Area Attractions ~ Asheville Area ~ Blue Ridge Mountains
Historic Downtown Hendersonville and the Village of Flat Rock
Melange is conveniently located in historic in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, near the Village of . Hendersonville is located 22 miles south of Asheville, NC on a plateau of 2200 feet above sea level.
The heart and soul of is historic Downtown that reveals a shopping and dining district of more than 100 businesses with traditional southern hometown charm. The focal point is the Old Courthouse which now houses the County Heritage Museum. The statue on its dome of “Lady Justice” holding a sword in her right hand and scales in her left, is believed to be only one of three in the United States without a blindfold. Catch an Old Timey Day, and shop for plants, produce, homemade art and baked goods, a traditional heritage of many local generations at the , celebrating its 92 th anniversary in 2018.
A visit to the in the area has become very trendy.
Cultural and Creative
is the State Theatre of North Carolina. It is located in the quaint village of Flat Rock (next door to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site). What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now an eleven month season of shows including concerts, Broadway musicals, comedies and dramas. Equipped with state of the art lighting and sound systems, and electronic stages, the stage offers seating for over 500. The Playhouse’s second location, “Playhouse Downtown” with seating for 250 is at Main Street – just steps away from downtown restaurants, bars and retail establishments. Tune-in or dance your heart out in Downtown Hendersonville’s . The celebrating its 60th anniversary with the highly popular , and the self guided tour of weekends. Browse through Art Galleries in Hendersonville, Flat Rock, and the greater Asheville area. Visit , the artistic and inspirational art couture in Hendersonville. Take a quick ride to take a glimpse of statue in the Oakdale Cemetery immortalized by author Thomas Wolfe in his work “Look Homeward, Angel”. The , has a summer festival with big name concerts and music recitals. Attend to one of the concerts and shows of celebrating its 46st anniversary. Music, dance and theatrical performances are at the center of Asheville’s finest theater, the at Pack Place, about 25 miles away.
Museums
Hendersonville’s settler and Cherokee past is displayed at the . Visit , ’s home and farm where he has spent the last part of his poetic life, and visit nearby , where many well-known members of declaration of independence and southern aristocracy have family plots in its churchyard.
Of course, no trip to Western North Carolina is complete without visiting the , the largest privately owned home in America. In Asheville, stop at the , and the , the most popular attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Nature at Its Best
Don’t miss the , one of the area’s best natural and recreational attractions with over 10,000 acres including 6 waterfalls and 80 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horse-back riding. Bring a lunch; picnic sites with tables are available. DuPont’s popularity skyrocketed following its featured role in the “Hunger Games” film and national magazines. The forest is rapidly becoming the most visited recreational area in the state.
The Melange is less than 5 miles from the lookout of where the visitor is entertained to a panoramic view of the Foothills, Blue Ridge Mountains and Mount Pisgah.
Take a picturesque 20 mile drive to the and experience some of the best vistas of the via US 64/US 276 West. The trails and exhibits at America’s first forestry school, are wonderfully rewarding. Mount Pisgah’s 5721 ft peak is a 1,5 mile trek from the parking lot close to Pisgah Inn or go back to US 64 and drive for another 45 minutes on US 64 to , America’s Yosemite of the East.
is another nearby natural attraction covering 1000 acres with an elevation of 2,280 feet overlooking Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge. Still drawing crowds for reunions, the saga, “Last of the Mohicans”, was filmed here and at . Plan a late afternoon cruise — perhaps combined with a dinner at a lakeside restaurant — and you will be treated to wonderful scenery second only to Lake Tahoe.
For the “Young and Ever Young”
Visit the state-of-the art greenhouse, bonsai garden, special exhibits, and nature trails at the 434-acre .
Have you seen a two-headed Corn Snake? Explore an educational tour at the with over 200 snakes and reptiles. See an albino collection of snakes, turtles, toads and frogs. Plus, lots of other unique interactive exhibits.
Crack a Geode and take it home at the . Visit the Western North Carolina Air Museum , , Hands On Children’s Museum, , Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum,
On the way up to Blue Ridge Parkway via US 276 W, and for folks looking for a waterfall to slide down, enjoy the 60-ft natural rock slide over Sliding Rock and then, further up, enjoy the .
