Brevard, NC may be a small mountain town near the Blue Ridge Parkway but it is big on activity and entertainment. Whatever your interests or age, you’ll find Brevard a fun place to vacation. From biking to hiking, bluegrass and opera, you’ll be entertained. Be as busy as you want to be or relax on the porch with a good book and enjoy the fresh mountain air. For more information about events and activities visit www.visitwaterfalls.com. We’ve mentioned a few of the activities we enjoy and services or retailers that have been enjoyed by past guests.
Mountain Biking
Transylvania County is home to some of the best single track mountain biking trails in the country. Ask Daniel at the Red House for trail recommendations. He’ll even come along for the ride if the housekeeping schedule allows. Sycamore Cycles and The Hub both offer bike rentals and great information on the rides available. If you want to make the most of your biking vacation, consider calling The Bike Farm to enlist their excellent guide services. Oskar Blues Brewery has opened not just a brewery and tap room near Brevard but also the REEB Ranch, a bike park with a pump track and dirt jumps. WNC Outdoors is a great resource for trail information, too.
Road Biking
The road riding in the area is exceptional with steep climbing, fast descents, and rolling valleys. The Assault on the Carolinas route passes right by the Red House Inn front door. For road riding information and services, contact Sycamore Cycles or The Hub or give Daniel a call for suggestions. If you are looking for guided road biking or coaching then CTS Brevard is a fantastic resource and their office is at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest next to The Hub.
Hiking
Of course all these trails are accessible to hikers as well. WNC Outdoors website has well-organized information about trails in the Brevard area. Daniel and Tracie are knowledgeable about the trails and can offer recommendations in addition to the loan of trail maps and guide books. Combine a hike with a dip in a secluded river swimming hole or mountain lake for a refreshing afternoon adventure. Read the latest news about the Blue Ridge Mountains and outdoor pursuits online in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine.
Waterfalls
Transylvania County is home to 260 waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible by car or short walks. We have a number of guide books and maps available at the Red House Inn for guest use and we are always happy to give directions to waterfalls. Craig Miller of Miller’s Land of Waterfalls offers tours of unique waterfalls, many on private land.
Water Sports
There are a variety of opportunities for water sports in the area including flat water float trips, white water boating, touring kayaking or stand up paddle boarding on nearby lakes as well as world class fly fishing. Find out more about these opportunities from the following businesses. For fly fishing trips and equipment Davidson River Outfitters. For boating on the French Broad River contact Headwater Outfitters. Check White Squirrel Paddle Boards to get out on the river or a quiet lake. Joe at Pura Vida Adventures can help you organize a river or canyoneering adventure.
Rock climbing
Looking Glass Rock is well-known in climbing circles for its granite face offering two- to eight-stage climbs up to 600 ft. In the same vicinity is Cedar Rock, which also offers a variety of climbs. For guided trips, contact Fox Mountain Guides or Pura Vida Adventures. Brevard Rock Gym also offers indoor opportunities for beginners and experienced climbers to practice.
Horseback riding
The wooded trails of Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest offer miles of horseback riding. In Pisgah National Forest, Pisgah Forest Stables offers a variety of guided rides from April to October. For riding in Dupont State Forest, contact Olivia at Shoal Creek Farm. Services aren’t limited to trail rides and you can also enjoy riding instruction or even day camp at this beautiful farm.
Golfing
Several golf courses are just a few miles away from the Red House Inn. Connestee Falls community offers a semi-public course with full service
pro shop and club house. Etowah Valley Country Club is also a convenient course to Brevard.
Family
For the kids, recreational and educational opportunities abound. Transylvania County is known for its summer camps. As well as traditional overnight camp, many day camps operate in the summer offering activities ranging from pottery to soccer to mountain climbing. The Cradle of Forestry and Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education are great indoor and outdoor opportunities for children of all ages to learn about our natural history and have fun. In town, the Brevard Rock Gym, the Co-Ed Cinema, Rockin’ Bowl, OP Taylor’s Toy Store and gem mining are all rainy day opportunities for the whole family to explore.
Performing Arts
During the summer the Brevard Music Center offers world class concerts in their open air auditorium that have kept people coming back to Brevard for decades. Just a walk through the campus listening to rehearsals and student recitals will give you a taste of the talent the center attracts. The Porter Center for Performing Arts on the Brevard College campus offers performances year-round ranging from classical to bluegrass to comedy.
The North Carolina state theatre, the Flat Rock Playhouse is about a thirty minute drive and closer to home is the Brevard Little Theatre. Both offer a variety of performances through the year.
Shopping
Downtown Brevard has a range of opportunities for retail therapy. There are a number of antique stores and gift shops, specialty food shops, outfitters and jewelers. Under one roof of the Hollingsworth Building one can shop, eat and relax. Main Street Ltd offers shopping for the whole family including CampPacs for kids. For a detailed list of businesses, visit the Land of Waterfalls website.
Art
The art community in Transylvania County is thriving. Visitors can plan a whole trip around the numerous galleries and artist studios that are open to the public in and around Brevard. The Red House Inn features photographic artwork, pottery and paintings from many local artists,and Tracie will be happy to help you plan a tour of the local galleries. For events and information about artists in the area visit TC Arts or www.artsofbrevard.org featuring information about local artists and up-to-date events calendar including 4th Friday Gallery Walk.
Dining
A wide range of restaurants in Brevard, many of which are within walking distance from the Red House Inn, offer fantastic dining experiences. For restaurants with outdoor dining we like to recommend and Marco Trattoria. Jordan Street Cafe offers a more local experience with both a bar and restaurant atmosphere and good food. The Square Root is a five minute walk from the Inn and offers good food in contemporary atmosphere. One of our newest restaurants is Magpie Meat and Three serving traditional Southern fare. An afternoon scone and cup of coffee from Bracken Mountain Bakery should not be missed and Food Matters Market or Blue Ridge Bakery are great places to pick up snacks or lunch before heading out for a hike.
Live Music
Brevard has always been known as a music town with the Brevard Music Center offering world class classical music for over 75 years. In recent years the music scene in Brevard has blossomed and we now have two dedicated music venues. 185 King St is situated in the Lumber Yard Arts District is a two minute walk from the Inn. It is a custom built music venue with great acoustics and a good beer selection that features both local bands and travelling artists of all genres. In addition to this many of the downtown restaurants also have live music. On Tuesdays the local music shop has an old time music session that is open to the public. The Tasty Weasel, the Oskar Blues Brewery Tap Room, has a full calendar of entertainment including old time music Monday nights.
Beer
Brevard is now home to three craft breweries. Brevard Brewing Company is located an easy walk from the Inn on Main St and offers a selection of brewed on site German style beers. Oskar Blues Brewery NC location is located about 1.5 miles out of town with easy access from the bike path or by car and they have a nice taproom located above the brewing floor and a great outdoor area that is often home to a food truck and some live music not to mention the good beer. Ecusta Brewing has two locations, one downtown and one near the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. A bit further afield but worth a visit is Sierra Nevada in Mills River near the Asheville Airport.
Relax
If you find you just need to relax after all the fun, treat yourself to a spa experience. Elements and La Petite Spa are both full service day spas near downtown Brevard.
Pets
If you are traveling with your pet, the Red House Inn does have a pet-friendly room. If it’s not available, Paws in Motion or Spring Valley Farm can accommodate your pet for a slumber party, and you can still take your dog hiking with you.
Shuttle service
For a car from area airports or to arrange a shuttle to or from a trailhead, call Harry (828)231-1053 at Asheville Airport Shuttle.