The devastation from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina rages on many months later as small businesses struggle to recover. But this area is indeed open and they are grateful for tourists to come and enjoy the small towns, restaurants, hiking trails, and all the beauty that is Western NC. Here’s where to go.
Western NC is open and they are in need of tourism as that is their main source of income. Hurricane Helene hit during the worst possible time for the area: the fall leaf peeping season. These small businesses lost a huge percentage of their annual profits because of that.
You were there for these towns when they needed water, food, and supplies. You volunteered, you collected donated items, and you bought Christmas presents. None of that went unnoticed. But they are still struggling. Tourism is the best way to help support our neighbors and friends in Western NC.
The Upstate is less than an hour from many of these amazing small, mountain towns and really no more than two hours from all the others. You can visit these beautiful spots, shop, eat, hike, and enjoy they have to offer.
Here are a few ideas of where to go and what to do in Western NC.
Lake Lure
While the beach and lake at Lake Lure are not open, may restaurants and local businesses are open. Plus, there are some fantastic hiking trails nearby, which makes this spot a pretty easy day trip to enjoy.
Where to play
Take a hike: We absolutely love the Conserving Carolina trails and will always recommend them. Some of our favorites aren’t open yet but if you are a somewhat experienced hiker without small kids, we’d recommend Strawberry Gap Trail (~6 miles, moderate/hard) or Youngs Mountain (~4.5 miles, moderate/hard with drop-offs, permit needed). Both have incredible views.
Zip through the trees: Go ziplining at Canopy Ridge, where kids as young as 2 can participate! There are six ziplines and you can expect to soar through the trees for about an hour and a half. They are open Fridays-Mondays.
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge: While the bridge is half gone (and will be completely removed in the coming months), the volunteers at the Flowering Bridge have planted some beautiful flowers you can enjoy. One of the gazebo’s survived Helene and is at the entrance. They are accepting donations to rebuild what they can.
Chimney Rock State Park: It’s back open! You’ll need to make reservations but we are thrilled the park is open. Several businesses along the main drag in Chimney Rock Village are also open – this is huge news!
Paint pottery: You can paint your pottery at Lake Lure Pottery or buy some of their beautiful pieces to take home!
Where to Eat
We loved El Lago at Lake Lure Beach for their tasty tacos and nachos.
Other open restaurants are:
- Victory Kitchen
- Lured Market & Grill l
- Grey Hawk Lake Lure
- LakeHouse
- Highlands Reserve
- Canoe Kitchen
- Chimney Rock Smokehouse
- Fae Nectar
Black Mountain
Black Mountain is right next to Swannanoa, one of the hardest hit areas of Hurricane Helene. This charming mountain town will lure you in for its beauty, shops, restaurants, and hospitality.
Where to Play
Main Street: Black Mountain has an amazing Main Street that has all kinds of interesting shops with local goods, teas, ice cream, clothing, and awesome hats (seriously, they have cool hats). My daughters and I spent two hours just walking around downtown and shopping.
Local hikes: Lookout Mountain in nearby Montreat is a very short mile hike (roundtrip) with incredible views. It’s pretty steep going up and you have to scramble over some rocks to get to the top but wow, the view is awesome. Also not far away is Catawba Falls, which is perfect for a summer swim. You can do the three-mile loop and see the huge waterfall, which consists of a lower and upper falls. Whether you go clockwise or counterclockwise, you’ll be going uphill so take it slow if you need.
Black Mountain Pool: This public pool has a zero entry area with water sprays for smaller kids. It’s a fun spot to hang out and open to everyone. Be sure to check the website before you go for operating hours. Admission for non-residents range from $3-$6 per person.
Where to Eat
There are several restaurants in Black Mountain to enjoy. We absolutely loved our dinner at the Trailhead Restaurant & Bar – the chicken sandwich was amazing.
Other restaurants our readers recommend are:
- Louise’s Kitchen
- Ole Guacamoles
- Sassafras
- Godfathers Pizza
- Berliner Kindl German
- The Social (nearby – not in downtown Black Mountain)
- Peri Social House (they have a fully fenced in kids zone)
Brevard
Brevard has been a favorite town of mine for years. Thankfully it wasn’t hit as hard as some of the other places in Western NC but they did have cleanup to do, which is now finished!
Where to Play
Sliding Rock: The famous Sliding Rock in Pisgah Forest is open Memorial Day through Labor Day 9 am – 6 pm daily (go before Noon and after 4 pm for lesser crowds) and staffed with lifeguards. Admission is $5/person. Yes, the water is cold but it’s awesome and fun and we ended up sliding multiple times because really, why not.
Hikes: Moore Cove Falls and Fryingpan Tower (both 1.5 miles roundtrip) are awesome hikes that are easy and have big payoffs in terms of waterfalls and views. Stop by the Pisgah Ranger Center at the entrance to the forest for more suggestions on local hikes or check out the AllTrails app. There are miles and miles of trails there.
Go tubing: Brevard Tubing is very close to the entrance to Pisgah Forest. You can tube all you want for $30. It’s a relaxing trip and the owners are really nice!
Cradle of Forestry: Did you know you can ride an indoor helicopter at the Cradle of Forestry just minutes from Sliding Rock? We love this cool spot for its Blue Ghost Fireflies tours, amazing display of the history of forestry in the region, beautiful trails, and old log cabins. Definitely put the Cradle of Forestry on your list when you are out that way.
