As a homeschool mom, I'm always on the lookout for fun, educational destinations to take my children to so they can have more hands on, experiential learning opportunities. Although not exhaustive, here is a list of places I have found in Transylvania County that are kid-friendly and educational.
Transylvania Heritage Museum
Transylvania Heritage Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2007 and located at 189 West Main Street in Brevard NC. The Museum is free (donations appreciated) and is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 am until 5 pm. The Museum opens during March and closes mid-December. Check website for details.
http://transylvaniaheritage.org/
Silvermont Mansion
Silvermont Mansion, built by Transylvania Industrialist Joseph Silversteen in 1917, anchors an 8 acres county park located on East Main Street in Brevard. The property is operated by Transylvania County Parks and Recreation. A second-floor house museum, reflecting the era of the Silversteen family, is managed by the Transylvania Heritage Museum. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and is located in the East Main Street Historic District. Free tours are offered...check website for details. There is a playground, tennis courts, a covered picnic area, walking trail, swings and
Allison-Deaver House
The Allison-Deaver House is the oldest standing frame house in Western North Carolina. Check website for tour details.
http://www.tchistoricalsociety.com/?page_id=9
Other events by the historical society (walking tours, fundraisers, McGaha Chapel information, etc)
http://www.tchistoricalsociety.com/
WNC Military History Museum (I visited here with my three young children and the volunteer tour guide kept the explanations simple and brief and it went very well)
The purpose of this military museum is to provide an avenue for people to appreciate and honor the men and women who served so bravely in our Armed Forces. The museum features one-of-a kind artifacts, uniforms, weaponry, original newspapers, personal letters, etc. All of these special items and more weave the great and proud stories of World War I, World War II, Korea, The Cold War, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Free admission.
http://www.wncmilitaryhistorymuseum.com/
Cradle of Forestry in America Heritage Site
Nestled in Pink Beds Valley is the Cradle of Forestry in America. This heritage site is the birthplace of science-based forest management. George and Edith Vanderbilt of the nearby Biltmore Estate are accredited for this living legacy. Some 87,000 aces of the Vanderbilt’s “Pisgah Forest” tract became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forest, established in 1916.
Today this North Carolina destination is jointly managed by the US Forest Service and the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association. The site is open to visitors everyday from mid-April to early November. As you enter the main gate (4 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 412) you are rewarded with the opportunity to explore the past, present, and future of environmental sustainability and stewardship. These are brought to visitors through paved interpretive trails, interactive exhibits, film, music, drama, guided tours, nature programs, craft demonstrations, and special events. A sustainably designed Forest Discovery Center with its gift shop and café welcomes visitors to the historical structures and a relaxing walk through the woods.
See website for admission fees. Some events are free and some cost.
