Things to do in Asheville North Carolina
Whether you’re moving to Asheville or exploring one of the best places to live in North Carolina, you’ll find plenty of fun and memorable places to go and things to do here. The mountain scenery lends a fairy tale quality to every excursion, and the historic setting makes you feel as if you are actually part of something really special. From the manicured gardens of the ever-popular Biltmore Estate to hilarious comedy tours, there is something here for everyone.
ASHEVILLE BREWERY TOURS - 2 Wall Street #110, Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-233-5006
Beer enthusiasts will appreciate the diversity of offerings here, and could easily spend a weekend taking each of the available tours; with behind-the-scenes access at each of the featured breweries, sampling local craft brews as well as seasonal offerings. The walking tour focuses upon historic downtown Asheville, and the mobile tour includes additional breweries from Asheville’s surrounding vicinity. Asheville is named Best Beer USA four years in a row.
Hours of Operation: Hours vary, depending upon which tour you choose, but tend to be in the mid to late afternoon and early evening.
ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS - 1 Page Avenue, Grove Arcade, Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-243-7401
These guided Foodie walking tours through historic downtown Asheville's best restaurants and gourmet food shops allow you to taste artisan cheeses and choice meats from local farms as well as freshly-baked breads, decadent handmade chocolates and more. Each tour is a minimum of 2.5 hours long, and you will visit from six to seven establishments, where you'll have the pleasure of meeting the chefs and store owners whose work is vital to the revitalization of this charming downtown area. Come hungry because there's nothing like Foodtopia in Asheville.
Hours of Operation: They meet up at 1:40 daily, and the tour typically lasts 2-3 hours.
BILTMORE ESTATE & GARDENS - One Lodge Street – Asheville, NC 28803 800-411-3812
Since 1895, Biltmore has been welcoming and celebrating family and friends, with the natural beauty of mountains and the well-tended house and gardens. You can even experience life as a guest of the Vanderbilts at the estate's Inn. This 8,000-acre Blue Ridge Mountain paradise provides ample opportunities to picnic, hike, and explore; and you may also rent a bike, go fishing or horseback riding at the Outdoor Adventure Center.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 8:00a.m.-8:00p.m., Saturday & Sunday: 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
GROVE ARCADE - 1 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC Phone: 828-252-7799
The Grove Arcade, which was built by E.W. Grove, who also developed the Grove Park Inn, opened in 1929, thriving as one of our country’s leading public markets until World War II. The renovated Grove Arcade reopened to the public in 2002 boasting some of Asheville, NC’s finest cuisine, as well as boutique shops full of sophisticated art - and craft items which range from quaint to quirky.
Hours of Operation: Sunday 12:00p.m.-6:00p.m., Monday through Thursday 11:00a.m.- 9:00p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:00a.m.-10:00 p.m.
HIKES & DRIVES ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY - Asheville, NC Phone: 828-298-0398
Take a scenic 469-mile drive or motorcycle tour through both Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enjoying the natural beauty of the terrain. Numerous hiking trails are accessible from various locations including local campgrounds. Maps are available, but guided tours are ideal for inexperienced hikers. Two of our favorties are Graveyard Fields (two fantastic waterfall hikes) and Devils Courthouse with 360 degree summit views.
Hours of Operation: Daylight hours, dawn to dusk.
LAZOOM COMEDY TOUR - 90 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-225-6932
B.Y.O.B. on this unusual guided bus tour, and be prepared to laugh a lot. Whether you choose the City tour, the Haunted tour, or the Band & Beer tour, LaZoom Tours are a historical and hysterical (and sometimes scary!) way to explore Asheville. Tourists and local residents alike will be entertained by the incredibly talented and dedicated guides who educate and thrill you at every turn!
Hours of Operation: Hours vary, depending upon which tour you choose, but there is a tour leaving at the top of every hour from 1:00p.m-9:00p.m.
RIVER ARTS DISTRICT - Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-552-4723
Explore the River Arts District, where you'll find a vast array of artists and working studios situated within 22 former factories and historical buildings which lie along the French Broad River. There are more than 180 working studios, and many of these have showrooms and galleries. Artists here use everything from paint, pencils, and pottery to metal, fiber, glass, wax, and paper. You can shop, meet the artists, watch live demonstrations, and have a drink or chow down in one of the many restaurants & cafes or visit the brewery.
Hours of Operation: Hours vary, but tend to start at 9:00 or 10:00a.m and run until anywhere from 5:00p.m. to 10:00 or even 11:00p.m.
SPA AT THE GROVE PARK INN - 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28804 Phone: 800-438-5800
This 43,000 square-foot subterranean spa contains 20 water features, including several mineral-based pools, two therapeutic waterfall pools, private men’s and women’s contrast pools, and a lap pool enhanced with 6,500 fiber-optic stars as well as underwater music. There are also inhalation rooms, eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, and saunas. After your treatments you can relax even further at one of three fireside lounges, soaking up the ambience of a fireplace, as you sit in the whirlpool on a tiered outdoor terrace.
Hours of Operation: Seven days a week from 8:00a.m.–9:00p.m.
THE ORANGE PEEL - 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828-225-5851
This music venue in downtown Asheville has hosted many well-known and varied acts ranging from Bob Dylan, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Beastie Boys, to Lauryn Hill, Megadeth, and Skrillex. Downstairs from the venue lies "Pulp", a members-only liquor bar which is open every night there is a show. A live feed is piped in, which allows patrons to view and listen to the show upstairs. Pulp also opens on various other nights for events that feature local artists as well as their "Slice of Life" open-mic comedy nights.
Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Friday 12:00p.m.-5:30p.m., closed from Saturday through Tuesday.
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS MARKET - 570 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806 Phone: 828-253-1691
Conveniently located near downtown Asheville, this 36-acre market sits between two Interstate Highways. You'll be greeted by a striking panoramic view of the mountains and nearby Biltmore Estate. This open-air market offers high-quality fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, and preserves, as well as sourwood honey, fresh baked breads, cookies and other farm-fresh items and mountain crafts.
Hours of Operation: The market is open seven days a week all year-round, from April through October 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m., November through March 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m., and the office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. year-round.
We hope this list of things to do in Asheville North Carolina helps to make your stay more enjoyable, and don’t forget: if you're moving here, you can bookmark this page and can keep these ideas handy.
