Elevation: 1,193 ft

Population : 4,584

 

Talk a walk down the flowered brick sidewalk on Main Street which will take you back to your childhood when worries were few and summer days seem to last foreve, where you can sit on a bench and watch the world go by - that's Valdese which is rich in history with a heritage spanning ocean and continents.  Founded by Waldensian settlers from Northern Itlay at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, Valdese is a friendly, welcoming community.  Stop in at the old Rock School to see local and regional art or drop into the Piedmont and Western Railroad Club to check out the HO scale railroad that recrreates the line from Marion, NC to Leadvale, TN.  You can then cap off the day with a "taste of the grape" at the Waldensian Heritage Winery. 

 

You can stroll along Main Street and enjoy the variety of shops, featuring antiques and local arts and crafts and then stop in at one of the restaurants and enjoy a great meal. 

 

Valdese strikes a perfect balance as a place to grow up in or grow old.