Best places to go to in asheville nc - best places to go to in asheville nc. The best things to do in Asheville, NC

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Best places to go to in asheville nc - best places to go to in asheville nc

The 35 Best Things to Do in Asheville NC.27 Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC (+ Nearby Attractions!)

Asheville is a city in North Carolina, the mountain city is nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a segment of the historic Appalachian Mountains.

Rolling mountains, breathtaking sceneries, hiking trails, and picnic sites are just some of the things that make the city a popular vacation destination. But what really makes Asheville famous is its historical figures like Thomas Wolfe, the famous American novelist, and George Vanderbilt, who built Biltmore Estate, the largest private mansion in the United States.

Asheville is also a major hub for the arts, and attractions like the River Arts District will show you just how vibrant the art scene is. It was in this city that the now-defunct Black Mountain College was founded; a college that championed art-making as a vital component of education.

With this in mind, here is a comprehensive list of 41 things to do in Asheville , NC that will make your vacation worthwhile. The city will surprise you in a good way and make your vacation experience worth remembering for years to come.

Today, the grandiose mansion stands as a historic attraction site that visitors can explore or stay in. It is set on lush green well-manicured gardens and has a rooftop that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape that consists of tall trees and rolling hills. Visitors can either take a self-guided or guided tour of the mansion and its gardens to learn its interesting history and see its historical decor.

If you like, you can stay overnight for a wholesome estate life experience. Nestled in the scenic Pisgah National Forest, the North Carolina Arboretum is a family-friendly attraction dotted with nature trails, lovely gardens, water ponds, and picnic areas. It is part of the Appalachian Mountains and offers grounds for you to connect with nature and get lost in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. If you love hiking, you will have over 10 miles of trails to explore. The trails are suitable for both expert hikers and moderate hikers.

Plan to spend your day at the North Carolina Arboretum on a picnic exploring its breathtaking Bonsai Garden, nature exhibits, an EcoLab, and its plant collection area. You are allowed to bring food and drinks from outside, but be sure to make use of the provided waste bins. Famous for its award-winning craft beer, the New Belgium Brewing Company opened its Asheville branch in and since then, it has been the brewer of choice for most locals and visitors.

Before Covid, the facility was open for tours to give visitors a peek into what happens behind the scenes. Visitors would learn how craft beer is made and get an opportunity to taste their best-selling beers. Open from Wednesdays to Mondays, Asheville Pinball Museum offers an opportunity for you and your family to have a good time.

It has 35 pinball machines available for you and once you pay your admission fee, you are free to play for as long as you like as you enjoy a soda, beer, or snack. There is a wide range of arcade games to choose from that serve visitors of all ages. Our only warning, you will enjoy the games too much that you will lose track of time! Along the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor is the breathtaking Craggy Gardens , a natural floral park with spectacular views. To get to the Craggy picnic area you will hike for about 25 minutes along the Craggy Pinnacle Trail in the beautiful dense forest.

You will be greeted by a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Parkway which is dotted with mountain vegetation, rolling hills, and valleys. Set out your picnic blanket and wait for the most breathtaking sunset you have ever witnessed. If you love history or are fascinated by historic architecture, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence should not miss your list of things to do in Asheville.

It was designed by renowned architect, Rafael Guastavino , in a Spanish baroque architecture style, which contributes to its reason for being one of the major attraction sites in Asheville. You can take a self-guided tour to soak up its majestic grandeur prevalent on both its interior and exterior. If you are spiritual, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence is an ideal place to pray or meditate. Its welcoming and warm ambiance will make you feel right at home.

For a more relaxed tour experience, you should consider checking out the Botanical Gardens at Asheville. The gardens are dedicated to the study of plants and their natural habitats. This means that the gardens do not follow a specific or tailored structure like your usual botanical gardens. They are just allowed to thrive as naturally as possible with minimal to no human interference. You will feel as if you are exploring a natural forest, the only difference is that you will be educated about how the plants of the Southern Appalachians interact with their surroundings.

The Botanical Gardens at Asheville also offer designated picnic grounds where you can enjoy a serene picnic after your tour. Reminiscent of a watercolor painting, these sleek vessels appear to be airy and soft. If you have never experienced a glassblowing session in your life, you have no idea what you are missing out on! You should make Lexington Glassworks your first stop when you visit Asheville.

Owned and run by two friends, Geoff and Billy, the glassblowing studio offers visitors a unique experience where you are served craft beer to enjoy as you watch the pleasurable art of making hand-blown glassware. Lexington Glassworks is the premier glassblowing studio in the city and stands out as one of the coolest things to do in Asheville. It features contemporary and traditional Southern Appalachian craft that includes prints, glass, wood, pottery, jewelry, metal, textiles, and more.

