USA TODAY Names Blowing Rock Third in List of 10 Best Southern Small Towns

Blowing Rock recently added another accolade to its already impressive kudos list when readers of USA TODAY voted the Town to the newspaper’s 2017 Ten Best list of Southern Small Towns. Travel experts picked a list of 20 small towns from which to choose and readers voted Blowing Rock third.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the travel editors of USA Today and even more excited that the readers, our visitors, voted for Blowing Rock. When you look at the list of towns recognized and competing for this recognition, it’s pretty impressive. Every town listed is deserving. They’re all beautiful, quaint towns. Blowing Rock is a special place to many folks across the country and polls like this just prove that. We’re proud of our people and destination,” said Tracy Brown, Executive Director, Blowing Rock TDA.

Of Blowing Rock, USA TODAY said, “A popular stop along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway since the 1880s, the town of Blowing Rock feels like a quiet New England village, complete with bark-sided buildings, an ice cream parlor and a picture-perfect town park.”

For a list of all winners, go to 10best.com/awards/travel/best-southern-small-town-2017. States from which winners were selected include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The only other town in North Carolina honored with the award was Highlands, which placed 10th.

The 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award starts with 20 nominees selected by a panel of local and regional travel experts; readers choose from among the 20 in a four-week online voting process that ends with the 10 winners selected in order.

USA TODAY is the nation’s number one newspaper in print circulation with an average of 1.6 million daily.

Award-Winning Blowing Rock is a Cool Summertime Town

Of all the candidates and winners, Blowing Rock is sure to be the coolest of the 20 during the High Season. And the weather will also be mild, with average highs in the low to mid-70s in June, July and August.

Blowing Rock is a great place to visit during the summer months, with natural beauty of the High Country surrounding many family-friendly activities and attractions nearby, including hiking, canoeing, fishing, Tweetsie Railroad, Grandfather Mountain and High Gravity Adventures. Many of these attractions have extended summer hours.

In Blowing Rock itself, there are many free festivals, music events and movies throughout the summer, highlighted by the once-monthly Saturday Art in the Park on May 20, June 10, July 15, August 13, September 9 and October 7. For details, visit blowingrock.com/events.

Smack-dab in the middle of it all is Showcase Weekend (an unofficial title) July 28-30, a three-day period that epitomizes the diversity and attractiveness of Blowing Rock in mid-summer. The Art & History Museum’s Art & Antique Show, the Blowing Rock Horse Show (Hunter Jumper), The Symphony by the Lake at Chetola and the Tour of Homes all take place on that Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit blowingrockmusem.org; blowingrockhorses.com; symphonybythelake.com; stmaryofthehills.org.

Blowing Rock is accessible from anywhere in the region, less than two hours from Charlotte and Greensboro, three hours from Knoxville and Raleigh and five hours from Atlanta and Charleston.

For details of all events and activities as well as accommodations in Blowing Rock, go to blowingrock.com or contact the Tourism Development Authority at 877.750.4636.