Blowing Rock

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#OutaboutNC Family Adventure Idea: New Zip Line Adventure now Offered in Blowing Rock, N.C.


High Gravity Zip Line Adventure in Blowing Rock,NC

High Gravity Adventures, an aerial adventure park in Blowing Rock, N.C.opened a new Zip Line Tour on July 1, 2017 adding to the park’s aerial ropes courses, Ninja Ground Course and Giant Swing. Guests, age 11 and up with a minimum of 75 pounds in weight, can now enjoy a full day of high-flying, family-friendly fun in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.

High Gravity Adventures’ new Zip Line Tour takes guests on an exhilarating ride high above the forest floor through the trees of the North Carolina mountains. Adventurers will fly over scenic ravines as they make their way through a series of zip lines and a swinging sky bridge, the culmination of which is a 1000-foot line that propels guests directly above the trestle bridge at nearby Tweetsie Railroad. The experience ends with a heart-pumping 70-foot free fall.

“With the addition of this new Zip Line Tour, High Gravity Adventures has become the ultimate adventure destination in the High Country,” said Carson Rivers, Vice President of High Gravity Adventures. “Our new Zip Line Tour offers an experience unlike anything else around. Starting from our treehouse, guests will soar through a forest wonderland, take in beautiful views, cruise over the Tweetsie Railroad trestle bridge, and culminate in an exhilarating 70-foot free fall through the middle of our existing adventure course. With this addition, guests can now spend the whole day at our aerial adventure park zip lining, climbing, balancing and swinging to their hearts’ content.”
High Gravity Ropes Course


Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Boone and Blowing Rock, N.C., High Gravity Adventures is a family-friendly adventure park that is ideal for adults and children alike. Guests can combine the Blue Ridge Course, three-person Giant Swing, and the new Zip Line Tour to create “The Ultimate Adventure” for only $89. Zip Line Tour will also be available as an exclusive stand-alone experience. High Gravity Adventures also offers aerial experiences for those that like to keep their feet a bit closer to the ground, with challenges of varying difficulty levels ranging from 15 to 50 feet in the air. The park offers something to please everyone, from adults to teens and children as young as four-years-old, and all activities utilize state-of-the-art safety systems and the latest technology.
High Gravity Three Person Swing


Boone, N.C. is home to Appalachian State University and ski resorts in the winter. I personally love this area in North Carolina and have visited the area many times. These are some of my older and popular posts on for this area. I have stayed at the Mast Farm Inn, the Courtyard by Marriott in Boone, and at the Chetola Resort. 

Pack Your Bags:  A Traveler's Look at Mast Farm Inn 
Why Blowing Rock is a Must-Visit Town
5 Reasons to Visit North Carolina's High Country in the Summer
Tweetsie Railroad
Daniel Boone Inn (Great Cuisine)

High Gravity Adventures also has three hotel partners they are recommended by them.
Country Inn and Suites  and others. This area has lots of hotels for your budget. Go to my Book a Hotel Tab to book your adventure.

Zipline adventure in Blowing Rock, N.C in the Blue Ridge Mountains


Post contains affiliate links.


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#OutaboutNC Family Adventure Idea: New Zip Line Adventure now Offered in Blowing Rock, N.C.

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Yippee Ki-Yay! It's Time to Find Your Inner Cowboy in the NC Mountains

I have shared this little secret before, but when I was a little girl I aspired to be a "can-can" girl in one of the wild west theme parks in the North Carolina mountains.  Come on! Fish-net stockings, colorful skirts, and high-heel dance shoes.   Why not? 

 Um! I think someone else may have the same thoughts.

The Salon Girls at Tweetsie Railroad


Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina has officially opened for the season.  We spent a day there last May, and had a great time. 



 North Carolina’s first theme park, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, will treat guests to Wild West family adventure this year through Sunday, November 3. Golden Rail Season Passes are now available for purchase at Tweetsie.com.


Visitors enjoy Wild West action, exciting amusement rides, live shows and more all season long. Hop aboard a train pulled by Tweetsie’s historic steam-powered locomotives for an unforgettable three-mile Wild West adventure. Explore the streets of Tweetsie Railroad’s very own Western town, complete with cowboys and Indians. Be a part of the show at Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Revue, Hopper and Porter’s™ Musical Celebration and the Miner’s Mountain Magic Show. Experience the gold rush while panning for gold at Miner’s Mountain, get to know the friendly critters at the Deer Park, and much more. 


Blowing Rock, NC

I love the Blowing Rock/Boone area of North Carolina.  It is a beautiful area.  Be sure to revisit my series on the area from last year. 

TOP FIVE REASONS TO VISIT NC's HIGH COUNTRY IN THE SUMMER
WHY PICTURESQUE BLOWING ROCK, N.C. IS A MUST-VISIT TOWN


Mast Farm Inn, beautiful b and b in Valle Crucis. Photo by Leigh Hines
Mast Farm Inn
One of my favorite Inns in the area is Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, NC.  The Inn was featured as a "Pack Your Bags" in May of last year.  It's a perfect place to relax, sip a coffee, and take in the cool, summer mountain breeze. 

