Planning a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? We sent KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez to take a peak inside the Titanic Museum. In this review she’s telling us all about what you can expect to see at the Titanic Museum so you can add it to your list of things to do when you visit Pigeon Forge. Complimentary tickets were provided for this review.
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This Ski Slope Makes Learning How to Ski Affordable and Fun With Homeschool Deals and More!
Looking for an affordable place to ski with the family? KAG Contributor Lacey Keigley took her daughter to Appalachian Ski Mountain. While this review was written a few years ago, the post has been updated for the 2025-26 season.
(more…)Snow Tube Indoors at Pigeon Forge Snow: Pigeon Forge, TN
Ready to do a little Pigeon Forge Snow Tubing? Did you know that you can snow tube inside? Snow tubing indoors is totally a thing at Pigeon Forge Snow in Pigeon Forge, TN and it’s really fun and fast!
Thanks to the City of Pigeon Forge for complimentary media tickets so we could do this review.
I had heard of Pigeon Forge Snow, the country’s first indoor snow park, for years before I got the chance to finally experience it and it did not disappoint. This is an entirely indoor snow tubing attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN, about a three-hour drive from Greenville, SC. And it’s really fun!
Snow Tubing Indoors: Pigeon Forge Snow Review
The snow is real and the tubing is fast. This place is also incredibly efficient, aiming to help you make the most of your time snow tubing and get in as many runs as possible. The staff was great in moving things along safely and making sure all of us guests had a great time.
So, you first check-in, where you get a bracelet for your snow tubing experience. You can either sign a waiver online, which is what I did, or do it there. Do it online since it will save you time. and you won’t have to wait in line.
Once you get your bracelet, head on over to the tubing area, grab a tube and get on the magic carpet ride up to the top of the hill. There were seven lanes open for tubing when we were there and not too many people at first so my kids and I got in several runs before a big youth group showed up.
Even still, the line moved fast because the staff had the process down pat. They will get you moving through those lines and speeding down the hill quickly so you can do it all over again.
The runs were really fast on the snow-covered hill. There are mats to slow tubers down near the end and big bags that you’ll run into if needed at the end of the run. Some of us adults hit them since the runs were so fast. The tubes are exactly like the ones you use when outdoor snow tubing with hard bottoms.
Indoor SnowPlay Area
Pigeon Forge Snow has an indoor snow play area with real snow as well. You can build snowmen or snow forts or just play in the snow – all indoors. My youngest (8 years old) was hesitant at first, thinking that this was too young for her but once she tried it out, she didn’t want to leave. It was so cute to see kids of all ages enjoy playing in the snow.
The snow play area is available for use with your combo snow tubing ticket.
Observation Deck, Games & Candy Shop
There is a big upper level at Pigeon Forge Snow with tables and chairs for parents to watch the kids slide down the hill or just to take a break after all the fun you’re having. Plus, don’t forget the candy and other concessions available for purchase. There are also arcade games like Pac-Man available if you want to spend more time enjoying the indoor snow park.
There are massage chairs throughout Pigeon Forge Snow also, which I saw a few people taking advantage of. They looked pretty awesome honestly and if we had more time, I probably would have indulged.
Snow Tubing Birthday Party
If you really want to have a memorable birthday experience, Pigeon Forge Snow offers a big birthday party package, which includes 12 wristbands for tubing and snow play plus an hour in the birthday party room. This package is $350.
Prepping to Tube at Pigeon Forge Snow
To go tubing, participants must be at least 38 inches and 3 years old. Everyone can play in the SnowPlay area regardless of age or height.
You also don’t need to worry about dressing for the weather since it’s fairly warm inside the snow park. I was wearing a sweater with leggings and felt fine. Some people had jackets on but during the summer, when you typically wouldn’t pack your sweatshirts and long pants on a trip to Pigeon Forge, you should be okay wearing a t-shirt and shorts (at least that’s what the photos at the park showed!). If you play in the snow, since it is real snow, you’ll probably get your clothes and shoes wet so if it’s cold outside, a change of pants may be something to consider.
Pigeon Forge Snow is open year-round so you can come here on vacation even during the summer and go snow tubing, which I think is quite fun.
Tickets for one hour of tubing start at $29.99 for snow tubing and $36.99 for both snow tubing and the SnowPlay area. Tickets are more on holidays and weekends.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm
Friday: 10 am – 10 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 9 am – 8 pm
Pigeon Forge Snow
2533 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN
There’s more fun to be found!
The Kidding Around Travel Guide to Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg
If you’d rather snow tube outdoors, we have that, too!
Ellaberry Llama Farm: Make Your Llama Dreams Come True in Hendersonville, NC
Ellaberry Llama Farm is a completely unique farm in Hendersonville, NC, about an hour north of Greenville, SC, that lets guests interact in ways they likely haven’t experienced with a llama before!
