Summer is heating up with activities in Henderson County

This year is quickly flying by and we are officially in the heat of the Dog Days of Summer. The term Dog Days of Summer came from ancient Romans, who associated the heat and humidity of summer with the star Sirius.

Sirius, known as the “Dog Star,” is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (large dog). Now that the meaning has been clarified, are you looking for fun ways to cool down!

Hendersonville has been a popular vacation destination for well over a century and continues to grow. Western North Carolina has an abundance of things to see and do outdoors. The variety of activities is as vast as the area itself, from mountain hiking to taking to the links for a round of golf.

Henderson County is home to a multitude of parks and nearby state and national forests. All of these wonderful natural assets conjure up a different experience. The parks offer things for all ages from playgrounds, picnic shelters, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, nature trails, river access, to dog parks.

Venture to the forests for hiking, mountain biking, scenic waterfalls, fishing, bird watching and even a talking tree trail.

When it heats up, people are searching for ideas to cool off. There are several options for getting wet in the area such as the Patton Park Pool, DuPont State Recreational Forest's Hooker Falls swimming area, Lake Lure Tours & Beach Water Works, and Sliding Rock in Pisgah National Forest.

The French Broad and Green rivers offer a way to hit the water by boat, kayak or a day of tubing at Lazy Otter Outfitters, ZenTubing or Green River Adventures. There are a couple of river parks located in the county, Westfeldt & Blantyre, for putting in fishing boats, canoes and kayaks.

The town of Mills River Park offers a handicapped accessible fishing pier, which is user-friendly. The pier also serves as an intake for non-motorized watercraft with a step-down type of launch. Fishing can be found on the French Broad River, Davidson River, Lake Lure and Lake Julian.

Did you know there was a beach in the mountains? The shoreline of Lake Lure has a wonderful beach made for relaxing under the sun, swimming, building sand castles or picnicking with family and friends. A fun way to get wet is by water cannons, water slides, and by bumper boats, which can be found at the lake’s Water Works.

Lifeguards are on duty. Admission charged. Guided boat rides on the lake and boat rentals are available at the marina. The Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area is located 20 miles from downtown Hendersonville.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is another great way to spend the day. The signature chimney rises 315-feet overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure features a breathtaking view.

The park’s hiking trails range from family-friendly to moderately strenuous to the top of Chimney Rock Mountain and to the edge of Hickory Nut Falls. Don’t’ miss seeing the wildlife at the Animal Discovery Den and learn about some of the animals that call the park home. Admission charged.

Are you up to exploring the outdoors by horseback? Riding stables offer guided trail rides at Pisgah Forest Riding Stables, Shoal Creek and Saddle-Up Trail Rides. Travel the woodlands and discover the rich wildlife on the grounds of Biltmore Estate at the Biltmore Equestrian Center. Reservations are required.

For the outdoor enthusiasts looking to swing from the tree tops there are two zip lines nearby: The Gorge, and The Adventure Center of Asheville. These canopy tours offer not only the thrill of defying gravity, but rappels, treetop slides, and a swinging bridge. The Gorge is America’s steepest and fastest zipline canopy tour. The Adventure Center of Asheville boasts a skyline zipline, treetop climbing park,  mountain biking and a kid’s zipline designed for ages under 10.

Another summer tradition with many families is playing a round of putt-putt. Boyd Park’s Laura E. Corn Mini-Golf has been a staple for generations, featuring the area’s most recognizable landmarks on the course. Champions Golf Learning Center is a great spot for several activities such as miniature golf, driving range, putting green and batting cages.

If you want to hit the links there are quite a few public golf courses and driving ranges located in Henderson County. If this list has whet your appetite to what Western North Carolina has to offer, you need to stop by the Visitor Center to learn more from the knowledgeable staff and volunteers.

The Visitor Center stocks thousands of brochures, and magazines that make planning outings a breeze. The center is open seven days a week Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Planning from the comfort of your favorite armchair is available from the HCTDA web site. It is a great resource for events, dining, recreation, family activities, and so much more, go online to visithendersonvillenc.org.

Summer is made for having fun and enjoying life to the fullest!