20+ Great Things to Do in Hendersonville (+ Our Top 5) (2024)

Hendersonvilleis at the heart ofWestern North Carolina, just a cardday trip away from AshevilleInBrevard. One of the fun things to do in Hendersonville is we love exploring downtown and the surrounding countrysidetownsiHenderson County.

You will find it incredibleapple orchardsall the way through, some ofNC's Best Wineries, excellent craft beer,restaurantscenes, and ALL the fantastic onesoutdoor adventurein his environment.

Whether you are a new resident, a frequent visitor or a resident of Hendersonville, we leave no detail unturned. If you live in the area and are wondering, "What are the best things to do near me?" we think this guide will help you!

And because there is a lot to tell about Hendersonville and Henderson County,North Carolina, this travel guide is divided into the following sections:

• Where is Hendersonville located?
• The History of Hendersonville and Henderson County
• What is Hendersonville known for these days?
• Where to Stay in Hendersonville
• Annual Events (NC Apple Festival, NC Mountain State Fair and more!)
• Appelpluk in Hendersonville
• Things to do in Hendersonville NC this weekend (and all year)
• Restaurants
• Vineyards
• Fed Rock Cider
• Outdoor Activities Near Hendersonville NC
  • Bearwallow-berg
  • Chimney cliff
  • DuPont State recreatiebos
• The Best Things to Do in Hendersonville (Top 5 of NC Tripping)
• More travel guides for Hendersonville NC

You can scroll to a specific section or continue reading about the location of Hendersonville and what it is known for.

Read more:Small towns in North Carolina

Where is Hendersonville located?

Before we delve into our favorite things to do in Hendersonville, let's share a few Hendersonville facts with you, starting with its location.

Hendersonville and the surrounding area in Henderson County are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The county borders one South Carolina county (Greenville) and six NC counties, including the following:

• Buncombe County(north)
• Rutherford County (northeast)
• Polk County (East)
• Transsylvaniens amt (vest)
• Haywood County (noordvest)

You can plan your Hendersonville NC trip visually with the following maps:

• Travel Map of North Carolina
• Map of Western North Carolina

Read more:Hendersonville NC Attractions Map (+ 5 Surrounding Counties!)

The History of Hendersonville and Henderson County

Before it was a thriving county in western NC, the area served primarily as a hunting ground for Native Americans.Cherokeepeople were the last known inhabitants until the Revolutionary War soldierWillem Millsreceive land subsidies.

Mills and his family settled here and each year he planted hundreds of fruit trees. His neighbors followed his lead, causing Henderson County to prosperapple orchardsthat we all know today.

Several other crops flourished here, and agriculture remains a dominant part of Henderson County's economy and landscape.

Henderson County was finally formed in 1838 from land previously on the south side of Buncombe County. Both the county and city of Hendersonville are named after the Chief Justice of North CarolinaLeonard Henderson.

Hendersonville was founded in 1841 and has been the center of activity in Henderson County ever since.

Henderson County, especially Flat Rock, has long served as a popular second home for southerners. This Hendersonville neighbor was long called "Rijsel Charleston”, thanks to the planters and lowland dwellers who ventured this way for milder summer holidays.

Read more:Museum of the Cherokee People (13,000 years of history in one important room)

What is Hendersonville NC known for these days?

Hendersonville is known for its beautiful downtown area, excellent wineries, craft beer, apple orchards and outdoor recreation. And as you'll see in this article, there are plenty of fun things to do in Hendersonville within each category!

Speaking of the areas outside of downtown Hendersonville, Henderson County is filled with thriving cities and communities. Here are the most prominent names within the county boundaries:

• Fletcher
• Laurierpark
• Mills River
• Flat stone
• regards(shared with Polk County)

We'll mention more about these places in our "Things to do near Hendersonville NC" section. But now let's move on to the best events in the region.

Read more:25 beautiful wineries near Asheville (wineries within 2 hours)

Where to Stay in Hendersonville

We were invited to stayBrightwaters Vacation Rentalsjust outside downtown Hendersonville. Our accommodations were located in their historic southern home, but they also offer charming 2 and 3 bedroom cabins!

The house in Brightwaters was a beautiful place to relax in the morning and enjoy the surroundings after long days.

If you're looking for a unique living experience, check out the tiny home communityAcony bellin the Mills River. We have stayed here in one of the small houses and find it a good base for walking DuPont and the big oneswaterfall near Brevard.

