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Since moving back to southwest Virginia almost two years ago, I’ve had the privilege of exploring the surrounding areas. And what I’ve found is that the northwestern region of North Carolina is home to some of the cutest small towns around! Every time I visited one, I immediately wanted to tell everyone about it, so that’s why I’ve put together this detailed post sharing all about 4 small towns in northwestern North Carolina that you have to visit.
The first small town I want to share is, West Jefferson, North Carolina.
West Jefferson, North Carolina
The town of West Jefferson is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and definitely has that small-town charm about it! It’s one of the first small towns I visited when I moved back the area and I instantly fell in love with it. Small shops owned by local businesses, line the street. West Jefferson almost looks like one of those towns in a Hallmark movie!
Shopping
Whether you visit with the intentions of doing some major shopping or just plan on browsing around a bit, West Jefferson won’t disappoint. There are all sorts of shops to go to.
Some of my favorite shops to visit are:
One shop in particular, that is a must-visit, especially if you love cheese, is Ashe County Cheese! It is located on East Main Street in the downtown area. The store is located on one side of the road and offers a variety of cheese, wine, candy and more. Across the street, visitors can walk inside of a small viewing room and watch as cheese is actually made, right there in their facility.
Sometimes our pups may come along for the visit, no worries!
I found West Jefferson to be a fairly dog-friendly town with water bowls on the streets and many shops that allow leashed pets inside.
If shopping really isn’t on your list of things to do in West Jefferson, simply walking around the town and taking in the beautiful downtown scenery and wall murals is just as fun.
Downtown, there are benches and flowers sprinkled around, as well as wall murals painted on many of the buildings. I have to stop and admire the artwork every time I visit West Jefferson. The murals truly are stunning. Plus, they are great for Instagram photos!
Where to Eat
After exploring West Jefferson, you might be ready for a bite to eat. There are several restaurants to choose from. The one’s I’ve personally eaten at are The Tavern and Black Jack’s Pub & Grill and both served good food!
- The Tavern is located on East 1st Street in West Jefferson and serves a variety of foods including burgers, pasta, steaks, and more.
- Black Jack’s Pub & Grill on 16 North Jefferson Avenue is the place to go, if you’re looking for a pub-style or sports-bar setting. They serve burgers, wings, and more!
- Hole Lotta Doughnuts is the place to go for dessert and especially if you love doughnuts! Their doughnuts aren’t just regular doughnuts. No. The doughnuts at Hole Lotta Doughnuts are as big as your face! And it’s not just their size that’s extraordinary, these doughnuts taste amazing! Simply put, you’re missing out, if you don’t get a doughnut from Hole Lotta Doughnuts.
The town of West Jefferson is pretty small, so if you travel further southwest of West Jefferson, you’ll soon find another one of my favorite small towns in northwestern North Carolina.
Boone, North Carolina
While Boone is still a smaller town, it is the larger one in the area, complete with many chain stores, hotels, restaurants, and even Appalachian State University. However, Boone still has that small-town feel. There is a cute downtown area that visitors must go to.
There are also many large hotels to stay at and restaurants to eat at. Admittedly, I haven’t eaten at too many places in Boone and I’ve only stayed in the actual town once so far, so I can’t recommend too many places to sleep or eat at. I can tell you though, that the Dan’l Boone Inn Restaurant is an incredible place to have dinner.
The Dan’l Boone Inn Restaurant serves their food family style, meaning they bring all the food out in serving dishes and then guests at the table serve themselves whatever they like. You receive salad or soup (depending on the season), three meats and five vegetables, biscuits, preserves, dessert, and of course, a beverage. Simply put, it’s a lot of really good, southern food.
If you’re not visiting Boone to eat and shop the whole time, there are several fun attractions nearby to see.
Some local attractions include:
When you’re ready to explore more of northwestern North Carolina, head south about 15 minutes from Boone to another adorable small town.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is quickly becoming one of my favorite small towns in northwestern North Carolina. And of course, it’s also really dog-friendly. I first visited Blowing Rock back in the summer and I have since been back twice, just this year!
The downtown area is filled with the cutest shops! Some of my favorites are:
If you need a little pick-me-up after all the shopping, be sure to check out one of the restaurants right downtown.
Some of the restaurants that I’ve tried and really enjoy are:
- Savannah’s Oyster House – They seriously have some of the best seafood around!
- The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop – If you love good food and live music, this is the place for you.
- The Village Café – I didn’t eat inside of the restaurant but the outside eating area was so charming! The area was lined with rod iron fencing, the ground was paved with beautiful stones, and it was all surrounded by quaint trees and shrubbery. It was the perfect setting for brunch.
Local Attractions
I’m not too familiar with local attractions near Blowing Rock but in downtown, there was an absolutely stunning place called the Prayer Tree. It was an area right in the middle of downtown and it was covered with prayers and well wishes from people from all over the world. It was a truly magical place.