Some of the artisans are present to interact with visitors and tell them more about their works. The center is conveniently located on the Blue Ridge Parkway thus creating a natural and beautiful atmosphere. Rating: 4. Spread across 42 acres of land, the Western North Carolina Nature Center is dedicated to teaching people about the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachian region, and encouraging them to take part in wildlife and environmental conservation efforts.

If you are in Asheville with your children, the center would be a great place to take them if you want them to learn about conservation from an early age. It has 60 animal species and hundreds of plant species, featured in its interactive exhibits, like the Appalachian station for amphibians, small mammals, and reptiles, and the Otter Falls which houses otters and aquatic turtles. There are picnic tables where you can hang out to take a break from the tour and enjoy a drink or snack from the on-site vending machine.

A hand operated freight wagon, originally part of the Biltmore industries. Bob Pool Shutterstock. Located 10 minutes north of downtown Asheville, Grovewood Village is set on 11 acres of land dotted with lush natural forest vegetation.

It is an attraction that takes visitors back in time through art and historical memorabilia. The historical attraction, which was originally known as Biltmore Industries Inc. The Antique Car Museum showcases a wide range of vintage automobiles that are still functional to date.

The Gallery of the Mountains showcases amazing artwork by local artists. And once you are done exploring, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the patio of the Golden Fleece Restaurant as you soak up the natural ambiance.

The house was bought by his mother, Julia Wolfe, for her family. When Wolfe wrote his first novel, he incorporated his experience living in the house with his family as well as the lives of his friends and other people who lived or visited the home.

In his novel, he named the house Dixieland. Thomas Wolfe died in from tuberculosis and in , the house was designated a historic site in his honor. In , the Thomas Wolfe Memorial house was destroyed in a fire, however, it was restored and reopened in It is one of the most visited attractions in Asheville owing to its historical and literary significance.

If for some reason you cannot take a walking tour of Asheville, this is where Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville comes to your aide. The tour company prides itself in providing locals and visitors the best sightseeing tours of the city. The company has been in operation since , an assurance that they know Asheville, even its most hidden gems, better than anyone else. Tours are conducted in their beautiful and spacious trolley cars that drive around the city stopping at major attractions.

Gingo Scott Shutterstock. Pritchard Park is lined up with tall trees and lovely landscaping. You can either sit on the benches or at its amphitheater-style seating area. The park might be small, but it might also be one of the coolest things to do in Asheville. Winding pathway through mountains. Wiktor Shutterstock. Located about 35 miles away from downtown Asheville, the park is home to the summit of Mount Mitchell which stands at 6, feet above sea level.

If you are feeling energetic or you just enjoy hiking, you can walk to the summit which will take you about 4 and a half hours. However, if hiking is not your struggle to embrace, you can drive up to the summit, where a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding scenic landscape awaits you. Other draws to the park include its tent-only camping ground which is open from May to October. If you are looking for free things to do in Asheville, look no further, Pisgah National Forest is your answer.

The breathtaking forest that was once considered the property of George Vanderbilt is characteristic of rolling mountains, scenic hiking trails, spectacular waterfalls, and whitewater rivers. Among its biggest draws is its school of forestry, which is the first in the United States, and two designated wilderness areas, Linville Gorge and Shining Rock, which are two of the first such areas in the country.

Visit Pisgah National Forest ready to have a picnic surrounded by tall trees and spectacular forest vegetation, hike any of its beautiful trails, go on a scenic drive, or enjoy a thrilling bike ride. It derives its name from the fact that when it rains in winter and the water freezes on the rock, it reflects the sun like a mirror. Source Jaime Landauer. Biltmore School of Forestry was located here when it was established by Carl A.

Its location in the middle of a forest gives it the advantage of enjoying a beautiful setting surrounded by cool fresh air and a spectacular view. Visitors come to explore its interactive exhibits which show Dr. Other activities to do at the Cradle of Forestry in America include hiking, birdwatching, a visit to the Forest Discovery Centre where you will watch a documentary, explore historical buildings which include a commissary and a schoolhouse, a logging locomotive, a portable sawmill, and a gift shop.

Kids can have fun with the firefighting helicopter simulator and at the Adventure Zone. The Cafe at the Cradle will be at your service offering you snacks and lunch. We know you have been on a food tour, but trust us when we say you have never experienced anything like what No Taste Like Home Wild Food Tours company offers. It prides itself as the biggest foraging education company in the world.

You will embark on a tour through fields and the forests of Asheville in search of wild foods like mushrooms, leaves, plants, seeds, and wild fruits. The tours are guided by experts who have many years of wild food knowledge and will teach you everything you need to know about wild edibles. After a day of collecting wild food, you will take back your findings to a restaurant in Asheville, chosen by the tour company, where they will use your food collection to make you a meal.

This is one of the most exciting things to do in Asheville and one that you will not be forgetting any time soon! Founded by a street-performing couple, Jima and Jen, LaZoom Tours offers sightseeing tours of Asheville, but with a twist.