Things to Do in Asheville, North Carolina

Did you know that Frommers listed Asheville, North Carolina as a must-see vacation spot? If you're planning a family getaway, this spot should definitely go on your short list of possible destinations. Nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains, this hidden gem includes a vibrant urban environment within minutes of the complete seclusion that only a rental cabin surrounded by acres of woodlands can provide. Review this list of things to do in Asheville, North Carolina to plan your trip. Remember to check out our detailed list of Asheville attractions below.

Experience Life in the Trees

Although you'll definitely see plenty of unspoiled woodland areas in Asheville, North Carolina, Adventure America Zipline Canopy Tours will give you a chance to see it all from an entirely different perspective. As you travel across 11 different ziplines and five sky bridges, you'll get a bird's eye view of more than 22 acres of stunning natural beauty. A canopy ranger guide will assist you and your small group as you soar across the sky at heights of more than 80 feet. During this three-hour adventure, your guide also provides educational information about the local vegetation, including the endangered hemlock.

Mountains Abound

What makes Asheville so unique is its mountainous surroundings. Climb Looking Glass Rock , hike or bike along the lake in Bent Creek Experimental Forest , go river rafting, or horseback riding through the forests of Biltmore.

Soak Up the History

Asheville has a number of stunning architectural and historic sites worth checking out. The Biltmore Estate comes to the forefront - after all, it's America's largest, spanning 8,000 acres. From the gardens to the wineries to the Village to the horseback tours, you can easily kill a whole day here. Other great attractions include the Thomas Wolfe Memorial , the Smith-McDowell House Museum , the Asheville Ghost Trolley , and the Carl Sandburg Home .

Spend a Day on a Course

The Asheville golf courses could add quite a few items to your list of things to do in Asheville, North Carolina! Whether you stick right to the local Asheville area or branch out into the neighboring communities, you could spend your entire vacation golfing and never play the same hole twice.

Try one or more of these championship courses:

• Asheville Municipal Golf Course - Asheville
• Asheville Parks and Recreation - Asheville
• Black Mountain Golf Club - Black Mountain
• Broadmoor Golf Links - Fletcher
• Cleghorn Plantation - Rutherfordton
• Crooked Creek Golf Club - Hendersonville
• Crown Plaza Resort Golf Course - Asheville
• Golf Course at the Grove Park Inn - Asheville
• Great Smoky Mountains Golf - Asheville

Enjoy a Night Out

If you enjoy an exciting night out on the town, Asheville has several possibilities. For gourmet meals, head to 131 Main , where you can enjoy dinner and a scenic view of the town square. Try the very best restaurants in Biltmore on a walking tour sponsored by the Foodtopian Society . If adult beverages are more your style, find out why Asheville is known as "Beer City USA" by taking part in the Asheville Brews Cruise .

How about a few laughs during your fun night out? The LaZoom Comedy Tour takes patrons on a citywide tour in a bright purple bus and offers the funniest historical tour you'll ever experience. The same bus also does after-hours haunted tours and an art tour.

If you'd like to listen to live music during your stay, Asheville has one of the most active music scenes in the area. While the city regularly hosts special concerts, these shows are Asheville traditions:

• Pickin' on the Porch of the Old Kentucky Home - Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historical Site
• Concerts in the Park - Biltmore Park Town Square
• Pan Harmonia Spring Festival - Asheville
• Downtown After 5 - Asheville
• Music on Main Street - Hendersonville
• Music on the Rock - Flat Rock Playhouse

A Little Needed Seclusion

If you really need to get away from it all, a vacation home rental in the Asheville area is better than any of the other things to do in Asheville, North Carolina. Although you can find properties right in town, secluded cabins in the middle of the woods without another person in sight might be just what you want.

From exciting days and nights in town to absolute privacy, Asheville has it all! What will you do while you're in Asheville?

