A Dog’s-Eye View

Hi, I’m Evie, a native North Carolinian – a Tar Heel, through and through. When I was a young wire fox terrier/boxer mix pup, my parents adopted me and took me to spend my puppy-hood in another state, but after 10 long dog years of sad puppy eyes and sitting pretty, I finally convinced them to move us back to my home state, and my tail hasn’t stopped wagging since. There’s nothing like a homecoming.

Growing up, we spent a lot of time outside, which was where I developed a deep love for all things outdoors – running, jumping, fetching, digging, swimming, hiking, even gardening!

When we first moved to Hendersonville, my parents and I made a du-claw-promise to only hike new trails for the first year, so we really got to see some sights.

Nowadays, I also have two human siblings who are fun but are a little loud sometimes, so I’ve continued to relish any time I have outdoors. As a mature woman (I’m planning my 56th birthday celebration at the time of transcribing this article), I don’t get into as much mischief as I used to, and I’ve found a good nap in a sunny spot has become something of a ritual for me.

But when we do get out to explore Hendersonville, there is so much to sniff, it can be hard to decide what to do. On a hot day, I can’t resist going for a swim, so I will typically just check out one of the rivers in the area, but if there’s time for a hike and a swim, my top choice is always Lake Julia at DuPont State Forest. Speaking of hiking, in my younger days, one of my all-time favorite hikes was Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah National Forest, the views were amazing, but it was a grueling 6-mile trek.

These days, my old bones crave something a little easier, like Bearwallow Mountain, where cows graze at the summit and the smells are amazing, or the Perry N Rudnick Nature Trails at the Kellogg Center, where there are plenty of creeks to splash in. For an easier walk at a park, my people love The Park at Flat Rock because of its paved and fine gravel, stroller-friendly trails, and I love it for all the dogs I get to meet. There are a few dog parks nearby too, but paws-down, my favorite has got to be the one at Mills River Park – the other dogs there just can’t keep up with me when I get a case of the zoomies, but they sure do try!

 Sometimes, on very special occasions, I get a 1-on-1 day with my mom, and we go for a nice drive to visit Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique in Downtown Hendersonville, where I get to pick out a whole bag full of treats, a fun new toy, and sometimes even a new collar or leash. Downtown is also a really great place to dog-watch, you should see some of the harnesses some dogs will wear when going out to lunch at one of the many restaurants with outdoor patios! Un-bark-leaveable!

I really do love Hendersonville, and I think you will too.