Things To Do
Blue Ridge Parkway
If you want to get out for spectacular views of the mountains and gorgeous fall foliage, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can access the parkway by driving through Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, or if you’re staying closer to Asheville you can get on the Parkway near Biltmore Village. There are plenty of gorgeous hikes along the parkway - short and family friendly or longer and more strenuous if you’re looking for an adventure!
Explore Brevard and Pisgah National Forest
Downtown Brevard, North Carolina, offers a charming small-town experience with its unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants, often featuring live music. It's a perfect starting point for exploring the adjacent Pisgah National Forest. Within the forest, you can hike to numerous waterfalls, including Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock, mountain bike on extensive trails, and enjoy scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Downtown Brevard Favorites: Oscar Blues Brewery OP Taylors - Voted the World’s Best Toy Store Rocky’s - 1950’s Style Soda Fountain DD Bullwinkle’s - Outdoor Gear, etc Pisgah National Forest Favorites: Looking Glass Falls - Short walk down to a beautiful waterfall Estatoe Trail along the Davidson River Inquire with Colin or the Fenners if you’re looking for a longer hike!
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
At Sierra Nevada Brewery, you can enjoy a variety of activities. They offer interactive brewery tours with beer sampling, and the Taproom & Restaurant features a tapas menu and farm-to-table offerings. You can also explore the grounds, which include a beer garden and an amphitheater that often hosts live music. NOTE: If booking a brewery tour, please check their website and book ASAP as these book up very fast.
Walk and Shop on Main Street in Hendersonville
Main Street in Hendersonville is a gem - lots of great shopping, restaurants, and activities! Some of our favorites include West First Wood Fired Pizza and Grill where Rachel was a hostess in high school, and Kilwins Ice Cream & Fudge Shop where Rachel also worked in high school as a waffle cone maker and ice cream scooper! Although we can’t have kids at the wedding weekend events, we know some are bringing their kids for the trip and we highly recommend Downtown Hendersonville for family friendly activities. Hands On! Children’s Museum is a great stop, or you can crack geodes at the Mineral & Lapidary Museum.
Visit Downtown Asheville
There is a ton of fun to be had in Downtown Asheville, from visiting breweries, to shopping along Lexington Avenue and the historic Grove Arcade. Downtown Asheville is a great place to explore and stop into unique shops, book stores, and other locally-owned gems. Some of our favorites include: Food Biscuit Head - southern biscuits and breakfast food. Check out its locally made jam-bar Tupelo Honey Cafe - all day southern food Curate - spanish tapas Beer (Asheville is known as Beer City, USA) Burial Brewery - Colin’s favorite brewery in the area New Belgium - Similar size to Sierra Nevada. Book a free tour and drink free beer Green Man - One of Asheville’s oldest breweries with a gorgeous new building Catawba Twin Leaf Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium - specializing, almost exclusively, in sour beers Shops Battery Park Book Exchange (sip on a mimosa while perusing new and used books) Mast General - outdoor supplies etc Grove Arcade - century old building housing eclectic shops