It's also perfect for exploring the fun things to do in Hendersonville's neighbor Mills River.

Annual Events in Hendersonville

Here is a list of annual events in Hendersonville and the months in which they occur. First, check event listings and dates with the wonderful folks at Visit Hendersonville through theirinternet side.

• april: Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend puts the area's wineries and cideries on full display in April. These companies are teaming up for a fun weekend of cider, wine and food!
• Be able to: Held each Memorial Day weekend, the Garden Jubilee brings together apple orchards, farms, nurseries and other related businesses for a green thumb-friendly event.
• september: Two of the most popular things to do in Hendersonville (and Henderson County) occur every September, although the first sometimes starts lateaugustus, you. OfAppelfestival in North Carolinais a Labor Day tradition and takes over downtown Hendersonville with lots of apple-related fun, food and festivities! Not long after came theNC Mountain State Fairstarting in Fletcher to celebrate the people, art, agriculture and traditions of the area.
• October: The last major one-day event in Hendersonville isFarm Town Day, held in Jackson Park. This fun and educational event combines hands-on activities with displays that inform visitors about where their food comes from.
• Winter: There are two big onessnow tubing parkerin Hendersonville - Black Bear Snow Tubing and Moonshine Mountain. In the winter, these are two of the most popular attractions in Hendersonville NC.

Read more:20 Great Wineries Near Charlotte (Wineries within 2 Hours)

Apple picking in Hendersonville (late summer and fall)

Did you knowNorth Carolinais America's 7th largest apple producer?

Hendersonville produces 85 percentApples from North Carolina, InAebleplantager in Hendersonvilleusually starts seeing apples from the centeraugustustoo earlynovember.

Be sure to check each farm's social media for U-Pick varieties.

Our favorite place for U-Pick apples isSky Top Orchard. A panoramic view from the orchard is a great start, but at Sky Top there is so much more!

Kids can enjoy a farm with lots of friendly animals and some of the best apple cider donuts in North Carolina!

Read more:Fall in North Carolina

Things to do in Hendersonville NC this weekend (and all year!)

The great events keep people coming back at certain times, but these are the best things to do in Hendersonville. They are all mostly indoors, so these are good rainy activities.

Center

We like to start our visit to the area by stopping and parkingcenter. We'll be listing some of the things to do in Hendersonville in more detail soon.

However, we wanted to focus only on the local businesses that form the heart of downtown, along with the biggest attractions. So here are a few we liked!

Dancing bear toys are great for the kids and for you to buy them something new. So do yourself a favor and walk around Main, Church, King and all the side streets.

We're sure you'll find a place you'll keep coming back to!

Appalachian flipperkastmuseum

Adres: 538 N. Main St, Hendersonville, NC

The best way to spend a rainy day or any day on a weekend in Hendersonville is to visitAppalachian flipperkastmuseum. They serve North Carolina beer with the more than 80 classic pinball machines.

For $12 you can play as long as you want. The signs above each board allow you to learn more about the games and when they were created.

Read more:NC Museum of History in Raleigh (+7 things we like!)

Team ECCO Aquarium en Shark Lab

Adres: 511 N. Main St, Hendersonville, NC

Team ECCO Aquarium en Shark Labis an educational resource and public attraction, and it's also one of the most family-friendly things to do in Hendersonville! As the first hinterlandakvarium in North CarolinaTeam ECCO has more than 275 fish, invertebrates, reptiles and salamanders.

Watch the shark and stingray as they swim in a 2,000-liter tank, while interns monitor the life cycle and behavior of these fascinating creatures.

Access to Team ECCO is really affordable, especially because there are so many interactive learning experiences. Plus, kids under 2 get in for free, which is a bonus!

Read more:50+ Awesome Things to Do with Kids in Asheville (and Nearby!)

Henderson County Mineral and Lapidary Museum

Adres: 400 N. Main St, Hendersonville, NC

Did you know that Henderson County has one of the most diverse mineral deposits in the country? So while you might find something to take home at a local pearl mine (see below), you can see some spectacular pearls thereHenderson County Mineral and Lapidary Museum.

Admission to the museum is free and features a wide variety of gemstone exhibits, a meteorite and a really cool fossil exhibit!

Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

Adres: 2120 Brevard Rd, Hendersonville, NC

Gemstone Mines is one of the most popular things to do in Hendersonville and we are hooked after one visitElijah Mountain Gem Mine! Point and spin to find rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts and more in their water troughs, both indoors and outdoors.