Media tickets were given for this experience.
Are you looking for more fun things to do in Hendersonville, NC?
Check out our Kidding Around Guide to Hendersonville, NC.
We are thrilled to report that this farm is open back up after extensive damage from Hurricane Helene! This is a wonderful opportunity to support a beautiful and fun farm.
I love llamas and alpacas and big, fluffy animals. I am also an avid hiker. So when I heard of a farm in Hendersonville that lets you hike with a llama and actually play with them and get up close, I was practically in my car driving up there already.
Ellaberry Llama Farm is so much more than a farm though. This place not only has a very unique history but the family who owns the farms and its llamas are amazing. Plus, what they let guests do at the farm when it comes to interacting with their llamas is the stuff dreams are made of.
About Ellaberry Llama Farm
The farm sits on more than 100 acres of farmland and is actually a sixth-generation apple farm. They aren’t a U-pick apple orchard though. Their apples are for processing, which means they get made into applesauce and baby food that you’ll likely see in a grocery store.
The farm is surrounded by gentle hills and sits at the foot of Bearwallow Mountain. While we went during the winter time and the apple trees were bare, they are full of blooms in the spring and only add to the beauty of the farm.
The agritourism llama venture started out of creative necessity. When Hendersonville got hit with a late frost last year, the apple orchards in the area lost most of their crops. Ellaberry Farm was no different. But they did have llamas and these llamas were trained with human interaction – which I’ll get to in a minute – so the idea was thrown out there to open the farm for tours.
Guests would get to interact with the llamas on the farm tour and if they wanted to hike, that would also be an option. Well, the idea thankfully caught on and here I am writing about these fluffy and loveable creatures.
The farm currently has 26 llamas, including an adorable fluffy baby llama.
How Llamas Got on the Farm
The Justice family (not to be confused with the other Justus family with the awesome weatherman and apple orchard) has four kids who are all homeschooled. The oldest, Allie, fell in love with llamas when she was 10 years old and the neighbors had llamas. Her sister also adored llamas and their dad, being the great father he is, decided to get a couple llamas. They had the farm and the space and barn so it worked out.
But that wasn’t enough for Allie, now 17 years old. She learned how to care for llamas through the instruction of her llama-loving neighbors and became quite the expert. She worked with her local 4H group on caring for them and then started showing them at llama contests around the country. They probably aren’t called llama contests but these are basically to show how awesome your llama is and they can win prizes for the best llama.
Allie’s llamas were champs and she came home with lots of ribbons. To train the llamas to do this well, Allie has to work with them constantly, like twice a day on doing all the cool llama things they need to do to get first prize.
This kind of constant interaction lends itself to some very attentive llamas who interact well with humans. They are gentle and full of personality and oh-so-cute and fluffy. Allie also knows a lot about llamas, way more than my mind could possibly remember at once.
I remember that they have three stomachs, that she taught them not to spit at people, that females are pregnant for a year, and that they have soft padding on their feet, which look like sheep feet. I promise you’ll learn a lot of interesting llama facts when you go to the farm.
Interacting with the Llamas
We did the farm tour llama experience and got to do a short jaunt in the woods with the llamas to see how that part of the trek works. But the majority of our experience was the farm tour, which was amazing. Calling it a tour is not the right word. This was more of an unforgettable experience than anything. Honestly, when can you run with a llama through an obstacle course together? That’s more than a tour.
You’ll learn a lot on the llama tour as the Justice family takes you either on a school bus or a tractor ride over the barn to meet the llamas. You’ll learn about the history of the farm and about llamas themselves and how to interact with them.
Once you get to the barn, you are free to pet the llamas, take photos, and just enjoy their fluffiness. You can hug them and talk to them and ask questions of the tour guides, Donna and her husband, Jason, and of course, Allie. We got to give the llamas little treats also and some of them gave us llama kisses. No llama drama here.
Allie and her family have trained the llamas not to spit at humans so you don’t have to worry about that.
Playing on the Obstacle Course
After you get to know the llamas a bit, you’ll lead them on their leash over to the obstacle course ring. This is a big sandy, enclosed ring that has fun obstacles like a pool noodle slide through thing, a balance beam, crates to step over and through, a tunnel, and things to jump over with your llama.
The llama follows your lead here so you have to do all the obstacles with your llama. This was beyond fun. It was like being a kid again except better because you had a llama with you!
You can trade your llama for another llama and do the course again. You can even try some jumping obstacles with your llama, which is harder than it looks because you have to jump while trying to get your llama to come with you and jump themselves. They all have very different personalities and some llamas are all like, “nah, I want to watch you jump and I’ll walk calmly around the obstacle”. Others are all into it and will jump along with you. This was so fun and myself and my kids really had a blast playing with our llamas.