However, during my last trip to Blowing Rock, I discovered that the Prayer Tree was completely torn down. Everything was gone. I’m not sure what happened exactly, but I was so saddened to see all of the beautiful prayers gone and a construction zone in its place. I know I shouldn’t share a place that’s no longer there but the Prayer Tree was so beautiful and inspiring and I feel like it should be remembered.
The Blowing Rock
A few minutes drive from downtown is the actual Blowing Rock. Yes, it is an actual rock! It was really interesting to see and great for photo ops. The area has a gift shop, observation decks, the rock itself, and the most gorgeous views of the North Carolina mountains!
This place is a must-see! Seriously, don’t leave Blowing Rock without actually seeing the Blowing Rock.
Places to Stay
If you’re completely wiped out from a day in Blowing Rock, there are places to stay right in the downtown area.
I’ve personally stayed at the Alpine Village Inn, and while it’s not up to date with the latest technology, the rooms have been remodeled but the sweet, country charm remains. Every room has rocking chairs sitting out front and the porch connects all of the rooms, making it easy to meet your neighbors.
Some other places to stay downtown are:
- Ridgeway Inn
- Boxwood Lodge
- Blowing Rock Inn
- Azalea Gardens Inn
Lastly, there is a tiny town in northwestern North Carolina that’s about 30 minutes away from Boone, that I enjoy visiting. Now, when I say this town is tiny, I mean it has a gas station, hotel, and a restaurant. That’s basically it. So why did I add it to this list? Well, because it’s also home to a big attraction, but I’ll get more into that in a bit.
Linville, North Carolina
The small town of Linville may not have much but it is the home to a large attraction, and I do mean mountain-sized, Literally. Linville is home to Grandfather Mountain, a large mountain that stands 5,946 feet. With its scenic drive, zoo, and famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, Grandfather Mountain attracts many tourists to the Linville area.
I’ve written 8 things you need to know before going to Grandfather Mountain in this blog post. Feel free to give it a read, especially if you plan to visit the mountain!
Grandfather Mountain (and Linville) is also home to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games! I had the privilege of attending the 2019 games and have written all about my experience there. Although it is a large festival that attracts thousands of visitors every year, Linville has remained a small, quaint town.
Where to Eat and Stay
In the town itself, you’ll find The Tartan Restaurant. I’ve eaten there several times and they serve a good breakfast and lunch. The restaurant is decorated in all things Scottish and the items on the menu give nod to the Scottish culture, as well. Even the carpet is a tartan pattern!
Linville River Mercantile and Bakery
If you don’t feel like getting on the Parkway, you can check out an adorable, little shop called the Linville River Mercantile and Bakery, just 10 minutes from town. There, you’ll find delicious baked goods and a small store.
I personally recommend the root beer float and you must eat it there! Outside of the store, you’ll find small tables surrounded by the cutest gardens and flowers. I got to meet and talk with the owners and they are the sweetest people! I do want to mention though, that it can be hard to know when they are open. They aren’t always consistent on their hours and they often close early because they sell out fast.
The only hotel in town is the Pixie Inn. I’ve stayed there and, while it’s a cute place, I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been updated much since it opened, probably back in the 60s or 70s. Still, it’s a good, clean, affordable place to stay, in the Linville area.
Local Attractions
Now, if you decide to venture out from the town of Linville, you’ll find several unique places.
The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is just a few miles away and one of the most famous spots on the parkway is nearby too! The Linn Cove Viaduct is a part of the Blue Ridge Parkway that you have to see. The views are amazing, and of course, there are stops along the viaduct so you can take in the breathtaking scenery.
Linville Caverns
If you’re not looking for a shop or baked goods, then check out the Linville Caverns. I personally haven’t visited them but it’s on my list when I go back to the area! Out of 2,396 reviews, it has a 4.6 rating on Google, so I’d say it’s a pretty interesting place to visit. Plus, it’s only a 20-minute drive from the town of Linville.
Linville Falls
15 minutes away from Linville is a beautiful place that I have been to. Linville Falls is a gorgeous place to hike to with stunning waterfalls. The popular trail to view the falls is considered moderate. While there, I saw people of all ages hiking the trail, from toddlers to senior citizens. I actually didn’t bring any shoes for hiking and hiked it in sandals! So, it’s not a difficult place to see but just know that it is a bit of a hike.
Well, that finishes up the 4 small towns in northwestern North Carolina that you have to visit!
To quickly recap, those small towns are:
- West Jefferson
- Boone
- Blowing Rock
- Linville
I hope you enjoyed this detailed look into each town that I’ve come to love and enjoy visiting. And if you visit any or all of these small towns, please let me know! I’d love to hear your experience and what you discover in these amazing and charming places.
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