– 27 Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC (+ Nearby Attractions!)

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Keeping your adventure to or within the vicinity of Asheville gets you to the Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, and the Folk Art Center – and two. 1. Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway · 2. Tour Biltmore Estate · 3. Wander through Downtown Asheville · 4. Visit the Western North Carolina (WNC) Nature Center · 5.
 
 

Things to Do, Attractions & Activities in Asheville | Asheville, NC’s Official Travel Site.16 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Asheville | PlanetWare

For easy picnics, head to a winery like Stone Ashe Vineyards. Grab our full list of the best Asheville picnic spots. With acres of streams, nature trails, bridges, and spots perfect for picnicking, this lesser-known gem is also a refuge for endangered wildflowers.

Pack a blanket and bring a book! This holiday lights display is truly one of the best winter things to do in Asheville. From November to January 1st, the Arboretum lights up its gardens with innovative creations, wildlife exhibits, and lights that dance to music.

Of course, you can see Bonsais, butterflies, and their famous Quilt Garden. You must pay a small parking fee to enter the grounds. Does Winter Lights sound magical? Read more about all of the best spots to catch Christmas lights in Asheville. Are you looking for things to do in Asheville where you can meet the furry Western North Carolina locals in a safe environment instead of on the trails or our front steps…?

The center also houses snakes, turtles, hawks, goats, frogs, and donkeys. Find plenty of exploration stations and themed playground areas for the littles — spider-web jungle gym included.

Wide and paved walking paths are extra stroller-friendly. After hours, stroll the grounds with a beer or cider in hand. Enjoy local eats too. Like The North Carolina Arboretum, there is a small entrance fee. Or, become a member.

One of our top weekly things to do in Asheville, we love walking the 2-mile Perimeter Trail around Beaver Lake and dip into the Bird Sanctuary. Beaver Lake is perfect for a stroll after a North Asheville lunch or dinner. Bring a book and some binoculars. The Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary houses a. Birdwatchers can spy hawks, osprey, herons, vultures, kites, sparrows, woodpeckers, ducks, wrens, swallows, warblers, and bluebirds. Although Beaver Lake is privately owned, the area is open to the public and free.

Please consider leaving a donation in the parking lot box, though. One of our top recommended things to do in Asheville is enjoying the three or four waterfalls at DuPont. Triple Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are famous. We suggest parking in the Hooker Falls Access Area. If you still have energy, walk under the covered wooden bridge to Bridal Veil Falls, which adds 4 more miles to your hike.

If you need lunch afterward, drive minutes to nearby Hendersonville — another one of our favorite towns. Asheville sees the most visitors in the fall and around the holidays. The leaves! Growing up in CT, we thought New England was the boss of fall foliage.

Who knew that the Western North Carolina mountains had an equally breathtaking fall season? Nothing beats an Asheville autumn. Enjoy fall foliage hikes, corn mazes, apple picking, and catching those purple and pink sunsets. Our top things to do in Asheville, NC in autumn include visiting the apple orchards for cider donuts and brewery hopping for spiced and pumpkin beers. Pick a pumpkin. Trek the most beautiful fall foliage hikes , and wine taste at the vineyards with the best views.

Asheville in the fall is also a great time to drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway. In need of cooler summer things to do in Asheville, NC? Drive under one hour to Skinny Dip Falls to kiss the magical Dragon Tree on your way to this serene waterfall. Spread out along the falls and take a dip in one of its pools. You can also head over to Sliding Rock and literally slide down a foot natural boulder into the chilly waters.

Sliding Rock has reopened, and Skinny Dip Falls looks a bit different — the bridge washed away and the falls have a new path. Imagine walking along the Riverwalk in the River Arts District and suddenly spying a gaggle of floating and cackling unicorns…. Where can you get your tubing on?

French Broad Outfitters and Zen Tubing are just a few. While the best things to do in Asheville, NC — to us — are all outdoors, our next go-to are those breweries.

Asheville has no shortage of beer. Below, find the best Asheville things to do that involve all of the booze: wineries, distillers, cideries, wine bars, and rooftop bars. You cannot come to Asheville without trying as much of the local craft beer as possible. As locals, what are our favorite breweries in AVL? For something different, Bhramari and Funkatorium sours are sure to impress or weird you out. Directly in Asheville, check out pleb urban winery in the River Arts District.

Of course, Biltmore has a famous winery, and wine tasing is included with your ticket. If you head out of Asheville, our personal favorite wineries are in Hendersonville , including Sawyer Springs, St. If you know Christine from The Uncorked Librarian, you also know that we partner with Cultivated Cocktails for some of our literary-inspired drinks.

They sell the best cocktail schwag, too. Of course, if you are gluten-free or looking for apple-related drinks, Asheville and Hendersonville have the best cideries and meaderies.

Many ciders are sold at the local breweries and wineries. Urban Orchard and Noble are the most well-known cideries in Asheville. Botanist and Barrel and Bold Rock just opened downtown Asheville taprooms. Rooftop bar hopping always makes the top of the list for the best things to do in Asheville, NC.