PACK YOUR BAGS: A TRAVELER'S LOOK AT THE MAST FARM INN IN VALLE CRUCIS, N.C.

I have also stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Boone, NC and was very pleased with my stay. It is the area's newest chain hotel.  

Summer is just around the corner!




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Yippee Ki-Yay! It's Time to Find Your Inner Cowboy in the NC Mountains
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Top Five Reasons to Visit N.C.’s High Country in the Summer

In North Carolina, we are lucky. We have the scenic coast and the beautiful Appalachian Mountains as great choices for family vacations.  In Raleigh, we can get to both within hours.

My family recently spent a few days in North Carolina’s High Country Mountain area, and our destination was the Boone-Blowing Rock area in Watauga County.  We didn’t see everything, but I thought I would share my views on why it makes a great vacation destination.

The Scenery
The Blue Ridge Parkway, High Country in the Sumner.
The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway, the 77-year-old highway that links Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park in the north to the Blue Ridge National Park in the south, snakes through the Appalachian Mountains.  The Boone portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a pivotal point along the scenic highway.  We didn’t make a trip to Grandfather Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge located in Linville, N.C., on this trip, but it is a must-see when in the area.  We were short on time, and we wanted Baby Diva to get a little older before making that trek across the famous mile-high swinging bridge.  This park is wonderful for families, though, who like to hike and explore.

Kid-Friendly
Jake's at the Rock in Blowing Rock, NC

I have talked about the beautiful town of Blowing Rock in a previous post, but I cannot emphasize enough how much fun it was for my children to play in the park, eat ice cream, and stroll down the main street.  Even if you are just passing through the area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, get off and take some time to stroll the streets of this charming town.


Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, N.C established in 1883
And talk about a kid in a candy store! The Mast General Store, established in 1883 in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The annex, located down the street, has over 500 types of candy for sale.  I am not exaggerating.  It’s incredible. 
Tons of Candy can be found at Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, N.C.
It's hard to choose just one piece of candy
And it’s hard to get your kids out of the candy store, but if you tell them that you are going to the adorable park behind the candy store, then you may get them out of the store a little quicker.

Old-Time Adventures
Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, N.C.
Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, NC

If you ask my children what they enjoyed most about our trip to the High Country in May, both will say “Tweetsie Railroad.” So what if Baby Diva is afraid of any mode of transportation other than a car; she still had a great time at Tweetsie Railroad, located between Boone and Blowing Rock.  She didn’t get aboard the famous train, and she cried hysterically as she rode a bus to the top of the mountain, but she loved every other minute of this historic, fun amusement park.



The Cuisine

Watauga County is known for its restaurants, where chefs use the farm-to-table approach, cooking with local fresh ingredients.  It’s a mecca for little cafes with down-home charm and fine-dining establishments that will delight your palate. Since my dad was in the restaurant business for over 30 years, I make a point on my travels to seek out restaurants that are independently owned

Great food at Pepper's

On one of our nights in the area, we dined at Pepper’s Restaurant and Bar, which is a member of the Boone Independent Restaurants Organization.  Pepper’s was a great family choice for us, and the bar-type food was delicious.  They have a fabulous children’s menu, too.  Pepper’s also helps support North Carolina breweries by dedicating ten taps for N.C. beers, and they have numerous N.C. beers by the bottle on the menu as well as other popular national brews.

Outdoor Adventure, Wineries and Spas

In the winter, the Boone area is a bustling ski community, but in the summer it is the perfect playground for hiking, rafting, tubing, kayaking, biking, ziplining, and all things active.  There is also golf, tennis, and swimming plus luxury spas, and local wineries in the area that are open for tours.  In Watauga County, you can be as busy as you want or do as little as you want. ExploreBoone.com can help you plan your special itinerary.

Where We Stayed:

The Mast Farm Inn, Valle Crucis, North Carolina



This luxury bed and breakfast inn, which is now a member of Historic Hotels of America, is a luxury haven in the small mountain village of Valle Crucis, North Carolina.  We stayed in one of the inn’s family cabins, and you can read about our stay in May’s“Pack Your Bags” segment.  Our only regret was that we didn’t stay long enough.  I highly recommend renting a family cabin to explore the area.  The Mast Farm Inn does not disappoint the luxury traveler or the foodie. The historic farm house is perfect for couples who want a romantic getaway, or if you want a little more space and a kitchen, the larger cabins provide a peaceful sanctuary away from it all.  Now, that’s a vacation!




