The hills were alive and generous with song. ''Happy Birthday'' is what they sang to me!

Cool, fresh air, and breathtaking mountain views were a perfect welcome to High Country. They were stark differences to the intense heat and blanket of humidity we'd left back home. That alone was a satisfying birthday gift.

While spectacular, our stop at Grandview Overlook was just the opening act to an incredible trip. From there, the Blue Ridge Parkway led us to our intended destination, Blowing Rock, NC. We're beyond thankful to Blowing Rock Tourism, etc, for hosting our trip to the area.

Now, let me show you how to spend a weekend there. I'm taking my time with this one so stick with me.

WHERE WE STAYED - CHETOLA RESORT

It's seldom that I'm majorly impressed, but I found myself speechless here a few times. I've never visited a more stately and scenic resort. From the moment you enter the property, you'll either excessively ooh and aah, or you'll give in to stunned silence. It's inevitable.

The grounds are gorgeous, and the staff members are kind and attentive. It's such a welcoming and peaceful place. My daughters and I almost said in unison, ''I love it here.'' I think you will, too.

Our stay was in the Cumberland building. We occupied a 3 bed/3.5 bath condo with two large irresistible whirlpool tubs. I'll breakdown the layout for you.

On the top floor is a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, living room with a fireplace, washer/dryer, two bedrooms with king-size beds, two bathrooms, and access to the most spacious balcony. Down two flights of stairs is the bottom floor.

On this level is a den with ample seating, another fireplace, games, movies, and music. There's also a bedroom with two twin beds and 1.5 baths. The size of this condo is surreal, but if more storage space is a concern, two of the bedrooms have huge walk-in closets.

The living room, den, and bedrooms have televisions. However, the majority of your entertainment won't be found inside. Not only does Chetola have a plethora to do, the town of Blowing Rock will leave you pleasantly surprised.

Chetola Activities

The resort sits on 78 acres, offering guests a variety of outdoor activities such as tennis and pickleball. Enjoy lawn games like volleyball and cornhole. Or spend time at the golf course and horseshoe pit. For younger kids, there's plenty of open space and a playground.

Water activities are also available via Chetola Lake. You can fish, paddleboard, and kayak. Otherwise, taking in the exquisite view will suffice. The lake sits out front, perfectly adorning the property. It's easy to understand why this is a top wedding destination.

If you prefer indoor activities, try the fitness center, spa, heated indoor pool, dry sauna, and Jacuzzi. There's a kid's indoor playroom equipped with a ping pong table, puzzles, toys, and lending library. I even saw a popcorn machine!

For those more adventure seeking, there are plenty of accessible hiking trails. Feel free to head out on your own or schedule a guided hike. We didn't have time for trail exploration, unfortunately, but we had the pleasure of visiting the Chetola Sporting Reserve. That's an experience I highly recommend.

CHETOLA SPORTING RESERVE

I'm unsure if it was the induced calm of archery or the adrenaline rush after the shooting range that we appreciated most. Add to that the meticulous care, engaging conversation, and thorough instruction of the experts on site. Brett, Daniel, and Skyler made this an experience we won't forget.

The sporting reserve sits on 67 private acres surrounded by forest and wildlife. Fly fishing and a surprising list of other outdoor activities are offered here. If you have a team event or family gathering in mind, the clubhouse with all of its rustic charm is open for reservation.

(Access to this private club is only for those with annual memberships and guests of Chetola Resort.)

Blowing Rock Activities

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum was our first stop. Admission is free. You'll enjoy creative paintings and sculptures. And take your time at the history exhibits. It's interesting to read how Blowing Rock evolved over the years. From this museum, you can walk right outside into the heart of town.

Downtown is its own adventure. A bustling area with shops galore. You'll find clothing, luxury bags, home decor, galleries, restaurants, etc. If I allowed it, my daughters would've stayed all day! More mainstream clothing stores are a few miles away at Shoppes On The Parkway, an outlet mall. Staying true to form, we added a few thrift stores to our agenda as well.

The Blowing Rock is considered North Carolina's oldest attraction. Whether you're drawn by its history or its legend, you can't afford to miss the views. Visiting here reminded me of enchanted forests in my childhood books.

In addition to the famed rock, there's a colorful garden, small cod fish pond, scenic overlook, and a sizable observation tower with panoramic views. What further captivated us were the enormous (and beautiful) crystals in the photo gallery.

There's everything to love about this attraction. I can only imagine the fall scenery with so many beautiful colors. And just like that, I gave you another bona fide reason to visit Blowing Rock. It's almost leaf peeping season!

Gift shop and ice cream purchases officially sealed the deal on this adventure for us. While we're on the subject of food, let me share a few restaurant musts. The food scene alone is reason enough to make the trip.

Dining

As if Chetola Resort could get any better, Timberlake's Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And it's right on the property! You can dine inside, enjoy patio seating, or order take-out. We ate dinner inside once but chose to enjoy breakfast in our condo.

Instead of listing all of our dishes and trying to describe such an exquisite menu, I linked to the page instead. The food is delicious and service, excellent. Be sure to read about artist Bob Timberlake’s influence on the menu items. Additionally, he is the accomplished designer behind The Bob Timberlake Inn also at Chetola.

MYER’S KITCHEN & PANTRY (FABLED PIZZA)

A local favorite and it’s easy to understand why. Family-owned and operated, both businesses are in the same building. Myers has soups, pies, local food items, seafood, produce, and much more. We tried quite a few things from here that were perfect on-the-go and late-night snacks.

Although there are a few seats inside, this is a take-out service. I love that customers can conveniently purchase fresh or frozen foods without the hassle of going into larger, crowded establishments.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf was our choice from Fabled Pizza. Deliciousness in a box and we devoured every bite! There are more pizzas with creative names and ingredients that we’re eager to try. Definitely add this place to your itinerary for a lunch stop.

CUPCRAZED CAFE

What an experience. The charming aesthetic of the historic home turned restaurant, the relaxed vibe of the garden patio, and insanely delicious food captured my heart! Conversation with the owner and meeting many of the dedicated servers, was the cherry on top.

We ate our final Blowing Rock dinner here, indulging in their Steak Frites, Bee-Keeper Salmon, and desserts. Every bite was extremely flavorful. This restaurant is a must for all of our future visits to the area .

OVERALL TRIP REVIEW

A lifetime of memories, however, there are attractions we planned for but didn’t get to. As always, I’ll update this post as time goes on. Returning to Blowing Rock is a non-negotiable.

In addition to what I’ve laid out for you here, visit the tourism website while planning your trip. I’ve linked to their site a few times above. They are a wealth of information! And also visit the link of each business for more details about them.

It was impossible to share everything in this post even though it’s the longest itinerary I’ve written for this series. As usual, I did my best to at least get you started. More trip photos and videos will be added to our social media accounts and Youtube channel. Including a condo tour! Be sure you’re following us so you won’t miss out.