One of the coolest small cities on the East Coast, Asheville has a relaxed boho vibe that I love! It’s weird and that’s just the way locals want to keep it. The city has a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and an insane number of craft breweries. Asheville is a refreshingly unique combination of hipster meets outdoor enthusiasts. With so many options the question is, what should you do when you visit Asheville?
The Basics:
Where Is Asheville, North Carolina?:
Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for a vibrant arts scene and historic architecture.
How Do I Get There?:
Air:
The closest airport to Asheville is actually in the city, Asheville (AVL). However, there are better options for getting to Asheville, and flying into smaller airports is really expensive.
Charlotte is the largest airport and will have much cheaper fares but will have about a 3 hour drive each way.
Roadtrip:
Asheville is a great roadtrip destination and this is how I got to Asheville for my weekend trip. I always prefer to roadtrip because it’s generally cheaper. This wonderfully weird city is centrally located for most of the East Coast.
For More Ideas On What To Do In Asheville Check Out: How To Spend 3 Days In Asheville, NC
14 Fun Things To Do In Asheville
1. Drink Some Craft Brew
Known as “beer city USA,” Asheville has a staggering 30 craft breweries within the city, and about 60 additional breweries nearby. No matter what kind of beer you like Asheville has a brew for you. Here are a few brewery suggestions:
- Wicked Weed – Dog Friendly
- Catawba Brewing Company – Dog Friendly
- Sierra Nevada
- Urban Orchard Cider
- Bhramari Brewing Company – Dog Friendly
2. Stroll River Arts District
Haywood Road
Visit the River Arts District to browse work from 200 local artists. You can check out anything from painting and photography exhibits to handmade jewelry and pottery. The River Arts District is where you will find all of those awesome murals. Asheville is a very art-focused city and River District only adds to the charm. Just walk down Haywood Road you will find everything from layered mountains, Sloth From The Goonies to Dolly Parton.
3. Marvel At The Biltmore Estate
1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
No visit to Asheville would be complete without a visit to the famous Biltmore Estate. George Vanderbilt’s enormous 100 year old property is something you need to see. The mansion is around 178,926 sq ft and sits on about 8,000 acres. With over 200 rooms, beautiful gardens, and exhibits to explore you should plan to be here for at least a few hours.
It’s recommended that you purchase tickets before you visit, and I recommend getting them earlier in the day so that you have a chance to explore afterward. Or later in the day so that you can experience sunset during your visit.
There are several options for visiting Biltmore Estates –
- Gardens & Grounds Admission – $55 – this gives you access to everything but the house including the vineyard.
- Enhanced Experience – $76-$96 (depending on the day) – this gives you access to house & gardens, an audio guide, and complimentary wine tasting.
- Exclusive Experience – $284-$304 (depending on the day) – you get access to the house & gardens, a small group tour led by an expert guide, complimentary parking, and complimentary wine tasting.
- You can purchase tickets HERE
4. Take A Drive On The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. You’ll get awe inspiring views around each turn. The entire route stretches about 469 miles from North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Asheville makes a great base for exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Check Out: One Day At Shenandoah National Park, 11 Fun Dog Friendly Adventures At Shenandoah
5. Hike At Least One Trail
This area of the Blue Ridge Mountains has some pretty epic hiking trails, and its even got a section of the Appalachian Trail. You can summit Mt. Pisgah in an easy 1.2 miles or try these hikes for some beautiful views –
Craggy Gardens Trail
- Drive Time: 24 mins from downtown
- Distance: 1.9 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 574 ft
- Dog Friendly
Lookout Trail
- Drive Time: 24 mins from downtown
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 626 ft
- Dog Friendly
6. Check Out The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
If you love flowers you don’t want to miss the North Carolina Arboretum. Featuring over 65 acres of cultivated garden, the arboretum also has 10 miles of hiking trails. The center offers guided tours and geocaching, and they’ve got a ton of special events each year.
7. Take A Ghost Tour
Asheville has quite a super natural history, and the best way to learn more about it is by taking a ghost tour. The city is unquestionably haunted and there are many options in terms of tours. I chose to do my ghost tour with Haunted Asheville and took the Classic Walking Tour, you can book that HERE. Tad was my tour guide and he was awesome! He was entertaining and I loved all of the folklore and legend elements in his tour. It was a very cool way to spend a night in Asheville.
8. Shop And Then Shop Some More
Asheville has some truly great shopping. They’ve got everything and that makes shopping here so much fun! Here are some of my favorites:
Can’t Miss Shops:
- L.O.F.T.
- Embellish Asheville (I got a beautiful bracelet here)
- Honeypot
- Charmed Asheville
- Battery Park Book Exchange
- Grove Arcade
9. Explore The Foodie Scene
Asheville is a foodie city and the food here is some of the best I’ve had in awhile. Whether you wan to indulge in southern favorites or visit a dessert bar for some cocktails and sweets, you just can’t go wrong here. Here are some suggestions:
Head To Tupelo Honey Cafe For Breakfast –
12 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
I highly recommend the Mac-N-Cheese Waffles with Asheville Hot Fried Chicken. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds! The Wildflower Moscow Mule was also delicious. You can find the menu HERE, and reservations are highly recommended.
