| Recreation | |
Rutherford County Info |
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You won't run out of great things to do in western North Carolina. Come have some fun! Where do we start? There are so many opportunities for recreation in and around here, that it entirely depends on what you like to do. Below is a partial summary of what is available, but really, we're only scratching the surface. We'll be expanding this web page into multiple pages, and hope you are able to catch a glimpse of the possibilities. Western North Carolina is well known for it's outdoor recreation of all kinds, it's amazing natural beauty with the mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, and it's unmistakable value. Come have some fun! |
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Fishing |
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| Golf There are eight golf courses in our immediate area, and 30 within a 30-mile radius. The local ones are the 9-hole municipal courses of Rutherfordton, Forest City, and Lake Lure. Dogwood Valley is also a 9 hole course. 18-hole courses can be found at Meadowbrook, Cleghorn Country Club, Apple Valley and Bald Mountain. |
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| Swimming Lake Lure offers a public beach, with a water slide and lifeguards open during summer months. Lake James has a designated swimming area without lifeguards in the state park. Many people also enjoy large swimming pools at the various clubs which require membership, and several swimming holes in the creeks and rivers. |
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| Canoes, Kayaks, Water Skiing, Wake Boarding, Boat Rentals, etc. Lake Lure Adventure Company is one of the premier establishments for enjoying Lake Lure water sports. The state park at Lake James offers canoe rentals, and Lake James also allows use of wave runners/jet skis. Lake Lure requires boat permits, allowing a maximum of 21', and does not permit powered individual watercraft. |
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| Whitewater Rafting The Green River (next door in Henderson and Polk Counties) has sections of rapids you might like. Another place to experience whitewater is about an hour's drive to just north of Asheville, on the French Broad River, offering category two and three rapids. French Broad Rafting Company is easy to remember and offers fun and safe excursions. |
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| Hiking From Chimney Rock to Grandfather Mountain, there's plenty of trails to hike in western North Carolina. We love the moderate trails at Linville Falls and DuPont Forest's numerous waterfalls (both are NC State Parks). For a workout, consider the Calloway Peak Trail at Grandfather Mountain, where cables are attached to rocks assisting your climb. |
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| Horseback Riding With three riding/training/boarding stables in Rutherford County, and the annual Steeple Chase next door in Polk County, horse enthusiasts will quickly feel welcome here. Northwest of Rutherfordton is Cedar Creek and Riverside Stables, and a next door neighbor to the Clearwater Creek community is Puddlefoot Stables. |
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| Winery - Brewery Tours If the spirits move you, visit one of the many breweries or wineries in western North Carolina. From the organic Pisgah Brewery in nearby Black Mountain, to Highlands Brewery in Asheville, you'll smell the hops and barley, and crave a pint of something cold. Rock House Winery next door in Columbus, NC, and Lake James Cellars in Morganton both offer excellent varietal wines as well as specialty vintner blends. |
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| Snow Skiing There's Sugar Mountain, Hawks Nest, Ski Beech, Appalachian Ski, Wolf Ridge, Sapphire Valley and Cataloochee, all within an hour and a half's drive from Rutherford County. Snow boarders are, of course, welcome and several resorts offer family tubing areas as well. |
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| Theater Community theater and the arts are alive and well in Rutherford County. The Arts Council puts on several productions each year, as does the Rutherford Community Theater. In addition, younger talent shows up on stage with productions from the High Schools. If you thought this was about movies, yes, we have a 4-plex cinema, with plans for a larger one. |
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| Music Many local bands express their creativity on weekend nights. The most consistent venue featuring live music is Barley's Taproom, and you'll hear live performances at Legal Grounds and M² restaurants regularly, too. Thursday evenings each month during summer, the town of Rutherfordton hosts a musical event in front of the courthouse, too. |
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| Arts & Crafts With the downtown Rutherfordton gallery of the Rutherford County Visual Arts Guild (www.rcvag.com), and events such as MayFest, there are beautiful creations to discover from local artisans. Pottery, metal work, wood work, photography, and textiles are always on display. |
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| Antiques, Shopping Find a hidden treasure, take a walk down memory lane, or scratch a shopping itch. Several antique stores and local boutiques offer hard-to-find items, in addition to one-of-a-kind original creations from local artists. Explore downtown Rutherfordton, and downtown Forest City (homemade potato chips made to order at Smith's Drugs!). |
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