Blowing Rock, NC/ Boone, NC is our home away from home.  It is where we spent the majority of our weekends while living in Charlotte, where we spend most of our summer and where our heart is.  We have a home in these beautiful mountains and have enjoyed learning how to to forage the land and find ways to make local restaurants REID friendly.

Where to Eat

Our go-to restaurant is Bistro Roca ($$ behind Main Street/the park but worth the money)- we order our son the salmon with fresh veggies & fruit (there are other options/modifications that can be made to menu items) but it has a great ambiance and is more kid friendly earlier on in the evening.

On Main Street you can find a few* options at the Speckled Trout (often live music), Blowing Rock Brewery, New Public House (great food/ambiance, hit or miss on GFCF due to seasonal items).

Heads up, the smell of waffle cones and ice cream will capture you on Main Street and they’ve strategically placed it next to the playground (few options there but they do have GFCF sorbet that is unfortunately not REID clean…good luck 😉).

Boone is another neighboring town, located just 8 miles down the road from Blowing Rock. One of the better known GF restaurants is Coyote Kitchen- tucked back in a strip mall, serving plenty of southwestern rice bowl dishes at a great price but unfortunately not REID clean.

In this town you will also find Juice Boone (fantastic juice and smoothie options with an occasional REID/paleo treat), Kindly Kitchen (vegan and gluten free), Come Back Shack (local fast food burger joint with GF fries and grass fed beef), the Local Lion (specialty donut shop with GF not CF donuts on Friday mornings but not REID clean), EarthFare/Be Natural Market (local health food stores), Chipotle, Appalachian Cookie Company (made to order cookies, the GFCF Yosef cookie is 🙌 but not REID clean). Many of the restaurants on King street (aka the Main Street) can accommodate but don’t have GFCF items called out on the menu.

Disclaimer, our sons diet (REID)  more restricted than GFCF so he hasn’t had many of these, but I have and they are kid friendly.

Things to do

Tweetsie- of course, a favorite for little oneshttps://tweetsie.com/

Sky Valley Zip Line tours- our son LOVES this kids zip line. Perfect for little ones (I’d guess ages 3+ and well assisted) They have an adult zip line areas as well. https://www.skyvalleyziptours.com/homemobile/

Rock Dimensions-Rock Climbing wall in downtown Boone http://www.rockdimensions.com/

Virginia Creeper- we love using Blue Blaze Bike rentals about 1hr away. Reservations highly recommended. Love this 18 mile DOWNHILL scenic bike ride. This converted railroad is covered with beautiful oil canopied trees and follows the river nearly the entire ride.

Rough Ridge Hike- Must* do hike! Just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway- http://www.exploreboone.com/outdoors/hiking/rough-ridge/

Grandfather Mountain- Close to the Rough Ridge hike, has the Mile High swinging bridge, numerous hiking trails and a small zoo. http://www.grandfather.com/

Grandfather Mountain Winery-beautiful casual setting on the water with live music, picnic tables & rocking chairs. Bring your own snacks/food.

Julian Price Park Canoeing/Kayaking just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great afternoon activity for little ones 2 and up!

http://brpatravelplanner.nomadmobileguides.com/…/conten…

Whitewater Rafting & Tubing Float Trips (about 1.5hr away)- Take a look at Wahoo’s Adventures for some great options suitable for ages 4 and up.

Downtown Blowing Rock-has a nice park. Great place to pack a picnic or grab a sandwich from the Blowing Rock Market. Heads up– the smell from Kilwins (ice cream and fudge) may consume you

Original Mast General store on NC-194- in Valle Crucis (there are two but stop at the one on the same road as the pumpkin patch and the one closest*** to it)

Pumpkin patch in Valle Crucis (do the tractor ride) http://harvestfarmllc.com/

Appalachian Ski Mountain- just 4 miles away https://www.appskimtn.com/m/m

Hawksnest Snow Tubing- https://hawksnesttubing.com/