The poshest Asheville rooftop bars promise sunsets, small plates with your Southern favorites, and jaw-dropping views. Their delicious craft cocktails are perfect before a fancy dinner out in downtown Asheville. You may wish to take an Asheville Rooftop Bar Tour to see them all with a designated driver. However, if you are looking for relaxing things to do in Asheville with a bottle or glass of wine, head to:. Wedge Brewing is right next door.

Battery Park Book Exchange — This champagne bar used bookstore is iconic. Read more about the best and most hipster Asheville wine bars. We just love the Asheville bar scene , and bar hopping is one of the most fun things to do in Asheville.

Have we made you hungry yet? You must need something to eat by now to soak up all of that booze. And man, all of those waterfalls and hikes sure do make a gal ravenous. One of the best things to do in Asheville is eat. We always openly share that Tom and I Christine have many food intolerances. Asheville is extremely understanding and accommodating for food allergies, intolerances, and preferences. This entire section is all about the food.

PennyCup Coffee Co. Vortex has delicious donuts and coffee. Just look for the double-decker red bus. Newer to Asheville, Rowan Coffee in downtown is simple but delicious. It is home to over 20 classic arcade video games, 30 vintage pinball tables, and it charges only one fee for you to enter and play many of them! Each and every single machine has a plaque that contains product information and stories about its impact on the world of gaming.

The goal is to provide Carolina-style barbecue authentically in Asheville in a modern and more fun manner. It focuses on smoked wood-cooked whole-hog barbecue, including chicken, pork, ribs, and even catfish. All sorts of side dishes from the south accompany the mouth-watering meat that gives you the lovely taste of Asheville and its surroundings. Biltmore Industries has a storied past, as evidenced by the fact that so many things connected to it are among the best things to do in Asheville.

The company produced some of the finest wool not just in North Carolina, but in the world, and it was extremely renowned internationally. The company first began with the goal of teaching children weaving and woodworking before growing from an education center to a production business. The Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum celebrates this legacy in an educational way full of activities. It showcases wool, original machines and equipment, suits, fabrics, and more that belonged to this prestigious company.

The community had been fighting against development in order to preserve their neighborhood for years, and this garden was meant to be a peaceful response to the troubles they and other neighborhoods near to them faced. Now, though, it has two flower gardens, two vegetable gardens, a fire pit, and pizza oven, a stage, a pavilion, a greenhouse, and lots of sculptures and art have turned it into quite a stunning location.

It also functions as a museum, with found objects, art, and works featuring black historical figures educating guests. Volunteers grow as much as they can in order to dole out seed starts and fresh produce to their neighborhood. The premiere, go-to smokehouse of Asheville, North Carolina, 12 Bones Smokehouse is famous across the city. Opened first by Sabra Kelley and Tom Montgomery, 12 Bones Smokehouse specializes in slow-smoked meats, all cooked on cherry and oak wood. All its dishes are homemade and the ingredients used throughout the menu are fresh but simple, which adds a homey, fun, and relaxing environment to the Asheville staple.

Though it only began operations in , Chai Pani has already been featured in multiple publications in different countries. The menu primarily offers scrumptious takes on Indian chaat street food, including meals like vegan corn bhel, chicken and kale pakoras, kheema pav, and okra fries.

The Silver River Center For Chair Caning is the only place in all of North America that is a museum and learning center for the dying art of chair caning. Chair caning is the process of applying cane — or a rattan peel — to different parts of chairs, usually the seats and backs.

Of course, the current mass production of furniture and products means chair caning is being left in the past. The working museum portion of the center is open to people — and pets — of all ages, allowing you and the whole family to easily observe the techniques used in restoring, caning, and creating these chairs. Workshops and classroom areas are usually open and those teaching are happy to answer guest questions — and you can join a class yourself!

Eight different weaving styles are showcased on that wall, which clues you into intricacies of the art that you may never have thought about.

The cathedral art installation attracts people within the industry from all over the world right to this spot in humble Asheville, North Carolina. Head to the downtown portion of Asheville to check out Curate Bar de Tapas.

Now, it provides traditional Spanish fare — something not exceedingly common in North Carolina — and a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere. Asheville, North Carolina is such an exciting and colorful place with no shortage of must-see locations and activities. Hopefully, this guide to the best of what Asheville has to offer has given you some great ideas for what to do in the city and add to your bucket list!

Augustine Florida. WNC Nature Center. Grovewood Gallery. Asheville Food Tours. No Taste Like Home. The Omni Grove Park Inn. Wake Foot Sanctuary. Explore the nature trails at the North Carolina Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens of Asheville , both of which are home to numerous indigenous species of mountain flora.

Go golfing at some of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the country. Our culinary mecca serves as a magnet for innovative chefs and food artisans, most of which source their ingredients from the hundreds of farms surrounding the city. Get a little taste of everything by signing up for a food tour. Learn how to find your own food with a guided foraging expedition through the mountains. Visit local farms to buy the freshest meats, veggies, and cheese available in the mountains.

