September in Travelers Rest: Why This Is the Month to Stay a Little Longer
September might just be one of the best times of year to visit Travelers Rest.
Summer isn’t quite over, fall is beginning to make its way into the Blue Ridge foothills, and there’s plenty happening around town. Spend your morning browsing the farmers market, your afternoon exploring Main Street or hitting the trail, and your evening enjoying dinner and drinks downtown. Better yet? Stay the night and give yourself another day to head toward the mountains.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to plan a weekend in Travelers Rest, September is it.
Catch the Final Saturdays of the Travelers Rest Farmers Market
One of Travelers Rest’s favorite Saturday traditions is wrapping up its summer season this month.
The Travelers Rest Farmers Market takes place at Trailblazer Park on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, with the final summer market of the season happening September 19.
With more than 85 local vendors, you can spend the morning shopping for seasonal produce, meats, breads, cheeses, pastries, handmade goods and more while enjoying live music and a picnic brunch at the park.
And the season isn’t going out quietly. September 19 is the Season Finale & Apple Fest, celebrating the local apple harvest with apples from nearby orchards and plenty of apple-inspired treats and goods throughout the market.
If you’ve been meaning to visit the market this year, this is your last chance before the summer season comes to an end.
Browse + Stroll Through Travelers Rest
September 19 is shaping up to be an especially good Saturday to spend in TR.
After visiting the final Farmers Market of the season, make your way toward Main Street for the Browse + Stroll Art Market.
More than 70 artists will be featured across four pedestrian-friendly locations along Main Street and the Swamp Rabbit Trail from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect locally made art and handcrafted pieces from talented artists throughout the region.
With the Farmers Market and Browse + Stroll happening on the same day, you can easily make an entire day out of exploring Travelers Rest — but we think you should make a weekend out of it.
Hit the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Of course, you don’t need a special event to have a great September day in Travelers Rest.
Bring your bike or your walking shoes and spend some time on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. The trail runs right through the heart of town, making it easy to bike in, grab coffee, stop for lunch, browse the shops and keep exploring.
September brings slightly cooler mornings and evenings, making it an especially nice time to spend a few hours outside.
Head for the Mountains
One of the best reasons to use Travelers Rest as your home base is what’s waiting just beyond town.
Wake up early, grab breakfast and coffee in TR, and spend your second day exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains. Travelers Rest puts you within easy reach of some of the Upstate and Western North Carolina’s best outdoor adventures.
Plan a hike, chase a waterfall or simply take a scenic drive toward the mountains.
For an unforgettable day trip, head north toward the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pack a picnic, stop at overlooks along the way and take your time. September is a beautiful transition month in the mountains — warm enough for outdoor adventures with the first hints of fall beginning to appear as the month goes on.
That’s the beauty of staying in Travelers Rest: you can enjoy restaurants, shops and events in town one day and wake up ready for a mountain adventure the next.
Make It an Overnight Trip
Travelers Rest deserves more than a quick afternoon.
Staying overnight means you don’t have to choose between exploring downtown and heading into the mountains. Spend Saturday morning at the Farmers Market, walk or bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail, browse Main Street, grab dinner and enjoy the evening without worrying about the drive home.
Then wake up Sunday, grab coffee and head north for a hike or a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Whether you’re looking for a boutique hotel, a cozy cottage, a glamping getaway or something close enough to walk or bike into town, there are plenty of ways to turn your visit into a full weekend.
Plan Your September Getaway to Travelers Rest
September gives you a little bit of everything we love about Travelers Rest: local food, art, outdoor adventures, small businesses, mountain views and the beginning of a new season.
Come for the Farmers Market. Come for Browse + Stroll. Come to ride the trail or escape to the mountains.
Just don’t rush home.
Stay the night, take the long way through the Blue Ridge, and discover how much more there is to Travelers Rest when you give yourself an extra day.
