Things To Do in and Around Asheville
You don’t have to be a resident to know that there’s something very special and unique about Asheville. A thriving mountain city with a burgeoning culinary, music and art scene tucked into the awe inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is the ultimate playground, with a wide variety of outdoor adventures and the ideal destination for an active and healthy getaway.
Asheville, is known to have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer in the Asheville area means waterfalls, river fun, outdoor music, open-air dining, and hiking and biking trails for days. The Fall season in Asheville is one of the most sought-after places to go for leaf peepers. With the area’s vast elevation changes, the Asheville area enjoys one of the longest fall color seasons anywhere in the country. Winter can be a fantastic time to experience Asheville. Take waterfall hikes with stunning long-range views, or enjoy a show at top music venues and dine at James Beard award-winning restaurants (without the crowds!) Spring is a time of rejuvenation in Asheville, as warmer temperatures breathe new life into the city and surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains as bright blooms emerge and the mountainsides green up with fresh leaves. It can also be a time to experience a personal spring rejuvenation by taking in the stunning gardens at Biltmore Estate with a seemingly endless display of flowers, or just experiencing the culinary delights that tap into the local harvest.
Whatever season you decide to experience, we’re confident that our accommodations at Well-Bred Luxury Lodgings will provide the perfect retreat for you to immerse yourself in all that the area has to offer.
Restaurants – Asheville offers some of North America’s best restaurants and there are so many it can be difficult to make a choice! From James Beard award winning restaurants like Curate and Chai Pani to great pizza and local food trucks you really can’t go wrong. Click here to find some of Asheville’s best restaurants.
Breweries – Asheville is known for its breweries, and with over 55 in downtown and the surrounding areas it is easy to say that there is plenty of variety. Best of all, most of them are dog friendly! Click here for a good guide to some local favorites.
Biltmore Estate – Spend the day at the largest privately owned home in North America. Tour the home and the expansive grounds (the grounds are dog friendly!), restaurants and winery. Be sure to check the website for special seasonal events and art exhibits. As a Biltmore Key Partner, we offer discounted admission by visiting biltmore.com/partners. Use promo code wellbredlux when prompted.
Blue Ridge Pkwy – The Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) is a 469-mile, non-stop, scenic, and recreational road managed by the National Park Service (NPS). This two-lane parkway runs from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The BRP is filled with scenic overlooks and cascading waterfalls. There are endless Blue Ridge Parkway hikes in North Carolina, and many are especially close for Asheville visitors. Click here for the 13 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes near the Weaverville/Asheville area.
Chimney Rock – Some people say the sky’s the limit. At Chimney Rock, we mean it. Take our elevator inside the mountain, or enjoy an invigorating hike with plenty of scenic diversions along the way. Well-Bred Luxury Lodgings guests get $2 off adult admission when you use the code wellbred24 and purchase tickets online.
Hiking – With four seasons, Asheville is a unique place to be able to hike year-round and is a popular activity for both locals and visitors. Click here for a list of just a few favorite nearby hikes for any skill level.
Waterfalls – If you love to find waterfalls, the Asheville area is the place for you! There are literally hundreds of cascading falls in the “Land of the Waterfalls,” Click here for a list of waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains with full page guides, photos and videos.
Water Sports (rafting, kayaking & canoeing) – If you’re looking to spend an exciting day on a fast flowing river, you will find the sheer power of a mountain river isn’t truly appreciated until it’s been experienced by kayak or whitewater raft. For a slower pace, float down the river on a tube trip or rent a SUP for the day. French Broad Outfitters is dog friendly and rents kayaks, canoes, tubes, and SUP’s. French Broad Adventures can provide the whole family with an array of outdoor activities including rafting, ziplining, canyoneering, and biking. Save 15% with Promo Code WELLBRED-LUX15. Zen tubing is also a favorite for a relaxing float down the French Broad. If you like the lake life, the Asheville area has many recreational lakes to discover as well, click here for some gorgeous lakes nearby.
Golf – With over forty golf courses in the Asheville area, there is an option for every golfer. Discover which public courses, driving ranges, and instructors are best.
- Reems Creek Golf Club – 36 Pink Fox Cove Road, Weaverville – 828-645-4393. A semi-private golf club nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Reems Creek Golf Club offers a relaxing and picturesque setting for a day on the links. Constructed by Hawtree & Sons, a renowned British firm, the sculpted layout is reminiscent of the look and feel of the Scottish Highlands. Elevations found here provide the most spectacular views of the surrounding mountains!
- Grove Park Inn Golf Course – 290 Macon Ave., Asheville – 828-252-2711. Designed by Donald Ross, The Grove Park Inn’s golf course has been rated among the top 10 courses in North Carolina by Golfweek Magazine in 2008. Fully-equipped carts come with the Uplink GPS system; walking permitted.
- Broadmoor Golf Links – 101 French Broad Ln, Fletcher, NC 28732 – (800) 238-5795. Broadmoor is a championship golf course designed by noted golf course architect Karl Litten, recognized alongside Nicklaus, Palmer, and Fazio by the PGA as one of golf’s fab four designers. Broadmoor Golf Links is designed to be enjoyed in 4 hours, whether you like to ride or walk. With tees measuring from 5600 to over 7000 yards, Broadmoor appeals to every level of golfer.
- Asheville Municipal Golf Course – 226 Fairway Drive, Asheville – 828-298-1867. The front nine of this Donald Ross design measures 3,285 yards and features a flat, wide-open course. The 3,195-yard back nine has narrow fairways and is very hilly. Tee times are required.
Fishing – Anglers of all abilities flock to Western North Carolina for its trophy trout waters. The area boasts 3 species of trout, both wild and stocked by the state of North Carolina, offering fishing opportunities to anglers of all skill levels from beginner to a seasoned Pro. If you haven’t fished our streams and rivers before, we highly recommend you consider partnering up with Curtis Wright Outfitters for an unforgettable angling experience. Hunter Banks is another option in Asheville and has a great store for all your gear.
Tours – Historical, Hysterical and Otherwise – You’ll love exploring Asheville on one of its many tours. The trolley, pub cycle, urban walking tours, ghost tours, and e bike tours are just a few. The LaZoom bus is an especially hilarious way to see the city, and…it is dog friendly!
Family Activities – Even though Asheville is known for its breweries, it is also known for so many family friendly activities. Just five minutes from downtown is the Asheville Adventure Center, which is fun for the whole family with zip lines, ropes course and bike park. The Arboretum is a great place to take kids and adults for some easy hiking. During baseball season it’s always fun to take in a game at Babe Ruth’s favorite minor league field to see the Asheville Tourists play. There is also the Asheville Pinball Museum, right downtown and a pass is good for the entire day. The WNC Nature Center features native plants and animals of the southern Appalachian Mountains and features 60 species and 120 animals. Navitat is an exciting zip line treetop canopy tour that is 25 minutes outside of downtown and is a true adventure. Asheville is also a short drive to some of North Carolina’s ski slopes! In the winter take a 35 minute drive to Wolf Ridge Ski resort, or a 45 minute drive to Cataloochee Ski Area for some skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing. If that isn’t enough, click here for a list of more activities for the kids.