This is a perfect way to take a little Foodtopia back home. Stock up on fresh local ingredients by shopping at one of the multiple farmers markets around town, or simply stop in for a bite to eat from one of the many vendors. They left an enduring mark on this town and many of their legacies are still present as you walk through town. Get a closer look into Asheville’s rich heritage , and tap into the bohemian spirit, which still influences Asheville today.

See amazing performances by Asheville’s numerous theater troupes including the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts , which hosts some of the best in local and national productions, NC Stage , the Asheville Community Theatre , Magnetic Theatre , and in the warmer months, take in a free outdoor Shakespeare production performed by the Montford Park Players.

Lawrence , which boasts the largest free-standing dome in North America. Visit the childhood home of literary legend Thomas Wolfe , which he immortalized in his autobiographical novel, Look Homeward Angel.

Along the riverbank of the French Broad, spend an afternoon strolling through former industrial warehouses now filled with hundreds of working artist studios. Watch a live exhibit, peruse numerous galleries to find that perfectly handcrafted piece of art for your collection, or get hands on with one of the many immersive programs available. You’ll also find this neighborhood is home to some of Asheville’s most popular restaurants and a brewery, perfect for a pit stop in between galleries.

Asheville is home to some classic, and in some cases, quirky museums. Check out the fine art exhibits at the Asheville Art Museum , find vintage games at the Pinball Museum yes, you can play! Intimate music halls, unassuming neighborhood bars, and even the streets of downtown play host to some of the best in local and national touring musicians.

Immerse yourself in one of Asheville’s many music festivals taking place throughout the year. Get up close and personal with your favorite artist at one of Asheville’s many iconic music venues.

Tour the Moog Music Factory and visit the new Moogseum! Bob Moog was a pioneer of electronic music and a resident of Asheville. He gave the world its first synthesizer, an innovation that is still hand-crafted in downtown Asheville to this day. Watch these incredible instruments being made and take one home for yourself.

Each season they perform a blend of timeless compositions along with more contemporary arrangements. Built for the ages, this iconic Inn has adorned Sunset Mountain for over a century, and offers an amazing view of the western mountains. That is why the delicate notes of beer differ. It is worth trying Tether, a farmhouse ale. The company, founded in , follows the traditions of brewing crafted Belgian beer mixed with American notes.

The best thing about the brewing company is a cozy venue at Broadway with brick walls and hardwood floors to relax after a downtown walk and enjoy craft beer. The Asheville Museum of Science is a small learning center with interactive exhibits and educational programs for kids and adults. Located in Downtown Asheville, the Colburn Hall of Minerals in the museum displays rare minerals found on the territory of North Caroline such as quartz, kyanite, beryl, bending rock, and other unique exhibits from around the world.

You will also see the Teratophoneus dinosaur skeleton, watch geographic processes like plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes, dig for fossils, and so much more exciting things to do and to try in the museum. Kindly note: no food or beverage is allowed on the territory of the museum except for lidded bottles of water.

If you love art and architecture, you will simply fall in love with the town. The 1. Scott Fitzgerald, and other historical figures used to stroll. The trail can be walked in an hour, but you will probably end up spending a whole day enjoying historical corners, little restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops.

If you are looking for a beautiful secluded spot for leisure, Botanical Gardens at Asheville can become your perfect escape from the city fuss. You will find collections of about species of plants native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains with about species of wildflowers, trees, vines, sedges, aquatic plants, mosses, lichens, and more.

A walking trail makes a half-mile loop crossing bridges, streams, and woodland ridge. The garden is beautiful in summer and fall, with different seasonal plants growing. The Pisgah pronounced PIZ-guh National Forest is a gem of Asheville with high peaks, forest-covered slopes, and waterfalls occupying over The nearest access point to Pisgah is ten minutes from downtown Asheville. The territory is a popular destination for hiking and camping, with miles of diverse trails crossing the Pisgah National Forest.

Besides hiking, rock climbing, biking, and picnicking dare to slide down the foot Sliding Rock to a natural swimming pool, watch the Looking Glass Rock on feet, and enjoy the beauty of untouched nature in Cold Mountain. This is one of my favorite day trips from Asheville , hands down!

Asheville is not only a historical and cultural experience about downtown or hiking in the national park. It is an extreme rush down the French Broad River on kayaks to experience Asheville waterways. Before kayaking on the river, guests are instructed and trained with the basics of Watersport to make you feel confident when boating. The tour of the French Broad River lasts 2. Asheville Food Tours may compete with any cultural tour about downtown because it includes all the gastro centers and the must-try Asheville dishes.

Guests are welcomed to the best restaurants and cafes to test local food and enjoy Asheville from a different perspective. It will be a mile long stroll with six stops with a myriad of dishes and stories about the town. You will taste ethnic appetizers, meat and cheese assortments, handmade chocolates, beer and wine lists, and many more tempting names. This is one of the best restaurants in Asheville and is a must for all itineraries! Tired of restaurants and cafes?

Take a tour with No Taste Like Home , and you will have a bunch of impressions.