- Things to Do in Asheville This Weekend -- October , | Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site
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From November to January 1st, the Arboretum lights up its gardens with innovative creations, wildlife exhibits, and lights that dance to music. Of course, you can see Bonsais, butterflies, and their famous Quilt Garden. You must pay a small parking fee to enter the grounds.
Does Winter Lights sound magical? Read more about all of the best spots to catch Christmas lights in Asheville. Are you looking for things to do in Asheville where you can meet the furry Western North Carolina locals in a safe environment instead of on the trails or our front steps…? The center also houses snakes, turtles, hawks, goats, frogs, and donkeys. Find plenty of exploration stations and themed playground areas for the littles — spider-web jungle gym included. Wide and paved walking paths are extra stroller-friendly.
After hours, stroll the grounds with a beer or cider in hand. Enjoy local eats too. Like The North Carolina Arboretum, there is a small entrance fee. Or, become a member. 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.
Beaver Lake is perfect for a stroll after a North Asheville lunch or dinner. Bring a book and some binoculars. The Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary houses a. Birdwatchers can spy hawks, osprey, herons, vultures, kites, sparrows, woodpeckers, ducks, wrens, swallows, warblers, and bluebirds. Although Beaver Lake is privately owned, the area is open to the public and free. Please consider leaving a donation in the parking lot box, though.
One of our top recommended things to do in Asheville is enjoying the three or four waterfalls at DuPont. Triple Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are famous. We suggest parking in the Hooker Falls Access Area.
If you still have energy, walk under the covered wooden bridge to Bridal Veil Falls, which adds 4 more miles to your hike. If you need lunch afterward, drive minutes to nearby Hendersonville — another one of our favorite towns. Asheville sees the most visitors in the fall and around the holidays. The leaves! Growing up in CT, we thought New England was the boss of fall foliage.
Who knew that the Western North Carolina mountains had an equally breathtaking fall season? Nothing beats an Asheville autumn. Enjoy fall foliage hikes, corn mazes, apple picking, and catching those purple and pink sunsets. Our top things to do in Asheville, NC in autumn include visiting the apple orchards for cider donuts and brewery hopping for spiced and pumpkin beers. Pick a pumpkin. Trek the most beautiful fall foliage hikes , and wine taste at the vineyards with the best views. Asheville in the fall is also a great time to drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway.
In need of cooler summer things to do in Asheville, NC? Drive under one hour to Skinny Dip Falls to kiss the magical Dragon Tree on your way to this serene waterfall. Spread out along the falls and take a dip in one of its pools.
You can also head over to Sliding Rock and literally slide down a foot natural boulder into the chilly waters. Sliding Rock has reopened, and Skinny Dip Falls looks a bit different — the bridge washed away and the falls have a new path. Imagine walking along the Riverwalk in the River Arts District and suddenly spying a gaggle of floating and cackling unicorns….
Where can you get your tubing on? French Broad Outfitters and Zen Tubing are just a few. While the best things to do in Asheville, NC — to us — are all outdoors, our next go-to are those breweries. Asheville has no shortage of beer. Below, find the best Asheville things to do that involve all of the booze: wineries, distillers, cideries, wine bars, and rooftop bars.
You cannot come to Asheville without trying as much of the local craft beer as possible. As locals, what are our favorite breweries in AVL? For something different, Bhramari and Funkatorium sours are sure to impress or weird you out. Directly in Asheville, check out pleb urban winery in the River Arts District. Of course, Biltmore has a famous winery, and wine tasing is included with your ticket. If you head out of Asheville, our personal favorite wineries are in Hendersonville , including Sawyer Springs, St.
If you know Christine from The Uncorked Librarian, you also know that we partner with Cultivated Cocktails for some of our literary-inspired drinks. They sell the best cocktail schwag, too. Of course, if you are gluten-free or looking for apple-related drinks, Asheville and Hendersonville have the best cideries and meaderies.
Many ciders are sold at the local breweries and wineries. Urban Orchard and Noble are the most well-known cideries in Asheville. Botanist and Barrel and Bold Rock just opened downtown Asheville taprooms. Rooftop bar hopping always makes the top of the list for the best things to do in Asheville, NC. The poshest Asheville rooftop bars promise sunsets, small plates with your Southern favorites, and jaw-dropping views.
Their delicious craft cocktails are perfect before a fancy dinner out in downtown Asheville. You may wish to take an Asheville Rooftop Bar Tour to see them all with a designated driver. However, if you are looking for relaxing things to do in Asheville with a bottle or glass of wine, head to:.
