19 Best Things to Do in Hendersonville, NC

By VI Staff on June 11, 2020 - Updated

Hendersonville, NC City Government

The town of Hendersonville, North Carolina is small enough for easy sightseeing, but is still dynamic enough to have plenty of things to do for both visitors and locals in the area alike. The pedestrian-friendly downtown district is home to an eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants with quaint outdoor patios perfect for people watching. The charming mountain town also has several attractions that focus on the mining roots, beautiful natural areas, and fruit growing in the area, such as the Holmes Educational State Forest, Justus Orchard, and the Mineral and Lapidary Museum. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.

1.Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

The Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards were the first commercial vineyards in North Carolina’s Henderson County and features fourteen grape varieties. The family-owned and operated winery is set on grounds that have been farmed by the family for over nine generations. Visitors can stop by the Tasting Room at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards to sample some of the wines, as well as relax and take in the amazing views of the vineyard from either outdoor or indoor seating. The Tasting Room is open throughout the entire year, starting at 11:00am Monday through Saturday and at noon on Sundays.

588 Chestnut Gap Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-685-4002

2.Justus Orchard

The Justus Orchard is owned and operated by the Justus family in Hendersonville, North Carolina, who have been growing apples in the area for more than one hundred years. The apple orchard set in the scenic mountains offers a great escape into the countryside for people of all ages. Visitors can pick their own apples from the orchard’s dwarf-size apple trees, have a picnic lunch in the picnic area, and take in the gorgeous views surrounding the apple orchard. The Justus Orchard is open on a seasonal basis from July through early November from 8:30am until 6:00pm.

187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-974-1232

3.Mineral & Lapidary Museum

Henderson County’s Mineral and Lapidary Museum was established with the purpose of offering a place for people to learn about and discover the diversity and beauty of the underground world. The goal of the museum is to be a community resource for information and education on earth sciences related to paleontology and geology, and features an assortment of exhibits ranging from polished gemstones and finished materials to raw mineral specimens in their natural states. The Mineral and Lapidary Museum also hosts several special exhibits showcasing collections on loan. The museum is open Monday to Saturday and there is no fee for admission.

400 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-698-1977

4.Burntshirt Vineyards

The two vineyards located on the “Crest of the Blue Ridge” on either side of the country’s Eastern Continental Divide are the heart of North Carolina’s Burntshirt Vineyards. The Hendersonville location of Burntshirt consists of the winery and the vineyards and offers daily wine tastings and tours of the winery, as well as on-site accommodations and a venue for private events. The tasting room is open from 12:00pm until 6:00pm Sunday to Thursday and 12:00pm until 7:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Tours of the winery are free and take place every day at 2:00pm.

2695 Sugarloaf Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-685-2402

5.Apple Valley Model Railroad Club

The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club is one of Western North Carolina’s popular tourist destinations. Its HO layout is housed inside of the historic Hendersonville Railroad Depot that dates back to the year 1902, occupying a space of 22 feet by 100 feet and featuring a quintessential western North Carolina mountain setting. The historic train depot today is also home to a Southern Railway caboose, a variety of railroad related artifacts, and a children’s exhibit in which they can play with Thomas the Tank Engine within a scenic layout. The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

650 Maple St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-595-0446

6.Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard

The Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard is a seventy-acre apple orchard and working farm just outside of historic Hendersonville, situated on the crest of western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The orchard itself is nearly forty acres in size and features more than twenty varieties of apples. The Hillcrest Orchard was the first “pick-your-own” apple orchard in Henderson County and provides visitors with an opportunity to pick their own fresh apples on the fourth-generation farm and orchard. The grounds also include a five-acre corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, and an apple cannon during the weekends for shooting targets with apples.

170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-685-9083

7.The Western North Carolina Air Museum

Located less than three miles away from downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina, the The Western North Carolina Air Museum celebrates aviation and is home to an interesting collection. Along with its impressive historic airplane collection, the Western NC Air Museum also displays models, photographs of historic pilots and airplanes, engines, and flight manuals. Situated within two airport hangers, passionate volunteer pilots are available to answer questions from visitors and share their stories. The Western North Carolina Air Museum is open on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays year-round until 5:00pm, and hosts a few special events during the year.

1340 E Gilbert St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-698-2482

8.Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab

The Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab is the only existing public aquarium within western North Carolina. Housing more than twenty different displays, the aquarium showcases dozens of various tropical fish, sting rays, eels, turtles, and seahorses. The Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab is also home to a shark study tank featuring bamboo sharks and measuring two thousand gallons in size, as well as a touch tank where visitors can get up close and personal with an array of sea creatures. Other highlights of the aquarium include reptile feedings, sting ray feedings, and shark feedings that take place every day.

511 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-692-8386

9.Jackson Park

Jackson Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina is open daily from 7:30am until 11:00pm, located near the southeast city limits. Jackson park is home to facilities and activities for people of all ages. Along with sports programs, the park also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, such as the Cross Country Jamboree, Farm City Day, Movies in the Park, and the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Park facilities include a nature trail that’s a little more than one mile in length, modern restrooms, a woodland picnic area that overlooks the playing fields, three playground, and much more.

708 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-697-4884

10.Bullington Gardens, Inc.

