Bear Hunt and Savor the Flavor: Two great ways to explore (and win!) in our Valley this Spring
When you stop by the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at 201 E. State Street, you’ll recognize right away that these are the folks who know all the things, from where to get a fantastic latte to shops with the best hiking gear to recommendations for wedding venues. They’re also the heartbeat behind many of our area’s festivals and events.
This Spring, the Chamber is hosting two “treasure hunt” style events that make discovering Black Mountain even more fun: Savor the Flavor of the Valley and Bear Hunt. Ready? Set? Go!
Savor the Flavor of the Valley
March 22-28
Black Mountain’s food and drink scene quietly and consistently overdelivers. You’ll find everything here from laid-back breweries and bars to cozy coffee houses to diet-busting bakeries to restaurants turning out some seriously memorable fare. Menus tend to follow the bounties of the seasons, with local ingredients showing up in inventive ways year-round. Sourwood honey, anyone?
I also think you’ll be surprised by the global influences woven into our town’s culinary selection. Tonight you might dive into some serious Southern comfort food, and tomorrow you might explore flavors from around the world, like Africa, Germany, the U.K., France, Thailand, Italy, Japan, Cuba, China, or Mexico.
This March, the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce is celebrating all this delicious diversity by hosting the inaugural Savor the Flavor of the Valley Sunday, March 22 - Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Savor the Flavor is Black Mountain’s version of a “Restaurant Week”, complete with a Culinary Bingo card that you can fill out as you make your way around town.
Culinary Bingo invites you to complete five or more boxes (in any order), scan the QR code, and record your reviews for entries into the drawing taking place April 10, 2026. The deadline to turn in reviews is April 8.
Pick up a bingo card at the Visitors Center, 201 E. State Street, or download the card from their website: https://www.explorethevalley.org/savor-the-flavor-of-the-valley
Goin’ on a Bear Hunt
Now through April 14
You already know that bears are part of our Western North Carolina neighborhood (click here for black bear safety tips). But did you know that the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to go on a Bear Hunt?
This particular Bear Hunt is a fun scavenger hunt that will introduce you to all kinds of wonderful local businesses. Get started by simply picking up your "Bear Hunt License" (brochure) at a participating shop or at the Visitors Center, 201 E. State Street. Locate the hidden bear in each location* to get your license “tagged,” aka stamped. When you fill in the entire license, turn it back into the Visitors Center for a chance to win a great prize!
Here’s a pro tip from the Chamber: You don’t have to complete the scavenger hunt all in one day. Make it an afternoon. Make it a weekend. Make it a great reason to go exploring!
*note that some bears are hiding where a purchase is required to get a stamp
Discover Black Mountain, NC
Discover more About Black Mountain, then book your visit after consulting our handy Places to Stay in Black Mountain guide.
About the Author
This blog story was written by Amy J. Schultz, an award-winning author, brand/marketing strategist, and overall creative type. She, her husband Brian, and their giant dog Bentley love their downtown Black Mountain neighborhood.
