48 Hours in: The Best Things to Do in Lake Lure NC and the Blue Ridge Foothills

Anytime I think of Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills in Rutherford County, the 1980’s classic Dirty Dancing, immediately comes to mind.  One of my favorite scenes in the romantic film is the dance lift that takes place in Lake Lure with actors Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.  In addition to Dirty Dancing, did you know that Rutherford County has been the setting for other Hollywood movies such as The Last of the Mohicans, My Fellow Americans, A Breed Apart and Firestarter?  A visit to Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills in Rutherford County will consume you with peace, beauty and lush nature.  Visitors will quickly realize why the region is not only coveted by Hollywood but is also a traveler’s haven.

Arrival – Day One at Lake Lure NC

I left Morrisville, North Carolina at 8:00 am with a 12 oz black coffee, a snack of 1/4 cup of pistachios and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.  Yes, that may sound cheesy, but I had to set the mood during my drive.  A road trip to Western North Carolina is always pleasant and Lake Lure was just under a four-hour drive from Morrisville.  I arrived to my destination exactly at noon, famished and ready for lunch at my first foodie stop, Old Rock Cafe.

The restaurant is a great local spot with both indoor and outdoor dining conveniently located in Chimney Rock Village.  Their menu features an assortment of salads, burgers, sandwiches, desserts and regional craft brews.  I was immediately drawn to three menu items: the pimento cheese bacon hamburger, the double dog basket, and the bison hamburger special.  Old Rock Cafe’s manager assured me that none of the three dishes I was considering would disappoint.  He also commented that the pimento cheese was house-made and that ultimately swayed me in the direction of the pimento cheese bacon hamburger.

The weather was gorgeous, so I opted to enjoy Old Rock Cafe’s pimento cheese bacon hamburger on the restaurant’s covered deck overlooking the Rocky Broad River.  The restaurant’s close proximity to Chimney Rock State Park, charming outdoor deck and hearty casual food that appeals to both kids and adults makes it a desirable option for fueling up whether your plans are to hike, explore the state park or simply kick off your Lake Lure adventure.

After a hearty lunch at Old Rock Cafe, I walked around Chimney Rock Village to admire the beautiful view, peruse the shops like Unique Expressions, Harley Davidson and visit the Broad River Coffee Shop.  The coffee shop is located inside the Broad River Inn and their menu includes various coffees, teas, smoothies and pastries.  Anytime I visit a new place, I love to ask the staff for recommendations.  I feel they have a great pulse of the best food and drink items, customer favorites and in some cases, “secret menu items”.

The lovely Broad River Coffee Shop barista’s were quick to offer their favorites without hesitation.  One of their suggestions included a Dirty Chai, a delicious concoction of chai and espresso.  Customers can choose to have their drink in a to go cup, but I opted to drink my Dirty Chai in the coffee shop’s monogrammed mug.  The coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating for customers to enjoy.  If the weather is pleasant with no rain, customers will want to sip their coffee outdoors to relish the view.  Broad River Inn guests can enjoy their coffee from the second floor of the Inn’s covered patio.  The patio offers a crisp view of Chimney Rock as well as the dancing sound of the Rocky Broad River.  If your travel agenda allows, maximize your Broad River Coffee Shop and Chimney Rock Village experience by enjoying some java on the patio.

After lunch and coffee, it was time to check into the Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant.  The check in process was fast and efficient and the lovely Molly gave me a tour of the Inn to ensure I knew the location for breakfast and dinner, the outdoor spa jacuzzi, game room and how to access the Esmeralda Inn Private Cabins.

The Esmeralda is a rustic elegant Inn and Restaurant nestled within the Hickory Nut Gorge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It is less than five miles away from all of the restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops on my travel agenda.  My guest room was furnished with a 32″ flat panel tv, Bose Wave music system, a Queen size bed with luxurious linens and a gorgeous view of Chimney Rock.  Most rooms at the Inn will have views of either Chimney Rock, the Rocky Broad River or surrounding Hickory Nut Gorge.