Llama Therapy
All this llama cuddling and playing got me wondering if llama therapy is a thing and sure enough, it is, although not very widespread or studied yet. Llamas are charismatic megafauna, a term biologists use for bigger animals like tigers, pandas, orcas, or polar bears that have a wide appeal to humans. Llamas are technically in that category but even cooler because humans can safely cuddle and play with them and they can be incorporated into therapeutic uses.
Ellaberry Llama Farm doesn’t have an official llama therapy program but they do host groups that have suffered trauma in the past or have disabilities and welcome them to do all the things with the llamas that they are comfortable with. Ellaberry also takes llamas to local nursing homes so residents can interact with the llamas and as you can probably guess, the residents love it.
From my own personal experience with these llamas, I can tell you I left the farm feeling more relaxed and carefree than I had been when I first got there. These llamas made me ridiculously happy, almost as happy as baby goats do – readers know that is a high bar to reach since I just love baby goats so, so much.
Hiking with Llamas
Since Ellaberry Llama Farm is situated on more than 100 acres, they have miles of trails they use for their llama hikes. We hiked a bit of one of the trails just to see what it was like and really, if you love hiking and llamas, this tour needs to go on your bucket list.
The farm offers two trail options: a one to one and a half-hour trek and a longer two-hour moderate hike. Each hiker gets their own llama partner and the llama can carry a small pack with water and snacks if needed.
Llamas are excellent hikers with sure footing. If you’ve ever hiked one of the trails to Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you may have seen the llamas carrying supplies up and down the trails to the lodge. My kids and I got to see the llamas once when we were out there and it was so cool. They are very strong and can carry up to 20 percent of their body weight. But humans can’t ride on them so don’t try that.
The llamas are very well-trained and my kids had no issues walking with them even though the llamas are way taller and bigger. The animals are just so sweet and fun. I got such joy seeing the faces of my kids as they cuddled with their llamas and played with them.
Special Events with Llamas
Ellaberry Llama Farm offers birthday parties and other special events right on their farm. The birthday party option is 1.5 hours and includes 15 kids plus the birthday child. They have picnic tables for parents to bring a birthday cake or cupcakes. Kids will get to run through the obstacle course with their llama and have the option to take lots of photos at photo booths at the farm.
The farm can also bring llamas to you! They will take llamas to daycares, schools, birthday parties off site, weddings, nursing homes – you name it. Contact the farm directly for more info.
Booking Your Llama Experience
Ready to go have fun with llamas at Ellaberry? To book your own llama experience, contact Donna Justice directly at ellaberryllamafarm@gmail.com or 828.606.3577.
You can also follow Ellaberry Llama Farm on Facebook as they will post when they have slots open for tours and hikes.
Tickets for the farm tour are $30/person. Farm tours are about 90 minutes long. For the llama hikes, a minimum of four hikers are required for each hike and the shorter hike costs $85/ per person. Hikes aren’t open yet after Hurricane Helene damage.
The farm is open all year round. Be sure to dress for the weather in whatever season you go and bring sunscreen in the summer.
Things to do Nearby
While you can’t take the llamas up to Bearwallow Mountain, you can definitely fit in a hike there while you’re visiting Ellaberry Llama Farm. The hike is a moderate two-mile trek with sweeping 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s stunning.
Chimney Rock State Park is back up after Helene. You need to make reservations on their website to visit. Chimney Rock Village is still closed but lots of restaurants are open in Lake Lure!
During apple picking season, you will have no problems finding an apple orchard nearby to pick your own apples. The farm is very close to several big apple orchards.
And if you visit during the wintertime and want to add on a few hours of snow tubing, Black Bear Snow Tubing is less than 15 minutes away.
If you’re looking for more fun in Hendersonville, including lots of free/cheap activities, check out our Hendersonville Guide.
Ellaberry Llama Farm Website
4178 Old Clear Creek Road, Hendersonville, NC
828.606.3577
2 Million Twinkling Lights Are Waiting For You at The Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston, SC
Thinking about some holiday fun in Charleston, SC at the Holiday Festival of Lights? The low country is full of holiday fun, including this awesome holiday light display! Here’s everything you need to know about the Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston, SC.
2024 Holiday Festival of Lights Season: November 15th through December 31st, 2024
This review is from a previous year’s event and has been updated with 2024 dates and fees.
Visit Bryson City, NC for the Holidays
Are you searching for Bryson City holiday things to do? Most known for the Polar Express, there is so much more than just the train ride to do and explore in this friendly mountain town. Bryson City, NC also has a drive-thru light show, outdoor ice skating, delicious food, and much more!
