Western North Carolina is a dream vacation location for those seeking a mixture of adventure, mountain culture and relaxation. When you rent one our vacation log cabinss near Hendersonville and Asheville, you will find that one single adjective simply is not enough to describe life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With such a variety of activities to choose from, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking to satisfy your inner daredevil, you can enjoy zip lining, rafting, biking or hiking. If you’re a craft beer connoisseur, you’re mere miles from Beer City USA in Asheville, and some local and close-to-home breweries that adorn Main Street and Seventh Avenue in Hendersonville. No matter how you choose to spend your time when renting one of our cabins, there is always the option of relaxing and taking in the beautiful views that surround you. We wanted to share some of our favorite things to do with you, our guest, so read on or click an area of interest to learn more about popular area attractions.

Historic Downtown Hendersonville

Historic Downtown Hendersonville harkens back to times gone by. The nostalgia that this strip of small town evokes puts a person immediately at ease in our town. Guests can enjoy perusing an old timey general store or soda shop, visit our downtown aquarium, children’s museum, toy store or rock museum. If entertaining little ones isn’t in your itinerary, you can explore some of the local dining, anything from Italian to tapas and Thai, local breweries, or even catch a show at the downtown theatre. While you’re walking, make sure to take note of our downtown painted bears. These bears pay homage to our friendly woodland neighbors, the Black Bear, and are sponsored and painted by local organizations and artists.

Biltmore House and Gardens

The Biltmore House is a MUST see when you are in the area. The Estate is absolutely stunning in any season. Our favorite add on tour at the Biltmore is The Legacy of the Land Tour.

Carl Sandburg Historic Site

The Carl Sandburg home is a tucked away treasure in Western North Carolina. The grounds exude the history of the late poet, allowing guests to take in the idyllic scenery that inspired Sandburg for some of his most famous works such as Remembrance Rock and Always the Young Strangers. The grounds offer a variety of activities for the visitor that can take as much of the day as you allow. While visiting the farm, you can take a guided tour of the Carl Sandburg home or visit the goats on the property, a staple even when the Sandburgs moved in! The grounds are also equipped with multiple trails for any level of hiker. Take a look at the trail map here, or learn more about the property and how to best prepare for your visit here. Entry into the park is free, so you might even consider bringing a picnic on a nice day to enjoy your mountain escape.

Sierra Nevada Brewery

Sierra Nevada found its second home in Mills River in 2014. Since then guests have enjoyed tasting tours, live music and fantastic food from the brewery. We recommend that you book a tour in advance, as they can fill up fast, but even if you don’t take the tour the brewery is a sight to see. The gourmet locally-sourced menu will not disappoint any foodie. The back patio and amphitheater area is equipped with outdoor seating, rocking chairs, and corn hole. Although this brewery won’t take you an entire day to explore, it’s a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon taking in the local surroundings with locally made brews! To book your tours or explore more of what the brewery has to offer, click here

Local Hendersonville Breweries

If you are looking to stay closer to town, Hendersonville has a growing brewery scene. Park somewhere downtown and all of the locations are walkable. Sanctuary Brewing Company and Flat Rock Ciderworks offer you the option of craft beer or hard cider within just a few blocks of each other. Venture down to historic Seventh Avenue to visit Southern Appalachian Brewery or our newest, Triskelion Brewing Company. Make sure to check out these brewery websites or facebook pages to plan your visit. They often have live music all weekend, and sometimes even the occasional food truck!

Lake Lure

We wouldn’t be true Western North Carolina natives if we didn’t mention the spot where the one and only Dirty Dancing was originally filmed. True fanatics will know that the reboot of the movie was filmed right here in Hendersonville. The original, however, in all of its Patrick Swayze glory, was filmed down the road in Lake Lure. While visiting Lake Lure you can take a special boat tour that guides you to some of the most famous movie locations along the lake. If you didn’t know or simply don’t fancy the Dirty Dancing aspect of Lake Lure, that is okay! There is so much to do in this little town. You can visit the Lake Lure Beachfront waterpark, enjoy lunch or dinner at a lakefront restaurant, rent a ski boat or test out your water-sport abilities. Find out more specifics on what to do by clicking here.

Chimney Rock

Of course, we would be remiss if we mentioned Lake Lure and not Chimney Rock as an attraction. Chimney Rock State Park is much more than just the famous summit. Here you can hike different trails, experience waterfalls and see local wildlife. In the animal discovery den, learn about the kinds of wildlife you could encounter while out on a hike. You might even catch some local live music if you’re lucky. When you want to continue your exploration after your hike, you can check out Chimney Rock’s downtown strip that includes local stores, restaurants and local friendly faces.

Hiking and Biking 

Hiking and biking are some of the main reasons that people come to visit our mountains. The variance in terrain allows for a variety of levels of difficulties, so any hiker or biker can feel at home. The Blue Ridge Parkway makes for some great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With so many different trails to choose from, you could spend your entire vacation exploring. Click here for more detailed information about the Blue Ridge Parkway and safety precautions the professionals recommend. If mountain or road biking is more your speed, you are in good company in Hendersonville! No matter what path you choose, you’re almost sure to encounter other bikers along the way. Click here for some popular bike paths.

Tryon International Equestrian Center

Head south of Hendersonville and you’ll encounter the lovely town of Tryon, home to the new Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The TIEC will host the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018, which will attract visitors from all over the world as spectators and competitors. For now though, you can visit the TIEC and enjoy a variety of activities such as polo, steeplechase and other horse race events. You can also enjoy lunch or dinner if your visit falls around one of the meals, as TIEC offers a range of dining options. And don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at one of the on-site stores to remember this impressive property.

Downtown Asheville

Asheville has a lot to offer a visitor with an open mind. You can enjoy a tour around the city in one of the famous purple LaZoom buses, or you can explore the downtown area by foot! The Grove Arcade boasts impressive architecture complete with restaurants and stores. There will be no shortage of locally-made products and locally-sourced food in the restaurants and boutiques. In terms of dining, you will find James Beard Award-winning chefs serving any type of cuisine you can imagine. If live entertainment is more your speed, check out the US Cellular center to see if there are any shows, hop into a local bar on a weekend night, or walk down the streets and enjoy the buskers. The plethora of unique art and jewelry will impress any aficionado and the friendly vibe of the city leaves no one wondering why it has become such a hot attraction.