For a community of just 1,200 souls, Downtown Blue Ridge sure offers plenty of fun things to do. Yet despite the fact the city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, its downtown area hasn’t fallen victim to the usual tacky tourist haunts of souvenir shops and junk food.
Instead, both West and East Main Streets have retained their charm, lined as they are with classy fashion boutiques and home décor stores, restaurants, and cafés, as well as craft outlets and antique shops. The well-preserved architecture features mainly red-brick buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the occasional newer development tending to blend in well.
You’ll want to venture to the south end of West Main Street for great photo opportunities that include the town’s original courthouse, now home to the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. And just a few yards beyond this, you’ll find the excellent Black Sheep Restaurant, which offers superb downtown views from its huge patio.
Official Site: www.blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/mountain-town/downtown-blue-ridge/