Chetola Resort-Blowing Rock, NC

Hello my loves! Hope you had an amazing week. It is crazy to think of how fast this summer flew by. June and July especially! I know it's not over just yet but now that August is coming to a close, some of you might want to start planning a trip to the mountains with your friends or family...

I recently had the honor to visit and review a resort mountain destination right here in North Carolina! I'm so happy to share all about it here on the blog. One of the main reasons I stayed in Charlotte after college was the short distance to the beautiful beaches AND mountaintops. Everyone needs a break from daily routine and a change of scenery sometimes. A quick getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains is the perfect escape!

Blowing Rock is about two hours from the QC and it's a breathtaking area to slow down or get some exercise in! I did it all and can't wait to share this DOG FRIENDLY place I stayed at while I was there. It's called Chetola Resort and it is full of lake activities, a restaurant, spa, indoor pool, fitness center, conference rooms, and more! My labradoodle had the absolute best time coming along.

He is a spoiled dood and makes for one good model too! I am already missing the views from our balcony and their breakfast. We really enjoyed long walks around the resort just taking it all in! Chetola was filled with gorgeous flowers and swans in the lake. I can totally see why people would get married there. The grounds were amazing.

They had little bible verses around and lots to look at. It is actually a 78 acre resort so it is a really large property! I loved how peaceful it was there. Not to mention, the mountain weather felt amazing for a change since it's been so hot in Charlotte lately. Chetola had a lot to do outdoors right on-site too!

You can find kayaks, paddle boats, paddle boards, and fishing rods for guests to use. I didn't fish but had a ton of fun spotting them in their lake out front. It is stocked with trout! Another thing I found amazing about Chetola Resort was the fact they had a hiking trail right off their property leading to Moses Cone Park.

They had different trails you could follow. My boyfriend and I hiked one that led us to this lake view. I highly recommend checking out Bass Lake. We loved walking around it looking at the fresh lily pads, flowers, and more fish! There was a nice waterfall to check out nearby this. Perfect place for a Insta photo or story!

This hiking access was only one of the reasons the resort location was very convenient! It was no more than a 5-10 minute drive to get to cool restaurants and to downtown Blowing Rock. So if you want to get out shopping, for a quick bite or to go have some drinks..it was no problem. You can actually walk there if you wanted! I went a couple times to the Main St area. It had boutiques to browse in and of course, I went to find iced coffee! 😉

I love trying new coffee shops when I travel. This trip it was Bald Head Brew. It was win. I appreciated all of their organic options! My 🍯 got a iced mocha and I did an iced latte. Brewtiful spot inside and out! Then,I got a cute hat at the Funky Tulip boutique downtown close by to it. Loved their graphic tees too.

If you are looking for another kinda drink 🍻 There is a chill patio spot I recommend right down the street from these. It is called Town Tavern and we grabbed some draft beers here before a dinner reservation on the Friday night we got in. They had corn hole, string lights, and it's a casual bar to post up with a cold beverage!

I am so excited to tell you about where we went to eat after too! It is worth the share! A week or two ahead of time, I read over their menu. I immediately knew when I did that we had to grab dinner at Bistro Roca. I already know I'm heading back the next time when I'm in town too ..to try the Mac and cheese everyones raves over.

They have some unique types! 🧀 For the main course, the Roca flatbread with local prosciutto and caramelized onions was a win. We started with pork lettuce wraps and calamari frites. The trio of the calamari sauces (tartar, cocktail, and lemon aoli) were made in-house and sooo good! 😊 They also had eggplant frites with a homemade honey mustard that the server suggested, but I was saving room for dessert. Bread pudding with peaches and blackberries was what we got to finish this meal! NOM!

Another nearby spot to Chetola you must try with a solid menu for foodies? The Hellbender Bed and Breakfast. This chic B&B serves cocktails and eats to the public. You can sit on their patio or inside in one of the rooms in the little house. That's where we sat since it was raining for a little this day during our stay!

It was adorable in there with the eclectic decor and their sandwiches were yummy. Messy too but hey that's the good type! The beef tenderloin sandwich was delish and I had to try the banana beignets for dessert. This collard green melt was my favoite and full of flavor. QCCHIC TIP: add the bacon!

Chetola also had yummy food! I love when I'm staying somewhere with nice options to dine. Then, you don't have to leave if you dont feel like it after a long day of exploring 👏 They have a cozy restaurant right at the resort with excellent service, drinks and food called Timberlakes. Like I mentioned, I loved the breakfasts here and I was really impressed with the dinner too. Check it out!

First, I can't help but brag on their chefs! The week I visited their head chef and pastry chef just won an award in a show they were in! I can easily believe that though because our meal was incredible. I got a cup of bacon clam chowder an appetizer and I'm craving it again already.

The steak was cooked to perfection with cheddar potatoes. The best part of that entree was the sauce along this side of it. Next? The N.C. crusted trout dish with brussels and kale slaw as a side! Tip: make a reservation here in advance. Also, you can eat here if you aren't staying at the resort. It is open to the public!

Their restaurant is found inside the Bob Timberlake Inn part of the resort. It is in their bed and breakfast part of Chetola that they offer. They have this patio so one late afternoon we sat out here with the dog and had a craft brew! It is right across from the lake. Also, we caught this sunset leaving dinner one evening! Blessed.

In addition to the Chetola Lodge and the Bob Timberlake inn, there are condominiums that people own at the resort too! All are great options when it comes to stay and you can find more details on their website here. Here's a look at my room in case you missed the tour on my stories! If so, I also saved them to my Blowing Rock highlight on IG.

On that highlight, you'll also see some videos of my spa experience. I did a hour Swedish massage and it was the best self-care time I've had in a while. It was my first time having a Swedish style one which is done with longer strokes than deep tissue. This is a lot more gentle but still effective!

Their spa offered coffee, tea, and purifed water. It had such a calm feel to it that was perfect for unwinding. If you are booking a trip with your ladies, don't miss this part of Chetola. Right now they are not offering couples massages if you were wondering, but feel free to call and ask. It could change with COVID restrictions over time! The staff was super helpful, clean and I felt really comfortable with all going on.

I could go on forever with suggestions but there is one last thing I want to put on your radar. This stop is one to add to your list even you are there for just a day trip! Just Google Thunder Hill Overlook. It isn't far from Chetola and is found along the parkway. The view was stunning and another great one for photos. It would be even better if you are using a professional camera so if you've been wanting to shoot a good overlook! I took this one off my iPhone there and this was one of my top stops of the whole trip.

Overall, my time in Western North Carolina was an unforgettable one. I loved the mountain temperatures and made a lot of memories! I cannot wait to start planning my next visit back to the mountains for the next season. I love to see the color on the trees when driving up and also hiking.

I hope you guys enjoyed this read on my resort experience and thanks so much for your support! I couldn't do things like this without you. I was also getting a ton of messages on my trip to Blowing Rock with restaurant recs. I wanted to say thank you for those too! I made a list for the next time I'll be visiting and took note of the Boone ones too.

Have an awesome weekend! As always, find all my looks linked on the liketkit app if you are wondering about these fits that I packed! Until next time babes...

Xo, Rachel