Make sure you stop and say hello to the goats and other animals surrounding the property!

Eat at these restaurants in Hendersonville

• There are many great options for dining out in Hendersonville. If you want an exclusive dining experience, give it a tryTo shine(202 N Main St) enthe half Moon(226 N Main Street).
• For great casual bites, check outMike is op Main(303 N Main St), and don't forget the small town dessert we all know and love -Kilwins(506 N Main Street)!
• Pizza and grill: Located further down the streetFlat rockwood room(1501 Greenville Hwy) with delicious wood-fired pizza and barbecue.

Read more:18 incredible restaurants in and around Hendersonville (+ wine and craft beer!)

Craft Beer in deze Hendersonville NC Breweries

Some of NC's best breweries are located in Hendersonville. They range from smaller local operations to one of the biggest names in the state's craft beer scene.

• D9(425 N Main St), ook inCharlotteand Cornelius nearbyLake Norman
• Dry Falls Brewing Co(425 Kanuga Rd)
• Guidon Brewing Co(415 8th Ave E)
• Oklawaha brewing(147 1st Ave E)
• Southern Appalachian Bryggeri(822 Locuststraat)

Read more:25+ of the Best Breweries in Asheville (South Slope, Downtown and Nearby Cities!)

Hendersonville Wineries

Enjoying craft beer is great, but we think visiting one of these wineries is one of the best things to do in Hendersonville NC.

• Burntshirt Vineyards(2695 Suikerbroodstraat)
• Point Lookout Vineyards(408 Appleola Rd)
• Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards(588 Chestnut Gap Rd)
• Sawyer Springs Vineyard and Winery(124 Sandy Hill Ln)
• Stone Ashe Vineyards(736 Green Mountain Rd)

Read more:25 of the Best Wineries and Wineries in North Carolina

Fed Rock Cider

Adres: 72 School House Rd, Mills River, NC

Fed Rock Ciderhas a large production facility and taproom in Mills River.

The cidery presses 80 tonscallsevery week, including that of 11local orchards. Bold Rock's taproom is also huge with plenty of room to stretch out and relax with a tasty cider.

From the mezzanine floor you can even see the production line.

Outdoor Activities near Hendersonville NC (Hiking & More!)

In the warmer months and especially in the fall, hiking is one of the best things to do in Hendersonville. Some ofNorth Carolina's Best Hiking Trailsis located in the area.

Of course, we'll share a few of our favorites with you, starting with a mountain shell with cows walking around.

Before we do that, we would like to remind you that you must always respect the paths and routesleaves no trace. This way the next person can enjoy it as much as you do!

Bearwallow-berg

Top offBearwallow-bergfeels like a movie scene. However, this cliff can be reached after a moderate climb of 1.6 km and is 100 percent worth the 160 meter elevation gain.

It is primarily an operational, protected farm, but we are grateful to the owners for allowing us to visit.To keep Carolinais another organization we have to thank for managing and maintaining the course.

From your spot 1,200 meters above sea level, you can enjoy a grassy meadow and 360-degree views of mountain peaks such asMount Mitchelland Mount Pisgah.

Read more:Hiking in Hendersonville (30+ great trails within 1 hour)

Carl Sandburg's house

1800 Little River Road, Flat Rock, NC

OfCarl Sandburg's housethere is one in Flat RockNational historical sitethat protects Connemara, the final home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author.

When it is open to the public, you can tour Sandburg's house. Additionally, you can enjoy the property's 5 miles of hiking trails all year round.

Don't forget to visit the barn where Carl's wife, Lilian, raised her champion dairy goats.

Chimney Rock State Park

North CarolinaChimney Rock State Parkis one of the most iconic attractions in Hendersonville's eastern neighbor, Rutherford County. It's also one of our most popularstate parks.

Here are a few hiking trails you can enjoy in Chimney Rock State Park:

• Hike the Outcropping Trail (a 0.4 mile loop) to reach the top of Chimney Rock itself. Of course, a lift will also take you there.
• The Exclamation Point Trail (a 1km loop) is one of the park's most difficult hikes, but leads to epic views from the edge of Exclamation Point at 2,500 feet.
• The Skyline Trail (1.1 miles) starts at the exclamation point and takes you even higher to Peregrine Point at 2,600 feet.

