Taste The State

Both North Carolina and Michigan are known as states that welcome visitors with open arms and a smile. This down-home hospitality is reflected in the comfort food they serve as chefs use local ingredients in order to produce the most powerful flavors available. A visit to these states will satisfy any discerning palate.

Hendersonville, NC

In Western North Carolina, just south of Asheville, Hendersonville blends natural beauty with Southern hospitality, a vibrant arts scene and a rich agricultural tradition to create an idyllic Blue Ridge Mountain getaway. With an average elevation of 2,200 feet, the area experiences four distinct seasons without the harsh winters of higher climes or muggy summers found throughout much of the Southeast.

Hendersonville has long been known for its abundant apples. Henderson County leads North Carolina in apple production and ranks seventh in the nation. As late summer approaches, tree branches hang full of ripe fruit. The orchards — many run by third, fourth and fifth generations — once sold primarily to wholesale buyers. But today many farms welcome visitors to pick their own apples. The Crest of the Blue Ridge Orchard Trail outlines 20 orchards, roadside stands and markets along the scenic backroads of Henderson County. The self-guided trail encourages visitors to create their own apple-country itineraries. Additional farm activities include taking a hayride, feeding barnyard animals, wandering through a corn maze and picking a pumpkin from the patch. On-site bakeries transform fresh apples into pies, fritters, doughnuts and caramel-coated confections. A favorite pastime is getting a doughnut fresh from the fryer and savoring it from a rocking chair with a mountain view.