Great stay!

My dog and I stayed for one night at the Holiday Inn Express in Blowing Rock. The location is super easy to get to, right in the middle of everything we wanted to do on our one-night trip. Downtown dining with patios is very close (few min drive), but it was cool and super windy out so my dog and I ordered curbside Outback a couple mins away to take back to our room.

The first room we got had an issue with the bathroom. The girl at the front desk immediately switched us to the room next door, no problem. The rooms were clean and spacious with plenty of space to put our things. We stayed on the first floor with easy access to multiple exits. The bathroom was mildly outdated, but nothing horrible.

The space for the pet bathroom was HUGE compared to other hotels. Out back, you will find a pet relief area with pet waste bag holder and quite literally a "lot" of grass behind the parking lot. It was well-lit, but there were a few characters sitting in their vehicles, so at night I opted to go out front for safety, as a female solo traveler.

The staff gave us late checkout, which allowed for us to go have fun at Mystery Hill the morning of our departure, and still come back for me to be able to stop by the room once more before we left for our long drive home. We will definitely be back!! Louie gives Holiday Inn Express Blowing Rock two paws up!

Apr. 06, 2024

Super dog friendly! Modifiable short hike for you and your four-legged friend!

We had a great time visiting The Blowing Rock. My dog and I entered the front door and there was a cat by the front desk that immediately caught his attention, but he isn't cat reactive, so he quickly refocused. The lady at the desk asked if he was allowed to have treats, and offered them as she went over the information on the property. Know your dogs limitations in regards to cats and other dogs, as the paths are narrow and the gift store entry is tight. My dog is not reactive, and we went on a windy weekday afternoon, so it was pretty relaxed and enjoyable. I think we saw about two groups of individuals the whole time. On a busy day during the best times of year to visit, I could see this being a tight fit for a dog that is not great on a leash. I would suggest using a short lead or traffic lead in these situations. I would also suggest having two points of contact for safety purposes, as there is a steep drop-off. The location has a few different ways to modify your "hike" as there are different layers of the trail/bridges you can take. For older dogs, or individuals with injuries/limitations, you can walk on the flat path without much effort. There are also spots to sit down. The views were gorgeous and even on a super windy day, we had a lot of fun. Louie gives The Blowing Rock 5 bones! We will be back to visit again!

Apr. 06, 2024

Great pet-friendly option for solo + dog travelers!

My dog and I checked out Mystery Hill while in Blowing Rock and had a great time. The entire place is pet-friendly. My dog is very calm and well-behaved with great leash manners, but I could see how a more energetic dog may get a bit restless during the group tour. Determine your own pet's tolerance before taking them. I personally chose to stay at the back of the group and my dog was on a short leash next to me (50-lb dog) with no issues during the tour. The group moved smoothly through the tour. It is much quicker than the time states on their website, but once through the tour, you are free to enjoy the vortex room and bubble room on your own time. The vortex room really messes with your equilibrium, and you can feel it instantly, but there is an "escape route" hallway behind the room that is flat. My dog and I chose to stay in the entrance to the room and leave through the hallway just for his safety, but he tolerated it well and just braced his legs with no signs of distress or concern. He was more tolerant than most the people in the group!!! My dog and I also took the old time photos and LOVED it! Professor Finnegan's studio is just a few steps away from the main entrance and gift shop. She was so incredibly kind and patient with my dog and I! All in all, this is a great pet-friendly option for solo or group travelers. I did not do any activities that would have been unsafe for my dog to be around, or that did not interest me (axe throw, mechanical bull), but these were also options. We went for the very first tour of the day at 10:15 am on a Thursday and the guide was efficient, not super cheesy, and gave a lot of information about the story of Mystery Hill. Definitely worth checking out, and my dog gives it two paws up!

Mar. 23, 2024