Getaway

Posted on by Chris King
Downtown Brevard photo by Eric Crews


You may not find vampires in Brevard, the county seat of Transylvania (“trans” for across and “sylvan” for wood). But there are attractions like Dupont State Park, Looking Glass Falls, John Rock, Davidson River, the Pink Beds and the Pisgah Fish Hatchery nearby. Such opportunities for adventure make this small town a near-perfect gateway to the mountains. Slow down for a little while and explore its Main Street charms.

There's Brevard College, a private, United Methodist school with just over 600 students. Being located so close to the mountains offers many of the students a tremendous opportunity to study in the wilderness, and many of the majors reflect as such.

According to local legend, during the Orson Welles’ famous War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938, numerous Brevard College students fainted upon hearing the radio reports of an alien invasion, and a fear and panic gripped the campus.

Getaway Itinerary

Go: straight to Bracken Mountain Bakery on South Broad Street in Brevard, and bring your own coffee mug. A fill-up will only set you back $1.25 (and refills are free!), so you can splurge on the ever-popular dried cherry scone ($1.50).

Wander: one block east to the Tailgate Farmer’s Market on Varsity Street (Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon). Pick up some locally grown food or just "window" shop in-season fruits and veggies, as well as jarred jams and honey. Finish up your coffee as you chat with local artists hawking their wares — photography, jewelry, furniture and more.

Hunt: for hard-to-find music at the family-owned Rockin’ Robin Records on North Broad Street. The store offers a great selection of local artists, so if your collection lacks good old-time mountain music, ask for a recommendation and you’ll walk away happy.

Grab: something local and unique to take home. There are such shops as Local Color (functional furnishings, artisan clothing, and handcrafted jewelry, among other things) or Hunters and Gatherers on West Main, with “a smathering of wonderfully hand-crafted creations by our talented local artists and several artists from around the states," according to the store's Facebook page.

Treat: yourself to some authentic Italian ice at Kiwi Gelato on East Main Street. Top flavors include Nectarine Vanilla, Chocolate and (of course) White Squirrel (cost: $4.42 for an 8-ounce cup).

Be a kid: at O.P. Taylor’s, the famous and well-known “Coolest Toy Store on the Planet” — it's old-school toys galore, so be ready to be transported back to the glorious and innocent age of 6 when you first laid eyes on the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.

Eat: At Hob Nob or The Square Root, which you'll find in a historic building that once housed The Transylvania Times. I splurged on the pan-seared sea scallops served over sun-dried tomato risotto and drizzled with browned butter sage sauce (Cost: $22).

Relax: to tunes at Jordan Street Café & Bar. This is the place to sit back, enjoy a local brew and listen to some good live music before heading back home. (Cost: most beers are $4).

Total cost: $36.27

Today it's a bit calmer, but be on the lookout for the area's revered and unique white squirrels, which are simply a color variant of the common Eastern grey squirrel. So famous are these campus and town residents that every year, the city hosts the Brevard White Squirrel Festival in late May. Last year, participants set a Guiness World Record for the most costumed dancers in a public setting.

If you're feeling athletic (in a leisurely way), play on the college's disc golf course. It's moderately hilly and slightly wooded, weaving through the outskirts of the campus. Water comes into play on some holes, so be prepared to get wet. As a bonus, you might be able to see some of the famed white squirrels while playing.

Another local draw is the Brevard Music Center, which boasts about 400 students and is celebrating its 75th anniversary by presenting more than 80 concerts — orchestra, opera, chamber music, wind ensembles and more. The season runs through early August. Visit brevardmusic.org for more information.

Meanwhile, there are shops, restaurants and charm downtown. There's an old-fashioned toy store, a music shop that specializes in local music, crafts, a Saturday farmers market and more.

— Send your getaway ideas to news@moutntainx.com or call 25«1-1333, ext. 152. And visit mountainx.com/getaway.

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