Much to do? Considering a visit and maybe even moving there if I like it enjoy.
I had a very good ski trip there, not too long ago. Although Blowing Rock itself is pretty small, generally there is a lot to do in the mountains of North Carolina, if you like outdoor activities. The Carolinas are definitely worth checking out.
I live about 10 miles outside of BR. Here is a brief rundown:
Activities - outdoor oriented such as hiking, skiing, cycling. Also, App State is less than half an hour away for college sports and classical music (ASU's Hayes School of Music). There are also half a dozen micro-breweries here.
Jobs - mainly service jobs unless you can get a job with ASU or local government. The lower end of the labor market is in high demand.
Weather - summers are mild but humid by North Carolina standards, highs in the 80s. Winters are reminiscent of where I came from in New York, cold, windy, with the occasional 6" snowfall.
Real Estate - the rental market is very tight because of ASU. Rent for a 1 bedroom apartment starts at $800/month and goes up quickly from there. As far as houses, you could probably get a 3/2 ranch for about $350,000 out in the county but it will cost you at least $500,000 in BR or $450,000 in Boone. This area and the Outer Banks are the two most expensive in North Carolina.
Schools - the public schools are actually very good.
Crime - except for the occasional burglary, it is almost non-existent. I rarely lock my house when I go out but I do lock my car in town.
Demographics - if you want diversity, this is not the place to go. It's 90% white here. Boone and BR are both full of liberals and the county is conservative. BR is also on the old side because rich old Floridians own most of the property. Because of the university, Boone is where the younger people live.
Running - Since I've started running in my teens, I've lived in 8 places. This is one of the best. Only Bend, Oregon and Corning, New York are as good. Moses Cone Park has 30 miles of gravel carriage trails and there are probably 100 miles of single track trail throughout the area. For flat paved you can hit the Boone greenway. There are also several long gravel roads with little traffic. However, it is very hilly here. Only the greenway could be called flat. Also, Watauga High School won't let anyone on the track and ASU's track is still under construction. I do speedwork on the greenway. Finally, the On ZAP team is here. If you are fast then they are happy to let you join in on their runs. I trained with their women for the first 2 years I lived here.
I live about 10 miles outside of BR. Here is a brief rundown:
Activities - outdoor oriented such as hiking, skiing, cycling. Also, App State is less than half an hour away for college sports and classical music (ASU's Hayes School of Music). There are also half a dozen micro-breweries here.
Jobs - mainly service jobs unless you can get a job with ASU or local government. The lower end of the labor market is in high demand.
Weather - summers are mild but humid by North Carolina standards, highs in the 80s. Winters are reminiscent of where I came from in New York, cold, windy, with the occasional 6" snowfall.
Real Estate - the rental market is very tight because of ASU. Rent for a 1 bedroom apartment starts at $800/month and goes up quickly from there. As far as houses, you could probably get a 3/2 ranch for about $350,000 out in the county but it will cost you at least $500,000 in BR or $450,000 in Boone. This area and the Outer Banks are the two most expensive in North Carolina.
Schools - the public schools are actually very good.
Crime - except for the occasional burglary, it is almost non-existent. I rarely lock my house when I go out but I do lock my car in town.
Demographics - if you want diversity, this is not the place to go. It's 90% white here. Boone and BR are both full of liberals and the county is conservative. BR is also on the old side because rich old Floridians own most of the property. Because of the university, Boone is where the younger people live.
Running - Since I've started running in my teens, I've lived in 8 places. This is one of the best. Only Bend, Oregon and Corning, New York are as good. Moses Cone Park has 30 miles of gravel carriage trails and there are probably 100 miles of single track trail throughout the area. For flat paved you can hit the Boone greenway. There are also several long gravel roads with little traffic. However, it is very hilly here. Only the greenway could be called flat. Also, Watauga High School won't let anyone on the track and ASU's track is still under construction. I do speedwork on the greenway. Finally, the On ZAP team is here. If you are fast then they are happy to let you join in on their runs. I trained with their women for the first 2 years I lived here.
A good summary.
A few corrections: 1. This is not the place if you are lover of classical music, big city pro/symphony level only happens on occasion. 2. Charlotte, the shore and the Triangle are more expensive; you can find relatively cheap rentals about 10 miles from the town center in more rural areas. 3. BR and Boone is actually over 95% White as far as permanant residents; however, most Black people will feel welcome because nearly half the people you run into are transplants. Albiet, you don't need to go too far from town to see attitudes change.
*The area consistently makes lists of the best places to live in America and is excellent for runners and people who enjoy outdoor activities.
However, it is very hilly here. Only the greenway could be called flat.
If you're willing to drive about 20 minutes out of Boone (30 minutes from Blowing Rock), you can also run on Railroad Grade Road between Todd and Fleetwood, which is 10 miles of flat paved road along the South Fork of the New River, or on Watauga River Road between Valle Crucis and Hwy 321, which is 7 1/2 miles of mostly flat, half gravel/half paved road along the Watauga River. The ASU and ZAP teams both run there occasionally.
Running - Since I've started running in my teens, I've lived in 8 places. This is one of the best. Only Bend, Oregon and Corning, New York are as good.
As someone new-ish to the Finger Lakes, please tell me more about running in Corning.
I would stay in Boone if you are visiting. More bars, breweries, and restaurants than Blowing Rock.
Moses Cone is one of the top spots to run in the country - can do workouts around a flat loop of the lake or there are tons of carriage trails in the hills. Wautaga River Rd is also a great spot for a flatter long run. The Greenway in Boone is okay for shorter runs or for sessions. Tons of hiking trails or more single track stuff off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but a lot of that will be icy this time of year.
I ran in Moses Cone in the 70's. A number of us ACC guys would meet there. The rest place I have ever run. We would stuff ourselves in a $14.95 per room hotel in Boone and eat at a cheap, but excellent local diner. Ran 2-3 times a day. The place certainly made me rethink my college choice! After graduation, I took my then girlfriend (now my wife) to Boone and walked the trails for a three day break with my future sister in law (although I did not know it at that time). Such a wonderful place.
My brother and I assisted my mother in obtaining a home in Brevard, NC in a retirement community. Although remote, Brevard is a wonderful place to run, too. DuPont State Forest has excellent trails (except a caution is in order during hunting season). The last time I have run on a track was at Brevard College's track, and found it wonderful that it was a nice track with no fences. Just be respectful and you could run at any time.
As someone new-ish to the Finger Lakes, please tell me more about running in Corning.
I haven't been back to Corning since 1982, so I'd guess that a lot has changed. I lived in Big Flats up behind Sullivan Park Research Center. Across the street from my house was a state wildlife preserve with a very large trail system. I used to do 10 mile runs on a loop over there. There were also country roads to the west and south of Big Flats with barely any traffic. I have no idea how busy those roads are now.
However, Corning and Painted Post have several parks now that didn't exist in 1982 and I think they are connected by a greenway that follows the Chemung River. I'm planning to go to Corning this October (when it's prettiest) and I'll probably run the greenway then.