Hendersonville, NC Travel Guide - The Solution Sisters

If you haven’t been to Hendersonville, NC it should be added to your North Carolina bucket list. It is the perfect long weekend getaway for a couple or family. The beautiful historic downtown is bustling with quaint shops, local restaurants, galleries, and breweries. Within 15-30 minutes you can be sipping wine at a vineyard, hiking through majestic waterfall trails, or kayaking along the Green River.

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A little background information. Last fall we realized both our girls were finally old enough to go to overnight camp. My youngest wasn’t quite old enough to attend the same camp as my oldest. Luckily, a camp that we were very familiar with had openings the same week as my oldest daughter’s camp. With a little persuasion, the youngest was all signed up for camp. Ryan and I were giddy. What are we going to do with our week of being kid free? This brought about Adult Camp 2021. I know it’s cheesy, but it’s fun.

We pondered what to do and where to go with our time for several months, and nothing really hit the mark. All my ideas were too hot, too far or we had already been there. We wanted something new to us. With a little Google searching Ryan came across Hendersonville. Now, Hendersonville is only 2 ½ hours away from us. We should have been more familiar with the area, but truthfully we weren’t. It took me less than 5 minutes of researching to realize this was the perfect place for us. It checked all the boxes.

This map shows you the promiximity to Asheville.

In full disclosure, 90% of this trip was planned by Ryan, thank goodness. I was in charge of all things overnight camp prep, so he took the lead on this one, and I am so glad he did.

Downtown Hendersonville has the second largest downtown in western North Carolina, Asheville is the biggest, with many things to do, see and taste. Beautiful Main Street winds around planter boxes and lush landscaping. With more than 100 shops and 25 restaurants, it is a delight to explore the large variety of locally-owned, high-quality stores, and galleries. Their painted bears along each intersection are a sight to see too.

Hendersonville’s downtown is part of the Main Street Program, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s program to revitalize the nation’s central business districts through historic preservation, attention to design, thoughtful recruitment of businesses, and promotion.

Since most businesses are along a six-block section of Main Street and its intersecting streets, it’s easy to explore. Mast General Store is always a favorite stop. On the other end, stop at the Visitor Center for plenty of information about things to do. Don’t stress out trying to get one of the free parking spots on Main Street since there’s much more parking on the parallel streets one block away. There is live music in the summer every Friday night. We were lucky enough to catch the live music on a Monday night.

Inside the Courthouse is the interesting Henderson County Heritage Museum, open Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is free, so it’s definitely a must-stop. Be sure to break for some sweets at the old-fashioned McFarlan Bakery, a fixture there since 1930. The Curb Farmer’s Market has been going strong since 1924. It has a great selection of baked goods, handmade crafts, jams, etc. and is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Where to Stay

There are numerous options for hotels, rentals and bed and breakfast in the Hendersonville area. We ultimately wanted something within walking distance to restaurants, shops and bars. We had no plans for cooking for ourselves during our stay.

Ryan found The Henderson which is a 17 room inn. Each room has its own bathroom and the owners Michael and Jeanne will make you feel right at home. They were excellent at giving us tips for places to try for dinner and the best route to hike at Dupont State Forest.

Staying at The Henderson, you will be spoiled with a wonderful chef prepared breakfast. If you are staying Thursday-Sunday you will be able to enjoy the famous restaurant The Harvey. Owner Michael is an executive chef with a full resume of experience. You will be impressed with the service and food quality.

What to Do

One thing is for sure, in Hendersonville you will not be bored. There are ample options for just about anyone. You could brewery hop all day or follow the Cheers Trail to check out all the wineries, breweries and cider mills. If that is not your thing you could flyfish, kayak or tube the Green River. If you have children in tow there are numerous options in the downtown area to keep them entertained. Finally, you have to visit Dupont State Forest.

Hiking

North Carolina’s first State Recreational Forest is about 15 minutes from downtown Hendersonville. DuPont is 10,400 acres in size, and offers almost 100 miles of recreational trails providing access to its attractions.

Originally considered a regular State Forest, DuPont earned the “Recreational” part of its name in 2011 when a bill was passed emphasizing management of the area’s recreational aspects, including trails.

Since DuPont State Recreational Forest was saved from real estate development, its 10,000 acres and 86 miles of trails have become a favorite playland for exploring the great outdoors. This three-mile hike to three waterfalls is the most popular waterfall hike near Asheville and our favorite. The moderate trail has a few hills, but it is perfect for nearly all fitness levels and families. Since it’s so popular, weekends bring big crowds, especially in the summer and fall. Remember, you can always visit during the week or early in the morning to miss the masses.

Two options for seeing the falls with a moderate hike.

Park at the Hooker Falls access area at DuPont State Recreational Forest for this three-mile hike to three waterfalls along the Little River.
You can also park at the High Falls access about a mile down the road (with Visitor Center). Then you reverse the hike, seeing Hooker Falls last. This was the route we took and were able to see High Falls, Triple Falls and Hooker Falls to make about a 5 mile hike.

