For the Family : A Weekend Sample Itinerary

I get it - planning a family vacation can be stressful! From making sure you packed enough snacks to baby's favorite stuffy, the list is long before you even begin to think activities. Who really has time to research activities? So that's where we are here to help...

We are a local family who loves to spend our free time exploring all that the surrounding cities have to offer so we can pass the best suggestions off to you.

Updated in February 2023, here is my current favorite obsession when it comes to packing a weekend full of activities in when staying Marion, NC:

DAY 1:

Olive Branch Cattle Co - Book a farm tour with Olive Branch Cattle Co and experience life in Marion! This farm as a special heart and accommodations for special needs children as well :)

Tom's Creek Falls - A simple 1.5 mile (very easy) round-trip hike to a beautiful 80-foot waterfall. Great for a family hike!

Flyboy Pizza - Aviation themed restaurant your entire family will enjoy!

Dive right into camp life with a bonfire and s'mores!

DAY 2:

Linville Falls - A popular area hike with two waterfalls.

Banks Creek Barn - The catch-out pond is a wonderful place for family fun; catch your fish and eat it too. They provide fishing poles, and bait. This is fun fishing for any age or skill level. No fishing license is required. There’s also an art gallery, beers and a BBQ truck!

Linville Falls Caverns - Guided tours every 10 minutes: Learn about the fascinating science behind the geological features of Linville Caverns. Thursday-Monday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

DAY 3:

GoGo's Cinnamon Rolls - Grab a gooey, hot cinny to start the day off just right! (Coffee at Seeker’s Coffee is great, too!)

Catawba Falls - A super popular hike with lower (and upper) falls. We recommend getting there early. On the drive back, be sure to stop by The Thirsty Peanuts (Sat/Sun) for house-boiled peanuts + fresh mountain lemonade

Watershed Old Fort - Adventurous kiddos? Watershed features miles of mountain biking trails (admission required), a swimming hole dug into the river and a brewery/taco food truck!

Some other honorable mentions, these may be a bit farther than you're looking for, but on the chance you're in the area anyway, here are some of our other absolute favs:

WhistleHop Brewery - Located in Fairview, just south of Asheville, you can actually take a very scenic 1-hour drive through back roads to get here. Located amongst a couple old train cabooses, this is the brewery of all breweries when it comes to family entertainment. There is a rotating food truck, but more importantly your kids will stay entertained for hours with: a soccer field, corrugated pipe slide, mini putt putt course, giant yard games, and so much more. It's our go-to when we want to relax and the littles need to get our the wiggles!

Hands On! Children's Museum in Hendersonville - For a rainy day, this is a no brainer. With an indoor water table, "Tiny Kids Hike" to an indoor slide, tons of STEM activities and more, all children will be entertained! Even my 14-month old was engrossed in the water table for at least two hours.

Summer and Fall, The Orchard at Altapass is a don't miss! Pick your own apples or enjoy their freshly baked apple pie. Most Saturdays and Sundays they have live music in the pavilion from 2-4 pm. Visit their website for ongoing activities.

Lake Lure Beach - Public beach surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Admission: Adults $10, Kids 4-12 $8. Kids under 4 - free. More info here.

WNC Nature Center, Asheville - daily animal programs, interactive Nature Play areas, and hands-on learning activities.

If you're looking for a family friendly camping or glamping vacation, look no further than Gold River camp + cabins. Located in Marion, NC, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and just 45-minutes from Asheville, we are not short of activities. If you need additional suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out, I have activities to recommend in Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, Burnsville, Asheville, Morganton and Hickory - all within an hours drive!