Wedge Brewing is right next door. Battery Park Book Exchange — This champagne bar used bookstore is iconic. Read more about the best and most hipster Asheville wine bars. We just love the Asheville bar scene , and bar hopping is one of the most fun things to do in Asheville.
Have we made you hungry yet? You must need something to eat by now to soak up all of that booze. And man, all of those waterfalls and hikes sure do make a gal ravenous. One of the best things to do in Asheville is eat. We always openly share that Tom and I Christine have many food intolerances. Asheville is extremely understanding and accommodating for food allergies, intolerances, and preferences. This entire section is all about the food. PennyCup Coffee Co.
Vortex has delicious donuts and coffee. Just look for the double-decker red bus. Newer to Asheville, Rowan Coffee in downtown is simple but delicious. That historic building is gorgeous inside. Find a park, art museum, music, restaurants, and chocolate shops. The French Broad Chocolate Lounge has everything a chocolate lover desires. Discover desserts, hot cocoa, truffles, bonbons, cakes, custards, cookies, coffee, brownies, booze, and ice cream.
Need we say more? French Broad Chocolates serves up lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. We also personally love nearby Asheville Chocolate. Asheville Chocolate features tea, coffee, and hot chocolate with a variety of hand-crafted chocolates.
Plus, find decadent gelato. Vegan and gluten-free options included. At the end of August, the best apple orchards around Asheville start opening. Create your Asheville fall bucket list here. We love grabbing a light dinner with some of my favorite cocktails at Edison. If you are stuffed from lunch, just snack on a charcuterie board with drinks from The Great Hall Bar. We are not going to lie: waking up in the mountains is rough, especially if there is fog. The darker mornings make it harder to get up and out the door early.
Not only do they serve breakfast all day, but they offer lunch and dinner as well as locally source their food. And, mimosas. Read all of our top breakfast recommendations — touristy and more local — with vegan and gluten-free options, too.
One of our weekend brunch favorites includes Jerusalem Garden Cafe in downtown Asheville. Read more about the best Asheville brunch spots. Personally, two of the most fun places to get lunch if you are visiting Asheville are at Biltmore Estate. You will need a Biltmore ticket or annual to enter them. Stable Cafe has the best sandwiches and cocktails in the coolest setting: The former Vanderbilt horse stables. GQC has both vegan and gluten-free options.
Whether or not you are a vegan or vegetarian, Laughing Seed Cafe is another gem, and we devour subs gf pizza and grinders available at Apollo Flame Bistro, especially after a BRP parkway hike. Bouchon, Ukiah, and Limones are the perfect date night restaurants.
You may also grab dinner at the breweries like Wicked Weed and Bhramari. Asheville has the best donut shops. We just ate a delicious Vortex donut the other day; it melted in our mouths. If you are here in the fall, go to all of the apple orchards and try their donuts. We think Sky Top has the best since they make their cinnamon cider donuts in front of you and serve them piping hot.
Many of the AVL food trucks circulate the brewery scene. All aboard for a scenic train excursion in the Smokies and along mountain rivers on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Biltmore Exploring all of Biltmore could take days. Allow a half-day to tour the house along with the shops and lunch at Stable Cafe. Stroll through the gardens and Conservatory with blooms during every season. Tour and taste at the Winery , then see the exhibits and shops at Antler Hill Village.
Book a second day to explore the outdoors via bikes, hiking, Segways or on the river in a raft or board. Tour other House Museums in the area. Stay in a hotel or resort that offers special Biltmore ticket offers or packages. For families, see tips and things to do on our Biltmore for Kids guide. Art For more beautiful, historic architecture and plenty of amazing art, head to downtown Asheville to explore the galleries.
To visit artists at work, go to the nearby River Arts District. Dozens of studios and galleries are open every day, with many more open on weekends and Studio Stroll weekends.
Take an art class and return home with a new hobby. Go to one of our Top 80 Art Festivals and Tours throughout the year. See the many murals in Asheville.
See our Foodie Favorites guide to get you started. Also, see our Kid-Friendly Restaurant guide. Sample the local brews at dozens of craft breweries in Asheville and western North Carolina. See our Top 50 Beer Guide to get started. Enjoy a wine tasting at some of our favorite mountain wineries. True to the free-spirited nature of Asheville, the River Arts District is made up of 22 buildings of historical or previous industrial purpose.
A cotton mill, a tannery, and all sorts of other fascinating spaces by the French Broad River fill the district with an old-fashioned atmosphere, offset by the modernity of the art found. Walking through the River Arts District will let you feast your eyes on works created by over different artists, ranging from paintings to ceramics and from photography to textiles.