Looking for more holiday day trip ideas? Be sure to check out our festive guide!
Bryson City: A Real-Life Christmas Wonderland
Bryson City is a quaint, peaceful mountain town along the Great Smoky Mountains. Just a quick 3 to 4 hour drive from Columbia, SC, this makes for the perfect weekend getaway. During winter each year, Bryson City transforms into a real-life Christmas wonderland with beautiful decor, twinkling lights, and Christmas magic all around. My family took a quick 1-night trip to the mountains and we spent one of our evenings exploring Bryson City. I left wishing we would have had more time to spend and know we will definitely be returning!
Things to do in Bryson City, NC for the Holidays
Take a Ride on the Polar Express
One of the most popular things to do in Bryson City over the holidays is the Polar Express Train Ride! My family recently got to experience this magical event and both of my kids (ages 4 and 1) absolutely loved it. Be sure to check out the Kidding Around Pplar Express review for more tips and info!
Explore the Smoky Mountain Train Museum
The train museum sits right next to the railroad tracks and is a great place to pass the time while waiting to board a train ride! Inside the museum, there is a huge display of model trains that are so fascinating to watch! My son loved pointing out all of the detailed features he saw. With a train ticket, entrance into the museum is free!
Along with the model train display, the museum also offers a large gift shop area with plenty of trinkets and souvenirs.
Go Outdoor Ice Skating
Outdoor ice skating is such a fun, classic winter activity! Unfortunately, on the evening we were there, the ice rink was not open, but now that I know it’s there we will be sure to plan accordingly for future visits. Along with ice skating, there is also a food truck and full-time bar. For $20 per person you will get 1 hour of skating time, skate rentals (smallest size is youth size 9), and 1 hot chocolate! Hours are as follows:
- Thursdays and Fridays from 4 pm to 8 pm beginning November 17th, 2023
- Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 8 pm beginning November 19th, 2023
Visit the Local Shops
With so many locally-owned shops and businesses to choose from, picking a favorite would be hard! We popped into a few and really enjoyed all of the Christmas shops. We purchased an ornament from Uncle Bunky’s Christmas Cottage where they also had tons of holiday decor, small toys, sweet treats, etc. Loose Moose is another great gift store with lots of unique items to choose from.
Madison’s on Main and Humanite Boutique are both great options for trendy women’s clothing! There are also several antique stores around that are always fun to browse through – you never know what you might find!
Enjoy a Tasty Sweet Treat
If you’re anything like me, the sweet tooth is at an all-time high throughout the holidays. The good news is, Bryson City has so many opportunities for delicious treats! After our ride on the Polar Express we stopped into the Heavenly Fudge Depot and let me just say, it lived up to its name! The peanut butter fudge from here was divine. They also had several festive sweet treats for kids – chocolate “believe” tickets and trains, cookies, bite-sized sweets, and more!
The Chocolate Shoppe, Soda Pop’s Ice Cream, and Pop-N-Jacks Gourmet Popcorn are also great options to cure the sweet tooth! The popcorn from Pop-N-Jacks can even be brought onto the Polar Express with you and smells so good. I’m a little upset we didn’t stop in and give them a try, too!
Take Festive Pictures
Still need a family pic for this year’s Christmas card? There are tons of great holiday photo-ops everywhere you look in Bryson City! From the large, lit-up Christmas tree in the middle of the plaza to stationary train carts, a tractor, and more, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for family photos.
Get Your Live Christmas Tree
While there are no Christmas tree farms in Bryson City, there are several to choose from nearby. During our trip, we chose to get our tree at Smoky Mountain Tree Farm. They had a large variety of trees to choose from and even some that you could cut down yourself. The big red barn and beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery made for great pictures as well!
There are two other tree farms within a few minutes of Smoky Mountain Tree Farm: Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm and Mehaffey Tree Farm. Boyd Mountain Farm has several log cabins available for families to stay in as well as stocked fishing ponds, 4 miles of hiking trails, biking, and more!
Have you ever been to Bryson City during the holidays? What is your favorite thing to do?
Riverside Retreat in Saluda, NC: Easy and Fun Family Getaway
Only an hour from the Upstate, Wilderness Cove Campground in Saluda, NC feels a lot further away. Let the river soothe you to sleep, hike the Green River Gamelands, or go tubing over the summer at this fun campground.
UPDATE June 2025: Wilderness Cove Campground has been rebuilding since Hurricane Helene and they are now offering water adventures over the summer! They have added lodgings so go check them out and help support their recovery. This particular place we stayed is not available any longer to our knowledge but they have other options.
Thank you to Wilderness Cove Campground for inviting us out to do this review.
I have tubed down the Green River a few times and have always loved it. Staying on the Green River is just as much an adventure and one you can do right at Wilderness Cove Campground all year long.