Treats Yourself To French Broad Chocolate Lounge –
10 S Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801
French Broad Chocolate Lounge is one of those places that you smell before you even enter. They have a delicious array of sweet treats to choose from and they even have dessert flights. The cookies are amazing and everything delicious but if it’s warm during your visit, I recommend skipping the chai latte.
Grab Lunch At Buxton Hall Barbecue –
32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Buxton Hall BBQ features pasture-raised pigs from local farmers and a full bar. Hailed as the best BBQ place in Asheville, this place has a cult-like following. Not only is the food amazing but it’s got a great atmosphere and a cool history. The building housed a roller skating rink in the 1930s and you’ll notice the floors are still the original maple from the rink. Very cool.
Have Some More Sweet Treats At Crave –
41 N Lexington Ave Suite# 100, Asheville, NC 28801
Check out Crave Dessert Bar and sit outside on the patio in the warmer months. Crave ended up being a really nice surprise. I had a drink and some of the girls in my group ordered a hookah. I recommend the Ricky Bobby – it’s essentially an Old Fashioned with a peachy twist. This is a great way to relax and unwind after a day of shopping and checking out Asheville.
10. Chase Some Waterfalls
There are a lot of waterfall hikes around Asheville, thanks the to perfect conditions created by the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you drive about 40 miles to Brevard (mile post 417 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) you can easily see multiple waterfalls in one day. Here are a few suggested hikes:
Looking Glass Falls
- Drive Time: 45 mins from downtown
- Distance: .3 Miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 36 ft
- Dog Friendly
Skinny Dip Falls
- Drive Time: 56 mins from downtown
- Distance: 1 Mile
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 200 ft
- Dog Friendly
Catawba Falls
- Drive Time: 34 mins from downtown
- Distance: 2.3 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 341 ft
- Dog Friendly
Crabtree Falls
- Drive Time: 1 hour from downtown
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 577 ft
- Dog Friendly
11. Watch A Sunrise Or Sunset
Sunrises and sunsets with these gorgeous mountains as the backdrop are really something to see. Sunsets in the mountains are something special, and if you follow me on Instagram, you know I live for them! Here are some of the best places to enjoy a sunrise or sunset in Asheville:
Top Places For Sunrise:
- Mount Mitchell
- Craggy Pinnacle
- French Broad River
- Lake Lure
Some Of The Best Sunset Locations:
- Biltmore Estates
- Craggy Gardens
- Max Patch (I want to go here so badly and missed it)
- Montford Rooftop Bar
- Anywhere On The Blue Ridge Parkway
12. Check Out The Western North Carolina (WNC) Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
The 42 acre facility is dedicated to education the public about western North Carolina’s wildlife. This is both kid and adult friendly. Outdoor exhibits house Appalachian predators such as foxes, bob cats, coyotes, grey wolves, and the critically endangered red wolf.
13. Explore Pisgah National Forest
Covering over 500,000 acres and housing some pretty epic geological landmarks, Pisgah National Forest is a great way to explore in western North Carolina. Table Rock, the Chimneys, and Linville Gorge are some of the highlights of this national forest. You can also try horseback riding, fishing, cycling, and hiking here. The trails at Pisgah are dog friendly making this a great adventure for you and your dogs.
14. Have Fun At The Pinball Museum
1 Battle Square Ste 1b, Asheville, NC 28801
Marvel at 45 vintage pinball machines and a bonus: you get to play all of them too! This nostalgic museum allows free play once you enter, for a flat admission fee of $15. It can become crowded and for this reason, they offer a waiting list service. That’s right, you can explore downtown until it’s your turn for some pinball fun!
Staying In Asheville
Luxury Hotels
The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
- (800) 438-5800
- Cost: $$$
- Find Out More HERE
Village Inn At Biltmore Estates
1 Antler Hill Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
- (800) 411-3812Cost: $$$
- Find Out More HERE
Boutique Hotels
Windsor Boutique Hotel
36 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
- (844) 494-6376
- Cost: $$$
- Find Out More HERE
The Foundry Hotel Asheville
51 S Market St, Asheville, NC 28801
- (828) 552-8545
- Cost: $$
- Find Out More HERE
Budget Friendly Hotels
Hotel Indigo
151 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
- (828) 239-0239
- Cost: $$
- Find Out More HERE
Brookstone Lodge
4 Roberts Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
- (828) 398-5888
- Cost: $
Airbnb Cabins
I stayed at this one…Tango Lookout Lodge. The views were absolutely stunning and the cabin itself was great!
Dreamy Stays
Asheville Glamping – offering domes, vintage airstreams, yurts, and more this place looks amazing! Bonus: some of them are dog friendly!
Dog Friendly Airbnbs
Asheville Tips
- There is a city sponsored drum circle every Friday night from 6-10 pm in Pritchard Park.
- Asheville is absolutely stunning in the fall and has amazing foliage or during the spring when the wild flowers are in full bloom.
- Expect crowds at the Biltmore not matter what time of year you are visiting.
- Asheville is very dog friendly and it’s a great place to adventure with your pup!
Asheville is a great city to visit at any time of the year and the list barely scratches to service of all the amazing things that the city has to offer! Have you been to Asheville? What was your favorite?
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