Weekend Guide: the Best Things to Do in Brevard NC

The day I drove to Brevard from Morrisville,  I ran into some April snowfall two hours into my 48 hour adventure.  In spite of the inclement weather, my road trip to the mountain city was smooth, especially with the help of a couple of my favorite podcasts.  My 48 Hours in Brevard would mark my fourth trip to Western North Carolina.  Considering the close proximity between Brevard, Asheville, Hendersonville, and Lake Lure, each city is vastly different from the other.  Brevard, the “Land of the Waterfalls” would prove to be an enchanting, exhilarating, and a creative destination suitable for kids of all ages.

Top Things to Do in Brevard NC:

Brevard Day One

4:00 PM – Red House Inn

As soon as I arrived to Brevard, I immediately checked into the Red House Inn Bed & Breakfast.  Even though the B&B has been accommodating guests for several years, the house was originally built in 1851 to serve as a General Store.  In its 168 years of history, the building was also once a courthouse, a railroad station, a school, and a family home.

As excited as I am to explore a new city, I sometimes need respite from longer drives.  After settling into my room and touring the Red House Inn, I was immediately drawn to the charming sunroom located on the first floor.  I imagined how lovely it would be to buy a bottle of wine, assorted cheeses, and a medley of chocolates to enjoy in the sunroom.  I shared my idea with Tracie Trusler, the owner of the Red House Inn, and she suggested I walk over to the Heart of Brevard to visit some shops where I could purchase all of the items for a homemade charcuterie.

5:00 PM – Highland Books

Have you ever visited a bookstore that sells cheese?  I have!  Together with books, magazines, and fair trade gift items, downtown Brevard’s Highland Bookstore also sells high quality cheeses.  I purchased a few ounces each of the Parmesan Reggiano, Sartori Bellavitano Espresso Wisconsin, and the Thomasville Tomme Sweet Grass Dairy Georgia.  If you are short on time and prefer a one stop shop, the bookstore also has a nice selection of wines, chocolate truffles, and other NC made gourmet foods.  Highland Books is located on 277 N. Broad Street Brevard, NC 28712, approximately a ten minute leisurely walk from the Red House Inn.

Broad Street Wines

Every charming downtown has at least one specialty wine store, and Brevard’s is Broad Street Wines.  The shop not only has a superb selection of wines, but it also sells beer, cigars, and specialty gifts, like hand painted wine glasses and high quality cigar cutters.

Broad Street Wines owner, Connie, is as equally as charming as her store and was very kind to help me in selecting a wine.  I shared with Connie that I was in the mood for a Cabernet and she immediately suggested a couple of her favorites.  Based on her recommendation, I purchased the Peirano Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Lodi, which had a very attractive price point of $13.99.  If you come across Peirano Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Lodi, I highly recommend the wine.

In addition to purchasing bottles of wine and gifts, customers can also enjoy wine by the glass via the boutique’s wine station.  Broad Street Wines is located on 30 South Broad Street, Brevard, NC 28712.

Downtown Chocolates

After purchasing my cheese and wine, I walked over to Downtown Chocolates.  Together with hand-crafted chocolates that are made daily, the shop sells ice cream, milk shakes, coffee, and cold drinks.

Two of my store favorites are the Undecided Bark and the Salted English Toffee.  The Undecided Bark is a beautiful tri-colored medley of white, dark, and milk chocolate.  I always enjoy a solid chocolate, so the tri-colored bark was the perfect choice for me.  I have a tendency to overlook truffles, so I admit they are never my first choice.  However, the Salted English Toffee lured me in with its dainty, yet, sophisticated shape.  The chocolate would prove to be delicate, making it a complementary pairing with my Cabernet.

In the midst of sophisticated chocolates, there are several fun treats for children.  The little ones will love the white  squirrel pops, chocolate covered pretzels, and other delicious confections available.  Downtown Chocolates is located on 57 Times Arcade Alley, Brevard, NC 28712, a short walk from Highland Books and Broad Street Wines.

