Downtown Asheville ~ Experience eclectic vibe of the city! Downtown Asheville is home to dozens of exciting restaurants, breweries, specialty shops and art galleries. The Grove Arcade is a beautiful indoor shopping area with a fascinating history and numerous high-end shops. Just around the corner is Wall Street, a quaint cobblestone street spotted with specialty shops and little café’s.
The Old Woolworth Drugstore is now a home to whimsical artists and local craftsmen. The Asheville Civic Center offers entertainment events. The historical Basilica of Saint Lawrence is a stunning chapel with a breathtaking rose garden with services on Sunday. Pack Square, in the heart of downtown Asheville features dozens of amazing award-winning restaurants. The Asheville Art Museum and the Colburn Earth Science Museum can also be found in the town center
Biltmore Estates is one of the most popular of our many area attractions. The 178,926 square foot home is the largest privately owned home in the United States and considered to be America’s first mansion. Completed in 1895, George Vanderbilt’s 250-room chateau is as impressive today as it was more than a century ago. This is a Do Not Miss attraction!!
For over a century, the Grove Park Inn has welcomed travelers with a tradition of Southern hospitality and an unmatched excellence. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Asheville Skyline and Blue Ridge Mountains from the Sunset Terrace. Browse the up scale boutiques or schedule a service at the unique subterranean spa, Perhaps a round of golf on the Donald Ross-designed course.
The River Arts District or RAD is home to more than 200 local artists and craftspeople. Dozens of converted warehouses and industrial buildings are now studios and workshops that offer daily demos and sneak peaks into the creative process. Visitors are able to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces to take home or give as gifts.
Asheville Fun Depot features indoor and outdoor go-carts, indoor mini-golf, multi-level laser tag, climbing wall, bumper cars, arcade gallery, mini-bowling and now there is something every age group. The outdoor race track is two stories tall and 1/4 mile long – it’s the only one of it’s kind in Western North Carolina! Check out Asheville’s only laser tag arena complete with black lights, music and fog, the fully-interactive game matches two teams head to head in the multi-level arena. The state-of-the-art arcade gallery hosts over 110 games. The upstairs has a tot area offering soft play, inflatables, and much more.
French Broad Adventures: Whitewater rafting, zipline canopy tours, calm water float trips, canyoneering adventures – they have it all! Best of all, with French Broad Adventures you don’t have to choose between ziplining & rafting. They are the only raft / zip combo close enough to Asheville that you can have fun with us and make it back to town in time for dinner.
Cedar Creek Stables is a family owned and operated offering a variety of activities for folks of all ages. Located near Lake Lure, this is an adventure you don’t want to miss! Biltmore Stables. Enjoy a western-style, one-hour guided ride on beautiful trails through the woodlands and meadows of the estate. Minimum age is 8 years. Daily rides offered. Reservations are recommended.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort Weather you ski or snowboard at you’ll enjoy unmatched views, crisp mountain air, and well-groomed slopes. Chattahoochee Ski Resort is a great mountain to learning how to master the sport. Whether it’s your first time on the snow or you are a seasoned veteran, their talented staff of instructors will make you feel at home!
The Adventure Center of Asheville located just 5 minutes from downtown offers a variety of adventures. Enjoy expansive views of the Asheville Skyline from Asheville Canopy Adventure, or try Asheville Treetops Adventure. It’s an elevated obstacle course with five levels of difficulty. Bringing the kids? Check out Kid Zip, America’s first zip line adventure designed for kids under 10. Not into heights? Kolo Bike Park is 4 miles of mountain bike trails with rolling terrain designed for all levels of riders.
One of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the country, Lake Lure is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Located about 27 miles from Asheville, Lake Lure is located in the Hickory Nut Gorge at the base of Chimney Rock State Park surrounded by lush mountaintops and sheer granite cliffs. Boat rentals available. Reservation recommended.
Looking Glass Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in N.C., perhaps because it’s the easiest to view. It’s a roadside waterfall, making it perfect for folks who need wheelchair accessibility. Don’t miss Sliding Rock Falls and Moore Cove Falls located very close by. Take RT 280, 16 miles (pass the Airport) toward Brevard. Turn right at a light on HWY 276 to enter Pisgah National Forest. Travel 6 miles.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of our most beloved of area resources. Nationally renowned as one of the most beautiful Scenic Byways in the US, the parkway wines through our backyard and offers hundreds of amazing scenic overlooks and hiking trails. Visitors that venture up to the parkway will find themselves awestruck by the colors, mountain views, and wildlife. Access points to the Parkway can be found all over Asheville, making it extremely accessible.
North Carolina is home to over 250 waterfalls. It's hard to pick just one, two or even fifty, to explore. There is nothing quite like dipping your toes in that cool mountain water after a long summer hike. Go to https://ashevilletrails.com. You can choose the hike and waterfall to explore. The next day, choose another!
A short (30 miles) drive from downtown Asheville takes you up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile-high Craggy Gardens. It is one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Parkway. Stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch far into Tennessee to the west and toward central North Carolina to the east.
Tap Into Asheville’s Beer Scene. The city’s breweries keep beer flowing like fresh mountain spring water. Asheville offers a dizzying array of beer, with more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. Asheville was first named Beer City USA in 2009 and has swept the competition almost every year since.
Don't miss the action and excitement at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort! Test your Luck at the slot machines. Experience the thrill of a live gaming table like Blackjack, Roulette Poker or Craps. Book a reservation at the Mandara Spa and stay for the exciting nightly entertainment
The Asheville Drum Circle: A favorite tradition for locals and visitors of all ages is the Asheville drum circle. Anyone can participate! Bring a drum, dance or watch the festivities! Don’t’ miss the drum circle happening every Friday night from April to October in Pritchard Park at Patton Ave and College St in downtown Asheville.
Enjoy wine tasting at the Award Winning Burntshirt Vineyards. Their experts will guide you through a tasting and tour experience that will educate and entertain you in the fantastic farmhouse. After you tasting, enjoy your favorite wine on the veranda overlooking beautiful Sugarloaf Vineyard. Stroll along trails through lush gardens or picnic surrounded by apple orchards and vineyards. Now 2 Locations; Hendersonville, and Chimney Rock.
