The 35 Best Things to Do in Asheville NC.

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15 Best Things To Do in Asheville, NC · #1. View all Photos · Blue Ridge Parkway · #2. View all Photos. Pisgah National Forest · #3. View all. 25 Best Things To Do In Asheville, NC (And Nearby!) You Must Do. The North Carolina Arboretum, located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, off the Blue Ridge Parkway and minutes from downtown Asheville.
 
 

 

.55 Best Things To Do In Asheville, NC From Locals | Uncorked Asheville

 

Warren, a paranormal investigator whose name you may recognize from his fictional counterpart in The Conjuring series of horror movies. This museum in North Carolina shows off photographs of alleged paranormal activity, exhibited items and memorabilia that tell the tales of said paranormal activity, and plenty of interesting creepy artifacts.

It is said that a woman named Helen once lived either at the mansion or close to it with her daughter, who she loved dearly. Thomas Wolfe actually included the bridge in his famous novel, Look Homeward, Angel, because he walked under it so often in his youth. It was created thanks to John Andrew Rice, who had been dismissed from his Florida teaching spot in an allegedly unjust manner. At this time, the Nazi Party antagonism led to intellectuals fleeing Europe as the Great Depression swung harder than ever.

Rice and some European artists found themselves with a similar goal, and they holed up in this little wooded area of Asheville. Since then, it has relocated and grown to encompass 6, square feet, with two floors, a library, and a bookstore.

Exhibitions showcase all sorts of historical, meaningful works and rotating events are often fun and unique. The museum is housed in an old hotel that is actually on the National Register of Historic Places.

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. Asheville Pinball Museum. Buxton Hall Barbecue. Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum. It is a picturesque way to enjoy a quiet afternoon. The shops are almost all housed in historic homes and cottages. Stroll along on the charming antique brick sidewalks lined with trees and shops.

There are also several original buildings in the Village like the Cathedral of All Souls that add to the charming atmosphere. The best way to see all the best parts of Asheville is through the Urban Trail. If you walk the trail at a leisurely pace, it takes about two hours. It is also completely self-guided and one of the best free things to do in Asheville, NC.

Scott Fitzgerald. The Urban Trail is a super fun way to explore Asheville if you have some time and want to stretch your legs. One of the best things to do in Asheville with kids is the Asheville Museum of Science. The museum is fairly small, but the kids will have tons of fun. It features a more hands-on technique for learning about science.

The goal of the Asheville Museum of Science is for visitors to experience science, not just observe it. If you are interested in rocks and minerals, there is the Colburn Hall of Minerals. They also have a self-guided STEM lab that is also interactive. It is one of the most popular exhibits in the museum. The museum also has exhibits that change throughout the year, making it a fun and exciting Asheville activity to come back to throughout the year. The kids will love exploring the museum and interacting with all the fun exhibits.

Thomas Wolfe was a famous American author in the 20th century. He was born in in Asheville and his childhood home still stands in Asheville. Wolfe would later immortalize his childhood home in his writings, although he gave everything different names.

Now visitors can experience the Victorian home as Wolfe would have experienced it. They offer daily tours and there is also a walking tour you can take around the home and the area. It is in downtown Asheville, so it is a stop on the Urban Trail too. For those interested in American literature or historic homes, this is one of the best things to do in Asheville. It features a unique Spanish Catalan design that is not very common in the area.

The church was built in by the famous Spanish architect, Rafael Guastavino. Now the Basilica is the only basilica in Western North Carolina. One of its most unique design features is its elliptical dome.

Historians and architects believe it may be the only freestanding elliptical dome in the United States. Inside it is an ornately designed sanctuary. The ceiling features bricks laid in a herringbone pattern, large rectangular and semi-circle stained glass windows, and a large ornate altar.

It is one of the more unique Asheville attractions. There are many great breweries in Asheville perfect for anyone who likes to try local craft beers when they travel. Asheville is even known as one of the best beer cities in America, so you know they take pride in their work. One brewery to visit is the Catawba Brewing Co. It is family-owned and opened in You will love the vibe of this brewery as well as all the drinks with their fun names.

If you are looking for really unique things to do in Asheville that will get you out in nature, consider doing a foraging tour. No Taste Like Home is a foraging tour company based in Asheville. The expert guides here will lead you through nature and teach you how to find delectable wild edibles. A variety of mushrooms, fruits, nuts, roots, flowers, and greens can be found depending on the time of year.