We’ll tell you what they offer, things to do in the area, and how to book your trip.
About Wilderness Cove Campground
You may already know about this place because it’s one of the big tubing outfitters on the Green River. But maybe you didn’t know they offer riverfront cabins, bigger family cabins, tent sites, and glamping tents. Wilderness Cove Campground is owned by Outdoor Adventure Retreats, a family of campgrounds throughout the Southeast offering unique access to outdoor recreation, led by Andrew Garcia and Ben Cohen.
They offer tubing over the summer and the campground is open all year. They also offer some neat classes like fly fishing.
Accommodations at Wilderness Cove
The campground is right along the Green River but not all the rentals can hear those soothing sounds. We stayed at one of the small riverfront cabins where we could hear the river, which was awesome. The cabin has a full bed plus a loft, which has a twin bed. There’s a fire pit, Keurig, and a mini-fridge but these are rustic cabins. It’s basically camping but indoors with beds and electricity.
Heating and air are provided, as well as linens, but you’ll have to walk to the bathhouse or pit toilets.
The bathhouse is nice. It was clean and had both toilets and showers. Bring your own towels and flashlights.
The glamping tents are a lot closer to the bathhouse but we didn’t stay in those so I can’t give a firsthand review. They did look pretty awesome though.
Here are how many people each place/site can accommodate:
- Glamping Tent – 3 people (max of 2 adults)
- River Cottage – 3 people (max of 2 adults)
- Large Glamping Tent – 4 people (max of 2 adults)
- Standard Cottage – 4 people (max of 2 adults)
- Double Glamping Tent – 6 people (max of 4 adults)
- Deluxe Cottage – 6 people (max of 4 adults)
- Green River Guest House – 7 people
- Individual Primitive Campsite – 4 people
- Group Primitive Campsite – 20 people
- RV Sites – No preset limit. Up to 2 adults and 3 children included at no extra charge. After that it’s $5 extra per person.
The campground does have WiFi but we found it to be a bit spotty at some points. Cell service is minimal at the campground.
Things to do at Wilderness Cove Campground
The campground is located adjacent to the Green River Gamelands, which has almost 17 miles of beautiful trails. I’ve hiked all through there and the Narrows trail is my favorite because you can watch the kayakers tackle the huge rapids (it’s extremely steep to get down and up though – there are ropes). But there are miles of other trails to hike at all levels.
You can access the Gamelands across the street from the campground itself. Or you can hike the six-mile round trip hike to Milton Bradley Falls. The trailhead is just steps away from the riverfront cabins and camp store.
And, of course, over the summer, you can go tubing on the Green River. Tubing season is usually Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.
If you have a NC fishing license, you can fish in the river as well.
If you love kayaking, you can rent a kayak from Wilderness Cove and run the river. We saw some kayakers who had ran the river that day staying at the campground. The Green River is well-known for its kayaking opportunities.
Things to do Nearby
Hendersonville is just a short 25-minute drive from Wilderness Cove and there are so many things to do there: apple picking, snow tubing, free museums, the Team ECCO aquarium, more hiking, and shopping. We have a big list of Things to do in Hendersonville to give you ideas.
Flat Rock is also close by, where you can play with the goats at the Carl Sandburg Home or hike on the property for free. Grab a pizza or baked good at the Village Bakery on your way home.
Saluda, NC is close as well. The small town has great restaurants like the Purple Onion and Wildflower Bakery.
We didn’t do this although I’d like to but the Gorge Zipline is just down the street from Wilderness Cove. I love ziplining and this place has excellent reviews.
Wilderness Cove is also not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah Forest, and miles and miles of amazing trails to enjoy. Since we went during leaf season, we headed up about an hour and 15 minutes to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens to see some fall foliage and we were not disappointed. I love staying at places that are great base camps for adventures.
Booking Your Stay at Wilderness Cove Campground
You can book your stay online at the Wilderness Cove Campground website. Note that some accommodations are pet-friendly.
Prices per night start at around $91/night for the riverfront cabins and glamping tents. Tent and RV sites are cheaper while the cabins that hold more people go up from there.
Please drive slowly down to the river. The road is very curvy and sometimes you can’t see around the curves.
Wilderness Cove Campground
3772 Green River Cove Road, Saluda, NC
Facebook | Wilderness Cove Website
Loving North Carolina? Here’s our huge North Carolina Travel Guide
Relax in a Hammock, Pan for Gold, and Make S’mores at Gold River Camp in NC
Inside: We are sharing all the details on Gold River Camp in NC, where you can pan for gold, make s’mores, and relax in a hammock!
