1. Start with a morning hike on the Four Seasons Trail at Chimney Rock State Park. Enjoy the diverse wildflowers and wildlife early before the park gets busy.
2. Next soak up some rays on the shore of Lake Lure. The beach at Lake Lure is anything but ordinary. You can take a relaxing dip, and then float on the lake while taking in the surrounding lush green mountains.
3. Take a 20 minute drive and visit the Alpine and LaMancha dairy goats at Round Mountain Creamery in Black Mountain for cheese tastings and farm tours.
4. Head west and stop at Hot Dog World, a local favorite in Henderson County.
5. Finish up your day at Brevard’s Oskar Blue’s Brewery, one of the largest craft breweries in the country. Oskar Blue’s offers free brewery tours and has a tasting room.
See more of our day trip recommendations for other NC towns.
Why does this Haywood County town have some of the cleanest water in the state? It’s the result of the community’s efforts to keep the forests in its watershed pristine.
The spectacular views in North Carolina’s High Country aren’t just inspiration for writers, painters, and sculptors. Those landscapes — the rugged gray face of Grandfather Mountain, the vibrant fall leaves, the deep green meadows — are brushstrokes on Earth’s own canvas.
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Nothing lasts forever — and that’s what makes many of our cherished moments so special.
