Summary:
Hendersonville is a thriving small city within Henderson County roughly 22 miles South of Asheville, NC. With a population of just over 13,000 this is the perfect city for those looking for a slower pace, a small town feel, yet without sacrificing having a variety of great dining and drink options. A highlight of downtown is without question mainstreet. With wide setbacks and its famous “zig zagging” street, Hendersonville is one of the most pedestrian friendly towns I have ever seen. Stretching a full half mile one can walk the sidewalks typically without seeing a single empty store front. A variety of restaurants, stores, breweries, galleries, you name it. Hendersonville is truly an ideal small town feel yet with all of the big city amenities.
Who should move here?
Hendersonville is such a great small town with so much to offer I believe it can be a great fit for nearly all ages and personalities. If you are young and wanting a nightly active music and brewery scene then it obviously cannot compete with Asheville. With that said however it does have a growing local music scene, multiple breweries, and plenty of things to keep any age or lifestyle busy. Families or those looking to enjoy retirement are those individuals I seem to notice most taken by this town. Spend a day exploring and let me know your thoughts!
Aerial View of Main Street Hendersonville, NC
My Perfect Day:
Wake up early and head to HenDough for breakfast. HenDough is a great local brunch joint specializing in homemade doughnuts and fried chicken. My personal order is the Hot Chicken and Biscuit, one of their specialty doughnuts and a freshly brewed cup of coffee. In the warm months sit on the front lawn and enjoy the sounds of local singer songwriters that frequent the location.
Now with a full belly let’s go work some of that off with a hike. My recommendation is a visit to nearby Dupont State Forest for an unforgettable hike visiting three amazing waterfalls in a relatively short distance. Head to the parking lot on the West side of Staton Road. From here a short hike down river will take you to the first waterfall, Hooker Falls. Hooker Falls is the least tall of the three falls but is impressively wide and offers calm water for swimming below it. This area can become busy during summer months so this is why I suggest an early morning visit.
Next lets hike back up the way we came, cross the bridge and continue up river to Triple Falls. Triple Falls is truly one of the most amazing waterfalls in the Eastern United States in my opinion. If the water is flowing after a recent rain the sound is just as impressive as the visuals. If the flow is low during your visit it opens up lots of fun exploring around and over all the rock formations. Do not miss the views from both the base and the tops of these falls.
Lastly continue upstream to the finale, High Falls. Made famous by hollywood you may recognize this area. High Falls is, well, the name says it all. Impressive, surreal, breathtaking, I can go on and on with these cliche but honest descriptive words. Be sure to pack water and a snack, this is a great spot for a rest before hiking back to the car. As with all of these waterfall destinations watch your footing and take extra caution after a rain. Water can rise quickly and some rocks are as slick as ice. STAY AWAY FROM THE TOPS OF THE WATERFALLS. Seriously, it’s just not worth it. The rocks are almost always wet and slick at the tops of these waterfalls and it only takes one accident. Stick to the dry areas and viewing areas and you and your family can enjoy these wonders of nature safely.
Whelp now that we are safely back to the parking lot let’s head back into town. We’ve probably worked up an appetite by this time so I suggest lunch at Never Blue on Mainstreet. In the warm months the large garage style doors will be up so you can dine inside while still getting the fresh air and enjoying the views of this active little town. Explore the menu and order what catches your eye, I have never had a bad or even mediocre meal here so I truly think you can’t go wrong.
After lunch hit the streets to explore the variety of local family owned shops and galleries. Kids will enjoy the mineral and lapidary museum where they can learn about the local geology, crack open their own geode, and find a variety of unique souvenirs. With a half mile of shops on each side of Main Street it will be dinner time before you know it. Hendersonville offers options for whatever style of food you are in the mood for. Craving some BBQ, head over to Moe’s for an order of their amazing ribs. For Asian fare my personal favorites are Umi for Sushi and Japanese dishes or Lime Leaf Thai Fusion for an amazing bowl of curry.
For pizza and Italian dishes my top choice is West First. Not only do they offer an amazing menu but a quick walk after dinner to the basement places you at The Poe House, an Edgar Allen Poe themed beer and wine bar with lots of character. After dinner I recommend a short drive up to Jump Off Rock just West of town to enjoy the sunset. Afterwards head back into town and wrap up the night with a beer at Southern Appalachian Brewery or Sanctuary Brewing where you can not only enjoy a local brew but you can adopt an animal while you are there!
All off these great things of course barely scratch the surface of what this thriving small town has to offer, you simply need more than a day to get the true feel of life in this mountain oasis. Need more suggestions while visiting? Don’t be afraid to reach out, I am always happy to offer up more recommendations to give you the best experience while visiting. Send me an email prior to your visit and let me know your interests, I would love to give you a tailored “perfect day”!
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