Events Calendar – Concerts, Nightlife & More.27 Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC (+ Nearby Attractions!)
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See the outline of Downtown Asheville on a map, and its radical, irregular edged shape could be a piece from a jigsaw puzzle. Or does it? Think more along the lines of men dressed as nuns and plenty of hilarious slapstick combined with sightseeing around Downtown, the River Arts district, and the Montford neighborhood.
The jokes flow from the word go and continue for the entire trip which lasts around ninety minutes. Prefer a walking tour with beer? The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is a rambling 19th-century mansion on North Market Street in Downtown Asheville dedicated to honoring the famous American author whose writing was inspired by the city and its people.
The museum contains over eight hundred items pertinent to the writer and the era of his literary works. In a time-capsule fashion, the rooms of the house are furnished as they were during the period Thomas Wolfe was resident in the property and it was functioning as a boarding house. Related tour : Asheville City Tour. Built in the late s, the historic building was one of the most elegant of its time and is a registered landmark.
The mall was renovated in and re-opened to continue trading in its original way with a diverse collection of select retailers offering unique services and products.
Inside there are fine jewelers, specialist clock and watchmakers and even an outlet selling only fossils and minerals imported from around the globe. The Grove Arcade also has a diverse selection of eateries serving everything from falafel, burgers, and pizza to a champagne bar with a book exchange and a wine bar with an outside patio. There is also a daily Artists Market for local crafters to sell their work.
Walking the Asheville Urban Trail is a great way of getting to know Downtown Asheville, learning some of its history and seeing its plethora of public artworks all at the same time. The trail is just under two miles long, commences in Pack Place and makes almost a complete circuit around the Downtown area before culminating not far from where it started. Trail maps are available from the information center in Pack Square Park or downloadable online. There are thirty individual artworks in total along the trail.
Among them bronze turkeys and pigs, an enormous flat iron and life-size statues of a fiddler and dancers to name just a few.
Take a camera and snap shots of the sculptures. Related tour : 2 hour Guided Segway Tour. Skip dinner and go straight for dessert at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. All the desserts are created from chocolate made in the French Broad Chocolate Factory which, although outside of the Downtown district, is also well worth a visit.
The community theater has been hosting top-class performances from local actors for over sixty years in productions as varied as Sweeney Todd, Young Frankenstein and Annie, Get Your Gun. While the participants may not be full-time actors and actresses, expect a great show presented with professionalism. The museum may be small, but it has some powerful interactive exhibits which will blow any visitor away.
Step inside the Hurricane Simulator and feel the full force of a storm or create rain in the French Broad River Water table display before getting up close to the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex or a robot used to explore Mars.
The museum also houses an extensive collection of minerals in the Colburn Hall of Minerals as well as multiple displays on the geology of North Carolina. Grab a seat in the s speakeasy-style bar and wait for the party to start. Be prepared to join in with either choosing songs for the piano players to perform or sing along when the words are familiar. Meditate among the negative ions in a cave constructed of twenty tons of pink salt blocks to recharge your spiritual and physical batteries, take a detoxifying hot salt stone massage or an aromatherapeutic salt glow treatment.
Sound healing concerts, Yoga Nidra sessions and new moon meditation are also practiced at the Asheville Salt Cave. View the entire process as the blowers transform an innate blob of glass into an incredible and unique work of art with their breath and a few twists of the rod.
If the heat of the furnace brings on a thirst, the studio has an in-house tap room selling Asheville craft beers served in hand-blown glasses. Take the hard work out of pedaling and tour around Downtown Asheville on a Flying Bike. Join the tour just outside of Downtown on Coxe Avenue, mount one of the Pedego Boomerang Plus cycles and whizz back to the district for a morning of electric-powered exploring.
Then hire a Flying Bike and cycle around Downtown at your own pace. Both ways are great fun. The museum has eighty machines ranging from antique pinball to classic video games such as Pac-man which are all playable.
Entrance is restricted to a maximum of eighty people at a time to ensure every visitor has a machine to test their skills on. Get there early; pinball is a popular activity in Downtown Asheville. Enjoy a Downtown Asheville Tasting Tour early in the day visiting farm-to-table restaurants, gourmet food stores and hidden culinary gems which are hard to find or take a Downtown Asheville Evening Eats and Drinks Tour for some sophisticated sampling.
Related tour : Hidden Gems! The venue has a standing capacity for over three hundred and fifty spectators plus an additional bar, the One Stop, for showcasing local musical talent. The sky-high bar has a west-facing, glass-walled terrace with uninterrupted views over the mountain ranges surrounding the city. Sipping on an Asheville craft beer or a cocktail and nibbling on some baked Carolina bison meatballs or house tater tots while enjoying sensational sunset vistas is the perfect way to end a day in Downtown Asheville.
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Things to do in downtown asheville nc today –
After hours, stroll the grounds with a beer or cider in hand. 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. Get real time updates on spaces available in each deck! The Blue Ridge Parkway trip may last up to seven days, depending on your stops. Plus, find many more award-winning chefs throughout the mountains.
– Things to do in downtown asheville nc today
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.
Things to do in downtown asheville nc today –
Oct 03, · DESPICABLE ME in Theater 2: Oct. 3rd & 4th ~ pm. Today at PM. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. • Asheville, NC. Aug 24, · 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 . Address: 30 George Washington Carver Ave, Asheville, NC Ages: (with adult) Stephens-Lee Community Center’s historic gym turns into an orange and black fun fest with .
