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!!

Beautiful Art on display in various rooms. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry and woodwork make for a…read morerelaxing afternoon. The grounds are just as beautiful as the art inside. I have passed by here for years and never stopped. So glad I finally did! Beautiful!

This is a gorgeous gallery full of amazing fine art! A wide variety of artists are represented here…read moreincluding Toni Carlton. Come here to window shop and be amazed or to purchase that one exquisite piece that will be treasured for a lifetime and beyond. It also offers lovely handmade jewelry for a perfect birthday or holiday or anniversary gift. Not to mention the beautiful textiles...hats, gloves, jackets. There is a surprise around every corner. Oh and they offer lessons!

Beautiful falls. Trail was good shape for healthy senior walking. Strenuous but not exhausting or…read moreunbearable. Everyone on trail & parking lot were polite & helpful

We enjoyed our hike - from car, to falls and back was a little over 3 miles. It is a great hike but…read morebring a walking stick to help navigate some of the rocky areas- you do cross a creek but the rocks were easy to cross without getting wet and were not slippery. On the way down you really tend to enjoy the views - because you aren't focused on getting to the end ;) my husband and I - are out of shape lol but it was not that bad of a hike - our daughter , who is an athlete had no issues - but there is a good 30 ye diff between us ha! I highly recommend spending a few hours enjoying nature ;)

So they give tours about every hour or so. I think it was about 45 minutes. They had 2 tour guides…read morewhile we were there . But our tour guide complained alot about his life. We did joke around about some things, but at least pretend you enjoy your job. They had a couple cute doggos that greet you while you are there. They also have a little store with a lot of different kinds of rocks if that is your thing.

Had great time at this cavern. We were greeted warmly by the staff.. walk inside building and…read moredecent sized gift shop with lots of gemstones and different things to see. We were only ones there at time and we had great conversations with staff before we started our journey into cave. I think we paid 13-15 a person fairly cheap for cave. So our guide took us thru a door down a ramp and into the start of cave tour. Even saw a salamander under some of rocks at start of cave. Lots of walkways and formations to see.. lot of history too. On way back our guide have us each a flashlight and let us see cave our way with lights off. It was so cool! There is different types of tours where you can crawl thru holes in caves and thru water but I just wanted easy walking tour lol.. definitely a must see.. glad we came!

My husband and I almost skipped the Biltmore because we thought maybe too touristy, but that would…read morehave been a huge mistake because it ended up being one of my favorite stops in Asheville. I even found myself wishing we stayed at the Biltmore Inn so we could wake up and enjoy the beauty everyday in Asheville. We visited during Luminere, which is a new attraction where the Biltmore estate and gardens basically light up after 9pm. We got there a few hours earlier to enjoy the grounds, do some wine tasting (lines too long so just purchased some wine instead) and take in a beautiful sunset. It really is the most gorgeous place to watch a sunset. Luminere began with a light show that shared the history of the Biltmore Estate which i found pretty interesting. Then we walked thru the gardens, which was all lit up similar to what i've experienced at many botanical gardens during the holidays. It was a gorgeous night, a beautiful show and a great way to get our steps in. I think visiting the Biltmore any time of day would be special, but this was an extra fun way to see it!

This had been on my bucket list a long time and while everyone has a different opinion of the tour,…read moreI LOVED every minute I was in there. Being a history and architectural enthusiast, along with being obsessed with this time period, it was amazing to walk through every room and envision what it was like during the time they lived there and marvel at the construction and invention. I highly suggest touring it if you haven't. NOTE: I hear Christmas is spectacular there!

Worth It 10 Times Over $30.42…read more Grandfather Mountain was the highlight of my trip to the North Carolina mountains and worth every penny. The experience starts the moment you arrive. The staff is organized, friendly, and efficient. They provide a map and a self-guided audio tour that plugs right into your car, making it easy to learn about the mountain as you drive from stop to stop. My advice: arrive before 11 a.m. and check Blue Ridge Parkway closures before you leave. There are still detours and road closures that can add significant time to your drive, and you don't want to miss your entry time. I headed straight to the top for the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The weather was classic mountain weather--cool temperatures in the 50s and 60s with fog drifting across the peaks. Even with the clouds rolling through, the views were absolutely stunning. If stairs are a concern, there's an elevator that takes visitors up to the bridge level. Afterward, I worked my way down the mountain, stopping at Split Rock before exploring the Wildlife Habitats. This area exceeded my expectations. I saw black bears, elk, a cougar, bald eagles, river otters, and plenty of butterflies. The botanical gardens were beautiful and everything was clearly marked and easy to navigate. The entire property is exceptionally well maintained. Clean restrooms at both the summit and wildlife center were an added bonus. I arrived around 10:30 a.m. and left shortly after noon, which gave me plenty of time to see everything at a comfortable pace. You could easily spend longer if you enjoy hiking or lingering at the exhibits. As someone escaping the summer heat in Charlotte, the cool mountain air alone was worth the drive. If you're visiting western North Carolina, put Grandfather Mountain on your bucket list. The scenery, wildlife, organization, and educational experience make it one of the best attractions in the region. There's a big world out there to explore. This is one place that's absolutely worth the trip.

Nice park and mountain, but $37 PER PERSON? With NO…read moresignage/pricing posted anywhere ... yikes I could understand for something like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but just a state park ...tough pill to swallow especially when it's not posted anywhere. I was planning to hike with some friends and we were going to start at one of the other lots but the roads were closed leaving us no choice but to enter the park. I really just wish the pricing/fees were posted somewhere-anywhere- because they weren't online or on the park signs out front. Had to pull up to the gate/window and even then the park ranger seemed to want to withhold that information as long as possible. The actual park is beautiful and well maintained- and you do get an audio guide plus map upon entry. But the lack of transparency here is a hard no for me. @azfitfoodfun

We came to the area to hike to Rough Ridge Overlook. We wanted to start our hike here, but the…read moreparking area was closed. There's a nearby overlook parking where you can walk along the road and get a really nice view of the viaduct. We also hiked from the Stone Rock Parking Area to the visitor center which was nice but didn't have many views. This area is really pretty and visiting in the fall is gorgeous for the changing leaves!

If you're driving the Blue Ridge parkway you must stop near the viaduct to check it out. The views…read moreare amazing and it's even better in the fall.

My Husband and I went for our first Tubing experience on Saturday (7/11/26) and we had a great…read moretime! We had a 2p appointment and actually got into the water a little early; it was overcast that day and not crowded. We are also a bit older (59) and had no issues getting into or out of the tube or manipulating the rocks in the shallow spots. Overall wonderful time and we look forward to our next opportunity to Tube with High Mountain Expeditions!

Our guides Aiden, Sophi, and Elizabeth were fantastic. They made an instant bond with our family,…read moreand played off our very different personality types perfectly. They encouraged us to get involved with different side quests, such as jumping off of a 25 foot boulder into the water. Our guides also had to make a surprise rescue of a couple, and made it a rewarding part of the trip. The group made every part of the event pure entertainment. I won't ruin the surprises for you. Views were beautiful. Can't recommend this company enough.