If a unique family or couple stay is in your future, Gold River Camp & Cabins in beautiful Marion, NC should be on your list for their location, outdoor entertainment area, and beautiful accommodations. Overnight accommodations were provided so we could do this media review.
When Kathryn and Trevor first visited the land that is now the site of Gold River Camp & Cabins, they drove home in silence, each guessing that the other also knew that they had found the spot they wanted to not only call home for themselves but build their dream cabin and glamping village at. It was a done deal.
Two years later, Gold River, which sits along the banks of the Second Broad River, has several glamping tents, two tiny riverfront houses, and several cabins for guests. Kathryn and Trevor live on-site with their two adorable children and have created an escape that many of us have been searching for – a place to reconnect as a family or couple and just get away from our busy lives.
About Gold River Camp & Cabin
Everything at Gold River is laid out and designed to be an invitation for guests to relax and unplug. There are Adirondack chairs everywhere, hammocks strung in several places, the bubbly, calming sounds of the river, chairs sitting on the river bank, fire pits waiting to be lit, and comfy cushions for lounging on. Literally, every place you turn, there is something that issues a silent invitation to you to relax and enjoy your time.
This is the goal of Gold River Camp for their guests – to come to a place where time slows down a bit and where they can easily relax and unplug yet be recharged when they leave, which you really won’t want to do after visiting.
There are two luxe glamping tents on stilts that have a boho vibe and are very comfortable. Two bell tents, primitive camping sites, tiny cabins, and cabins that have private bathrooms are also offered at Gold River. So, depending on your level of camping comfort, they’ve got everything you need.
Philosophy
Before Kathryn and Trevor bought the Gold River Camp and Cabin property, they had traveled extensively and stayed in all kinds of interesting places. The one thing they found to be a highlight of most of the spots they went to was the communal aspect of meeting people from around the world and you know, actually talking face-to-face instead of spending all the time traveling on phones or laptops. That stuck with them and they brought the same philosophy to Gold River, wanting to make it a place where people could gather together, hang out, and just talk, whether it’s meeting new people or reconnecting with your own family or loved one.
Being in the North Carolina mountains, cell service is spotty and none of the accommodations have televisions so Gold River has a big open-air pavilion with super comfortable lounging areas, swings, games, coffee makers, and grills. They have picnic tables, hammocks, and fire pits, as well as gold panning. It’s an obvious gathering place and we loved hanging out there during our time at Gold River.
When my kids and I were at our cabin, we took advantage of the games offered and my kids just laughed so loud while playing Apples to Apples. It was a joyous sound and we had so much fun.
Accommodations
We stayed in The Cottage, a one-bedroom cabin with a bathroom and futon. It was so cute and comfortable and I appreciated the full kitchen, which I used to cook breakfast and dinner during our trip. The kitchen was well-stocked with pots, pans, salt and pepper, cooking spray, and utensils, which was an added bonus.
I got a peek at a couple of the other places to stay, like the adorable Gold River camp cabins by the river (moms who need a getaway alone, this is your place to go), romantic nooks, and the luxe glamping tents. I thought everything was so beautifully decorated that it made the experience even more of a getaway from everyday life. It was easy to feel transported to someplace special here. They even have primitive riverfront tent sites or bell tent sites if you really want to embrace the outdoors, but still have access to accommodations.
Bathhouse
Because not all of the accommodations have private bathrooms, a bathhouse is available for those guests who need it. There are three huge showers and a men’s and women’s bathroom. Since I was there for a review, I tried out one of the showers and it was so nice! The stall was very clean and spacious with lots of hot water and a chair inside to put my clothes and towel.
The bathrooms were also very clean and large, and the bathhouse isn’t far from any of the cabins or tents. The place has lights that turn on at nigh,t and some of the accommodations are provided with lanterns for nightly bathroom runs.
Activities at Gold River
Gold River isn’t just a cute name for the glamping campground. The Second Broad River, where the camp is located, was known for its gold panning during the Gold Rush of the late 1800s, and even today, people can still find gold there.
Gold River has gold pans, shovels, and screens available for guests to use free of charge. That was the first thing my kids decided to do and they had such a blast getting in the river and panning for gold. We had no clue what we were doing but they had fun and found some cool rocks. The river is the perfect way to enjoy some downtime. We wouldn’t figure out how to actually pan for gold until the next day when we visited Lucky Strike Gold & Gem Mine. Here, you will find a gold gem panning operation that makes for a fun family activity.
There is also a little sandy beach next to the river for guests to hang out at plus lots of hammocks (my favorite), swinging chairs, picnic benches, fire pits, and grills. You’re welcome to use any of those things during your stay.
I personally really loved the open-air pavilion with comfy pillows on a low-to-the-ground table (a nod to other cultures that typically utilize this kind of community space).
