Labor Day Excursions/Links Are Provided
for 2025 Registered Attendees Only
In order to attend one of our 2025 Excursions, you must be a registered attendee. A private link will be provided in the attendee email on August 19th, 2025. We will also have a list/sign up available at the retreat. Past excursions included River Tubing, Hikes, Airplane Museum, Lake Lure Boating Trip and more.
Local Places You Can Visit On Your Own/Friends
NC Apple Festival
Downtown Hendersonville, 4 miles away
Cost: Free except if you purchase food/gift.
Note: It now costs to park in downtown Hendersonville.
NC Arboretum Gardens
Off Blue Ridge Parkway exit, near Asheville, 23 miles away
Cost: Free; no admission cost to view the sculptures, exhibits & gardens
beyond the usual parking fee of $20 per personal vehicle.
St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church
Flat Rock, .5 miles away
Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Cost: Free
Biltmore Estate
Largest Private owned residence in the USA. Once in a lifetime experience, Asheville, 20 miles away
Cost: $125 and does not include the gardens.
Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum The restored Depot houses a HO scale railroad layout that is highly detailed and is prototypical of Hendersonville, Saluda, Asheville, and Western North Carolina. The Deport features historical artifacts, a Southern Railway caboose, and a special children's exhibit. Cost: Free, Handicap Accessible
Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County The Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County was established in 1997, housing exhibits from North Carolina, minerals, Indian artifacts, a dinosaur egg nest, fossils, fluorescent minerals, gems, and faceted minerals. The Museum's specialty is Geodes, sold, cracked, and/or displayed, plus a large skeletal replica of a T-Rex Dinosaur Head. Open Saturday; Cost: Free, Handicap Accessible
Appalachian Pinball Museum - Video Arcade & Museum in downtown Hendersonville Play over 80 old school Pinball Machines and Video Arcade Games! Cost: $13. Play as much as you want.
http://www.hendersonville.com/attractions/
Downtown Hendersonville, 4 miles away
Cost: Free except if you purchase food/gift.
Note: It now costs to park in downtown Hendersonville.
NC Arboretum Gardens
Off Blue Ridge Parkway exit, near Asheville, 23 miles away
Cost: Free; no admission cost to view the sculptures, exhibits & gardens
beyond the usual parking fee of $20 per personal vehicle.
St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church
Flat Rock, .5 miles away
Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Cost: Free
Biltmore Estate
Largest Private owned residence in the USA. Once in a lifetime experience, Asheville, 20 miles away
Cost: $125 and does not include the gardens.
Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum The restored Depot houses a HO scale railroad layout that is highly detailed and is prototypical of Hendersonville, Saluda, Asheville, and Western North Carolina. The Deport features historical artifacts, a Southern Railway caboose, and a special children's exhibit. Cost: Free, Handicap Accessible
Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County The Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County was established in 1997, housing exhibits from North Carolina, minerals, Indian artifacts, a dinosaur egg nest, fossils, fluorescent minerals, gems, and faceted minerals. The Museum's specialty is Geodes, sold, cracked, and/or displayed, plus a large skeletal replica of a T-Rex Dinosaur Head. Open Saturday; Cost: Free, Handicap Accessible
Appalachian Pinball Museum - Video Arcade & Museum in downtown Hendersonville Play over 80 old school Pinball Machines and Video Arcade Games! Cost: $13. Play as much as you want.
http://www.hendersonville.com/attractions/
Kim Rich
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An amazing and adventurous weekend spent learning, growing and exploring the gift of singleness. I arrived nervous and uncertain and left with a confident and grateful heart. Fun Christian fellowship, worship and praise that has continued well beyond the retreat.
— Kim Rich, Destin, FL |
On-Campus:
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Outdoor Pool: The pool is a central hub of activity during the summer. Guests of all ages enjoy the opportunity to swim and relax. Pool Saturday 1:00-5:00pm and Sunday, 2:00-5:00pm.
Hammocking: You are welcome to bring your hammock and hang it up at various locations through the campus. Bonclarken Lake: Enjoy walking around it but due to limited staff this season, the kayaks or paddle boats are not available. Athletic Fields/Courts: Available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis: The athletic fields provide ample space for all kinds of outdoor activities and field games including volleyball, soccer, and tennis. Disc Golf Course: Bonclarken’s 18-hole disc golf course travels through wooded areas, open fields, and across streams. As a great, low impact activity, the course is very popular with all ages. Birding: Bonclarken offers a variety of habitats including creeks, meadows, marshland, and wooded areas to observe birds and other wildlife. Click here for area birding information Gift Shop: A visit to the Bonclarken Gift Shop is a special trip indeed! Souvenirs and Bonclarken apparel items are available, as well as unique handmade items and gifts donated to Bonclarken by Women Ministries groups from Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches. Hours: 10-4pm, Saturday only. |
