Located at the border, this marker points out one of the landmarks that helped point out where…read moreNorth Carolina and South Carolina meet. It is on the side of the road with the "Welcome to..." signs in sight. The marker reads, "The Block House Early landmark, western terminus of the 1772 boundary survey between N.C. and S.C. Stood 1/2 mile east." This is marker number O-38 and there is more information online, " As early as 1750, the Block House site stood as a prominent landmark along the North Carolina - South Carolina line, although technically 300 feet within South Carolina. In 1756, the house itself was constructed as a trading post and soon thereafter was modified into a fortification by local settlers during the French and Indian War. Twenty years later, militia Captain Thomas Howard reportedly used the building as a staging ground for an attack on the Cherokee." There is space to pull over and view the marker and to visit the Block House itself. [Review 20006 overall - 3447 in North Carolina - 981 of 2023.]

Polk County is named for William Polk (1758-1834), born in Mecklenburg County North Carolina. He…read morewas an officer in the American Revolutionary War and the first president of the State Bank of North Carolina. He was a first cousin once removed of President James K. Polk (1795-1849, 11th POTUS). The courthouse was completed in 1859 and is a Greek Revival Design with a three-bay portico framed by square pillars. It stands at the center of the town of Columbus, surrounded by four corners designated for churches, two of which are still standing today. It remains actively in use today, making it one of only 14 antebellum courthouses still serving their original function in North Carolina. I stopped by on a Friday evening, so there was plenty of parking. I was able to stick my nose against the windows and peek inside. There is a large entry hall with center hall running to the rear of the building. On the north and south sides of the front door are marching spiral stairs. The building houses the County Superior Court and County District Court of the 29th Judicial District. On the courthouse grounds is an empty concrete pedestal. Was there a Civil War memorial there? I don't know. [Review 656 of 2025 - 4143 in North Carolina - 24217 overall]

VERY small courthouse, but absolutely classic design inside and out. Beautiful grand old courtroom…read morelocated up winding spiral staircase on second floor. Everything about courtroom is impressive from bench, to tables for counsel to well of the bar and chandeliers. Super nice support staff and very professional, polite office of the District Attorney.

Across the street from the "current" post office, this is the OLD post office and it has since been…read moreturned into a museum and cultural center for the town of Flat Rock. Limited hours but the museum has all sorts of materials to view including old newspapers, clothing, pictures, furniture and the like. An interesting look back at the history of this adorable mountain town. [Review 20011 overall - 3452 in North Carolina - 986 of 2023.]

A moderately difficult trail that allows some great views when you get to the end. It's about 3…read moremiles and 1700 ft in elevation. It was my second time hiking ever and I didn't have much issues. There was ice on some of the surfaces because of the winter weather so be careful.

Looking Glass Rock Overlook is awesome!…read more What makes this spot so special? 1) It is one of the best places to view LOOKING GLASS ROCK, a huge monolith that, as the Nat'l Forest Service describes: "rises from the surrounding forest like a sentinel." It is said that once upon a time, The Appalachian Mountain chain was taller than the Rockies, but the softer sandstones eroded over time leaving the harder rocks we know today. Looking Glass Rock is volcanic in nature making it harder and denser than most of the surrounding earth and did not erode as the rest of the mountain did. 2) You can also access the mountain to sea trail just across the parkway that leads to Skinny Dip Falls! If you are not in a terrible hurry, the walk to the falls should only take up about an hour of your time. Or you could spend several hours there playing in the many crystal clear pools of water along the many levels of the falls. The Parkway overlooks always give you the above sea level elevation and Looking Glass Rock Overlook is about 4,492 feet. Comparatively, the highest elevation on the parkway is Richland Balsam @ 6,053 feet, which is about 14.5 miles west of this overlook. The lowest point on the parkway is the James River Visitor Center in Virginia @ 649 feet. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] If you haven't heard, The Blue Ridge Parkway is also known as AMERICA'S FAVORITE DRIVE. It is 469 miles long, but it won't take you even a fraction of that to see why it has this nickname. It is absolutely beautiful most times of the year but ESPECIALLY in the fall! If you are looking for a way to get out and still remain socially distanced, I can't really think of a better way than driving this amazing road. It is estimated there are 65 waterfalls just off the Parkway and hundreds more within a mile or two of the parkway. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND visiting Lineville Falls, Mingo Falls, Crabtree Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Mount Mitchell and visiting the mile high swinging bridge @ Grandfather Mountain. AND of course Skinny Dip Falls, where the trailhead is located right here @ Looking Glass Rock Overlook. 2021 / 65

Was in and out very quickly, but was not treated very respectfully…read more Guess I just got the one who is rude. Great place to go tho to get in and out really fast.