Even hand-crafted jewelry and more lovely souvenirs can be found here, and you might get to meet some of the artists behind them! Local artists enjoy talking about their work but take note of studio operating hours if you want to meet them. Studio Strolls is an exciting event where a free trolley service takes guests across multiple different studios, all open for the special occasion! Looking for one of the best places to go on vacation? No trip to Asheville is complete without a stop at Biltmore Estate.
It is cited as the biggest privately owned house not just in North Carolina, but in all of the country. The home eventually expanded its uses, with a winery being built in the s and hotels being set up in the s.
Finished in , it boasts an opulent French Renaissance design and a whopping rooms, including 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms.
Many secret passages hidden behind trick doors are scattered about the home, some of which are available to tour. Meanwhile, the outside consists of 8, acres of garden, with 2.
Each season hosts different events, ranging from regal Christmas displays to beautiful spring blooms. Essentially, the Folk Art Center is an eclectic exhibit of all sorts of arts and crafts made locally, not just from Asheville but across the Appalachian region. It was created during the Great Depression in in order to help create a market for artists and their work across the area — though it does have roots all the way back to the s. The goal of the Folk Art Center is to promote handmade works that combine traditional and contemporary elements, some dating all the way back to the 19tch century.
Three galleries showcase all sorts of handicrafts, ranging from sculptures to woodworking, from paintings to glass, and from quilts to jewelry. There are also demonstrations of crafts that have almost been forgotten since they were brought down from mountain tribes, such as broom-making, cabinetry, and weaving.
The facility covers 42 acres and is dedicated to an educational mission: to teach the public about the habitats, diversity, and variation of the everyday life of mammals in Asheville and beyond.
The indoor exhibits of the nature center include small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and the very interesting World Underground exhibit that discusses what exists beneath the ground. The outdoor exhibits, on the other hand, are dedicated to local species, like foxes, turtles, raccoons, otter, and even endangered farm animals.
Events are hosted every now and then throughout the year, and a hiking trail spans the grounds of the center so you can take a nice hike and enjoy the natural atmosphere.
Wolfe spoke of the home unflatteringly: a cheaply-made house, as he called it, with dirt yellow paint and a broken-down look. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, housed in that former boarding house, is amazing for fans of the novel because of the accuracy with which he described each room. The Grove Arcade was one of the first indoor shopping malls in all of the country, which makes it a unique mix of historical and fun on this list of places to go in the city of Asheville.
The Gray Line Trolley is an amazing way to see all the tourist attractions and activities that the city has to offer. Grovewood Gallery is housed in a building that was once the woodworking and weaving factory for Biltmore Industries — a name you likely remember from another one of the places to visit in the city of Asheville, Biltmore Estate. Now, Grovewood Gallery is home to crafts of all kinds from contemporary artists, both local to North Carolina and from all across the country.
More than creators have their work on display here, and there are sculpture gardens outside that promote a peaceful and calming environment. Visting other areas of North Carolina?
This group of drummers gathers every week without fail — except in the winter — in Pritchard Park. While there, together, they perform an impressive set of impromptu jams that fill the park and the areas near it with joyful music. They bring dunduns, djembes, congas, shekeres, and other percussion instruments to create catchy beats and flowing rhythms. Usually, a crowd of interested audience members and excited dancers will slowly gather to join in on the fun and entertainment.
The Pritchard Park Drum Circle is said to congregate in order to keep Asheville, North Carolina weird, which is quite a lovely thought.
The tradition began with just 10 drummers in and has since grown to showcase cultural diversity, teach classes, and entertain the public.
The Asheville Museum Of Science is a small and humble but very fun location. The most loved parts of this museum are very varied, providing lots of different experiences in one. Termed as one of the most beautiful places in the USA , the Botanical Gardens at Asheville are a delightful mix of habitats for different species of flora.
Horticultural displays range from trees to flowers, including many local varieties of plants for a more personal and tailor experience. Address: W T. Waterfall-lovers will enjoy the Pisgah Ranger District, experienced hikers may love the Grandfather Ranger District, and horseback riders will enjoy the Appalachian District, which is further out and away from the city. In your exploration of this natural Asheville location, you can go on guided hikes or participate in programs that change seasonally.
Day-use areas are scattered throughout the forest, with amenities and options to keep the whole family busy. Trails, swimming spots, boat ramps, showers, and camping areas are all available to use and try out. All in all, there is plenty to do — but do note that you need a camping permit if you want to set up camp here! What better way to get a taste — pun intended — of this town than through Asheville Food Tours?
You will visit seven different locations, each one wisely selected, from normal eateries to food stores and to fancy restaurants. Have you ever wanted to forage for your own food, but have been too anxious to start because of hygiene or safety?