Check out festivals: Brevard hosts some pretty awesome festivals throughout the year so be sure to look at their latest event calendar before planning your trip. You may find your new favorite festival!
Go shopping: One of our favorite shops in Brevard is Next Venture Outdoors, a consignment shop for all things outdoors – clothing, gear, shoes, tents, paddles, backpacks. The original O.P. Taylor’s toy store is in downtown Brevard and it’s so cool! You can see other shops at Brevard’s website. Walking around Main Street in Brevard is worth it. It’s an authentic little mountain town that you’ll love as much as we do once you go and visit.
Where to Eat
We really enjoyed lunch at Pescado’s & Sunrise (20 Mclean Road, Brevard, NC), which is really close to the entrance to Pisgah Forest. They have sandwiches, burgers, and wraps at affordable prices. A recommendation we got but didn’t go was the Pisgah Bakehouse (1980 Asheville Hwy, Brevard, NC), which also has sandwiches and baked goods. We love Pisgah Roasters for coffee. Downtown Brevard has several restaurants.
Asheville
Asheville is still very much on the road to recovery but they are – and have been – welcoming visitors.
Where to Play
Biltmore Estate: I am such a big fan of the Biltmore that I went and got an annual pass years ago. The gardens, the House, the winery, the village – everything is worth exploring. Read our review for all the info.
Asheville Retrocade: For $10/person, you can play all the retro games you want at this fun arcade.
WNC Nature Center: This is a cool nature center because they have awesome playgrounds scattered throughout plus lots of animals to learn about. Be sure to stay tuned to their website as they have special events throughout the year.
Sierra Nevada Brewery: Sierra Nevada has excellent brews, fun games for all ages, and fantastic food. They often have live music on the weekends as well.
Where to Eat
I’m a big fan of Papas & Beer – the one closest to the Biltmore. Their food is tasty and reasonable. I also love the Village Bakery in Flat Rock, which would be on your way home from Asheville to Greenville. Their pizza and salads are worth the day trip alone.
Beech Mountain
When it’s crazy hot in Greenville, think about Beech Mountain – it’s regularly 10 to 15 degrees cooler up there than in the Upstate because it’s the highest town in the Eastern United States at over 5,000 feet above sea level.
Where to Play
Buckeye Recreation Center: The Buckeye Recreation Centers offers two free ropes playgrounds, free kayak rentals, free canoe rentals, free hiking trails, and free fishing. Buckeye Lake is a small lake but you can’t really get better than free boat rentals there. It’s perfect for families to paddle around. You can also fish there and rent fishing gear for free (bait not included).
Emerald Outback Hiking Trails: There are about eight miles of hiking and biking trails at Emerald Outback and several overlook points. The map is honestly quite fun with the trails all having Wizard of Oz-themed named like Ruby Slippers, Oz Forest, and Wizards Way. They all have different colors as well and the trail system is well-marked but I highly recommend using a good hiking app on your phone because we had some issues going in the right direction on some of the trails.
Mountaineer Adventure Tower: The Adventure Tower is three stories of rope obstacle courses and climbing structures. The topmost level has giant beach balls and Eno hammocks; the second level has rope obstacles and rope swings along with a 25-foot high slide; the first level has lots of bouncy dodge balls; and the ground level has several lawn games and oh-so-relaxing nest swings. I did not want to leave those nest swings. It was so relaxing to swing on them in the mountain breeze.
Grandfather Mountain: Nearby Grandfather Mountain is one of the coolest parks I’ve ever been to in North Carolina and home to the real life Chutes & Ladders trail. My kids are experienced hikers and we’ve done this trail twice and both times I’ve questioned my life decisions but wow, it’s worth it if you are experienced and take proper trail precautions. If you don’t like hanging off the sides of mountains, Grandfather Mountain also has a fantastic nature center, Ranger talks, special events, and the Mile High Bridge. You can also see the curve where Forrest Gump ran in the movie. Read our review on Grandfather Mountain to learn how to experience this cool place.
Alpine Mountain Coaster: The Wilderness Run Alpine Mountain Coaster is the first of its kind in Western North Carolina. The track is over 3,000 feet long and you get up to 27 miles per hour on the coaster, which is controlled by the rider.
Where to Eat
Fred’s Backside Deli: This place is a gem of Beech Mountain. It has multiple purposes: a hole-in-the-wall restaurant downstairs, a general store on the first and second floors. I was wondering if there was anything this cool spot doesn’t do or have. Their tagline is actually, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.” Nailed it.
Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria: Their menu includes pizza, wings, salads, sandwiches, pasta, the largest beer selection on the mountain, a full bar, a bakery, and an ice cream counter. We enjoyed a delicious cheese pizza split with a four cheese pizza, a Greek salad, and amazing hand cut fries. Fries are my weakness and oh my gosh, these were delicious.
5506’ Skybar: The views at Skybar are worth it alone but the food was also really good. My daughters had burgers and I had a chicken wrap. It came with fruit or chips and we each enjoyed a Shirley Temple while taking in stunning views of the surrounding mountains. You’re so high at 5,506’ that you really feel like you can touch the clouds.
For other Western NC adventures, see our Guide to Western North Carolina.
