Today we are visiting Lenoir, North Carolina. The historic town was established in 1841 and named after Revolutionary War hero William Lenoir. A little over an hour drive from Charlotte, NC and Asheville, NC, Greensboro and Winston Salem and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir is the perfect spot for day trip, a great pit stop if you are on your way to Blowing Rock and an awesome getaway destination if you are looking to spend a day or few outside the city.
There are several hotels in town in terms of accommodations and a lot of vacation rentals for each and every liking available on VRBO, AirBnb and HomeAway. If you enjoy B&B’s the Irish Rose downtown is a great choice for you. The rooms are clean and the owner is sure to make you feel at home.
There are several attractions that you can enjoy while visiting Lenoir. Bellow we are listing our top 3.
🔹Fort Defiance offers a great lesson on history lead by excellent knowledgeable guides offering details on the well preserved fort dating back to the 1700. The hour long tour takes you inside the well preserved 18-19 century house, the grounds and the old cemetery located near by and is a perfect day trip for a family, a delight for a history lover and or if you are truly passionate about true restoration. It’s an absolute hidden gem that one must see. 
🔷Caldwell Heritage Museum offers a variety of exhibits and services and is designed to educate and preserve the history of the Caldwell County. The museum was open in 1991 occupying the last remaining building of Davenport College build in 1926 and serving as auditorium and music room at the time. The museum offers tours for visitors as well as seminars and workshops. There are multiple artifacts, memorabilia and historical papers on display at the museum encompassing all the major historical periods of Coldwell County. It is operated by genuine and kind people wanting to preserve the history of the county and is a great place to take kids. Current hours and exhibitions might be effected due to COVID. 
🔷Our last but not least suggestion for a place to visit while in Lenoir, NC is the T.H. Broyhill Walking Park. Botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuary, Japanese garden, lakefront paths and a spectacular waterfall right in the middle of it all are only few of the perks of this lovely setting. Imagine our surprise when walking the path next to what once used to be a swimming pool and gathering place for the elite in town and stumbling upon a nice waterfall within just a short stroll from the entrance of the park. It might possibly be one of the greatest finds we’ve ever had. The park is peaceful and pleasant. The path is wide and spacious and perfect for a nice walk or a run. The gardens are absolutely spectacular and the wooded scenery surrounding is giving the feel as if you are deep into the woods. We can’t say enough good things about this spot. You have to see it for yourself. Attached below are just few of the pictures from our visit that don’t even do the scenery justice. 
If sightseeing isn’t your thing and you are more of a nature lover make sure to check out Hibriten Mountain. The short but strenuous trek is sure to get your blood flowing and the view from the top is worth every step. It’s one of the less crowded hikes we’ve been on and we totally loved having the Mount all to ourselves. The vistas of the valley, the town of Lenoir and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance contrasting with the storm clouds rolling over were out of this world that day.
After some family time, hiking and exploring make sure to stop and grab a bite at one of the many restaurants in town. No matter what your likings are you can find it here. Grab a Cuban sandwich at the Taste of Havana, a slice of the famous thin slice pizzas at the Piccolo’s Pizza and Pasta, a delicious bite with some music on the side at 1841 Cafe, a taco bowl at the Taco Bout it or a build your own salad at The Salad Bar. If you like home cooked food check out the City Billiards and City Cafe. And if you are in the mood for a quick snack make a stop at The Shake-N-Dog.
For beer and wine lovers the Twisted Vine Winery is a delight and the Liquid Roots has the best beer on tap in town.
Whatever your jam is Lenoir would deliver so make sure to stop by and check it out!