The Perfect Settings

Rand McNally, The Wall Street Journal and National Geographic Traveler have all recognized Transylvania County and Brevard in their lists of America’s top places to live, work and play. Known as The Land of Waterfalls, Transylvania County is home to over 250 waterfalls, more than any county in North Carolina. Most can be viewed from Highways US 64, US 276 and NC 281. Many falls have names as colorful as the falls are beautiful, including: Connestee, Rainbow, Turtleback, Looking Glass, Courthouse, Slippery Witch, Sliding Rock, Dry, Twin and Toxaway Falls. The average elevation of Transylvania County is 2,200 feet above sea level rising to over 6000 feet at Chestnut Bald.

Embraced by the slopes of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains, Transylvania County is home to hundreds of acres of state and national forests. More than half of the county is covered by Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest and Gorges State Park, which include hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In the county seat of Brevard you’ll find a charming Appalachian town with a thriving music and arts community, along with fantastic restaurants, irresistible antique shops, and one-of-a-kind boutiques.

Brevard is renowned for world-class performances at the Brevard Music Center, with operas, musicals, jazz and classical performances throughout the beautiful summer months. Inaugurated in 1998, the Porter Center for Performing Arts at Brevard College has quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest performance halls in the South. The Porter Center’s acclaimed concert series brings some of the world’s most talented musicians to Brevard to perform in an acoustically pristine setting. Performances encompass a dizzying array of styles from Doc Watson to Herbie Hancock, from Harry Belafonte to the Emerson String Quartet, from Leahy to the Afro-Cuban All-Stars.
http://www.brevard.edu/portercenter

The spectacular mountain setting makes Transylvania County a haven for outdoor sports. Favorites of rock-climbing enthusiasts from all over the Southeast are the faces of Devil’s Courthouse and Looking Glass Rock. Transylvania is also home to some of the best fly-fishing in the country. Area streams are stocked with trout from the Pisgah Fish Hatchery. Favorites are the French Broad River and the Davidson River, ranked as one of America’s top 100 trout streams. Canoeing, kayaking and tubing are also popular outdoor activities, as are exhilarating rides down Sliding Rock.