The hotel has a beautiful 1st floor and 2nd floor front porch furnished with rocking chairs and comfortable patio furniture.  Guests can choose to enjoy their coffee or simply admire the breathtaking view from either floor.  One of my favorite amenities are the fresh-baked homemade cookies available each day in the lobby.  As a guest of the Esmeralda Inn, I was able to enjoy both a chocolate chip cookie and a snickerdoodle.  Other Esmeralda Inn amenities include an outdoor spa jacuzzi, spa services and a game room that is equipped with a billiard table, board games, shuffle board and more.

Once I unpacked and changed into comfortable hiking gear, I drove to Chimney Rock State Park.  Recently, torrential rain has bombarded Western North Carolina and as a result, Chimney Rock has closed on some occasions due to mudslides and other storm damage.  I was very fortunate that Chimney Rock was open the day of my visit.  Visitors planning a trip to the state park should visit chimneyrockpark.com to verify the days and hours of operation.

Whether you are an avid hiker, climber or naturalist, there is something for both kids and adults of all ages to enjoy.  The state park offers six diverse hiking options which vary from easy to strenuous.  Although I love to exercise and hike, I am not an experienced hiker.   Oh… and there is that little thing… my fear of heights.  I did not reach the summit of Chimney Rock State Park, however, I did enjoy The Outcroppings Trail, a moderate to strenuous trail measuring a round trip distance of 0.4 miles.  Do not let the distance deceive you.  The hike measures 500 steps going up alone.   If a strenuous hike is not for you, there are other trail options available.  The Outcroppings Trail was quite a workout, but there are several stops along the way for breathtaking views.

The state park offer an annual pass, which is a great opportunity for passholders to explore all six trails at their leisure.  In addition to the various trails, the state park offers guided walks, rock climbing and other special events and activities like the upcoming Family Animal Encounters or Views and Brews.  Regardless of whether you plan to explore a trail or not, I highly recommend a visit to the state park.  The panoramic 75 mile view of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure from atop Chimney Rock alone are worth a trip to Rutherford County.

After my Chimney Rock adventure, it was time to return to the Esmeralda Inn for dinner.  My dear friend, Laura Huff, author of Carolina Epicurean, joined me to explore the Esmeralda Restaurant’s menu.  Although the restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining, I recommend guests enjoy at least one meal outdoors to fully immerse themselves in the Esmeralda Inn experience.  In our case, the gorgeous weather and natural light for our gastronomic photography, made dining outdoors the obvious choice.

We started dinner with a couple of libations including a Classic Old Fashioned and a Lavender Lemon Drop.  The Classic Old Fashioned was made with Jim Beam, Angostura Bitters, Regans #6, Simple Syrup, Orange & Lemon Peel.  If you prefer a spirit and citrus forward cocktail like I do, then the Classic Old Fashioned is a winner.  My friend Laura ordered the Lavender Lemon Drop made with Vodka, lavender syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice.  I sampled this cocktail and it was definitely on the sweeter side, but absolutely delicious.  If you like sweet and floral notes in your cocktails, I highly recommend this libation.

My first dish, the Chimney Rock Iceberg salad, is prepared with crisp baby iceberg lettuce, heirloom grape tomatoes, red onion confit, Applewood smoked bacon, house-made buttermilk blue cheese dressing and croutons.  The house-made buttermilk blue cheese and red onion confit were a unique touch that set this salad apart from other versions of icebergs.  My Surf and Turf evening special, was a filet accompanied by a crab cake using NC-sourced crab.  The filet was cooked to a perfect medium, as requested, and the crab cake was fantastic.  Often times, crab cakes have an overwhelming amount of breadcrumbs or peppers, however,  Executive Chef Keith Chinn’s crab cake is delicately prepared with generous amounts of blue crab.

Dessert is an important component of the dining experience for me.  I always look forward to dessert because I think it is the perfect finish to a meal and it captures the entire dining experience.  We ordered Chef Keith Chinn’s award-winning classic Crème Brûlée and a Chocolate Pecan Torte.  The Crème Brûlée’s caramelized sugar is delicately caramelized without compromising the sweetness of the sugar and the custard is luscious and vanilla bean forward, which I love-love-love.  If chocolate and caramel are your vice, then you will definitely enjoy the Chocolate Pecan Torte.  It is more decadent that the Crème Brûlée, but it will definitely satiate that chocolate craving.

