I gotta say, sunrises don’t get much better than this. And, yes, it’s absolutely worth the early start. While this adventure is just over the border in South Carolina, it’s certainly one to add to your bucket list if you’re living in North Carolina. Here’s my full guide on how to plan your visit to watch a sunrise at The Pretty Place with everything you need to know before you go.
What You Need To Know About Watching Sunrise At The Pretty Place
Disclaimer
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FAQ for visiting the Pretty Place
Where is it located?
Cleveland, SC, about 5 hours from Fayetteville.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes – of course you know your kids best so use this guide and your best judgment as to what’s appropriate for your family.
Is it dog-friendly?
Dogs are not allowed in the chapel.
What facilities are available?
There are Porta John toilets in front of the chapel.
What should you bring with you?
You don’t need much for this adventure. I’d just recommend
- A camera – this is my fav beginner camera and I always have this adventure camera with me on this compact selfie stick
- If you visit in a cold season, hand warmers like these, warm layers, and maybe even a blanket
Before we get started
If you want to fill your chapter at Fort Bragg with adventure, check out my Ultimate Fort Bragg Bucket List.
It’s full of adventure ideas with everything from short day trips to ideas for weekend trips. I also added unique events and leave block ideas so you have everything you need to make the most of your time here.
How to check the opening hours for the Pretty Place
The most important thing to do before you go is to check if it will be open.
Sometimes the chapel will be closed to host private events, and the last thing you want to do is get all the way there and not be able to go in.
You can check their schedule here.
As long as they don’t have an event listed, you’re good to go!
The opening hours are 6am – 6pm.
Getting there and parking
To get there, you can use Fred W. Symmes Chapel aka “Pretty Place” in Google Maps.
Here are the coordinates: 35°08’01.9″N 82°34’32.9″W
It will take you directly to the parking lot in front of the chapel.
It’s at the end of the road and the parking lot is just finding a spot off to the side in the cul de sac.
What is The Pretty Place?
The Pretty Place is a chapel. What makes it special is that this chapel sits on the edge of a cliff boasting gorgeous mountain views.
The rows of benches are covered by a roof, but there are no walls to obstruct the view.
When is the best time to visit the Pretty Place
To get the most bang for your visit, it’s best to see The Pretty Place in all its glory at sunrise or sunset.
The view is facing the sunrise so that’s when I chose to go.
It’s simply magnificent!
There’s the imagery of the cross at the edge of this cliff, which is powerful on its own even if you’re not religious.
Combine that with a backdrop of far reaching views with layers of mountains being revealed as the light increases and the experience of watching the sun slowly appear, and you have yourself a beautiful start to the day.
It’s so powerfully beautiful that it kind of smacks you in the face to remind you not to get caught up in all the things that don’t matter. You just get filled with gratitude for the opportunity to see something so beautiful.
If you can only go in the daytime, it’d still be a cool sight to see. However, I think to get the most out of the experience, it’s worth waking up early and seeing it with a backdrop of the sun rising and the sky full of color.
What to expect at The Pretty Place
There’s two things worth noting about your visit to The Pretty Place Chapel.
First, it’s a chapel, not a tourist attraction.
Don’t be a douchebag rules apply.
Unfortunately, I’ve read some reports of people being loud and obnoxious, leaving trash everywhere, and even people letting their kids climb all over the cross. It’s just not the place for it.
Act as you would in a church. It’s a quiet place for reflection so you go there, sit and watch the view, take a few photos, and act with respect – which shouldn’t be too much to ask in my opinion.
The second important thing to expect is a crowd, depending on when you go.
It’s a popular spot so if you’re visiting on a weekend, you can expect to share it with a bit of a crowd. I went on a weekday in winter and it wasn’t too bad, perhaps only about 10 other people there.
Accommodation near The Pretty Place Chapel
I stayed at this cozy cabin which was only about 15 minutes from The Pretty Place. It made getting there for sunrise super convenient because we didn’t have to factor in much of a drive.
The location is also convenient for a lot of other adventures in the area.
It was a lovely, cozy cabin with everything you need for a comfortable stay and I’d highly recommend it.
Other things to do in the area
Your visit to The Pretty Place at sunrise leaves the whole rest of the day open to see some other adventures in the area.
First of all, if you’re ready for breakfast you could head to the nearby Creekside Market & Grill. It’s a great local spot where you can fuel up for the day with a hearty meal. Brevard is nearby and has plenty of restaurants as well.
DuPont State Recreational Forest is close by and has a lot of hiking options and impressive waterfalls. We did Hooker Falls, High Falls, and saw the covered bridge. Triple Falls is also there but it was closed when I visited.
Pisgah Forest is also nearby and you can find a lot of hiking and outdoor adventures there also. This post has more information on things to do in that area.
When you’re ready for dinner, Smoke On BBQ is a fantastic local spot. Never thought I’d get drive through BBQ but you can get it there!
Hooker Falls
Smoke On BBQ
Other guides you might enjoy
How To Hike Profile Trail To MacRae Peak On Grandfather Mountain
Your Complete Guide On How To Spend A Weekend In Maggie Valley, NC
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