Area Attractions
It's little wonder why so many people are drawn to the mountains of Western North Carolina—breathtaking views, fiery autumn colors, thundering waterfalls and lazy streams. This part of the country offers a unique charm and a relaxed pace of living unlike anywhere else. The Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains afford an abundance of outdoor activities: hiking, rafting, rock climbing, spelunking, fishing and much more. And Asheville, North Carolina—the region’s largest city and cultural center—is just a short drive away, where you can find galleries, grand resorts, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, theatres and a number of other area attractions.
Check out these websites for more information about some of the fun and exciting activities near Etowah.
Each attraction website will have detailed information and any fees.
Brevard Music Center
Just fifteen minutes away, the Center is renowned as a performance and educational mecca for young musicians. Professionals, students, and international guest artists showcase their summer festival. 12 minutes from Etowah.
Brevard Porter Center
Paul Porter Center for Performing Arts is Brevard College’s musical and theatrical performance space
Biltmore House, Garden and Winery
In Asheville, a pleasant half-hour drive away, is George Vanderbilt's 255-room French chateau on 12,000 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Built in 1895, the house contains collections of antiques and fine art. You can also tour the gardens and the winery. 30 minutes from Etowah.
DuPont Forest
The DuPont Forest encompasses 10,268 acres in Henderson and Transylvania counties. It is situated in the Little River valley and includes waterfalls and 80 miles of roads and trails wandering through mountainous terrain. 10 minutes from Etowah.
Carl Sandburg Home
A national historic site, Connemara is the last home of the poet, historian, author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Carl Sandburg. The house and grounds have been authentically restored to depict the way the Sandburgs lived and worked. There's even descendants of their original goat herd occupying the barn. 15 minutes from Etowah.
Brevard Little Theater
All volunteer Community Service started in 1935 by Beulah Zachary. Our 61st Consecutive Season in more than 75 years of serving Transylvania County runs from February to December.
Flat Rock Playhouse
Flat Rock Playhouse is one of America's top 10 summer stock theaters and its Vagabond Players have performed to sell-out crowds for over 50 years. The theater is noted for attracting actors from Broadway, off Broadway, television and film, and has launched many successful careers. Just a pleasant drive from Etowah Valley, their season runs from late May through the middle of September. 20 minutes from Etowah.
Diana Wortham Theatre
The Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville offers live performances of music, theatre and dance throughout the year by nationally touring artists as well as a wide array of performances by professional and avocational regional arts groups.
Asheville Lyric Opera
Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO) is a professional, non-profit Opera Company located in Asheville, North Carolina. Because of its location, ALO has provides Western North Carolina with a magnitude of theatrical experiences at a central location, the Diana Wortham Theatre, in the heart of downtown Asheville.
Chimney Rock Park
Some say the highlight of this 1,000 acre park is the 75 mile view from the top. Others say it's getting to the top. You can ride an elevator 26 stories through the rock or take the trails and catwalks up 315 feet to the chimney's top. There's plenty of scenic trails, a 400 foot waterfall and much more. You may recognize some of the scenery from the epic romance adventure "The Last of the Mohicans," which was filmed here. 25 minutes from Etowah.
Hendersonville Curb Market
The Henderson County Curb Market is a unique farmers market requiring sellers to be residents of Henderson County. All items sold at the market must be either hand-made or locally grown. For additional information call (828) 692-8012. 15 minutes from Etowah.
Western North Carolina Farmers Market
It's little wonder why so many people are drawn to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Breathtaking views, fiery autumn colors, thundering waterfalls and lazy streams. This part of the country offers a unique charm and a relaxed pace of living unlike anywhere else. The Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains afford an abundance of outdoor activities: hiking, rafting, rock climbing, spelunking, fishing and much more. And Asheville, North Carolina, the region’s largest city and cultural center is just a short drive away. There you can find galleries, grand resorts, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, theaters and a number of other area attractions.
Check out these websites for more information about some of the fun and exciting activities near Etowah.
Historic Johnson Farm
Located four miles north of Downtown Hendersonville, Historic Johnson Farm was a late 19th-century tobacco farm that became a popular summer tourist retreat. Today the farm is owned by the Henderson County Public Schools and is operated as a heritage education center and farm museum. The farm features an 1870's boarding house, a barnloft museum, 10 historic buildings, 2 nature trails and 15 acres of fields, forests and streams. 10 minutes from Etowah.
Fishing on the Davidson River
The Davidson River area is located in Transylvania County, and is close to Brevard and Hendersonville. The area is easily accessible by car. Rivers and streams within the Davidson River area support a variety of fishing opportunities including backcountry trout fishing on Cove Creek, more accessible stream fishing on Avery and Looking Glass Creeks, and trophy brown and rainbow trout fishing on the Davidson River proper. 10 minutes from Etowah.
The Blue Ridge Parkway
America's most scenic highway hugs mile-high mountainsides elevated above a patchwork of villages, forests and farms. Frequent overlooks offer fantastic views.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
America's most visited park contains 700 miles of rivers, 800 miles of trails, 20,000 acres of virgin forest, over 1,600 varieties of wildflowers and an abundance of wildlife.
Pisgah National Forest
An 11-mile stretch of US 276 includes campsites, picnic sites, tubing, Looking Glass Falls, Pink Beds and the Sliding Rock is a recreation area set up by the US Forest Service. It's a 60' natural rock slide with a 6-7 foot deep pool at the base. Lifeguards and staff are on duty from appr. Memorial Day week end to Labor Day and there is a fee of $1 per person to access the area, which is 7.5 miles north of Hwy 64 on Hwy 276. For more info, call the US Forest Service at 828-877-3350. 25 minutes from Etowah.
Cradle of Forestry
Nestled in Pink Beds Valley is the Cradle of Forestry in America. This heritage site is the birthplace of science-based forest management. George and Edith Vanderbilt of the nearby Biltmore Estate are accredited for this living legacy. Some 87,000 aces of the Vanderbilt’s “Pisgah Forest” tract became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forest, established in 1916.
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education explores North Carolina's mountain wildlife and habitats.
WNC Nature Center
The Western North Carolina Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity.
Whitewater Rafting,Choose your rafting trip according to your group's ages, recreational interests, and past experience.