During my 24 or 48 hour travel adventures, I rarely go to sleep early or sleep in since it is important for me to maximize my time in the cities or towns that I visit.   However, after my strenuous hike earlier in the afternoon, I had to call it a night and rest.  My bed was very plush and the sheets were luxurious so I rested wonderfully.  The best room feature, however, is waking up to the sunrise and view of Chimney Rock.

Day Two

The Esmeralda Inn and Restaurant experience includes a full sit down hot breakfast, which changes daily and is served from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.  My first Esmeralda breakfast experience included a banana nut muffin, pancakes with strawberry syrup, bacon and a granola-fruit-yogurt parfait.  Breakfast at the Esmeralda is the perfect way to kick off the day whether you plan to indulge in the Inn’s outdoor spa jacuzzi, explore Rutherford County or hike to the summit at Chimney Rock State Park.

Rutherford County visitors will immediately realize why the region is a desirable location for Hollywood films.  Visitors will not escape the rushing sound of The Rocky Broad River or elude the beauty and lush nature of Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Gorge.  I had a direct view of Chimney Rock in all of my foodie stops, but the most impressive was the view from Burntshirt Tasting Room & Bistro.  Burntshirt has an outdoor patio that offers impeccable views of both Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls.  The Tasting Room & Bistro wine list features a variety of white and red wines, all of which are produced minutes from where the grapes are grown – Burntshirt’s two estate vineyards in Henderson County.  How about that for local wine!

I sampled the Burntshirt Rosé and signature Grüner Veltliner.  The rosé has a deeper red hue than most rosé’s, but it’s a lovely spring/summer wine that has wonderful crisp notes of strawberries.  In addition to wine, the bistro has a food menu that includes cheese boards, flat breads, sandwiches, seasonal soups, salads, small plates and desserts.  I spent hours admiring the view and nibbling on a Meat & Cheese Charcuterie and House Made Chips with Beer Cheese that paired perfectly with the Burntshirt Rosé.  During my wine lunch, it started to rain, which was not an issue given that Burntshirt has outdoor dining with both a covered and uncovered patio option.  Regardless of the rain, the view of Chimney Rock State Park was still majestic and the food and wine were still delicious!

I may be biased due to my love of sweets, but I highly recommend ordering Burntshirt’s Salted Caramel Cheesecake.  It is absolutely divine and pairs perfectly with the Grüner Veltliner.  The white wine is crisp with mellow citrus notes and a light effervescence.  In my opinion, it provides a nice contrast and balance to the sweetness of the Salted Caramel Cheesecake.

Burntshirt is ideal for an afternoon of food, wine and relaxation.  In addition to the gastronomic experience, visit the Bistro’s gorgeous Tasting Room and peruse through their wine selection and merchandise.  Burntshirt was a lovely experience and I look forward to visiting them again.  Until then, I purchased bottles of both the Burntshirt Rosé and signature Grüner Veltliner to enjoy at home and reminisce over my 48 hour Lake Lure adventure.

After my lovely wine lunch, I visited Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, a 300 foot pathway with a unique garden that is open to the public year-round.  There is no admission charge to visit the garden, which is adorned with more than 700 plants, flowers, herbs and whimsical decor.  To enhance the Flowering Bridge experience, visitors have the option to listen to an audio tour with the use of a personal cellular phone.  What is most impressive about the garden is that donations and the work of loyal volunteers are what help preserve and enhance the Flowering Bridge year-round.  I loved visiting the Flowering Bridge because of its uniqueness, its charm and the fact that it is an activity that all age groups can enjoy at no cost.

After my visit to the garden, I wanted to cool off with some ice cream.  Scoop ice cream is perfectly located across from Lake Lure Beach and has plenty of seating in their covered patio.  Covered patio’s were convenient during my 48 hour adventure because of the sporadic rain showers.  Scoop has an assortment of 16 different ice creams flavors that include S’mores, Cherry Blossom, Banana Pudding, Orange Sherbert, Peach and Coffee, just to name a few.  I opted for the M&M Ripple, a combination of vanilla and chocolate ice creams swirled with chocolate pieces, cookie dough and M&M’s which is FANTASTIC.

