Bearfootin'

Hendersonville City Hall

Ruthie and I have both visited Hendersonville, about 20 miles south of Asheville, but have never had the opportunity to explore their welcoming downtown. Ruthie was especially interested in checking out a more modern version of the Mast General Store after visiting the original 1883 store outside Boone. The town has become an expensive community of vacation homes and the downtown is set up for tourists and diners. It has been beautifully landscaped, full of trees, flowers and shrubs set in front of handsomely maintained old town buildings. 

We saw the beginning of lots of fall color change. Even when the buildings contained new shops, their historic character was maintained. The restaurants had outdoor patios for dining including one that had set up its roof for outdoor seating. And we were impressed by the town's preservation of a 1927 McClintock Clock made by a company that operated in town from 1917 to 1949.
 

A newer Mast General Store

McClintock Clock

Restaurant with roof seating

 In addition to having trendy restaurants and boutiques, the town had bear sculptures on every corner up for auction to raise money for area charities. Each bear had a QR code at its base. You could scan the code, complete a form and place your bid. If you just HAD to have that particular bear, you could pay $10,000 to pull it from the auction, otherwise, bids will be scored October 16. According to their website, "Each year, the downtown program hosts a live auction to raise funds for the Bearfootin' Art Walk and the many non-profits that the bears represent." Definitely out of our budget but a blast to see.  Below are pictures of our favorite choices.

We took a back road home through the country and stopped at the Asheville Farmer's Market for local vegetables and meat. After that, we hit the gift shop of an organization I support, Local Cloth, which features the work of area fiber artists and provides them a facility for studio space, teaching, and craft demonstration. We've satisfied our urban cravings for now and will shortly be on our way back to the woods near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Check back soon!