6:00 PM – Red House Inn sunroom

Once I purchased my wine, cheese, and chocolates, I walked back to The Red House Inn.  The B&B’s location was perfect for me.  The Inn has plenty of room for parking and there is no need to drive to downtown Brevard.  Visitors that do decide to drive downtown may or may not struggle with parking, depending on the time of day.

Tracie graciously provided me with all of the essentials that I needed to plate my charcuterie and enjoy my wine.  Despite staying in my first evening in Brevard, I truly enjoyed walking to downtown Brevard, shopping local, and savoring my wine and charcuterie while relaxing in the B&B.

The Leander Room

My choice of lodging is dependent on the city I am visiting and the type of vacation that I have planned.  North Carolina has made me fall in love time and again with the Bed and Breakfast experience.  If you’re visiting Brevard, I highly recommend the Red House Inn. The Leander Room is elegantly furnished with luxurious beds and linens and is equipped with the modern amenities that rival those of any upscale hotels.

My room was equipped with a plush and a remote-controlled adjustable bed, which made it very tempting to stay in bed and lounge all day.   I especially liked the individual temperature control.  I have a tendency to get cold easily, so this amenity was essential to my comfort.  Other modern amenities include a wall mounted flat screen tv equipped with cable, high-speed wireless internet, mini-refrigerator, and a coffee and tea-maker.  The Leander’s bathroom and shower is also ultra-modern featuring ceramic tile showers and floors and new fixtures.

Brevard Day Two

7:00 AM – Breakfast

Red House Inn owners, Dan and Tracie Trusler, are incredibly gracious hosts that prepare a fantastic farm to table breakfast using local ingredients.  Coffee from The Brown Bean Coffee Roasters and bread from the Bracken Mountain Bakery are just two of the local items that are featured in the B&B’s daily breakfast.  During my stay, Tracie prepared two fantastic homemade raspberry and blueberry preserves that complemented Bracken Mountain Bakery’s bread perfectly!

Tracie is not only a wonderful hostess, but she is incredibly well versed in Brevard and Transylvania County.  She was able to offer so many wonderful suggestions that I would not dare overlook.  Between now and my day of departure, I would have to somehow work my magic and schedule some of her suggestions into my 48 hour agenda.

8:30 AM Davidson River Outfitters

Once I was fueled by the Inn’s breakfast, I was ready to visit Davidson River Outfitters for a fly fishing lesson.  As much as I enjoy showcasing the local food in my travel series, I also have a lot of fun exploring new activities.  I had never been fishing before and I was extremely excited to learn about the pastime.

It was a chilly 30 degree morning the day of my lesson.  That said, the proper wading gear is essential during the cooler seasons.  My instructor, Jeb, provided me with the proper apparel including waders and wading boots to stay safe and comfortable during the fly fishing expedition.  Before heading into the water, Jeb provided valuable guidance on how to properly use a fly reel and fly line.  I practiced and practiced.  While it may require various lessons for me to become an expert, Jeb equipped me with the tools and the direction that I needed for a fulfilling and memorable fishing trip.

As a person with no fishing expertise, and little patience, fly fishing was one of the most fun and exhilarating activities that I have undertaken during my travels. The day of my excursion, I was fortunate enough to catch a rainbow trout.  The entire experience was amazing and had me giddy for weeks.

Davidson River Outfitters Trout Guide Services include wade and float trips.  Guides are equipped to assist various levels of expertise from beginner to expert anglers.  Rates vary and are dependent on the angler’s choice of excursion.  The Outfitters also carries rods, wading gear, and clothing from various brands that are available for purchase.  Davidson River Outfitters is located on 49 Pisgah Hwy #6, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768.

11:00 AM – Headwaters Outfitters

After my visit to Davidson River Outfitters, I drove over to Headwaters Outfitters which is nestled in the southern Appalachian Mountain.  Headwaters Outfitters is located at the intersection of the North and West Forks of the French Broad River and Hwys. 64 and 215.  The Outfitters location is very attractive as the French Broad River flows right by the shop.