Formerly a nursery owned by Bob Bullington, the Bullington Gardens are now a public botanical garden facility set on approximately twelve rolling acres that provide hands-one horticulture education, as well as other sciences, to adults, students, youth clubs, and the general public. The gardens incorporate several unusual mature trees that were collected by Bob Bullington. Today, the Bullington Gardens offer tours of the gardens, workshops, activities, and educational programs. These gardens include an herb garden, butterfly garden, a native woodland garden, perennial borders, therapy garden, and more. There is also a wooded nature trail open to visitors.

95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-698-6104

11.Sanctuary Brewing Company

The Sanctuary Brewing Company is a unique brewery that strives to enrich the lives of both animals and humans through philanthropy, kindness, and craft beer. The brewery produces high quality, small batch local brews, including classic styles like West Coast IPAs, American stouts, and Belgian farmhouse ales. The Sanctuary Brewing Company also provides an animal refuge on three acres in Flat Rock, just south of the brewery’s taproom. The Kindness Wall hanging right outside of the taproom is a place where people can take something if they’re in need or leave something they don’t need, such as coats and shirts.

147 First Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-595-9956

12.Historic Johnson Farm

The Historic Johnson Farm in the scenic town of Hendersonville is an excellent example of a nineteenth-century tobacco farm and tourist retreat from the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The entire building was handmade out of bricks that were created on-site out of mud from the French Broad River. Numerous outbuildings were built over the years, including a cottage, boarding house, bar, blacksmith shop, and tool shed. The Historic Johnson Farm today offers a picnic area, nature trails, tours of the historic home, and ten historic buildings across the fifteen acres of a natural setting.

3346 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28791, Phone: 828-891-6585

13.Holmes Educational State Forest

Located a little more than eight miles away from downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina, the Holmes Educational State Forest provides a network of well-marked nature trails, displays and exhibits that depict the ecology of the managed forest, and equipment for fighting fires. The state forest also offers a playground and a picnic area with a spacious shelter, grills, and picnic tables. The Holmes Educational State Forest is a great place for visitors and locals alike to get away from everything and learn about the forest as they take a relaxing stroll. There are also free special tours and programs available.

1299 Crab Creek Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739, Phone: 828-692-0100

14.The Curb Market

A local tradition in Hendersonville since 1924, The Curb Market started out as just a handful of farmers who brought their extra produce into town for “city folk.” It has expanded greatly over the years and now includes some of the region’s freshest vegetables and fruits, fresh-cut flowers and plants, handmade mountain crafts, and homemade baked goods, jellies, and jams. A favorite spot among both visitors and locals, The Curb Market seems to always offer something different. The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from April to December and on Thursdays and Saturdays from January to March.

221 N Church St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-692-8012

15.Hendersonville Community Theatre, Inc.

The Hendersonville Community Theatre, Inc. of Henderson County is a wholly volunteer, non-professional, non-profit organization made up of lovers of the theatrical arts. Formed in 1996, the theater group aims to provide performances and share their love of theater with the community of Hendersonville and beyond, putting on a variety of shows during the season, which runs from the month of May until early November. These performances often consist of a blend of musicals, dramas, and comedies, sometimes including lesser-known productions, as well as one that are rarely performed on smaller, local stages like the Hendersonville Community Theatre.

229 S Washington St, Hendersonville, NC 28739, Phone: 828-692-1082

16.Coston Farm

Coston Farm offers an idyllic destination for both visitors and locals alike of all ages to come and pick their own apples. Open seasonally from the month of August through the month of October, the apple orchard also offers wagon rides, pick-your-own pumpkins, preserves, gift items, baked goods, apple ciders, and much more. The western North Carolina mountains provide a picturesque backdrop for a fall afternoon picking apples, offering several varieties of apple during the season, such as Golden Delicious during Labor Day weekend. Visitors can stop by the Apple House to get a container for apple picking.

3748 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-685-8352

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17.Brandy's On Main

A product of a partnership between Chefs Cindy Amias and Lance Brandenburg, Brandy's On Main brings a fine dining, yet casual experience to the town of Hendersonville. Every dish as the restaurant is prepared to order, never compromising on the quality of food. Brandy's On Main uses quality aged beef, the freshest seafood, and fresh vegetables for its food, and sources ingredients from local farmers whenever possible. All of the desserts, dressing, sauces, and soups at Brandy’s on Main are also made in-house and the fine wines are selected by the restaurant’s sommelier and wine connoisseur, Tyler Brandenburg.

111 S Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-513-1240

18.Mike’s On Main St

Mikes On Main boasts a unique 50’s-style decor and ambiance, as well as a rich history. The popular Main Street restaurant transports guests back in time through old-fashioned food and treats. The menu here includes homemade breakfast favorites, such as biscuits, French toast, omelets, and some of the best potatoes in the area. For lunch, Mike’s on Main serves hot dogs, burgers, salad, and homemade soups, as well as a wide variety of sandwiches, including chicken salad, grilled cheese, patty melt, reuben, and the popular triple decker club. The restaurant is also one of the town’s most photographed buildings.

303 North Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, Phone: 828-698-1616

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19.Independent Bean Roasters

The Brick and Mortar roasting operation and “tasting room” of Independent Bean Roasters is located within the historic district of Hendersonville, North Carolina, in the original downtown area. Just down the street from the historic Train Depot, the storefront Independent Bean Roasters embraces the area’s history and features the original carved tin roof. All of the whole bean coffees produced by the company are sold at the shop, along with fresh pastries from Underground Baking Company, drip and pour-over coffee, and traditional espresso drinks. The coffee shop is open from 8:00am until 2:00pm, Tuesday to Friday.

346 7th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC 28792

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