I went to the DMV at Brevard, NC this morning (Jan. 28, 2025) to renew my DL. The staff was very…read morenice and helpful. Others, like me, who were in the waiting room were polite and considerate. i left in a little less than an hour. It was a very good experience.

My family and I spent the weekend in Hendersonville NC and decided to explore Carl's Sandburg Home…read more Carl Sandburg Home-located in Flat Rock North Carolina-offeres an educational lessons for all ages. My family decided to take a tour of the house, to our surprise there was no charge for the tour. Our tour guide, a sweet elderly lady, was fantastic, it was like I was a part of Carl Sandburg's family. The house is well preserved bringing you back to the 1800s. I gained an abundant amount of knowledge during the tour, it was roughly two hours. After the guided tour was over we stamped our Passport book, because the site is a national park. Don't forget your passport books! If you have younger children, don't be cautious about bringing them. You can also go on the actual site of Carl Sandburg's wife's goat farm. I had so much fun petting and brushing the goats. They were so friendly and calm. After our day filled with history and playful goats, my family decided to walk some of the trails, located on the property. The trails are well mapped out and easy to follow, which my family enjoyed. Also, your pets are welcome to join you on the trails. During our visits we were greeted with friendly staff members, who were eager to answer your questions. The grounds and bathroom were clean, and you could tell the grounds had regular maintenance. To my surprise Carl Sandburg's Home and surrounding grounds are accessible to all: youth, adults, and elderly. Offering ample parking including Handicap spots. In addition, the grounds were mostly flat, and there is a shuttle that runs if you are unable to walk through the grounds. If you have a free day during the week or on the weekend, I would recommend checking out Carl Sandburg's Home.

How in the world have I not reviewed the Carl Sandburg Home National Historical Park yet. I've come…read moreto just go to the park and typically head over there before performance at the Flat Rock Playhouse. I even leave a note on my windshield as parking for the national Park isn't allowed there on show days. Tours of the home can be done through reservations but the number on a tour are limited. You can still enjoy the park without a reservation though. The park is a good place to walk especially if you like hills. It is a a hike to get to the house but being in nature and enjoying the scenery is part of the experience. If you didn't get a reservation to tour the house you can view it on the outside as well as wander through the grounds and see the goats and chickens. Make sure to enjoy the beautiful views.

Very nice place. You'll see chickens, goats, and even friendly cat here. Friendly and polite staff…read more Definitely worth taking a tour of the house. Very interesting!

Nice historic property, informative self tour of the property. Chickens and goats! You can go visit…read morethe lady goats and brush and pet them. Pretty nice place with friendly volunteers to give you the details of the historic property. All the lovely goats are descendants of Mrs Sandbergs Goats!!!

Quaint town. Expensive boutique shops. Very faith based community…read more It has a very Main Street USA feel to it. In my opinion, not a lot of great restaurants, so they need to work on that. However McFarlane's bakery is amazing! Asheville is not far, so you can always enjoy the Biltmore and the other attractions in that area. There are better restaurants in that area, but they are usually more crowded and can be expensive also.

Downtown Hendersonville is a great downtown to spend some time in. Paid parking lots are available…read morein different area, and there are some free places to park. The first thing you will notice downtown is the bears. They are all over the place and each is so unique. The bears are auctioned off each fall to provide money to charities. It is an easy downtown to walk around with plenty of crosswalks and benches to rest and watch your surroundings. Downtown has numerous restaurants; shops; museums; art galleries to keep you busy. Festivals appear to be held throughout the year as well. An antique show was occurring while I was downtown. I liked the setup that Main Street was closed but the side streets were still open to traffic.