In conjunction with guided fly fishing trips, Headwaters has a “School of Trout” that is equipped to handle both beginners and intermediate anglers.  The school offers a three hour introduction to tackle, knots, and instruction on casting and reading water.  On top of fly fishing, Headwaters Outfitters also offers canoeing, kayaking, and river tubing.  Not to be missed after a day on the French Broad River is The Forks of the River Taproom, which has approximately 12 local beers on tap.

Noon – Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop

I love an old-fashioned soda shop. More than the delicious sundaes, milkshakes, and malts, I am charmed by the decor, ambiance, and music that transports guests to a different decade.  When visiting Brevard, stop by Rocky’s for a throwback to a different time and a delicious meal.  Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop is a 1940’s original drugstore style lunch counter and soda fountain.  The casual, family friendly spot serves homemade soups, salads, grilled deli sandwiches, pimento cheese, and grilled hot dogs.

Prior to indulging in dessert, let me recommend Mrs. Varner’s Pimento Grilled Cheese.  The 70-year-old recipe is an elevated twist on the American classic.  Pimento Cheese is sandwiched between two slices of buttermilk bread from Bracken Mountain Bakery and is then grilled to perfection.

After enjoying Rocky’s cheesy classic, I ordered one of their specialty sundaes.  It was a hard choice, but I decided on the S’mores Sundae, the winner of the 20th Anniversary Sundae Contest.  Rocky Road Ice Cream is topped with Hershey’s chocolate syrup, marshmallow topping, graham crackers, whipped cream, and a cherry.  The colossal and photogenic dessert is suitable for sharing, even for the girl or boy with the biggest sweet tooth.  Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop is located on 50 S Broad St. Brevard, NC 28712.

2:00 PM – Brevard Clay

After lunch, I decided to visit Brevard Clay.  The production studio and gallery also offers a paint-your-own pottery experience, suitable for people of all ages and group sizes.  It is the perfect activity to unleash the inner artist.

Customers start by choosing a piece of bisque-ware.  The average price per item ranges between $15 -$25.  There are no studio fees or any additional costs.  Paint, tools, firing, and glazing are included in the process.  Once customers complete their art work, the items are scheduled to be fired and glazed.  Masterpieces are ready for pick up between 5-7 days.   Customers that reside outside of Brevard can have their completed artwork shipped to them at an additional cost.

For my artistic creation, I chose a large coffee mug and a silk screen design to transfer the images and colors of my choice.  If you prefer to free-style, the studio is equipped with a vast amount of colors and tools to personalize your art piece.  The entire painting process took one hour.  Since I do not live in Brevard, my final product was shipped to me and arrived in ten days.

As well as offering a paint-your-own pottery, Brevard Clay owner, Stuart Howe, features a collection of functional and affordable ceramics in his gallery.  That said, if you are not in the mood to paint, you have the option to peruse and shop the many ceramics on display.  Brevard Clay is located on 16 West Main Street Brevard, NC 28712.

5:00 PM – Wine Down on Main

After a day filled with fun activities, I needed a little time to unwind before dinner.  I walked over to Wine Down on Main, a cozy wine bar that serves wine by the glass, craft beer, charcuterie, and other foods.   I did not try their food menu, since I had dinner reservations scheduled.  However, I did enjoy a wine flight that included a Justin Monmousseau 2017 Vouvray France, Fernlands 2017 Sauvignon Blanc NZ, Trim 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon CA, and a Proximity Twenty Six 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon CA.  Even though I lean more towards a medium bodied red wine, I found the Vouvray to be highly impressive and was my favorite part of the flight.  Wine Down on Main is located on 28 E Main St. Brevard, NC.

