Blowing Rock, North Carolina

The small town of Blowing Rock takes its name from an unusual rock formation, which juts over 1,500 feet (460 m) above the Johns River gorge. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population balloons to about 10,000. These summertime residents consist mainly of people from the state of Florida who come to Blowing Rock to escape the heat and humidity of the Deep South. The town's elevation of 3500 to 3600 feet (1067-1097 meters) above sea level results in substantially cooler summer temperatures compared to lowland areas to the east and south. Daytime temperatures in the summer rarely rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). On the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway is Moses Cone Memorial Park, which offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Another popular tourist attraction in Blowing Rock is the Tweetsie Railroad theme park, which is home to the only remaining fully functional steam engine train in North Carolina. Visitors to Tweetsie can ride the train for three miles (5 km) and enjoy the mountain scenery; the park also offers traditional amusement-park rides and attractions.