Asheville Attractions

Historical Attractions

• Biltmore Estate 1 Approach Road, Asheville NC, (828) 225-1333, biltmore.com
• Thomas Wolfe Memorial 52 North Market Street, Asheville NC, (828) 253-8304, wolfememorial.com
• Smith-McDowell House Museum 283 Victoria Road, Asheville  NC, (828) 253-9231, wnchistory.org
• Carl Sandburg Home Flat Rock NC 28731
• Asheville Ghost Trolley 37 Montford Ave, Asheville NC, (888) 667-3600, ashevilletrolleytours.com
• Grove Arcade One Page Avenue, (828) 252-7799, grovearcade.com/
• Basilica of St. Lawrence 97 Haywood Street, Asheville NC, (828) 252-6042, saintlawrencebasilica.org
• Haunted Asheville 1 Page Ave, Grove Arcade Champagne Bar, Asheville NC, (828) 779-4868, ghosthuntersofasheville.com

Golf

• Asheville Municipal Golf Course 226 Fairway Drive, Asheville NC, (828) 298-1867, ashevillenc.gov
• Asheville Parks and Recreation 338 Hilliard Avenue, Asheville NC, (828) 251-4049
• Crown Plaza Resort 1 Resort Drive, Asheville NC, (800) 733-3211, ashevillecp.com
• Golf Course at the Grove Park Inn 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville NC, (828) 252-2711, groveparkinn.com
• Country Club of Asheville 170 Windsor Road, Asheville NC, (828) 258-9187, countryclubofasheville.net
• Great Smoky Mountains Golf 15 West Walnut Street, Asheville NC, (800) 799-6998, greatsmokiesgolf.com

Shopping

• North Carolina Arboretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville NC, (828) 665-2492, ncarboretum.org
• River Arts District Clingman Ave & Lyman St, Asheville NC

Cullinary

• French Broad River Brewery Ste D, 101 Fairview Road, Asheville NC, (828) 277-0222, frenchbroadbrewery.com
• Asheville Food Tours (828) 273-0365, ashevillefoodtours.com
• Asheville Brews Cruise (828) 545-5181, ashevillebrewscruise.com
• Double Decker Coffee Company 41 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville NC, (828) 505-2439

Entertainment

• The LaZoom Comedy Tour 1 ½ Battery Park Avenue, Asheville NC, (828) 225-6932, lazoomtours.com
• Concerts in the Park Biltmore Park Town Square, (828) 210-1660, biltmorepark.com/events/concerts-park-2011
• North Carolina Stage Company 15 Stage Lane, Asheville NC, (828) 350-9090, ncstage.org

Museums

• Black Mountain College Museum 56 Broadway Street, Asheville NC, (828) 350-8484, blackmountaincollege.org
• Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center 2 South Pack Square, Asheville NC, (828) 252-4614, packplace.org
• Asheville Art Museum 2 South Pack Square, Asheville NC, (828) 253-3227, ashevilleart.org
• Grovewood Car Gallery 111 Grovewood Road, Asheville NC, (828) 253-7651, grovewood.com
• North Carolina Homespun Museum 111 Grovewood Rd # 2, Asheville NC, (828) 253-7651
• Southern Appalachian Radio Museum 340 Victoria Road, Asheville NC, (828) 299-1276
• Botanical Gardens at Asheville 151 West T Weaver Boulevard, Asheville NC, (828) 252-5190, unca.edu
• Folk Art Center Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville NC, (828) 298-7928, southernhighlandguild.org   

Outdoors & Nature

• Adventure America Zipline Canopy Tours 242 Poverty Branch Road, Barnardsville NC, (828) 626-3700, navitat.com
• Looking Glass Rock FR 475 off US Hwy 276, 10 miles north of Brevard NC
• Bent Creek Experimental Forest Pisgah National Forest, Avery Creek NC 28806
• Asheville Urban Trail Downtown Asheville NC
• Needle's Eye 431 Main Street, Chimney Rock NC, (828) 625-9611, chimneyrockpark.com
• Wilson Creek Asheville, NC 28803

Kid-friendly

• Asheville's Fun Depot 7 Roberts Road, Asheville NC, (828) 277-2386, ashevillesfundepot.com
• DINO-kinetics 8 Town Square Boulevard, Asheville NC, (828) 676-1622
• WNC Nature Center 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville NC, (828) 298-5600, ashevillenc.gov