High Falls

We began our hike by parking at the High Falls access. When you access the main trail you’ll have the option to veer towards the covered bridge trail or stay on the High Falls Loop. Continue on the trail for a mile on the High Falls Loop to the largest waterfall, a 150-ft. cascade down an inclined plane of granite. If you want a close-up look, look for the “Base of Falls” spur trail that takes you down to the river. If the river is not running high, you can rock hop along the river edge to reach the big boulders in front of the waterfall. Don’t attempt to climb the rocks by the waterfall since they are very slick and dangerous. That will add another half mile for this detour. Return to the main trail and turn left and head uphill for an incredible view.

Triple Falls

For our hike we continued on the High Falls Loop to gain access to Triple Falls. If you want less of a hike, park at the Hooker Falls parking area. Less than 1/2-mile from the Hooker Falls parking area (across the river and under the road bridge), arrive at an overlook for Triple Falls with three cascades over a total 120-ft. drop. Just past the overlook, a trail forks off to the left and heads down via a big staircase to land on a large rock area below the top two falls and atop the third.

Hooker Falls

From the Hooker Falls parking area, take a short walk to the right to Hooker Falls. There is an observation area above the falls, and you can continue on the trail to reach the base of the falls. This is a popular spot for wading and swimming in the lake at the foot of the 12-ft. waterfall. From Hooker Falls, turn around, go past the parking area and follow the trail upstream to the more impressive Triple Falls and High Falls.

Breweries

Southern Appalachian Brewery: Specializes in making small batches of craft beer, including their German Pilsner, Belgian Blonde Ale, and Copperhead Amber Ale.
Oklawaha Brewing Company: Formerly known as Sanctuary Brewing Co., this nano-brewery and taproom is dedicated to making small-batch, high-quality artisanal ales. Features classic styles like hop-forward IPAs, fruited sours, and classic German styles.
Dryfalls Brewery: This industrial-chic taproom just south of downtown serves beers created by a father-son brewing team! Sample from their varied menu and check out the food truck parked out front.
Guidon Brewing: This friendly brewhouse offers a variety of beer styles including stout, porter, pale ale, IPA, and more. Enjoy the casual atmosphere in the main bar and loft area, back deck, or check out the dart room if you’re feeling competitive!
Triskelion Brewing: Drawing its name from a Greek word meaning “three legs,” this brewery stays in touch with the past, present, and future of brewing. They offer traditional farmhouse ales, lagers, fruit beers, and sour ales. They also have live music and weekly themed trivia.
D9 Brewing: The Lake Norman-based brewery opened its Main Street taproom in Hendersonville in April. The space features an indoor-outdoor bar. The brewery is known for its sour beers and beers brewed with unexpected ingredients. In addition to D9 flagships, the Hendersonville brewery will brew and serve beers exclusive to its location.

Wineries

Henderson County is home to North Carolina’s newest wine country, located in the lower elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The wineries produce classic wines from European vinifera grapes and French-American hybrid grapes, as well as sweeter wines crafted from grapes native to North Carolina.

Henderson County earned the AVA designation with its distinctive soil, climate and elevation which includes six Henderson County wineries. Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, located on family land that goes back nine generations, was Hendersonville’s first winery. Close by is Burntshirt Vineyards, which has won the NC Winegrower of the Year award and offers an apple wine made from local apples. Point Lookout Vineyards is situated on top of Point Lookout Mountain with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge. The three newest wineries located in Henderson County are Marked Tree Vineyard, Sawyer Springs Vineyard and Stone Ashe Vineyards.

During our stay we only made it to one winery and it did not disappoint. The Henderson gave us numerous tips during our stay. Marked Tree was a good one. The views and atmosphere were stunning. Their outdoor patio is beautiful with ample seating.

Adventures

Traveling without our girls, we knew we wanted to do something they may not be up for. Living in North Carolina we are fortunate to have mountains, rivers, oceans and everything in between. We get to experience most outdoor activities all within our state. Kayaking the rivers in the mountains is always a fun adventure we are up for. It has been about 10 years since we have been able to kayak, so this made a great addition to our trip.

The Hendersonville area doesn’t have as many options as the Bryson City area with the Nantahala River, but it was a lot of fun. We scheduled our trip through Green River Adventures and had a great experience. Our guide and group were all really friendly and knowledgeable.

We scheduled the day before, so we could only do the lower part of the river, which is more moderate. The lower Green River is safe for kids, and I would feel comfortable taking my 7 and 10 year old. If Ryan and I were to go back again, we would do the upper Green River for more rapids.

The biggest surprise to us was the water was warm. Honestly, this is the biggest reason we haven’t kayaked in years. When we went down the Nantahala, it was August, and I froze. This was a very pleasant surprise.

If kayaking is not your thing there are tubing, ziplining and rappelling options all throughout the area.

With Kids

Hendersonville is predominantly a retirement community, so the numerous activities for children was very surprising. If you are a night owl, this is not the town for you. Most restaurants close at 9 and breweries close 10 – 12 on weekends. There is no nightlife scene. This is a calm, relaxed and peaceful community with incredibly friendly people.