 Courtyard Marriott, Boone, North Carolina

My family also stayed one night in the brand new CourtyardMarriott in Boone before checking into The Mast Farm Inn.  This was my first time staying in a Courtyard Marriott after many years, and the first time with my kids. The hotel chain’s new slogan is, “It’s a New Stay!” I couldn’t agree more, and I think the hotel chain is doing a great job on providing guests with what I call “affordable luxury” for families.   This Courtyard looks like a regular chain hotel on the outside, but when you walk in you get the feel of a luxury boutique property.  This is why I chose it for our trip.  With special touches like a reading area, a fire-pit area, and a bistro that serves wine and beer, it embodies the quality of a four-star hotel.  Our bedding was nice, and the beds were as comfortable as I have found in the chain’s upscale sister properties.  It certainly doesn’t have a resort pool, but the small indoor pool was a fun experience for our children, and it was exciting for them to go swimming one night before bed.  I would definitely stay at the Courtyard Marriott again and would perhaps even seek one out if I was passing through town for an overnight stay. 

Related Posts:
Pack Your Bags: We're Heading to the Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, NC
Why Picturesque Blowing Rock, N.C, is a Must-Visit Town



I received a media discount on my stay at the Courtyard Marriott and was a media guest of The Mast Farm Inn in order to write my “Pack Your Bags” feature.  All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the hotels. 

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Top Five Reasons to Visit N.C.’s High Country in the Summer
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Why Picturesque Blowing Rock, N.C. Is a Must-Visit Town

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, a quick exit off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is one of my state’s most charming and quaint towns. At least that is my opinion.
Picturesque Blowing Rock, N.C.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina 

Aside from the snow in the winter, I think I could live here.  A lot of people feel as I do. The town’s population swells from 1,500 to 8,000 in the summer months.   When we visited in May, the town was bustling with activity.

There’s a lot for city folks to love about this affluent mountain town without the pretense.
Dogs can walk with their owners, and children can play in an awesome park right in the middle of the town square.
My children loved this park right in the middle of town. 

Eating homemade ice cream is a must-do on Main Street.  It’s fun to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere.

ice cream on main street in Blowing Rock, N.C.



charming shops in Blowing Rock, N.C.
Shopping is grand in Blowing Rock

 The upscale boutique shopping is grand, and so is the outlet shopping. It is shop after shop.Your credit card will certainly get a workout if you are a shopper. But carrying those unique shopping bags is when life gets good.  Right?
Life is good.


Blowing Rock is also a haven for art galleries and artists. From May to October, the town hosts six shows called “Art in the Park.”  One hundred exhibitors showcase works of art from paintings to jewelry to pottery for one Saturday each month. 

Enjoying the beautiful area outside the Bob Timberlake Gallery
For foodies, Blowing Rock is an epicurean adventure. It has some of the best restaurants in North Carolina, from five-star delights like Crippen’s Country Inn to down-home favorites like Woodlands BBQ.

On this trip, I met up with blogger Mandi McClure’s family and had dinner at the locally owned Woodlands.  And just a quick note: If you are a fried-okra fan, order it.  It’s delicious.

We ate at Woodlands BBQ for dinner

Blowing Rock is also home to the Relais and Chateaux Inn, TheWestGlow Resort and Spa, which was named by Travel and Leisure Magazine as the “Number 2 Destination Spa in the World.”  That’s quite an honor.  With kids in tow, I didn’t get a chance to visit the Inn this time, but you can bet it’s on my list for another time.

And, of course, kids who come to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, love to visit Tweetsie Railroad, a scenic Wild West theme park featuring a three-mile, steam-powered train ride through the North Carolina mountains.




My kids loved Tweetsie, and I’ll share that fun adventure on another day.  But I want to show you one more photo to showcase this town’s beauty.  The churches are gorgeous.  This is the Episcopal church in town.  Can’t you just imagine a wedding here?
Church in Blowing Rock, N.C.
Visit http://www.blowingrock.com/ to learn more about this town. 


Where We Stayed on Our Trip:

While exploring Watauga County, my family was a guest of The Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, which is an easy, 30-minute drive to Blowing Rock.  You can learn more about this exceptional and luxurious Inn in my “Pack Your Bags” post for this month.  


Mast Farm in Valle Crucis, N.C.
Interior of our cabin at The Mast Farm Inn 

The Mast Farm Inn, being quite popular on weekends, was booked on one of the nights we were in town. After reading many reviews, I felt the brand new Courtyard Marriott in Boone, North Carolina, about three miles from Tweetsie Railroad, was an excellent family choice.  Built this January, it gives guests a modern luxury, boutique-type stay.  My kids loved the pool, and I think the outdoor fire pit area of the hotel is a great amenity.


Courtyard marriott in Boone, N.C.
The Courtyard Marriott is located in Boone, NC 




My thanks to The Mast Farm Inn, located in Valle Crucis, for being the main sponsor for my trip to Watauga County.  The Courtyard Marriott Boone also helped sponsor my trip and gave my family a discount on our lodging. Affiliate links. 


Related Posts:
Pack Your Bags: We're Heading to the Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, NC
Top 5 Reasons to Visit N.C's High County in the Summer





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Why Picturesque Blowing Rock, N.C. Is a Must-Visit Town
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