Here’s The Only North Carolina Town Ranked Among ‘Coziest’ Winter Cities In America

When people visit me, they almost always say my house is cozy. Cozy is a great word. The dictionary says cozy means, "giving a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation." Here's the only North Carolina town ranked among the coziest winter cities in America. New York Travel Guides ranked the coziest winter towns for a "magical" get away.

According to the study partly published in the Charlotte Observer, the travel experts based their findings on these things. They considered the popularity of the town, weather, activities and atmosphere. The only North Carolina town featured on the list is Blowing Rock, North Carolina. There are plenty of magical Christmassy experiences there.

If you have lived around the Charlotte area any time at all then you have probably been to Blowing Rock at least once. You will find it about 90 miles from the Queen City and it is always a top travel destination in North Carolina. If you love to hike, see pretty sights downtown or go skiing or snow tubing then this mountain town is a must visit. We love to go to Moses Cone Memorial Park to hike and ride horses. What an honor for Blowing Rock. It's the only North Carolina town ranked among the coziest winter cities in America.

Most of the top winter destinations were up north in Vermont, Colorado and Washington state. Blowing Rock shined right along with them. Speaking of shine, the thousands and thousands of twinkling lights will still be in view in the downtown area through February. Blowing Rock is the only North Carolina town ranked one of the coziest winter cities in America.

All in all there are 110 cozy magical winter cities on the list. Get details from our source, The Charlotte Observer right here.

One of my favorite mountain towns to visit any time of year but especially in the summer months is the town of Blowing Rock. Just a short drive up 321 before you hit the college town of Boone, you'll find the quaint village of Blowing Rock. The town boasts a rich history dating as far back as the 1700s. You'll see some of that history reflected below. It's also home to some charming mountain inns and the luxurious Chetola Resort. Blowing is close to the previously mentioned Boone, Linville Falls, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Banner Elk among other towns. So with so much to do in the general area what are the must-dos in Blowing Rock itself?

That's where I come along. I grew up going to Blowing Rock with my parents as a kid every summer. In fact, my mom often reminds me that the first "vacation" I ever went on was a week in this North Carolina mountain town. So I'd say I have some qualifications to tell you the must-do activities. As a child, I would have told you about the playground in the park. They had the most fun slide I still remember to this day. The park has since been redone, and at this point, I'd look a little odd on a playground. But I bet it still brings the same joy to kids today as it did to me then. And while I didn't include that park on my must-dos in Blowing Rock list, I did include another of my childhood favorites.

On this list, you'll find activities, restaurants, shopping, places to grab a drink, and more. If hiking is your thing, you'll have to do your own research. Outside of a leisurely stroll, I didn't include any of that on this 11-item list. I'm not known for my outdoorsy spirit that's for sure! So check out the collection of must dos and adventures in the town of Blowing Rock North Carolina.

Typically my first stop when getting into town in lunch at Town Tavern. While it is a sports bar, the food is excellent and the games on are just an added bonus! Have lunch and stay for the sports if you so choose. Plus it's a great place my dad likes to hang out and have beers while my mom and I shop.

Art In The Park is a monthly arts and crafts festival that takes place in the summer months. It has a rich 60-year history and attracts vendors from across the southeast offering a variety of handmade goods. Each show features a different group of artists, so you'll get a different experience each time you visit.

When I was a kid Tweestise was my must-do on any Blowing Rock trip. While I was afraid of the cowboy and Indians on the train, I loved the ferris wheel and the smaller kiddie train. And they have even more rides to offer now. As well as special events including a ghost train, Thomas The Train, and more! If you have kids visiting with you, they are sure to love a trip to Tweetsie!

https://www.hannasofblowingrock.com/

The town of Blowing Rock is home to several antique shops perfect for treasure hunting. As someone who loves the Grand Millenial style, I love browsing antique stores and stumbling across gems. One of my favorites is Hanna's but some other options include Winwood Antiques, Possom Hollow, and Blowing Rock Antiques.

https://sixpencepub.com/blowing-rock

This quaint British Pub is a favorite of mine for dinner. It's affordable and the food is delicious! You can choose outdoor dining on the patio, or inside at in the cozy pub. Enjoy British favorites like scotch eggs, bangers and mash or fish and chips. But don't worry if American Fare is more your style with chicken fingers, salads, sandwiches, and burgers also as options.

https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/moses-cone-manor/

Moses Cone Memorial Park is home to the Moses Cone Manor a gilded age mansion that is now home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The park also includes 25 miles of carriage trails perfect for a leisurely stroll. The most popular is surely the Craftsman's trail which is a 20 minute loop around the home and estate.

This unique bed and breakfast is also the town's first microbrewery. Overnight guests and daily visitors can enjoy all-day dining and fifteen tap beers. Plus the patio has fantastic views of the town and Sunset Dr.

Not only will you find 80 different candle scents at High Country Candles you'll also find some unique designs that I wouldn't even dare burn (they are too pretty!). I love the layered candles pictures above and have several Christmas ones as well as some smaller ones I use in my every day decor. I always look forward to seeing what's new and adding to my collection.

http://www.blowingrockwine.com/

Personally, I'm more of a wine kind of girl than beer. So you'll more often find me at Sunset & Vine having a glass of wine and some cheese. You can also shop their selection of wine to take home as a souvenier or just take back to where you are staying.

https://blowingrock.com/services/apparel-accessories/

Downtown Blowing Rock is full of adorable boutiques as well as home decor stores. You never know what you may find, but some of my favorite clothing items have come from stores in town. Some of my favorites include the Funky Tulip, Monkee's of Blowing Rock, and The Gilded Lily. My mom and I also enjoy shopping decor stores such as the Brass Exchange and The Last Straw.

https://www.kilwins.com/stores/kilwins-blowing-rock-1

What is any vacation without ice cream? You've probably tried Kilwin's Ice Cream before, but that doesn't mean you should pass up the chance to grab a cone. Located on Main Street, they will almost always have a line after dinner, so perhaps go for a mid-afternoon snack instead.