And both nights we lit a fire and made s’mores next to the river. They have firewood for sale as well as marshmallow roasting sticks to borrow. My kids would probably tell you this was their favorite part. Don’t forget the bug spray if you’re a mosquito magnet like myself.
Nearby Activities
Kathryn has multiple itineraries she put together for guests, which I really appreciated since it made my job so much easier! On our way there, we picked up dinner at Todd’s Chicken, about 15 minutes away and it was really good. I rarely eat fried chicken and was happy I made an exception for this place. We got fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, green beans, and gravy and had enough for dinner for the next night. Definitely recommend.
We also checked out Lucky Strike Gold & Gem Mine, not three minutes down the road from Gold River. You can read my review of our time there and how we actually found gold. I didn’t think it would happen but it was such a cool experience. This is one of the closest activities within 30 minutes of camp.
We also took advantage of nearby hiking trails like one of my bucket list hikes: Crabtree Falls. The trail is only about 2.5 miles long and is located about 45 minutes from Gold River. The waterfall is a 60-foot spectacular site that is stunning. I was so happy we added this hike to our time in the area.
A free activity that also relieves stress is just five minutes down the road from Gold River. Brackett Town Farms is a nonprofit farm where you can hold and pet baby goats, donkeys, bunnies, horses, and chickens. It’s awesome but be sure you make an appointment before you go.
Other activities are fishing at a nearby trout farm and visiting wineries. Catawba Science Center is 45 minutes away and you can get in free if you have a Roper Mountain Science Center membership. I wish we had several more days there because there’s a lot to explore.
Linville Gorge and Grandfather Mountain are very close, about an hour away, and Chimney Rock is about 40 minutes away. Lake James State Park is a great option as well since it has a sandy beach to enjoy during the warmer weather and is just a short 25-minute drive from Gold River.
Honest Mom Review
I really enjoyed our stay at Gold River and loved spending so much time outdoors with my kids. Kathryn and Trevor put so much thought into Gold River from the layout to the design to the communal aspect. As parents themselves, you can tell they made a place where families could relax together and make special memories.
The location couldn’t have been more ideal either. It is a little slice of paradise nestled in the mountains. That area of Western North Carolina just has so many fantastic places to explore and being the adventurer that I am, I was like a kid in a candy shop. It was a joy to be able to stay at Gold River.
Booking Your Trip
You can book your trip to Gold River through the Gold River website. Prices vary depending on time of year and accommodation you choose but they generally range from $57 up to $140/night. They also have primitive tent sites starting at $34. There are rooms you can rent as adjoining spaces if you need more bedrooms. You can also rent out the entire camp for a special event like a wedding.
Gold River does offer some pet-friendly accommodations.
Gold River Camp & Cabins Website
43 Polly Spout Road, Marion, NC
704.724.6277
Have an adventure with our KA Travel Guide to North Carolina!
Relax in a hammock, pan for gold, and make s’mores at Gold River Camp in North Carolina!
Enjoy a Date Night While Your Kids Paint Pottery at The Art Cafe: Hilton Head Island, SC
If you are hoping for a date night while on vacation, check out The Art Cafe! Hilton Head Island’s art studio is just upstairs from Rockfish, so you can have an awesome night while your kids are also enjoying themselves. Kidding Around’s Kristina reviewed both the Kids Night Out event at The Art Cafe and the Rockfish restaurant, and she was pleasantly surprised!
Date nights are hard to come by for many couples who have kids. I think a date night on vacation would be pretty awesome because you’re already in relaxation mode, away from your daily life at home and work, and have that time to focus on each other. But finding a reliable sitter while away from home? I haven’t mastered that yet – which was why I was thrilled to find The Art Cafe on Hilton Head Island because they offer the perfect solution for couples wanting to get in a date night while on vacation.
(more…)Pick Addictive Asian Pears at Pilot Mountain Pears: Hendersonville, NC
Ever have an Asian Pear? They are incredibly delicious, juicy, and a must-try fruit. Pilot Mountain Pears has acres and acres of them available for u-pick this fall in Hendersonville, NC.
I have been obsessed with Asian pears for years and get ridiculously excited whenever I see them in grocery stores or farmers’ markets. They are generally light brown in color with the texture of an apple and a crunchy but juicy center- like the kind of juicy where you bite in and the juice runs down your arm – that kind of tastes like a cross between an apple and a pear.
If you’re also a fan of Asian Pears, you might be wondering, “Is there any place with u-pick Asian Pears? Or any Asian Pear picking near me?”
Yep!
At Pilot Mountain Pears in Hendersonville, NC, and only an hour from Greenville, SC, not only can you buy these wonderful fruits but also pick them your self. You’ll definitely want to add this orchard to your fall adventures!
