2 Best Sights in Flat Rock, The North Carolina Mountains

Connemara Farm is where the famed poet and biographer Carl Sandburg moved with his wife, Lillian, in 1945; he lived there until his death in 1967. Guided tours of their 1830s house—beautifully reconstructed in 2017—are given by National Park Service rangers. Sandburg's papers still are scattered on his desk as if he had just stepped away for a moment, and there are 11,000 of his books on shelves. Kids enjoy cavorting around the 264-acre farm, which still maintains descendants of the Sandburg family goats. There are also miles of trails.

This theater, the official state theater of North Carolina, is known for its high-quality productions, with sophisticated sets and professional actors. The productions are mostly well-known musicals and other classics. In a converted barn, Flat Rock holds summer and fall programs and classes for aspiring actors. The drama season, with about a dozen productions, typically runs from March to December. The theater ran an impressive fundraising campaign for its shows and arts education programs after having to postpone the 2020--21 season.