Jun 26, 2026 - News
And the winner is...
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They're popping bottles down at The Speckled Trout.
- Just kidding, but that's where we would be tonight if we were in Axios Raleigh and Axios Charlotte's favorite mountain town.
State of play: Blowing Rock convincingly won the final matchup of our Best Mountain Town bracket against Asheville.
- After thousands of votes from readers, Blowing Rock — home to North Carolina's oldest tourist attraction — never came close to losing.
Zoom in: It's easy to see why Blowing Rock earned so many votes — it combines the charm of a bustling small town with some of the best views along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Despite its small size, Blowing Rock has something for everyone, from Tweetsie Railroad and luxury resorts to a downtown full of interesting shops and great restaurants.
Between the lines: But it's the access to nature that puts Blowing Rock over the top.
- The stunning Blue Ridge Parkway snakes through town, offering easy access to some of the best hikes in all of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as attractions like Moses Cone Memorial Park, the engineering marvel of the Linn Cove Viaduct and the serene landscapes of Julian Price Memorial Park.