6:00 PM – KTCHN

Brevard native, Bruce Stewart, combines his love of food, the outdoors and community in his restaurant, the KTCHN.  He stresses upon the use of simple but quality ingredients.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed sampling some of the KTCHN’s menu items, I also could not help but admire the stunning interior of the restaurant.  The KTCHN also has a lovely outdoor patio, which I suspect is very popular during the spring and summer.

I started off dinner with the Chop Chop salad.  Artichokes, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, olives, garbanzo beans, red onion, tomatoes, fresh basil, and house-made mozzarella are all combined on a bed of romaine.  I found the salad portions to be generous, fresh, and light.  I was surprised by the combination of the ingredients in this salad.  Perhaps I have become too accustomed to a variety of non-complex salad combinations.  The ingredients in the Chop Chop work harmoniously, making this salad quite unique but very satiating.

The KTCHN’s menu description of their Bolognese states, “homemade meat sauce over rigatoni”.  In spite of the menu’s unassuming description, the flavors of the Bolognese are nothing but simple.  Bruce insists that the Bolognese is an effortless dish which uses key but simple ingredients.  I believe Bruce.  I only wish there were more Bolognese’s out there similar to the KTCHN’s.

The pattern you will notice at KTCHN is the use of simple ingredients to create dishes full of flavor.  As simple as a Margherita Pizza may seem, not using fresh quality ingredients can create a not so impressive classic.   KTCHN incorporates a house tomato sauce topped with their house-made mozzarella.  Let me emphasize that the KTCHN makes their mozzarella on premise daily and in some instances, more than once daily.  The mozzarella alone is  reason enough to visit the restaurant.  The KTCHN is currently not on any social media platform, and I jokingly gave Bruce a little grief over that fact.  The restaurant is located on 44 E Main St, Brevard, NC 28712.  You can view their menu, here.

Brevard Day Three

8:00 AM – Bracken Mountain Bakery

Bracken Mountain Bakery owners, Nick and April Lamb, bake classic European breads and pastries from scratch every morning on premise using organic ingredients.  Among the daily bread specials, customers can enjoy specialty coffee beverages featuring coffee beans from The Brown Bean Coffee Roasters.

Whether you want to start your morning with a pastry, grab a snack, or have lunch, Bracken Mountain Bakery has it all.   The bakery sells an assorted flavors of danishes.  I sampled and absolutely love their strawberry danish.  Undecided on what to order?  Start with a danish, fall in love with the danish, and then work through the rest of their incredible menu.

Customers visiting during lunch must try one of the bakery’s flatbreads.  The blue cheese-onion-pecan flatbread is phenomenal.  I ate one that came right out of the oven and it was fantastic.  If you arrive hungry to Bracken Mountain Bakery and indulge in some pastries, chances are you will not be hungry until dinner time.   If you are traveling with a group, I highly recommend that you order a medley of pastries to sample and share.

As a single lady, it is not often that I buy whole loaves of bread.  However, April graciously gifted me an Italian Loaf and Cinnamon Raisin Bread.   If you live or travel to Brevard, you must purchase a Cinnamon Raisin Bread to take home.  It is one of Bracken’s most popular breads and the flavors and texture are unlike any other cinnamon raisin bread’s that I have tasted.  Since I could not eat the entire loaf, I wrapped my two remaining loaves in Saran Wrap and placed them both in a Ziplock bags in the freezer.  Now I just grab a couple of slices from the freezer at my leisure.

Before leaving the bakery, be sure to take a couple of pastries for the road.  An assortment of Bracken’s cookies and a hot cup of coffee were just what I needed to nibble on during my four-hour return trip to Morrisville.  My favorite cookies include the oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chocolate chunk, and chocolate chunk cookie.  The bakery is located on 42 South Broad Street, Brevard, NC 28712.

10:00 AM – Starfangled Press

After a wonderful breakfast, I walked around the corner to Starfangled Press.   The artist run studio features original arts and gifts including cards, apparel, prints, tote bags and more.   The gallery also features the work of exceptional women artists working with woodcut, etching, screen print, lithography, and letterpress.

