In the Blue Ridge Mountains, orchards and vineyards dot the landscape, birds soar above granite cliffs, and mountain views stretch for miles. This four-day getaway to Hendersonville, Chimney Rock, and Flat Rock highlights the region’s agricultural heritage, natural beauty, and creative spirit — from Chimney Rock’s “Radical Raptors” program to lunch at Sky Top Orchard, an evening at Flat Rock Playhouse, and a private concert at Burntshirt Vineyards.

June 25-28, 2026

 

Itinerary Highlights:

• Chimney Rock visit, including “Radical Raptors” presentation
• Flat Rock Playhouse performance of the musical Footloose
• Visit to Sky Top Orchard for lunch and tour
• Guided tour of Hendersonville
• Visit to St. John in the Wilderness historic church
• “Appalachian Wit and Grit,” a private concert with Michael Reno Harrell

 

Package Includes:

• Three nights’ accommodations at the new Home2 Suites by Hilton, Hendersonville
• Welcome dinner at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse in Flat Rock
• Friday lunch at Sky Top Orchard
• Friday dinner at Highland Lake Inn
• Saturday farewell dinner at Burntshirt Vineyards with wine tasting
• Breakfast daily
• Our State and AAA tour directors
• All sightseeing and admissions per itinerary

 

Accommodations:

• Three nights in Hendersonville: Home2 Suites by Hilton

 

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival • Hubba Hubba Smokehouse
Thursday, June 25, 2026

Arrive in Hendersonville and settle into Home2 Suites by Hilton, where your Our State hosts will greet you and help you get oriented for the days ahead.

This evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse in nearby Flat Rock. A longtime local favorite, it’s known for its easygoing atmosphere and Carolina barbecue — the kind of place where conversation comes naturally and no one leaves hungry.

After dinner, we’ll return by motor coach to the hotel and rest up for our first full day in the mountains.

Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Home2 Suites by Hilton in Hendersonville 

 

Day 2: Chimney Rock • Sky Top Orchard • Flat Rock Playhouse show
Friday, June 26, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set out for Chimney Rock. Our visit begins with the “Radical Raptors” program, an up-close introduction to local birds of prey. You’ll have time to take the elevator to the top of Chimney Rock and enjoy the panorama — layers of blue ridgelines stretching toward the horizon, with Lake Lure sprawling beneath.

From there, we’ll return to Hendersonville and head to Sky Top Orchard for lunch. Surrounded by rows of apple trees, we’ll learn about the region’s apple-growing heritage and enjoy a hay ride through the orchard.

Dinner this evening is at Season’s Restaurant at Highland Lake Inn. Later, we’ll take our seats at Flat Rock Playhouse — North Carolina’s state theater — for a performance of Footloose.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Home2 Suites by Hilton in Hendersonville 

 

Day 3: Downtown Hendersonville • St. John in the Wilderness 
Saturday, June 27, 2026

Following breakfast, we’ll explore downtown Hendersonville with local historian Eva Ritchey. We’ll stroll past historic storefronts and visit the Henderson County Curb Market for a glimpse of a longstanding community gathering place. Next, we’ll step inside St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, a historic church whose stone walls and quiet grounds reflect generations of mountain history. Enjoy free time and lunch on your own in downtown Hendersonville before we reconvene for the afternoon’s vineyard visit. 

At Burntshirt Vineyards, we’ll take part in a guided tour of the production facility and enjoy a wine tasting before sitting down to a farewell dinner created especially for our group. From the veranda, vineyard views stretch toward the mountains — a fitting backdrop for our final evening together. After dinner, we’ll gather for a private concert with Michael Reno Harrell, whose program, “Appalachian Wit and Grit,” blends storytelling and original music shaped by life in the Southern Appalachians.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Home2 Suites by Hilton in Hendersonville 

 

Day 4: Departure
Sunday, June 28, 2026

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and say goodbye to your fellow travelers. On the way out of town, you may want to stop in Hendersonville to visit a shop or two that you may have missed the day before. Safe travels home!

Meals: Breakfast

 

Tour Rates:

Regular rate: $1,325 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single rate: $1,595

 

For Reservations & More Information:

AAA Vacations
Sandra Horton
(919) 832-0543, ext. 16015
sdhorton@acg.aaa.com
 

For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.