Do you think you could eat a Boatload of ice cream?  If you are a fan of food challenges or you simply want to share a generous portion of ice cream with a friend or group of friends, take part in the Scoop Boatload Challenge.  The ice cream dessert is made of two brownies, seven scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, topping & nuts.  Guests that finish the “Lake Monster” in less than 30 minutes, will receive a Scoop T-shirt as well as will be immortalized on the Scoop wall of fame.  How I wish I had a group of friends with me at that moment to partake in the challenge!  In addition to the delicious cold treat, Scoop’s menu offers coffee and a variety of breakfast biscuits like the sausage egg and cheese or the bacon egg and cheese.  Scoop’s close proximity to Lake Lure’s Beach makes it a desirable foodie stop whether guests want to grab a casual breakfast before hitting the beach or simply want to cool off with a sweet treat during the upcoming hot summer days.

After my ice cream treat at Scoop, I relaxed on a hammock at the Esmeralda Inn Private Cabins.  Guests of the Esmeralda Inn have access to a private beach equipped with hammocks, picnic tables and lawn chairs.  Visiting the private area is yet another way guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of Hickory Nut Gorge.  The private area, located less than two miles away from the Esmeralda Inn, requires a key which can be reserved at the reception desk.

After relaxing on the hammock for a couple of hours, I headed back to the Esmeralda Inn to soak in their beautiful outdoor spa jacuzzi.   The jacuzzi comfortably fits 8-10 people, however, I was lucky to have it all to myself.  It was the perfect way to end my second evening, especially since I was quite sore from my previous hike at Chimney Rock State Park.

Departure – Day Three

The next morning before checkout, I visited the Esmeralda Inn Restaurant one last time for breakfast.  Their menu consisted of orange and raisin scones, scrambled eggs topped with microgreens, sausage patties, breakfast potatoes and a granola-fruit-yogurt parfait.  The microgreens on the scrambled eggs are grown by Chef Keith, which I thought was extra special.  Chef Keith’s cuisine & cocktails incorporates other herbs and wildflowers that he grows on the Esmeralda Inn property.  Although I had a fantastic food experience, I look forward to the many innovations that Chef Keith has planned for the Esmeralda Inn menu.  A few of these include curing all meats and making all cheeses for their in house charcuterie.

There are two items that I must have on any road trip  – water and a nice hot cup of coffee.  I stopped by the Broad River Coffee Shop a second time to sample another specialty coffee.  This time, the barista suggested that I sample one of her “secret menu items” – a Brown Sugar Coconut Caramel Macchiato.  I am always open to trying something new and this coffee concoction was the perfect way to close my trip.  I was sad to leave lovely Rutherford County but the delicious java concoction made my drive back to Morrisville much easier.

Nature and all of its elements will take center stage during your visit to Lake Lure, Chimney Rock and the Blue Ridge Foothills.  A visit to Rutherford County is friendly for families, couples and singles.  If you are a fan of relaxation, nature or hiking, Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills will be your haven.  As a single traveler, this trip offered me a chance to connect with nature, appreciate North Carolina wine, visit an iconic state park and visit some of the local businesses that are the heart of the Rutherford County Community.

Shortly after my 48 hour trip, Western North Carolina was severely impacted by torrential rains causing mudslides, floods and closures to Chimney Rock State Park and local businesses.  I dedicate this post to the lovely people of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock for their wonderful hospitality during my trip.  I hope that all the citizens are safe and in good spirits.  I look forward to visiting again in the near future.  If you have visited or live in Lake Lure & the Blue Ridge Foothills in Rutherford County, please share where I should visit on my next trip.  I would love to read your recommendations!

If you are interested in reading about other featured North Carolina road trips, let me suggest 24 Hours in New Bern, 24 Hours in Hendersonville part I and 24 Hours in Hendersonville part II.