Area Attractions
Why take an Asheville vacation?
Asheville is a town of unlimited possibilities. From the historic Biltmore Estate to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, from cultural events to plain old fun, the town offers something for almost everyone. Throughout the year, the region offers up beautiful weather and scenery as a background to your activity.
Spring is a glorious festival of flowers throughout the town and mountainsides, and a drive or a hike through the countryside will reward you with spectacular waterfalls and beautiful springtime flowers and foliage. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, is easily accessed from Asheville. Flowering shrubs and wildflowers dominate the parkway in the spring, including rhododendrons and dogwoods.
In summer, the people and the music take to the streets. Artists and artisans abound, with every turn and corner offering up a new surprise. Asheville is justly renowned for its restaurants, and the abundance of local farms, fish-filled streams, and produce markets ensure the finest of ingredients for your table.
To many, the highlight of Asheville’s year is autumn when the leaves turn, and the glorious oranges and reds rival that of more northern states. Sip freshly milled cider from a local orchard, and choose the perfect pumpkin right out of the patch.
Winter is generally mild during the day although it does get cold at night, allowing the ski resorts to refresh their slopes mechanically if nature has been slacking. The Blue Ridge Parkway may be closed to cars, but this opens it to hikers and sometimes, cross country skiing! And of course, Asheville at Christmas is not to be missed. The entire town lights up with fireworks and special events throughout the month of December.
The following is only a short list of the many things to do in Asheville and the surrounding area. If you can think of it, chances are that somewhere near here you can do it!
Things to do in Asheville
Historic and Cultural:
The Biltmore Estate: http://www.biltmore.com
Asheville Historic Trolley tours: http://www.ashevilletrolleytours.com
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville: http://www.graylineasheville.com
Thomas Wolfe Memorial: http://www.wolfememorial.com
Asheville Downtown Gallery Association: http://www.ashevilledowntowngalleries.org/members.html
The North Carolina Arboretum: http://www.ncarboretum.org/exhibits/outdoors/
Theater:
Diana Wortham Theater: http://www.dwtheatre.com
Shakespeare in the Park: http://www.montfordparkplayers.org
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater: http://www.sartplays.org
Asheville Community Theater: http://www.ashevilletheatre.org
Uniquely Asheville:
The Asheville Tourists (Single A Baseball): http://asheville.tourists.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t573
Asheville Food Tours: http://www.ashevillefoodtours.com
Yadkin Valley Wine Tour: http://www.yadkinwinetours.com
Farmer’s Market: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/asheville/
Hickory Nut Gap Farm: http://www.hickorynutgapfarm.com
Tailgate Markets: http://www.buyappalachian.org/filter/group/tailgate (Spring through Summer)
LaZoom Tour Company (Comedy and Art Tours of Asheville): http:// www.lazoomtours.com
Asheville Hot Air Balloons: http://www.ashevillehotairballoons.com
Shopping: http://www.exploreasheville.com/what-to-do/shopping/index.aspx
Grove Arcade: http://www.grovearcade.com
Biltmore Village: http://www.biltmorevillage.com/shops.htm
Adorn Salon & Boutique: http://www.adornsalonandboutique.com
Restaurants:
Asheville Independent Restaurant Association: http://airasheville.org
Nightlife:
Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues:
French Broad Chocolate Lounge: http://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com
Sante Wine Bar: http://www.santewinebar.com
The Grey Eagle:
The Orange Peel: http://www.theorangepeel.net
Day Spas:
The Secret Spa: http://www.thesecretspa.com
Sensibilities: http://www.sensibilities-spa.com
Shoji Retreat:
Around Asheville: Outdoor Sports and Activities
Chimney Rock: http://www.chimneyrockpark.com
Asheville Cycling:
Blue Ridge Parkway: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm
Asheville Fly Fishing:
Golf: http://www.golflink.com/search.aspx?q=Asheville+golf
Skiing: http://www.asheville.com/sports/ski.html
Whitewater rafting: http://www.frenchbroadrafting.com,
Pisgah National Forest: http://www.pisgahforest.com/public-lands/pisgahnationalforest/
Waterfalls: http://www.romanticasheville.com/waterfalls.htm
Festivals:
Bele Chere: July 23-25, 2010
Shindig on the Green: Saturday Evenings July and August
Brew Grass Festival: September 18, 2010
Asheville Film Festival
LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival): May 6-9 and October 14-17, 2010
The Southern Highland Craft Festival: July 15-18 and October 21-23, 2010
Asheville Antique Fair: August 6-8, 2010
River District Artists: http://www.riverdistrictartists.com (Studio strolls-second weekend of June and November)
Seasonal Sizzle: Throughout the month of December, fireworks, shopping, markets, parades, visits from Santa, and more.
These are only the best-known and largest festivals occurring in the Asheville area. We encourage you to visit http://www.exploreasheville.com for an up-to-date listing of all of the events throughout the year.