When the tour is over, you can bring your finds to one of the partnering Asheville restaurants where they will be prepared as an appetizer to your purchased meal.

You can also stop by the Asheville Wild Foods Market for more wild edibles or buy them made into pestos, teas, and more. Chimney Rock State Park is about an hour from Asheville and is a great escape from the city. Chimney Rock is a foot monolith that provides amazing, panoramic views of the lush forests, the Hickory Nut Gorge, and Lak e Lure. There are many other trails in the park that offer more great views.

The moderate-rated trail to the waterfall is 1. Other fun activities in this state park include rock climbing, learning at the Animal Discovery Den, and picking up a souvenir at Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

There are also great campgrounds in the area. Did you know Asheville is a popular spa destination? People from all over come to enjoy world-class spas and wellness experiences. If you want to pamper yourself, make sure to budget since the packages can be expensive, but they are so worth it. Here you will find mineral pools, a cave spa, and a lap pool with 6, fiber-optic stars and underwater music! There are also facials, massages, saunas, and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms.

You can also unwind with hot organic tea in the fireside lounge area. You will leave the spa feeling completely restored. A ride on the Gray Line Trolley is one of the best Asheville activities for the whole family. This hop-on, hop-off trolley takes you through downtown and many historic districts. The trolley makes ten stops where you can get off and explore.

Entrance for kids 9 and under is free. Displaying the works of over artists, the Folk Art Center follows a consequential mission of cultivating craftsmanship of the Southern Highlands and helping generations value traditional crafts. The guests are welcomed to observe daily craft demonstrations, watch a series of educational events, shop souvenirs and original hand-crafted items from southern Appalachian crafters, and more.

During those days, health seekers patronized the house, who later inspired the novelist and became the characters in Look, Homeward, Angel. The rambling Victorian structure is now a museum attracting visitors worldwide. Are you a fan of coffee? It has four locations across the town focusing on sustainable and green coffee. High Five Coffee is a classy coffee shop with multiple locations across Asheville, serving local Counter Culture Coffee.

Since , Grove Arcade has been considered one of the most elegant buildings in North Carolina. Today, Grove Arcade features dozens of galleries, restaurants, specialty shops of local art, fine gifts, and antiques. In Portico Market, farmers sell their homemade goods and local crafts. Local restaurants have cozy sidewalk dining. The Grove Arcade transforms into a winter wonderland with holiday decorations and shops from November to January.

Wake Foot Sanctuary is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the foot soak and massage services. The interior and colors immediately create the mood of tranquility while comfortably fitting in soft, deep chairs and enjoying foot massage in natural soap and salt foot soaks.

Wake Foot Sanctuary welcomes all guests with a cup of revitalizing hot tea or a cool sparkling beverage with cookies and chocolate to make your stay even more unforgettable. Who said Asheville could not give you some spices and flavors of far India? Chai Pani Indian street food is a popular venue in downtown Asheville with delicious and innovative Indian cuisine.

Here you will find all the popular Indian dishes; daily thali specials, nimbu Pani, spicy chaat, and all your favorite names. A post shared by Chai Pani chaipani. Multiple music festivals are a significant part of life and worth witnessing.

Check your dates of visiting Asheville, and maybe you will be lucky to take part in one of the music festivals. Still, the most popular and definitely the most beloved one is Downtown After 5, a series of concerts taking place on the third Friday lasting from May to September. The concerts are held at North Lexington Avenue. From 5 pm to 9 pm, guests enjoy good music, craft beer, and snacks sold in food trucks for four hours.

A more contemporary music festival gathering the lovers of alternative electro-music is held in May in the Black Mountains. Asheville Electro-Music Festival showcases a line of electronic and experimental music of local artists accompanied by visual shows. Summer at Biltmore is full of live concerts and music. Every evening the South Terrace at Biltmore revives under the beats of music, star-studded shows performed by local artists on the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountain.

Grovewood Village is one of the hidden gems of Asheville with rich history and art. The picturesque campus is located behind the Omni Grove Park Inn, which was once used for weaving woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries. The second floor impresses with American-made studio furniture and an exclusive lighting collection.

It all began in with the opening of the Highland Brewing Company. Shortly, Asheville was recognized as the first Beer City in the United States in and continued winning the title over the years. Today there are dozens of popular breweries in Asheville welcoming guests with craft beer and snacks.

The following top 3 Asheville craft beers listed are worth being part of your must-visit list. In short, Burial Beer Co. 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.