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So, here's the thing:
We love talking (especially about ourselves and our kids), but you have more important things to do in October, (fingers crossed) our busiest month this year. That mean's we're keeping the letter short and sweet. Keep reading below for the important stuff.
Sending positive vibes and lots of love,
Julie & Melanie
And the entire HCTDA team
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From Visit NC in conjunction with Destination Analysts, nearly 2/3rds of American travelers are expected to take at least one overnight leisure trip in the next 3 months. A good sign, considering the challenges our industry still faces due to inflation.
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We are excited to announce a brand new hiking option in Henderson County, the Strawberry Gap Trail!
Built and maintained by Conserving Carolina (with the help of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and MANY generous landowners, donors and volunteers), the Strawberry Gap Trailhead is located in Gerton on Gerton Highway, and the trail itself weaves along the Henderson/Buncombe county line.
The trail connects to the Trombatore Trail in the picturesque Blue Ridge Pastures after an approximately 1.6-mile hike, but sees about 800 feet in elevation change, making it a challenging hike. Please note, this trail is only open to human hikers, meaning no dogs, bikes or horses.
Part of the Hickory Nut Trail Gorge trail system, one of 12 North Carolina State Trails, the long-term goal is to form a closed loop, eventually connecting to the Florence Nature Preserve and other trails in the Chimney Rock/Lake Lure area, providing alternatives to some of the region's more heavily-trafficked outdoor resources.
The trailhead was funded in part by the 2022 HCTDA Grant program.
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Leaf peeping season is almost here! We didn't want to include too much information here in the newsletter, but we've compiled some basic info about why leaves change color in the fall, what determines a good color showing and basic info about Fall 2022 color predictions here, on a pinned post in the Henderson County Tourism Partner Facebook Group, to which you are invited to join.
Additionally, if you take any great foliage pics and share them on social media, be sure to tag @VisitHendersonvilleNC on Facebook and Instagram, or send them to us directly through messenger, we are always looking for great content to share.
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In this week's newsletter, we wanted to feature one of our wonderful tourism partners, iDaph Events. iDaph Events is local to Hendersonville and we are lucky to have this caliber of event management organization in our community. Typically event and race management companies of this nature are scattered in larger cities across the United States.
iDaph Events creates, designs and produces many wonderful running and biking events, as well as triathlons in Henderson and Buncombe Counties throughout the year. These events help to fill our accommodations, restaurants and stores with visitors, but also offer the opportunity for you to suggest their events to your own patrons as an activity while in town (either as an event participant or even just as a spectator, cheering on those running, biking and swimming). They also have at least one if not multiple local non-profit partners for each event, giving money from the events right back to our local community of charitable organizations.
Owned by Daphne Kirkwood, there are many great ways that your business and iDaph can connect and partner together - including participating in the event (Hint: you can walk a 5k, you don't have to race it!), showcase your business by sponsoring or partnering, get your business promoted to all the health conscious participants on the iDaph events database, marketing and social media channels, volunteer and much, much more! Feel free to contact Daphne directly to initiate a partnership. She can be reached via email [email protected].
The next 2 events hosted by iDaph include the Black Bear Half Marathon & 8K on October 9th (which starts and ends at Jackson Park) and the Trick or Trail 5k on October 22nd (moved to the City of Hendersonville at the Farmers Market this year!)
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Hendersonville on North Carolina Weekend | |
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Reminder! In just a couple of days, on Thursday, October 6, PBS will air an episode of North Carolina Weekend where Hendersonville will be the star of the show! Many of our attractions, restaurants and lodging locations are expected to be included in the episode. Watch live on 10/6 at 9pm, 10/7 at 5pm or 10/11 at 7:30 pm. You can also watch PBS on their website, pbsnc.org/watch/.
(The air date is, of course, subject to change.)
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10/13 – Tourism After 5 – 5pm – The Cedars Sales Office, 739 North Main St, Hendersonville – RSVP with Julie Hayes
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10/25 – October TDA Board Meeting – 1pm, Henderson County King Street Office Building Meeting Room
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11/2 – FAM Tour – 8:30am-5pm – Register with Julie Hayes
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11/10 – Tourism After 5 – 5pm – Our Recipe Roots, 2702C Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock – RSVP with Julie Hayes
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11/29 – November TDA Board Meeting – 1pm, Henderson County King Street Office Building Meeting Room
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1/12 – Tourism After 5 – 5pm – Breedlove's Family Restaurant, 316 Chadwick Ave, Hendersonville – RSVP with Julie Hayes
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1/24 – January TDA Board Meeting – 1pm, Henderson County King Street Office Building Meeting Room
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2/23 – Henderson County Tourism Conference, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall (registration not yet open but will be required)
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More Henderson County Tourism
in the News
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Openings/Closings/Changes
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TEMPORARY CLOSING: Bearwallow Mountain parking area on 10/11 & 10/12 for an educational event
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OPEN: Eagle Bar & Grill, Located at Cummings Cove in Etowah (925 Lake Ledge Court, Hendersonville) is open to the public, offering a casual yet upscale atmosphere where fresh ingredients and masterful preparation take center stage, enjoy contemporary, seasonal, local cuisine with elements of rustic Italian cooking
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OPEN: Haunts of Hendo -- This Haunted Walking Tour in Downtown Hendersonville offers spooky stories that haunt Hendersonville, Suggested for age 10+ the tour lasts 1 hour and covers 1.1 miles
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OPEN: WNC Fish Hunter, Offers custom fishing trips for trout, muskie or smallmouth bass -- available to all levels of fishermen and women!
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OPEN: Strawberry Gap Trail, Trailhead located on Gerton Highway in Gerton
Does your tourism business have any changes coming? Let Melanie know!
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