UseChimney Rock Villageas a base to explore this amazing park and its surroundings.

Read more:Colorful Fall Walks in North Carolina (+ 20 Beautiful Places to Discover!)

DuPont State recreatiebos

DuPont State recreatiebosoffers 80 miles of trails for hikers, some of which are open to mountain bikers and equestrians.

• Seeing three waterfalls on one hike on the Triple Falls Hiking Loop is at the top of most people's outdoor activities in Hendersonville. This hike starts from the Hooker Falls or High Falls parking lots (Visitor Center).
• That is now also possibleBridal veil fallsfrom the High Falls parking lot. The trail there is one of our favorite mountain bike trails in North Carolina! The 3.5 kilometer long trail (7.1 kilometers there and back) ends at a 30 meter high waterfall that is also in severalfilm shot in North Carolina.

• The same road (Conservation Road) that leads to Bridal Veil Falls also passes Lake Julia (1.7 miles). The 99-acre lake is peaceful and the trail is most beautiful in the fall.
• From the Guion car parkWintergreen Falls-padis a 5-mile loop trail that leads to a beautiful 20-foot waterfall.

Read more:20+ Kid-Friendly Waterfalls in NC (Easy Hikes & Swimming Holes!)

Jump off the rock

Jump off the rockis located just 5 miles from downtown Hendersonville, in Laurel Park. It is best known as a scenic view, thanks to the sweeping mountain views that await you.

Three marked hiking trails also start at the parking lot and are relatively short. The shortest trail is 450 feet (blue, easy), followed by the moderate yellow (1,221 feet) and red (1,239 feet) trails.

Read more:25+ of the coolest Airbnbs in North Carolina

Activities near Hendersonville NC (day trips)

Hendersonville is surrounded by some of our favorite Western NC attractions, all within an easy day trip.

Henderson County Neighbors

We've listed some things to do near Hendersonville in Henderson County, but we felt some deserved more attention here.

• Flat Rock: Together withCarl Sandburg's housewhat Flat Rock is known forFlatrock playhouse, a community event since the 1930s. Spend more time in the city and enjoy the charming shops and restaurants.Hubba Hubba Rokerijis also incredible!
• Mills River is home to several breweries and a cidery that we have already mentioned. This also includes the nationally recognized onesSierra NevadaInFed Rock Ciderand local favorites such asMills River BrewingInBurning blush.

Read more:Colorful Fall Walks in North Carolina (+ 20 Beautiful Places to Discover!)

Asheville

Another thing we mentioned is that Hendersonville is perfectday trip from Asheville! Turn it around and you can use Hendersonville as a good base to exploreAsheville.

Some of our favoritesthings to doInvolving:

• Walk aroundBiltmore estate(especially duringJuly)
• Fantastic meals in townrestaurantsInbreweries
• Visits to country estates such asWNC Nature CenterInNorth Carolina Arboretum

Read more:75+ Great Hikes Near Asheville (Within 2 Hours Drive)

Brevard

Brevard is also a short day trip from Hendersonville and full of funthings to do!

• We love the center and the surrounding areaBrevardcollege, where you can look for white squirrels!
• Waterfalls: we love the many ones toowaterfall in Transylvania province, some of which are easily accessible. Here are some of our favorites in the area:
  • French Broad Falls
  • Looking glass falls
  • Moore-baai
  • Sliding rock waterfalls
  • Sunbeam falls

Read more:25 of the Best Waterfalls in North Carolina

The Best Things to Do in Hendersonville (Top 5 of NC Tripping)

We made some tough decisions when choosing the best attractions in Hendersonville. Nevertheless, we think this is the best of the best, in alphabetical order:

• Appalachian flipperkastmuseum
• picking apples
• Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
• Jump off the rock
• Vineyards

We included Jump Off Rock, but not DuPont State Forest and Chimney Rock. These two are not connected to Hendersonville and virtually live in a neighboring county.

More Things to Do in Hendersonville NC (Additional Guides)

Western North Carolina is full of funplaces to visit. But we're hooked on Henderson County, thanks to all the great things to do in and around Hendersonville.

If you're familiar with this area, we'd love to know what you think about it and what your favorite ways to enjoy it are.

We hope you use this guide to discover all the wonderful things to do in Hendersonville! Once you have done so, please share your experience with us here or in ourFacebook group!

Also, don't forget to check out our collection of NC travel guides on these Hendersonville NC adventures and more! Here are a few.