hendersonville.com visitor center
Attractions guide
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Go Blue Ridge Card
Go Blue Ridge Card is the Parkway’s ultimate attraction pass, featuring pre-paid admission to over 25 of the best attractions and activities in Western North Carolina! Visit as many of the included attractions as you like for one low price and save money over buying tickets directly at the ticket gate. Plus, receive a full-color guidebook to the area. Attractions include Biltmore, Chimney Rock Park, Grandfather Mountain, White Water Rafting, Tweetsie Railroad, Linville Caverns, and MORE! Visit www.goblueridgecard.com.
800-887-9103
Chimney Rock Park
In one place, the best of the mountains. Here you’ll find a variety of hiking trails – fun for the whole family or a little time alone; 75-mile views overlooking Lake Lure, Hickory Nut Gorge and the Blue Ridge foothills; 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls - showcased in the 1992 movie, “The Last of the Mohicans”; a 26-story elevator blasted out of the inside of the mountain and special events, guided hikes and rock climbing and activities for groups, too. Just 18 miles from downtown Hendersonville on Hwy. 64 East. Open all year. Live it up! 828-625-9611
Flat Rock Playhouse
Flat Rock, NC
The State Theatre of North Carolina, and one of the finest local playhouses in the United States. Highly acclaimed throughout the theater world. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a ten-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 90,000 patrons annually and is a major contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina. Check the web site for schedule:
www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
Diamond Brand Outdoors
Diamond Brand
Outdoors is a complete outfitter and guide service in Arden, NC and in
Downtown Asheville, NC. Whether you love hiking, camping, fly fishing,
rock climbing, kayaking, or canoeing, Diamond Brand Outdoors is your
one-stop shop for gear and information for your adventures in beautiful
Western North Carolina!
Great Smokey Mountains Railroad
With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains. Tuckasegee River Excursion (3½ hour round trip), Nantahala Gorge Excursion (4½ hour round trip) and the Gourmet Dinner Train (2½ hours) are just a few of the wonderful excursion trips available to passengers.
1-800-872-4681 or (828) 586-8811
Biltmore Estate
George Vanderbilt created Biltmore Estate in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge
Mountains more than a century ago as a retreat for family and friends;
a place to rediscover gracious hospitality and revel in nature’s beauty.
His vision holds true today. Explore Biltmore House, a magnificent 250-room
château filled with priceless art and antiques. Stroll through century-old
gardens designed by America’s first landscape architect. Savor award-winning
wines and taste our chefs’ creations using estate-raised foods. Enjoy our
8,000 acres of forests, farmlands, and rivers on bikes, horseback, and rafts.
Request a FREE 32-page Visit Planner
1-800-543-2961
Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design
at the UNC Asheville Kellog Center at 1181 Broyles Rd. in Hendersonville. Gallery hours are from 1 - 5p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information call 828-890-2050.
Holmes Educational State Forest
One of six educational forests in North Carolina, Holmes was designed as a living environmental education center. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, but call first if you want to reserve the shelter. 828-692-0100.
Mineral & Lapidary Museum
TThe museum, located at 400 North Main Street, exhibits North Carolina Minerals, Fluorescent Minerals, fossils, Geodes (our specialty), gemstones & Jewelry from our local Mineral Club, and a wonderful Gift Shop. Open 6 days/week and all year long.
Admission is FREE. Call 828-698-1977
Chimney Rock Park
Find the best of the mountains in one place. This privately-owned scenic attraction near Asheville offers spectacular 75-mile views, a 404-foot waterfall, hiking trails and more.
Pearson's Falls
Located between Tryon and Saluda is Pearson's Falls. The Tryon Garden Club has own this 250-acre site for nearly 70 years. Hours are 10am -6pm Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults. (828) 49-3031.
Blue Ridge Parkway
One of America's finest driving routes, following the the Blue Ridge Mountains from Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Appalachian Trail
This world famous trail runs through North Carolina on its way from the state of Georgia to the State of Maine.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
One of America's oldest research forests that is maintained by the USDA Forest Service.
