Drake & Andrew
Things To Do
Camp Coffee Roasters
Best local coffee you'll find! Oliver works here occasionally and we have a long friendship with the Campbells. Make sure to tip in cash so you help us keep that friendship!
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
Contemporary showcase of American art, history & Appalachian culture with classes & events. Drake had volunteered here over summers as a kid and Jay Aelick (one of our groomsmen!) won people's choice for his poem in the Ars Poetica here! Definitely a must-see.
Bass Lake Loop
This picturesque loop is a regular stop for many locals, and you’ll see plenty of people out walking dogs or taking a jog on most days. The trail is flat, well-maintained gravel, following a path around Bass Lake. The lake was built by Moses Cone as part of his estate, and you can see the Flat Top manor house from various points on the route. The trail is a nice location to see plenty of waterfowl and beavers and is a good fishing spot, too. The loop connects to the other 26 miles of carriage trails in Cone Park, and can be a place to take laps or a great starting point for a longer hike.
Boone Fork Trail
5 mile loop. For the more experienced hikers. Following the Boone Fork River and tributaries, this loop provides a varied look at local flora and terrain. Through hardwood forests and rhododendron thickets, the trail also passes by small waterfalls and cascades. The trail intersects and shares some route with both the Tanawha Trail and the Mountains to Sea Trail, so take care to note signage at intersections.
Rough Ridge Lookout - Grandfather Mountain, NC.
0.8 mile stair climb up a mountain (and then 0.8 miles back to the parking lot!). This hike has the most beautiful views on the Blue Ridge. Access at Rough Ridge Overlook parking area at MP 302.8 on Blue Ridge Parkway From the parking area, take the trail up to the fork and turn left to go across the little wooden bridge. It’s quite a climb, and you’ll know you’ve arrived when you reach the boardwalks. These have been built to protect the fragile lichen and shrub communities on the ridge- please stay on the boardwalks and trails to help ensure their survival. The vista on the ridge is expansive, with views that include Grandfather, Grandmother, Hawksbill, and Pilot Mountains, along with various communities far in the distance. On very clear mornings, you can see the Charlotte skyline.
Spa At Chetola Resort
The Spa at Chetola Resort offers massages, facials, hair services, nail treatments and more. The Spa is open to the public and features the Osmosis Skin Care Line, Aveda hair care and Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. Open Mon-Sat, year-round.
Shoppes on the Parkway
Shop among national brands like American Eagle, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Vera Bradley. Strollers, wheelchairs, and gift cards available. Relax in the courtyard w/firepit, games, and summer craft fair. EV charging. Open M-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm.