Celebrating Christmas in Hendersonville NC: Home For the Holidays

Home for the Holidays in Downtown Hendersonville NC

From the Biltmore House Christmas and Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum to the Grove Park Inn’s Gingerbread House Competition, Asheville has more than its fair share of nationally-known holiday attractions.    But those seeking a simpler, less crowded, and more budget-friendly small town Christmas celebration may want to head 25 miles south to Hendersonville, … Read more

Help Western NC Stores by Shopping Online (Henderson Co Edition)

North Carolina Shopping - Henderson County Flat Rock Fletcher Hendersonville Stores

Since Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in late September, we’ve received hundreds of requests on our Facebook page to create a guide to Western NC stores that offer online shopping. We always try to shop small businesses when we travel, because for every $1 you spend at a small business, around 67¢ stays in the … Read more

Apple Picking & More at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC

Scarecrow Barn at Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC

If Fall for you means apple picking, pumpkin patches, wagon rides, and corn mazes, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC can help you check all those things off your list in one fantastic, family-friendly day out!   Stepp’s is a wonderful, fully functioning farm and orchard that doubles as a giant playground for kids and … Read more

The 12 Best Hendersonville Apple Orchards for Apple Picking & More

The Best Hendersonville Apple Orchards for Apple Picking, Hayrides and more

[Updated August 15, 2023] Did you know that North Carolina is the 7th largest apple producing state in the USA? Or that Hendersonville Apple Orchards are the most prolific apple producing orchards in the state of North Carolina?     There are a whopping 19 Hendersonville apple orchards, which is pretty amazing for a Blue … Read more

The 15 Best Hendersonville NC Restaurants for 2023

Outdoor Patio at Never Blue, a Downtown Hendersonville Restaurant

[Updated January 20, 2023]   From Blue Ridge and Dahlonega GA to Asheville and Waynesville NC, nearly every great mountain town we’ve visited has had a fantastic, foodie-friendly assortment of restaurants to lure visitors.    The Hendersonville eateries we explored during our recent visit proved the town, which lies just 20 miles south of Asheville, … Read more

The 20 Best Things to Do in Hendersonville NC

Hendersonville NC Main St in downtown

[Updated January 5, 2023] For far too long, Hendersonville NC seemed like the Jan Brady to Asheville‘s Marcia, never quite garnering all the accolades and attention it deserved.  But in recent years, Asheville’s immense popularity has proven to be a double-edged sword. Thanks to national media attention, Asheville’s population has grown by nearly 12% since … Read more

Apple Picking in North Carolina: The 15 Best NC Apple Orchards

Apple Picking in North Carolina at an NC Orchard

[Updated 7/17/2022] Most people know Western North Carolina for its beautiful Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, beloved NC state parks, charming Blue Ridge mountain towns, and scenic routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. But what may surprise some visitors is the abundance of apple orchards you can find scattered across … Read more

How to Get to Hooker Falls NC (in DuPont State Forest)

Hooker Falls NC

[Updated August 12, 2021] If you’re looking for challenging North Carolina waterfalls to hike, Hooker Falls is probably not for you.  Located between Brevard and Hendersonville in DuPont State Recreational Forest, the Hooker Falls Trail is one of the shortest (.9 mile round-trip), easiest (164 feet of elevation gain), and most accessible waterfall hikes in … Read more

Exploring the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River NC (Near Asheville & Hendersonville)

Sierra Nevada Brewery

[Update July 31, 2021] Sometimes when a recipe is right, it is simply right. There’s no arguing the fact that Sierra Nevada nailed its flagship beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, coming out of the gate. The Pale Ale flavor might be somewhat familiar these days, but that’s because most of these newbie challengers continually strive … Read more