Travel Guide to Lake Lure, NC

Everything you need to know about packing for the mountains, lake, where to go, and what to do in Lake Lure with a baby.

Hey ya'll! If you're looking for an action packed vacation with your baby, you have found the right blog. I will give recommendations for packing tips, and everything kid friendly: parks, outdoor activities, etc.

I have been traveling with Aiden since he was a few weeks old. I have worked on my packing list each trip to make sure that I have only the necessities needed and that the car is packed perfectly. We have learned so much since our first tip and I would love to share our knowledge so your first trip goes more smoothly than ours did!

We are learning with every trip and will continue to update ya'll with any new tips and tricks we learn.

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What to do?

Chimney Rock Park:

• Chimney Rock is about at 25 minute drive from Lake Lure - completely worth it! This was my first experience with Aiden on a mountain, so I chose to use the carrier where he was strapped in. To get to the top of Chimney Rock, you can either board an ELEVATOR or hike from the parking lot to the Rock.

  • Aiden and I took the 30 second elevator ride to the top. The walk to the elevator is through a tunnel in the mountain - an experience in itself.

  • Once you depart off of the elevator, you enter a gift shop with an ice cream/sandwich shop. I chose to skip this part of the trip and head to the 40 step stairs guiding us to Chimney Rock. There are not many opportunities to view Lake Lure (except when you are actually on the lake), so the view from the top of the rock was exceptional.

• The view speaks for itself. The stairs are steep, but that's the most strenuous part of the "hike". There are multiple hikes that you can decide to embark on - I wasn't up to the exercise on this specific day, so we just stuck to the rock and the views.

• The park is only $17 for a one day pass and children 4 and under are free.

Chimney Rock

New Beginnings Historic Farm:

• This was such a unique experience and one that I will never forget and only an 8 minute drive from Lake Lure! My family and I love animals, so this part of the trip was very special for us. The farm is run by a lovely husband and wife - the farm house is also a venue and has multiple AirBNB options.

• Once you arrive, the tour begins on foot with a short walk around the property. The owner gives you the history of the land and ends with feeding the animals. Below is a slideshow of images that you can scroll through to see all of the animals you are able to interact with.

• Warning: If you have little ones, pay close attention to the Highland Cows Horns - they are very quick with their movements and know how to grab with them!

• The farm provides food for you to give to the animals and they also provide brushes to use on the cows.

NB Farms

Chimney Rock Brewing:

• I love trying out local breweries when visiting new locations. This brewery was at the bottom of Chimney Rock Park, was kid friendly, and had a stream for Aiden to play in. Any place that has rocks and a stream = Aiden's happy place!

Chimney Rock Brewing

Burntshirt Vineyards:

• Less than 15 minutes from Lake Lure and such a relaxing, laid back location. My sister, mom and I each sampled with the wine tasting.

  • Fun fact: you have the option to purchase the wine glasses with your wine tasting. In the hot summer, I prefer cold, fruity wines, and these did not disappoint! We made sure to stock up on our favorite bottles before we left, but they can also ship!

  • The venue is kid friendly, and the patio is dog friendly.

  • While sipping on your wine on the outdoor patio, you can gaze at the view of Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls. It's a great chance to marvel at the hike you just completed.

  • The winery often has live music, which Aiden thoroughly enjoyed before his snooze.

Burntshirt Vineyards

Morse Park:

• Aiden does not enjoy staying indoors for long, so we spent the evenings going on walks in Morse Park. The paved paths circle the lake and give you beautiful views of Lake Lure.

• There was a large pasture of land that we were able to relax in - anytime Aiden gets to pull grass out of the ground, he takes full advantage.

Morse Park

Lake Lure Guided Boat Tours:

• This activity was by far one of the best parts of our trip - Aiden's first boat ride! The best way to experience Lake Lure is to actually get on the lake. We did not stay in a house on the lake (which I regret) so it was wonderful to have the guided tour. Parts of Dirty Dancing was filmed on the lake and it was neat to be able to see the exact locations. The tour guide was very knowledgeable - I highly recommend this excursion. The tour was only $20 per person and are first come first serve.

Boat Rentals

What to pack?

Baby Items

• Kitchen Items:

  • Portable Fridge

  • Sterilizer

  • Bottle Warmer

  • Bottle Nipples

  • Bottle Parts & caps

  • Milk

  • Cooler

  • Drying Rack

  • Bottle Cleaner

  • Baby Food Containers

  • Baby Nutribullet

  • Spoons & Plates

  • Snacks

  • Oatmeal

  • High Chair

  • Bibs

  • Burp Cloths

• Travel Items:

  • Toys

  • iPad & iPad head rest holder

  • Baby Gate

• Bedroom Items:

  • Layered Outfits

  • Shusher

  • Sound Machine

  • Paddle

  • Night Light

  • Tooth brush & tooth paste

  • Pacis

  • Tylenol

  • Lotion

  • Thermometer

  • Shampoo/Body Wash

  • Wash Cloth & Towels

  • Hair Brush

  • Pack-N-Play

  • Pack-N-Play Mattress

  • PJs

  • Socks

  • Fitted Sheets

  • Blankets

  • Changing Pads

  • Diaper Wipes

  • Butt Paste

• Adventure Items:

  • Portable Fan

  • Chest Strap Carrier

  • Swim Diapers

  • Life Jacket

  • TushBaby

    • Diaper Wipes

    • Diaper

    • Portable Diaper Mat

  • Stroller

  • Portable Bottle Warmer

  • Hats

  • Socks

  • Paci Clips

  • Bug Spray

  • Sunscreen

  • Poop Bags

  • Swim Suits

  • Diaper Bag

  • High Chair Seat Cover

Packing Essentials