Family & Kid’s Activities in Western North Carolina

In addition to the family activities and attractions below, you’ll find other fun activities under fishing guides, golf courses, skiing-snowboarding, whitewater rafting, and zip line tours.

Air Museum of WNC
1340 Gilbert Street, Hendersonville, NC
Phone: 828-698-2482
The Western North Carolina Air Museum features award winning restored and replica antique and vintage airplanes, and houses flight manuals, engines from historic aircraft, photos of historic airplanes and pilots, and models of historic airplanes. There is no admission charge. Check the web site for hours of operation.

Biltmore Estate & Antler Hill Village
1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: 800-411-3812
George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre estate, home, gardens, and the Antler Hill Village & Winery retail center in the mountains of Asheville, NC.

Carl Sandburg Home – Connemara
81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, NC 28731
Phone: 828-693-4178
The Carl Sandburg Home (a National Historic Site, U.S. National Park Service) has five miles of trails and gardens on 264 acres. The on-site multi-media exhibit features Carl Sandburg, “Poet of the People,” and describes the Sandburg family’s life, achievements, personal belongings, photographs, and writings.

Chimney Rock State Park
64/74A Chimney Rock, NC 28720
Phone: 828-625-9281; Toll Free: 800-277-9611
From the top of Chimney Rock you’ll see 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. The Park features mountain hiking trails for all ages and abilities, including the Hickory Nut Falls trail to the 404-ft. waterfall, and the Four Seasons trail to the Meadows. The Great Woodland Adventure features 12 discovery stations with locally-made sculptures of the animals found in Chimney Rock. The Skyline trail takes you to the highest peak in the Park, Exclamation Point. (Be sure to stop at the Opera Box and Devil’s Head along the way.) You can also try rock climbing with a Chimney Rock partner.

Cradle of Forestry
Location: Hwy. 276 north of Brevard, NC
Phone: 828-877-3130
The Cradle of Forestry provides a snap shot of life at America’s first school of Forestry. Walk along the Forest Festival Trail complete with a restored 1915 logging locomotive. Take a ride with firefighters aboard a helicopter on their way to a roaring fire in the wilds of Idaho in the Forest Discovery Center Exhibit Hall. Explore the sights and sounds, check out the events and activities at the birthplace of Forest Conservation in America.

Dark Green Motorsports
234 Jeter Mountain Road, Penrose, NC 28766
Phone: 828-966-9666

Dark Green Motorsports rents electric motorcycles and riding to gear to all riders, from experienced motor-crossers to inexperienced. The 1,400-meter track has whoops, hops, table tops, and doubles. Ride at your own pace, from a quick one-hour spin or the whole day in the dirt. There’s tons of fun and excitement, with no noise, clutch or gear-shifting.

Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
2120 Brevard Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739
Phone: 828-692-6560
Prospect for real gem stones that you can keep, including rubys, sapphires, emeralds, quartz crystals, citrine, amethyst, garnets, adventurine, sodalite,  opal, fluorite, aquamarine and more.

Fun Depot
7 Roberts Road, Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: 828-277-2FUN
Fun Depot is family-fun place for kids, teenagers, grand kids, and adults. Enjoy laser tag, mini golf, indoor and outdoor go-carts, climbing wall, bumper cars, bowling, arcade gallery and inflatables.

Grandfather Mountain
2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646
Gate Phone: 828-733-4337; Office Phone: 800-468-7325
Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge lets visitors see 360-degree panoramic views. Safely observe cougars, white-tailed deer, black bears, river otters and a golden eagle in a natural setting. Enjoy the network of nature walks and trails through forests and meadows or through rugged terrain navigated by ladders and cables and enjoy the breathtaking views. Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum houses more than two dozen exhibits about the history of Grandfather Mountain and the surrounding region.

Hands On Children’s Gallery
318 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: 828-697-8333
Hand’s On is an excellent place for children, parents and grandparents to explore and learn together. Exhibits and programs stimulate curiosity, creativity and make learning fun.

Hendersonville Train Depot
Location: corner of 7th Ave. East and Maple St., Hendersonville, NC.
The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club has constructed a scenic HO model railroad representing Hendersonville and western North Carolina. The Southern Railway caboose is also open to the public.

Historic Johnson Farm
3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: 828-891-6585
A heritage education center with animals, tours, nature trails, picnic tables and 10 historic structures on 15 acres of forest, fields and streams. Check the web site for admission fees and hours of operation.

The Lake Lure Beach
Open, weather permitting, 7 days a week, 10 am to 6 pm, Memorial Day through mid-August. For admission rates, special events, and off-season hours call 828-625-0077.

McCormick Field
30 Buchanan Place, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: 828-258-0428
Remodeled in 1992, McCormick Field is one of the oldest operating minor-league baseball parks in North America. McCormick Field is home to the Asheville Tourists, a Class A farm team of the Colorado Rockies.

North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: 828-665-2492
Hike or bike through the 434-acres of gardens, exhibits and activities for all ages. The NC Arboretum is filled with natural treasures, including 65 acres of cultivated gardens, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and 10 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Pack Place Education, Arts, & Science Center
2 South Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828-257-4500
Home of the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, Diana Wortham Theater and YMI Cultural Center.

Skinny Dip Falls
Location: 1/2-mile hike from Looking Glass Rock overlook at milepost 417 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Description: A swimming hole with clear, cold water, and a beautiful waterfall.

Sliding Rock
Location: Near Looking Glass Falls. Directions: At milepost 412 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, take U.S. Highway 276 South for approximately eight miles. Description: A 60-ft, rock water slide in Pisgah Forest.

STJ’s Inflation Station
710 Tracy Grove Road #C3, Flat Rock, NC 28731
Phone: 828-696-0674
An inflatable bouncing playground with an indoor party zone for hosting private celebrations.

Western North Carolina Agricultural Center
1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC 28732
Phone: 828-687-1414
Home of the North Carolina Mountain State Fair, numerous horse and livestock events, large scale conferences and trade shows. Check the WNC Ag Center web site for schedules and admission fees.

Western North Carolina Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28805
Phone: 828-259-8080
This 42-acre center features indigenous wildlife and plant life of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Demonstrations and activities include wildlife, gardens, trails, indoor exhibits, farm animals and more.