North Carolina - CBS Atlanta 46

Here's a little tour guide we put together so you can visit the places we featured in the North Carolina Better Destinations segment, plus a few more we recommend. If you visit in the order below – you'll get bonus scenic views as you circle the area.

Historic Hendersonville Welcome Center

201 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792

www.downtownhendersonville.org

Carl Sandburg Historic Site

Carl Sandburg, American poet, historian, author, and lecturer spent the final 22 years of his long and productive life at his estate, Connemara, which is in Flat Rock, NC. Today this National Historic Site offers a keen insight on Mr. Sandburg, his family and their 264 acre working farm. The Sandburg Home was built in 1838 and now houses his collection of 10,000 books, notes and papers. The guided tour of the home, takes about 30 minutes and showcases over 65,000 artifacts on display. There are numerous hiking trails and a functional goat barn where Mrs. Sandburg raised her prize-winning goats.

www.nps.gov/carl

Jump Off Rock

Jump Off Rock is a scenic overlook which provides a panoramic view of rolling pastures and the Blue Ridge and Pisgah mountain ranges. The site also offers hiking trails. Indian legend has it that on moonlit nights, you can see the ghost of the maiden on Jump Off Rock.

http://www.hendersonvilledirectory.com/jumpoffrock.php

Thomas Wolfe Angel – Oakdale Cemetery

Author Thomas Wolfe's famous novel, Look Homeward, Angel, frequently references an angel statue carved from Italian marble. The actual angel is located at the Oakdale Cemetery on Hwy. 64 West, just a short distance from downtown.

www.historichendersonville.org/wolfes_angel.htm

Mineral & Lapidary Museum, Downtown Hendersonville

The Mineral & Lapidary Museum offers exhibits such as the Hendersonville Meteorite, North Carolina Minerals, Flourescent Minerals, replicas of Famous Diamonds of the World, displays of Lapidary Arts, and Fossils and Mineral Specimens, plus a large skeletal replica of a T-Rex Dinosaur Head.  Cracking a geode to find a "treasure" of crystals is the most popular activity.

www.mineralmuseum.org

The 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa

The 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa offers "Dirty Dancing" themed cabins, the nostalgia of a historic Inn, luxurious spa treatments and the ultimate destination for weddings.

The  Lake Lure Inn & Spa

2771 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure NC 28746

(828) 625-2525

www.lakelure.com

Chimney Rock Park

It's the best of the Mountains in one place! Coming to the mountains is one of the authentic experiences in life, like going to the sea. It brings you closer to nature and to yourself. Chimney Rock gives you the opportunity to explore and experience nature's wonders. From unique geological formations to sweeping views, you'll find the best of the mountains in one place at Chimney Rock.  Chimney Rock Park's elevator and several hiking trails re-open this summer after extensive renovations.

www.chimneyrockpark.com

KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum

Discovery Garden at KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum in Rutherfordton, N.C. offers a unique opportunity for kids to discover the miracles of nature. Dig for dinosaur fossils, watch bees in their natural habitat, and learn the miraculous way nature works together in an interwoven network of animals, bugs, vegetation and more.  

http://www.kidsenses.com/

House of Flags Museum

House of Flags Museum is truly a place where patriotism lives and is the only museum in the nation totally devoted to flags. It is the only House of Flags Museum in America and possibly one of three in the world! This unique educational museum was opened in September 2001 in response to local citizen's desire to instill respect and etiquette for the flag of the United States of America. As the flag collection grew to over 300 different flags, the history education role of the museum also grew.

www.houseofflags.org

Rockhouse Winery

Rockhouse Winery offers award-winning, handcrafted wines from a small family winery nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Featuring nearly 20 vineyards and four wineries, the scenic Tryon Foothills are becoming well known for excellent wine. This region has the perfect climate for growing grapes, thanks in part to its elevation and thermal belt — which moderates temperatures along the mountains year-round.

www.rockhousevineyards.com

Downtown Saluda

This tiny city of 570 full-time residents boasts quite a quality selection of restaurants, shops, and live music wrapped in beautiful scenery.  The one-street downtown hasn't changed much since it was founded in 1878.  Saluda is a favorite of travelers, with many wonderful inns, town cottages and secluded cabins that offer rest and rejuvenation.  A walk down main street will fill your senses – browse the antique shops and galleries, walk back in time with a visit to Pace's General Store or have a delicious meal at the Purple Onion Cafe.

www.nc-mountains.org/towns/saluda.php

The Oaks Bed & Breakfast

This Classic Queen Ann Victorian, located in one of the oldest established villages in Western North Carolina, stands as a landmark work of art—a testament to the architecture and craftsmanship of the 1800s.

The Oaks Bed & Breakfast

339 Greenville Street Saluda, NC 28773

828.749.2000/800.893.6091

http://theoaksbedandbreakfast.com

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