Browse the Southern Highland Craft Guild Shop at Moses Cone Manor
The Southern Highland Craft Guild works to sustain both traditional and contemporary makers, ensuring that our region’s rich artistic heritage continues to thrive. In this shops, you’ll find a wide variety of work in all kinds of mediums, all hand-crafted. The shop is on the ground floor of Flat Top Manor, and is open April through October.
Lunch at Moon at Blowing Rock
Enjoy incredible flavors and hand-rolled works of art from the sushi menu at The Moon at Blowing Rock! You’ll also find a variety of other Japanese and Thai dishes – from noodles to stir-fry – that will please any palate.
Check out Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage
The highly-acclaimed Artists in Residence series is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Visitors will find a different set of regional artists at Edgewood Cottage each week! Throughout the season, this program features painters, potters, carvers, textile artists, sculptors, and more! Talk with artists, see their process as they work, and purchase unique works of art. Admission is free.
Visit the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
No trip to Blowing Rock is complete without experiencing what the locals call BRAHM. Every visit is unique. Changing exhibitions reflect the art and craft of the region, the State and the Southeast. Admission is always free!
The single permanent gallery shares the history of Blowing Rock. There, pick up an old-timey phone and hear stories from locals. See a scale model of Blowing Rock’s most storied hotel, the Mayview Manor. Watch a captivating video about the area’s rich past. Write a note on a nostalgic postcard, and the Museum will send it for you!
Dinner at Bistro Roca
The menu at Bistro Roca is full of hand-crafted deliciousness. Try the local favorite: wood-fired figs. Folks often rave about all versions of the Mac and Cheese, too. You’ll find creative specialties like Rabbit Tamales and Fava Bean Falafel, as well! Advance reservations are highly recommended.
To see more information on local makers and creative events, click here >>