Starfangled Press owner, Kristen Necessary, provided me with an introduction to woodcut, etching, and printmaking.  She also demonstrated the silkscreen printing process onto a piece of apparel.  In addition to its shop, Kristen offers classes and workshops to the public.  For more information, visit her website, here.  Starfangled Press is located on 36 West Jordan Street, Brevard, NC 28712.

Noon – White Squirrels

Brevard’s white squirrels serendipitously found their way to the mountain city in the 1950s.  Local folklore says that the squirrels are the descendents of a pair of white squirrels from a carnival.   Regardless of how they arrived, Brevard became an official sanctuary for these beautiful white squirrels.  Brevard College, Franklin Park, and Silvermont Mansion are the best locations to catch a glimpse of the white squirrels.  It is also best to visit these spots in the morning.  I visited these spots in the afternoon, and I unfortunately did not see any.  Since I did not spot one during my 48 hours in Brevard, KTCHN owner, Bruce Stewart, graciously shared this photo with me.

2:00 pm – Magpie Meat & Three

I always leave a little wiggle room in my travels to schedule an impromptu stop.  During my 48 hours in Brevard, I had more than five locals share that I had to visit Magpie Meat & Three for lunch or dinner.  After an overwhelming consensus about this eatery, I was more than happy to include it in my agenda before returning to Morrisville.

I ordered the Smoked Chicken with three sides, Mac & Cheese, Fried Green Beans, and Potato Salad.  Magpie dishes out fantastic wood-smoked meats and awesome southern sides.  I only wished I could have sampled their smoked trout dip and ribs, but a girl can only each so much!

I love it when sides are as excellent as the main dish.  Magpie’s Fried Green Beans are a game changer and their Mac & Cheese now ranks among my personal top three favorite Mac & Cheese’s in North Carolina.  Magpie Meat & Three is located at the Brevard Lumberyard, 170 King Street, Unit C, Brevard, NC 28712.

3:00 PM – Land of Waterfalls

After a delicious and filling lunch, I took at short drive to Pisgah National Forest’s Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock.  Both Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock are a short drive from Brevard and were a perfect stop prior to returning to Morrisville.    Hiking is not required to view these natural beauties.  Though parking is limited, I had no issues securing a parking spot.  Visitors will want to spend some time admiring the beautiful waterfalls and capturing the perfect snapshot.

Adults and kids will love Sliding Rock.  Sliding Rock’s temperature is a constant and refreshing 55 degrees.  Undeterred by the chilly waters, I witnessed a large group of children enjoying the natural slip-n-slide the day of my visit.  It is important to note that the base of the pool is eight feet deep, so proceed with caution.  Water sports fanatics that want to tackle Sliding Rock should plan ahead and bring both a swimsuit and a change of dry clothing.

Beyond Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock there are 17 other waterfalls at Dupont State Recreational Forest, Gorges State Park, and Pisgah National Forest.    Some waterfalls are easily accessible and others require an easy to strenuous hike.  I highly recommend that visitors pick up or download the Adventure Guide and waterfall map to Brevard and Transylvania County.  To view or download the guide, click here.

4:00 PM – Leaving Brevard

I was impressed by the amount of adventure and delicious food that I experienced during my 48 Hours.  Brevard’s activities are exhilarating, creative, and appealing to kids and adults of all ages.  It is important to note that Brevard is not only an attractive destination for North Carolinians.  The mountain town is a popular destination for Georgia and Tennessee residents, especially during the spring and summer.  Visitors that plan to visit the mountain town during the warmer months, should plan ahead.  Fly Fishing, Canoeing, Kayaking, White Squirrels, and delicious food, make this mountain town a leading destination for all.

Another one of my favorite NC towns that I find family friendly is Fayetteville.  Read about my 24 Hours in Fayetteville, click here to read more!   Another mountain town that I absolutely adore is Hendersonville, NC.  Read about my 24 Hours in Hendersonville, click here to read more!