They open for the 2025 season on Friday, August 15th.
About Pilot Mountain Pears
The orchard is owned and run by the Laughter (pronounced LAW-DER) family. I met Beth and her husband, Davi,d and they showed me around the orchard, the little shop, and the packing barn. David really loves Asian pears and he planted about 1,000 of the trees more than a decade ago and just kept replacing the apple trees with Asian pear trees until that’s pretty much all they grow now.
The couple are both locals and have been married for 27 years. They have two grown children who help out on the farm when they are home but mostly, it’s Beth and David who are the driving force behind the orchard. They’ve done a lot on the farm in terms of making a fun u-pick experience for guests since they first opened to the public three years ago and word has spread almost solely through word of mouth about how amazing their Asian pears are.
Why Asian Pears Are So Amazing
I love apples just as much as the next person but Asian pears are on a whole other level. The Asian pears come from a tree native to East Asia and were originally eaten by the rich, noble people of China. Around 1850, the exotic fruit was brought to America by Chinese laborers. There are hundreds of varieties and you may hear them called apple pears, sand pears, Japanese pears, or Korean pears.
The pears aren’t like regular pears that are literally ripe for ten minutes and then turn to mush. Asian pears last a lot longer, especially if you refrigerate them. They are juicy and sweet and delicious and crunchy. They are usually ripe when they turn a little past light brown but can also be eaten when they have a green color to them or light brown.
U-Pick at Pilot Mountain
With 5,000 Asian pear trees at Pilot Mountain Pears, you’ll have plenty of fruit to choose from. The farm grows mostly Olympic Asian pears, which are huge.
When you arrive at the farm, you’ll see the orchard store. Park there and you can go get a wagon or bag and if you’re really brave, you can grab a pick stick (a very long stick with a metal cage at the top to pick the highest fruit on the trees – also known as long swords for kids).
You’ll be directed where to start your picking. Once you’re done, you go back to the store, where your amazing Asian pears will be weighed and you will pay for your goodies.
They also sell fried apple pies like apple turnovers, apple slushies, and pear juice. I tried the Asian pear juice and whoa. Like, major whoa. This was the sweetest, but not too sweet, tangy, but not too tangy, most refreshing drink. You’ll want to drink it straight from the container.
The store also has really cute tumblers, hats, pottery, shirts, and other fun stuff that you’ll probably want to take home to remember your awesome experience at Pilot Mountain Pears.
Visiting Pilot Mountain Pears
The orchard opens to the public Friday, August 15, 2025 and will be open until October 12th. Hours are Fridays-Sundays from 10 am – 5 pm. Follow Pilot Mountain Pears on Facebook and check before you go to make sure they are sticking to their regular hours.
Prices for u-pick Asian pears are market price/pound. You can also purchase pre-picked pears. Admission to the u-pick orchard is $2/adult.
No pets are allowed in the orchard. There are porta-potties on the property.
And if you want to hang out and eat all your Asian pears, fried apple pies, or drink your slushies, there are picnic tables behind the farm store that overlook the orchard with mountains on the horizon. It’s gorgeous.
Nearby Things to Do
Making a day trip to Hendersonville is one of our most favorite activities, so we have plenty of options for a fun day trip there:
Black Bear Fall Tubing
Go tubing down a giant hill at Black Bear Snow Tubing – but without the snow (that’ll come in the winter). Read our full review for all the details.
Hike Bearwallow Mountain
Bearwallow Mountain is easily one of our favorite family hikes because it’s not that hard and the views are unbeatable. It’s a 2-mile roundtrip hike and you get 360-degree views of the mountains. Bring up some Asian pears for a snack.
Play with Llamas
Ellaberry Llama Farm is super close to Pilot Mountain Pears and you can take a llama through an obstacle course or go on a hike with them. We love this farm!
Try a Free Activity
We have a whole story on free things to do in Hendersonville like the Air Museum, Mineral Museum, and Train Museum.
Play with Some Goats
No story on Hendersonville is complete without me telling you that you can play with the goats at the Carl Sandburg Home for free. It’s a beautiful place for a hike as well.
Eat at the Village Bakery
This small eatery in nearby Flat Rock has some pretty fantastic brick oven pizza and salads. They close at 5 pm so be sure to get there before closing. If they have any bread left over on their Day Old Bread shelf, grab it because it’s 50% off.
More ideas for things to do in Hendersonville are available at our Guide to Hendersonville, NC.
If you’re looking for more Asian pear orchards, there aren’t any! But if you’re looking for apple orchards in the area, see our big Guide to Apple Orchards in and near the Upstate.
Pilot Mountain Pears
Circle L Farm Dr, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28792
Pilot Mountain Facebook
Have you ever gone to an orchard for U-pick Asian Pears?
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