Top 5 Best Things to Do in Tryon, NC

Tryon is a beautiful mountain town located about 50 minutes south of Asheville and an hour and a half west of Charlotte. This small, quaint town is incredibly charming with several restaurants, a wine bar, art galleries, a community garden, and a town square and mural dedicated to Nina Simone. As you are strolling through town, you just may get to meet the mayor, who will pull over in his vintage VW bug that is a moving mural (seriously)! Keep reading this Tryon, NC Travel Guide for 5 of the best things to do in Tryon, NC.

About Tryon NC

Tryon is approximately 2 miles in radius, located in Polk County, with a population of roughly 1600 people. This town was famous for equestrian activities and vineyards. The town holds the annual famous Block Horse Steeplechase, which it has hosted since 1946. Though many of the original vineyards in the area closed because of Prohibition, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of vineyards rekindling the area’s wine-making history. Truth be told, one of the vineyards showed up on my Instagram last fall and one of the reasons I was excited to visit. Tryon offers a variety of art galleries, antique shops, delicious restaurants, and a welcoming small town feel.

Top 5 Best Things to Do in Tryon, NC

Explore Quaint Downtown Tryon

There is ample parking in downtown Tryon with plenty of shops and art galleries to browse. We started at one end and moseyed our way up to the top of Trade Street taking our time browsing. Some of my favorites to stop in: Mountain Trail Soap Company, A Taste of Olive & Grapes, The Nest Artisan Market, and the Shops at the Jackson Building, which includes a book shop and a chocolate shop.

We grabbed lunch at Harper’s Eatery, which is a delicious pub with friendly servers and a great selection of drinks. We started with pimento cheese and pretzel bites and for entrees, Glory ordered the chicken salad sammie with fries while I ordered the spinach salad with chicken. Then, we split the macaroni & cheese, which was a brilliant idea–it’s really good mac & cheese!

After we finished our browsing, we popped over to the Depot Garden Park to cool off in the shade a bit. Then, we grabbed a drink at the Tryon Bottle Shop. They have a fabulous selection of wines, beers, ciders, and snacks.

Before we headed out on Sunday, we stopped at Katie D’s for bagels and coffee. Don’t let the line scare you away. It moves fast and is well worth the wait! I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese on an asiago bagel while Glory got a plain bagel with jalapeño cream cheese.

The majority of the galleries and shops in downtown Tryon are open on both Saturdays and Sundays. Harper’s Eatery is closed on Sundays. I do encourage you to check hours before making your official plans.

Visit Nina Simone Plaza & Mural

While we were exploring downtown, we spent some time in the Nina Simone Plaza. Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, NC where her mother was a Methodist minister and her father was a handy man and preacher. She graduated as valedictorian from her high school and the community raised money to send her to Julliard in New York City. She moved to Philadelphia and applied to Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she was denied admission. However, this launched Eunice into her amazing career as Nina Simone.

In Tryon, there is Nina Simone Plaza that is open 24 hours with an information kiosk on her life. There is also a beautiful mural dedicated to her right as you’re entering downtown.

Nina Simone’s childhood home was saved by four New York City artists and has since been restored and preserved. Read more about that process here and plan a visit.

Stream Nina Simone’s music here.

Stop by Tryon Arts & Crafts School & Stroll Harmon Field’s Trails

Tryon Arts & Crafts School offers so many interesting classes that you can sign up for and learn from artists. Check out the event schedule here. When we were in town, there was a sale happening, so be sure to check their calendar and Instagram
to see what they have going on while you’re in town even if you do not sign up to take a class.

Adjacent to the property is Harmon Field, which is 36 acres of ball fields, picnic area, equestrian facilities, and more. It is a lovely spot for an evening walk with the river and gorgeous mountain views.

Kick Back and Relax at Mountain Brook Vineyards

I saw Mountain Brook Vineyards on Instagram last fall and immediately started swooning over the outdoor seating areas and mountain views. Glory & I were fortunate to attend their Spring Release Dinner, which was a delicious evening of sampling wines paired with different courses. We also received a tour of the property, which includes event space for weddings and receptions. The owners are so welcoming and have done an outstanding job with the property and hiring brilliant leaders for their wine program, wine club, and more! Plus, they are pet friendly with flights for your pup and feature Cooper, the official winery dog.

Check their event calendar for upcoming dinners, events like JazzFest, and more and plan on kicking back and relaxing with incredible wine (the Twenty-Nineteen BDX is a personal favorite of mine).

Hike Pearson’s Falls & Glen

As a disclaimer, Glory and I are not people who enjoy hiking. However, this was a pleasant, beautiful hike, which is high praise from people like us. It is a well-maintained hiking path that is approximately 1/4 mile trail leading to a 90 foot waterfall. It costs $5 to get into the park and is maintained by the Tryon Garden Club. If you have the time, pack a picnic and take your time exploring the trail. There were a couple of areas that I imagined laying on a rock reading for the afternoon. Don’t forget bug repellant and sunscreen.

An important note is that pets are not allowed unless they are leased service dogs.

Honorable Mentions:

Tryon Theatre

The Tryon Theatre is an independently owned and operated movie cinema located in Historic Downtown Tryon, NC. After the previous theatre burned in the mid-1930s, the current version of the Tryon Theatre with its new balcony opened in 1938. It was completely renovated in 2017 with all new seating, sound and projection, screen, restrooms, lighting … well, pretty much everything. It’s been in continuous operation since 1938. Tickets are $10 and concessions are also reasonably priced. The renovation won the North Carolina Main Street Award in 2020 for the Best Historic Rehabilitation Project of the theatre.

Shakespeare & Friends

Shakespeare & Friends presents classic plays with a new twist in Tryon, North Carolina. Join us for a performance in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater in Rogers Park. There are two more events in 2022: The Crucible September 8-11, 2022 and A Christmas Carol December 8-11, 2022. Dates for the 2023 season have already been announced: May 11-14, 2023, June 22-25, 2023, September 7-10, 2023, and December 7-10, 2023. More information will be released later. Follow along for the most up-to-date information here.

Where to Stay in Tryon, NC

We stayed in a vacation rental through Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals at the Loft on Trade Street. This was such a lovely home base for us–linens are provided for the beds, bathrooms, and kitchen. There is also a hot tub, which is perfect for unwinding after a long day. This property is beautifully decorated and in such a great location to downtown Tryon and would be a nice home base for traveling to Asheville and Hendersonville as well.

Photography by GloryRoze Photography

For more North Carolina travel guides, check out this page on my website that is how I’m tracking my 100 county tour across my home state.

Thank you to Explore Tryon Tourism Development Authority for coordinating and hosting us. As always, all opinions are my own. 

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