Appalachian Pinball Museum: Everyone is a kid again at Appalachian Pinball Museum, where $12 allows you to play all day. The museum features more than 70 games, including pinball classics as well arcade and video games. The oldest pinball machine dates to 1946. Enjoy soda, snacks or a beer while you play.
Mineral & Lapidary Museum: Another great stop is the Mineral & Lapidary Museum. See exhibits from North Carolina, replicas of world-famous diamonds, English minerals, Indian artifacts, a dinosaur egg nest, fossils, fluorescent minerals, gems, and faceted minerals. The museum’s specialty is Geodes, which are sold, cracked, and/or displayed. Admission is free and it’s open Monday-Saturday.
Hands-On Children’s Museum: This children’s museum offers an affordable, educational, and fun way to spend the day with your children, grandchildren, and students ages 1-10.
Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab: NC’s first inland aquarium is home to nearly 300 fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and salamanders. This place makes learning fun, teaching kids (and adults) about marine life and the importance of conservation. Don’t miss the live shark and ray feeding daily at 1:15 PM.
The Center for Art & Entertainment: This busy destination for theatre and the arts, also has a bookstore and coffee shop. Their professional theatre includes Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.

Where to Eat

There are over 20 restaurants just in the downtown area of Hendersonville. Not to mention Flat Rock and Asheville are both relatively close, so finding a great restaurant is not a problem. The Henderson Inn owners gave us a lot of guidance on local restaurants and we took their advice.

Since we visited Monday-Thursday we ran into many places being closed on Monday and limited hours on the other days. With staffing shortages and being during the week, we had to be flexible with our time and choices.

The Henderson served us a wonderful breakfast each morning, so I am only highlighting our lunch and dinner.

Lunch

Mike’s on Main: You will step back in time to the 1950’s with its style and decor. You’ll find a jukebox in the corner, fresh handspun milkshakes and a soda fountain. This is a classic sandwich, burger or hot dog place and the fries were pretty great too.

Hot Dog World: Known to be the best hot dog in North Carolina, we had to give it a try. The parking lot was full everytime we went by, but they were quick and friendly. Ryan and I both thought the hot dog and fries were great. Hot Dog World is served car hop style, but there is a small patio if you want to stay and eat there.

Dinner

West First Wood-Fired: They are known for their handcrafted food with a Mediterranean aesthetic, and feature whole-wheat thin crust pizzas, organic pastas, rustic salads and soups, desserts and breads. The atmosphere is nothing like you expect. It has a modern loft vibe with a wonderful patio. Ryan and I shared a pizza, because we had a late lunch, and their fresh fruit cocktails were divine.

Postero: Housed in a former bank, it has been remodeled beautifully to a very modern aesthetic. With the building being beautiful, I would call the food average. This did not blow us away, but we were hungry and fed.

Brandy’s on Main: Brandy’s is a restaurant that I would not have chosen on my own, I am so grateful it was recommended. The building or space will not blow you away, but the service and food are top notch. Owned by two executive chefs, every dish is prepared fresh daily. You can tell they put a lot of love into the preparation of their dishes. The quality of ingredients is what you would expect from a fine restaurant.

Hendersonville Events

Fall and apple season are the heart of this community. While we were visiting the first of August, they were already gearing up for the Apple Festival and the rush of visitors to their community. The city seems to do an incredible job keeping the community filled with great events throughout the year. Check out the list below.

Garden Jubilee Festival: Spectacular three-day festival held on Memorial Day weekend. The ideal festival for passionate gardeners searching for the perfect plants, unique lawn and garden accessories, and arts and crafts with 200 vendors. Speak with the experts at clinics and gather tips.
NC Apple Festival: This four-day celebration on Labor Day Weekend honors the North Carolina Apple!
July 4th: Parade and fireworks at dark.
Fiesta Hendersonville: Held in September on Main Street. Experience the best of 20 Latin American countries with their people, music, art, food, and culture. Free admission.
Home for the Holidays: Many events from Thanksgiving through New Year’s including live performances, downtown lights, a parade and shopping specials.

What We Wore

For this trip we kept things fairly simple with what we wore. Hendersonville is a very laid back casual town. For our drive down and first day, I wore my go to romper. It is comfortable and cute especially paired with my favorite wedges from Charleston Shoe Co. and hat I’ve been wearing non stop.

Day 2 was all about hiking at Dupont State Forest and a winery visit. Hiking called for my go to skort, perfect shoes and sling bag for water and snacks. That night when we went to dinner, I wore the BEST white bodysuit and simple black skirt. The bodysuit is also featured on our fall style staples post. Be careful if you have a long torso, and despite the reviews, I would suggest sizing up. I’m wearing a size small, and it couldn’t snap comfortably.

Day 3 was kayaking the Green River. I wore an Athleta Crop swim top and bottoms. The crop is perfect for being active in the water. It is full coverage and will keep everything tucked away and in place. I bought this for all things river, lake and ocean. Over my swimsuit, I wore my new summer favorite, their Yosemite dress. This is the perfect lightweight, breathable and quick drying dress or cover up. I found it true to size and wear and XS.

Ryan packed super easy. He only packed his favorite Columbia t-shirts and shorts. I had him clean up a bit for dinner one night in a Peter Milar polo. He wore his go to summer Columbia shoes for the majority of the trip.