Lake Lure, NC
Ranked by National Geographic Magazine as one to the top scenic lakes in the world.
Linville Caverns
Located in WNC near Grandfather Mountain, Linville Caverns are worth the visit.
Nantahala National Forest
This national forest contains the Memorial Joyce Kilmer Forest that contains one of America's oldest stand of Poplar Trees.
Pisgah National Forest
Nearly 500,000 acres of protected forest, featuring hundreds of miles hiking, biking, and horse trails, waterfalls, and beautiful mountaintop views.
North Carolina Arboretum
A 427-acre facility with a Visitor Education Center, state-of-the-art greenhouses, beautiful gardens, and walking trails. 828-665-2492.
feature story
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
America's most visited National Park. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park has the Blue Ridge Parkway going through it, so it is to access with great vistas around every turn.
WNC Nature Center
The Western North Carolina Nature Center is the first place where area children meet the animals they have read about. Deers, bears, cougars, wolf, racoons, birds and even farm animals are there for all to learn about. Exhibits on area poisonous snakes are worth absorbing. An aviary, self-guided nature trail and petting zoo make this a great place for the family. Small admission fee. 828-298-5600.
Thomas Wolfe House
The boyhood home of the author Thomas Wolfe (Look Homeward, Angel) is furnished with family posessions and open for tours (appx. 30 min.). A number of special events take place each year. Small admission fee. 828-253-8304. feature story
Land of the Waterfalls
Visit over 250 majestic waterfalls throughout Transylvania County. We're in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains where the air is cool, the waters are pure, and the welcome is warm!
Learn About the Cherokee
Learn the history and meet the people of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Visit the Oconoluftee Indian Village and Unto These Hills for a great educational opportunity.
Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center
Pack Place includes the Asheville Art Museum, The Health Adventure, and the Diana Wortham Theatre.
Carl Sandburg Home
This historic site consists of a 22 room house, barns, sheds, rolling pastures, walking trails, two small lakes, ponds, flower and vegetable gardens, and an orchard. This is where Carl Sandburg felt the peace and solitude he required to write.feature story
Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre
The Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre's work includes family oriented dance theatre productions, collaborative shows, community involvement, dance networking, educational training, touring shows and presentations, and an international exchange program.
Appalachian Cultural Museum
The mission of the Appalachian Cultural Museum is to provide a continuing reinterpretation of life and culture in the Blue Ridge region, and to serve as a laboratory for new museum ideas.
The Health Adventure
The Health Adventure celebrates the pursuit of wellness in mind, body, and spirit. The interactive activities throughout the Health Adventure keep children learning.
Western North Carolina Farmers Market
The Farmers Market features displays of high quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and dozens of other farm fresh items.
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center
This is the home of the Western North Carolina State Fair. The facilities include the McGough Arena, J. Clayton Davis Arena, Outside Warmup Rings, Sales Arena, Stall Barns, and Youth Building.
Gorges State Park
The newest addition to North Carolina's state parks is right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gorges State Park has over 80 inches of rain a year making it a temperate rain forest. The plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls, and concentration of rare and unique species makes this a wonderful park to visit.
Grandfather Mountain
Experience one of WNC's greatest scenic vistas. The swinging bridge will give you a thrill when you cross it.
Dupont State Forest
Most first time visitors want to see falling water, and DuPont State Forest probably has as much per square mile as any public land in the Southeast. This is a beautiful new state park that was established in 1996.
Brevard Music Center
This premier summer music festival and comprehensive music center has set the highest standards in performance and education for six decades.
Cradle of Forestry
Features the first Forestry School in North America. Guided walks, craftsmen, interpretive movie, historic cabins, logging locomotive, helicopter simulator, Forest Discovery Center and hands-on exhibits.
Mount. Mitchell
The eastern United States highest mountain. Experience a wonderful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville to the Mount Mitchell State Park. A great place to have a picnic and walk on the surrounding trails.
North Carolina's National Forests
Take a look at some of the nation's top national forests located in the great state of North Carolina.
visitor center links:
lodging . attractions . activity guide . maps/directions .
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