Western North Carolina is a beautiful place to send your child to summer camp. With lovely weather, unmatched nature, high adventure, there is a peacefulness that is hard to find beyond the Blue Ridge. We are so grateful that you chose to send your child to Camp Pinnacle, and you deserve to enjoy the area as well!
If you are bringing your child to camp, you’ll have a few opportunities to make the mostof your time in the Hendersonville area. Whether you have just a day, or staying for a week or two, we want to share a few great options. First start with brunch at Arabella, a sweet restaurant on Main St in Hendersonville. They specialize in Latin-American cuisine and the huevos rancheros are delicious. Don’t forget to add a pancake on the side! They also have creative and tasty hand-crafted lattes and cocktails.
Once you have finished brunch, take a stroll around the corner to Art on 7th, the only contemporary art gallery in Hendersonville. Most of the work they showcase is made by WNC-based artists who have shown work all over the world. After your culture fill, strap on your chacos and journey to Dupont State Forest to explore a filming location for The Hunger Games, Triple Falls. A short, but steep hike with the option to swim and a perfect place for some pictures.
Once you’ve worked up that appetite, head to dinner at Shine. They specialize in fresh, seasonal, and creative meals. With an extensive drink list and located in a revitalized historic building, the owners have created a space that simultaneously feels welcoming and swanky. Enjoy a meal on the rooftop to take in the mountain sunset.
After dinner, make your way to the Flat Rock Playhouse, a nationally recognized equity house, mounting Broadway-caliber productions for much less than Broadway prices. During the summer, they will be featuring Cinderella and, a personal favorite of mine, A Chorus Line. Trust me, you want to be swept away into the true story of hard-working ensemble members. It is funny, moving, and smart. If you don’t exit the theater singing “one…singular sensation,” just let me know that I steered you wrong.
If musical theater is not your thing, there are wonderful bars that offer entertainment. Check out The 2nd Act or The Poe House for a glass of wine and some live music.
On closing day, things will look a bit different. Most importantly, you’ll have your camper(s) with you! Hendersonville has an array of family-friendly activities, and if exhaustion isn’t too prevalent, head right to Hendough. They boast tasty comfort food in Hendersonville, known mostly for their fried chicken and donuts. They pair their chicken with fun sauces like Nashville Hot sauce and honey butter and come served on fluffy and fresh biscuits. The donuts come in creative and seasonal flavors, and you can even order a breakfast sandwich with the donut as a bun! It is a perfectly whimsical way to treat your campers after two weeks at Camp Pinnacle.
After that, drive over to Big Hungry Falls for an easy hike with a big reward. It’s not in one of the State/National Forests, so it gets less traffic and the trek to the waterfall is only .75 miles. It is a beautiful spot to swim, take in some nature, and allow your camper to reminisce their past two weeks. They might even be able to show you some new water skills.
At 2:00pm, the Appalachian Pinball Museum opens. Located in downtown Hendersonville, they have 80 machines, dating back to the dawn of pinball and for $12 you get unlimited plays. There are more games than just pinball, so test your skill at other old arcade games. You’ll receive a wrist band so you can leave and come back at your leisure. Take a break to wander downtown with Apple Quest. Created by a local girl scout troop, Apple Quest is a fun activity for families to explore all year long. It is a permanent scavenger hunt for brass apples around downtown. Stop by the Visitor Center (201 S. Main st) to pick up a brochure.
After gaming all afternoon, head to Hubba Hubba for a barbecue meal to satiate all taste buds. They smoke their meats low and slow over a special selection of native hardwoods. They make their sauces and sides from scratch and, when possible, get their protein locally. They are also only open during the summer, perfect timing for a visit! Their aim is to make you feel like you are hanging out in a friend’s backyard with all of your other pals. It’ll smell like a campfire and there will be chickens roaming free. A must stop in Flat Rock before heading back home.
We are thrilled for you to spend time in Western North Carolina with us at Camp Pinnacle. If you’d like additional customized itineraries, Crafted by Juniper can make a personal trip for you and your family. They work with many different camps in the area. Of course, if you have questions about anything locally, please give us a call at the office. See you this summer!
-Alice, Associate Director