Visit Hendersonville NC: Explore This Charming Walkable Mountain Town
- nancy9487
- Oct 29
- 4 min read
Enjoy this Blue Ridge Mountain getaway with strolls through the historic downtown, stunning waterfall hikes and walks along the Ecusta Trail.
I recently returned from an incredible weekend visiting Hendersonville, NC, and I wish I had more time to discover this lovely mountain town. Here are some of the highlights we experienced while exploring this town and surrounding mountains on foot.
Stroll Along Main Street in Historic Downtown Hendersonville, NC: The Perfect Afternoon Itinerary
Our first outing led us to the historic downtown district, and it did not disappoint! This six-block stretch is packed with delicious restaurants, tons of shopping, art galleries, and interesting museums, including a pinball museum.
Arabella Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant
We started our afternoon with a delicious lunch at Arabella. This restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor sidewalk seating and offers breakfast, brunch and lunch options. Since it was a beautiful fall afternoon, we chose one of their numerous outdoor tables. In our view, their 4.7 Google rating is well-deserved because of their super-friendly service and fresh, tasty food.
Appalachian Pinball Museum
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! If you like pinball machines, this is a must-do while visiting Hendersonville. You can play all day at Appalachian Pinball Museum for only $15. When we went, it wasn't busy, so we could move freely from one machine to another. Before I knew it, two hours had passed, and it was time to explore more of the Main Street area.
Ginkgo Tea Life
Looking for a little pick-me-up after the excitement of the pinball museum, we decided to recharge at Ginkgo Tea Life with a matcha latte. If you enjoy tea, don't miss out on this place. It's an authentic full-service tea house featuring a delightful tea bar. The atmosphere is both elegant and serene, and the tea barista was so knowledgeable and engaging.
Hendersonville Welcome Center
Continuing down Main Street, we stopped at the Hendersonville Welcome Center. This facility offers a variety of information and suggestions on how to spend your time in this charming town. They provide free parking, brochures, maps of the area, a clean restroom, and friendly staff ready to answer any questions.
Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County
We stumbled upon a fascinating little museum that features a diverse collection of minerals and gemstones from North Carolina. The staff was very informative and helpful. It's certainly worth a quick visit to the Mineral Museum, as it's always fun to discover something new about the region you are visiting.
Shopping on Main Street
There are many cool and unique stores to browse, including clothing boutiques, gift shops, and spots selling jewelry and handcrafted items. We really enjoyed visiting each one. Be sure not to miss Mast General Store, as it's always a hit!
Celtic Creamery
Who knew Irish ice cream was so good?! We finished up our amazing day with two scoops of this scrumptous handmade ice cream served in a waffle bowl from Celtic Creamery. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful afternoon exploring the historic downtown of Hendersonville.
Map of Downtown Hendersonville Highlights
Hike Dupont State Forest's Stunning Waterfall Trails
Located within a 30-minute drive from downtown Hendersonville, the Dupont State Recreational Forest offers over 86 miles of trails for outdoor adventurers. This lush forest was the filming site for several arena scenes in the popular Hunger Games movies.
We hiked the three well-known waterfall trails: Triple, High & Hooker Falls. These hikes are located in the same region and can be completed in roughly two hours.
High Falls & Triple Falls Trail
This combined 3.1 mile loop offers the best waterfall viewing and is the most popular hike in the Dupont State Forest. Keep in mind that the parking areas fill up quickly, so plan on arriving early when the weather is nice. Moderately challenging, this trail will get the blood pumping on the way up, but is still appropriate for hikers of all abilities. We had a beautiful, crisp fall day - perfect for enjoying this fabulous hike!
Hooker Falls Trail
This shorter 0.8-mile trail is an easy, family-friendly hike. During the summer, the pool at the base of Hooker Falls becomes a wonderful natural swimming spot, perfect for cooling off. After completing the Triple Falls & High Falls Loop, we decided to include this hike and were glad we did. It's a beautiful spot to relax and take some photos.
Ecusta Trail
The Ecusta Trail is a 6-mile paved path stretching from downtown Hendersonville to the intersection in Horse Shoe. Along the way, it passes by several shops, restaurants, breweries and coffee cafes. This multi-use route is popular for jogging, walking, and biking.
The Hendersonville Welcome Center is the official trailhead for accessing the trail from the historic downtown area. Eventually, this trail will extend for 19 miles, connecting the downtowns of Hendersonville and Brevard. Check out this map for details on the location of the Ecusta Trail.
I only had the chance to explore a small portion of this fabulous trail. I'm looking forward to walking the whole 6 miles on my next visit to Hendersonville!
Jump Off Rock Scenic Overlook
This stunning scenic overlook is located just 5 miles from downtown Hendersonville. . We visited at sunset, and it was incredible! The view includes the Blue Ridge Mountains, and on a clear day, you can see four states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
The address for Jump Off Rock Scenic Overlook is: 4501 Laurel Park Highway, Laurel Park, NC.
Hendersonville: A Must-Visit Cozy Mountain Town in NC
Hendersonville, NC, exceeded my expectations! We had an amazing weekend hiking and discovering this delightful mountain town in North Carolina. I'm already planning a return trip to explore more of what this area has to offer.
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