Just over the border into North Carolina is the mountaintop town of Hendersonville, NC. There are lots of things to enjoy, but the thing Hendersonville, North Carolina is most famous for is their apple orchards! If you are planning a trip to Hendersonville, we’ve got all the info you’ll need to enjoy a day trip or weekend getaway any time of year.

This article includes:
Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches in Hendersonville, NC
Breweries and Wineries in Hendersonville, NC
Free and Low-Cost Fun for Families in Hendersonville, NC
Unique Experiences in Hendersonville, NC
Places to Eat in Hendersonville, NC
Where to Stay in Hendersonville, NC

One of the first signs that cooler weather is on the horizon is people flocking north to Hendersonville and neighboring Flat Rock, to enjoy everything apple! Freshly picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and my favorite, frozen apple cider. We’ve been to most of them, and you can learn all about each orchard and what it has to offer, below. 

Apple Orchards 

• Justus Apple Orchard
• Grandad’s Apples and Such
• Jeter Mountain
• Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
• Coston Farm
• Mountain Fresh Orchards
• The Applehouse and Owensby Orchards
• Creasman Farms
• McConnell Farms
• Sky Top Orchard

For More info – Check out our Guide to U-Pick Apple Orchards Near Greenville & Spartanburg

If you are a fan of those apple cider donuts that the orchards sell, have we got a tour for you! Kidding Around’s Apple Cider Doughnut Tour takes you to eight of the orchards in Hendersonville where you can snack on one of these fall-time delicacies. 

The Nix Pumpkin Patch

The huge pumpkin-shaped silo of this farm is hard to miss! You can grab pumpkins of all shapes and sizes here, as well as an apple cider slushie! There are tons of photo opportunities to be had, so bring that camera along!

Hendersonville Vineyards and Breweries

Hendersonville also offers visitors a great selection of stops to enjoy locally produced wine, beer, and more. You can explore them with the passport program offered by the Hendersonville Visitors Information Center.

The Cheers! Trail Passport may be purchased for $10 at the Visitor Center. Visit at least 12 venues and get your passport stamped to redeem it for your choice of several trail souvenirs. Choose from a set of 4 stone coasters, a wine stopper, a stainless steel wine glass, or a bar key. 

Choose from a selection of 17 different tasting experiences along the trail. 

The Trail includes nine breweries: 

• Blue Ghost
• Dry Falls
• Guidon
• Mills River
• Oklawaha
• Sideways Farm
• Sierra Nevada – Read our review of this family-friendly brewery
• Southern Appalachian
• Triskelion

 As well as six Vineyards: 

• Burntshirt Vineyard
• Marked Tree Vineyard
• Point Lookout Vineyard
• Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards 
• Sawyer Springs Vineyard
• Stone Ashe Vineyards

Two hard cideries, and one meadery 

• Appalachian Ridge Hard Cider 
• Bold Rock Hard Cider 
• World’s Edge at Point Lookout Vineyards

The Passport is available at the Visitor Center at 201 South  Main Street, online, and at the participating vendor locations. 

Free and Low-Cost Fun in Hendersonville

Apple Valley Model RR Club
Check out this totally FREE model train museum with indoor and outdoor model train displays. They are open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Bearfootin’ Bear Hunt
May through October, custom decorated bear statues line the street. In October they get auctioned off to benefit the downtown area and local non-profits. A copy of the 2021 Bearfootin’ bear guide can be downloaded to bring with you on your hunt. 

Carl Sandburg Home
Located in Flat Rock, this poet’s home is open to the public and free to visit. It is not only a historic site but also a working goat farm. 
If you are heading to the Carl Sandburg Home, you should sign up for the Kids In Parks incentive program! It’s free and allows kids to earn prizes for spending time outdoors. 

Bullington Gardens & Fairy Trail
These free-to-visit gardens include a popular fairy-themed garden that is open seasonally.

Team Ecco Aquarium
This aquarium is home to aquatic life as well as reptiles. Plan your trip to be there for the Shark and Sting Ray feedings. Admission is under $10 per person. 

Mineral And Lapidary Museum
Admission is free, which is awesome because craking open your own geode is something everyone should get to do, and the free entry makes it more affordable. 

Jackson Park: Inclusive Playground

The new inclusive playground at Jackson Park is open, and it is truly a place where all kids can play together!

The Park at Flat Rock
A beautiful park with restrooms, a playground hiking trails, and more. 

Jump Off Rock

A beautiful view, short hiking trails, and a great place for a picnic.

Western North Carolina Air Museum

See historic aircraft for free at this former hanger converted to a museum. There are opportunities to climb into aircraft and learn how they fly. Everything is free, and donations are accepted.

Check out this local mom’s recommendations of where to eat and how they spend a day in Flat Rock, NC

Unique Experiences 

Appalachian Pinball Museum
Visitors to the museum can play all day for just $12 per person. 

Kanuga Bike Park
This mountain bike park has everything you need to enjoy a unique family outdoor adventure. 

Hands On! Children’s Museum
A “hands-on” children’s museum targeted at children ages 10 and under. 

Moonshine Mountain
If you’re looking for some wintertime fun, Moonshine Mountain has it. Tubing and other fun winter activities will keep your family entertained.

Where to Dine

Appalachian Coffee Company
Freshly roasted coffee beans make delicious caffeinated drinks at this cafe. They have outdoor seating and delicious baked goods too. 

HenDough
Go to where all the magic began, the original HenDough location! Did you know, that the nickname for Hendersonville is “Hendo”?  

McFarlan Bakery
Recommended by readers this nearly centuries-old bakery consistently wins local “best of” awards. 

Black Bear Coffee Shop
This great coffee shop offers coffee lovers and diners tons of options. They feature locally made baked goods, plus super fresh salads, soup, sandwiches, breakfast meals, and more. Of course, they also offer a wide array of coffee beverages and teas.

Where to Stay Near Hendersonville, NC

There are some super cute places to stay near Hendersonville, NC!

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Looking for more places to spend the day with your family? Here’s our list of Day Trip Towns, just a short drive from the Upstate.