Explore Hendersonville
What to Do
Dining
Hendersonville’s Main Street is packed with more than 25 restaurants, from farm-totable spots highlighting Blue Ridge apple country to cozy breweries and cafes. Since the region is orchard country, expect apple-forward menus, ciders, and baked goods throughout the fall especially, alongside classic Southern comfort food downtown.
Play
Hendersonville’s Main Street Historic District is the second-largest downtown in western North Carolina, lined with shops and the town’s beloved painted bear statues, a favorite photo stop. Outdoor lovers head to nearby DuPont State Forest for waterfall hikes — including trails made famous as filming locations for The Hunger Games — or explore the orchards that ring the town each apple season.
Learn
History and literature intersect at Carl Sandburg’s Connemara farm in nearby Flat Rock, where the three-time Pulitzer Prize winner lived for the last 22 years of his life; the site now offers tours of his home and grounds. The restored 1902 train depot downtown houses the largest model railroad in the region, a fun stop for history-minded visitors of all ages.
Art
Hendersonville’s creative scene is closely tied to its literary heritage, with a growing number of galleries and studios downtown. The town’s painted bear statue project has become a public art tradition in its own right, with dozens of individually decorated bears scattered throughout downtown.
Events
Hendersonville is nicknamed the “City of Four Seasons” for its mild climate, and its events calendar reflects that year-round appeal — from the North Carolina Apple Festival each Labor Day weekend to summer concerts on Main Street and holiday events tied to its historic downtown.
Hendersonville Writers
Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) — The three-time Pulitzer Prize winner lived at Connemara Farm in nearby Flat Rock from 1945 until his death, and Thomas Wolfe’s famous “angel” statue looks homeward from a cemetery in Hendersonville.
Ann B. Ross — Born in Hendersonville, Ross is the New York Times best-selling author of the long-running Miss Julia series.
Mark de Castrique — Also born in Hendersonville, de Castrique writes a mystery series set throughout western North Carolina, including a book centered on the Sandburg home.
Plan your escape
Get ready for your trip to Hendersonville at https://visithendersonvillenc.org