Things To Do in Asheville: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Have you guys ever been to Asheville? It’s been on my bucket list for a while, and a couple of weeks ago, I finally had the opportunity to visit. Let me tell you, this charming mountain town did not disappoint! I’m so excited to share my Asheville travel guide with you.

Why It’s Worth Visiting Asheville

Located in western North Carolina, the first thing you notice about Asheville is the scenery. It’s spectacular. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, there are a ton of outdoor activities to choose from, everything from hiking to white water rafting. But that’s not all this city has to offer. It’s also a great destination to check out art, eat inventive cuisine, and drink beer, given that the city boasts more breweries per capita than any other city in the U.S.

I traveled with a girlfriend on this trip, and in addition to 3 nights in Asheville, we also spent one night at The Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway. It was the perfect trip length for getting to know the area. The only downside for us is that we were hit with torrential rain two of the days, which cut short our plans for hiking. But even in the soggy weather, we still had a great time!

Getting to Asheville

From the NYC area, there are direct flights to Asheville. Since the times didn’t work for us, we opted to fly into Charlotte and then rented a car. It’s about a 2-hour drive to Asheville from the Charlotte airport. We wanted a car in Asheville anyway because many of the outdoor activities and hiking trails are 30-45 minutes outside of town, so this worked out well for us. We also spent one night by Lake Toxaway, (more on that below) about an hour southwest of Asheville, which was another reason we needed a car.

Things to Do in Asheville – Outdoor Activities

• Hiking: The surrounding area boasts over 3000 miles of trails, including 1600 in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. Whether you’re looking for a trail with views, waterfalls, swimming holes or tranquil greenery, you’ll find all of that here.
• Sliding Rock: This is a natural water slide that has become a popular destination for tourists. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it because of the rain, but if the weather is warm, it’s worth checking out. Just make sure you wear a durable bathing suit or running shorts because yes, you are literally sliding down the rock face into a pool of water!
• Whitewater rafting & tubing: The region has some great rivers for rafting. If you’re game for class III and IV rapids, try Pigeon River, at the Tennessee border, a 50-mile drive from Asheville. If you want a tranquil tubing experience, head to the French Broad River, right outside of town.
• Ziplining: If you want soar amongst the tree canopies, then you need to put ziplining on your list. There are multiple options in the area, depending on how adventurous you are and how far you want to drive.
• Waterfall trekking: This adventure includes rappelling, canyoning, swimming, hiking, and boulder hopping. We were so excited to try one of these treks but it got canceled due to the weather. When I make it back to Asheville, this will definitely be on my list.
• Horseback riding: There are plenty of stables located in the area, including at the Biltmore Estate. Most stables cater to a range of riders, from beginning to advanced, and offer a variety of expeditions on beautiful trails.

Things to Do in Asheville – Sightseeing

• Biltmore Mansion – If it hadn’t rained so much on our trip, I’m not sure we would have made it here, but I’m so glad we did. The manicured gardens and grounds are gorgeous and we had the added bonus of visiting during a Chihuly Exhibit. The mansion itself is commanding with incredible architectural details, and I loved learning more history about the Vanderbilt family. The one drawback is that tickets are expensive, $75 on average for adults. Travel tip: if you’re an AAA member, they offer discounted tickets.
• Downtown Arts District – There is a thriving art scene in Asheville and this is a great area for exploring the city’s many art galleries.
• Breweries – We only managed to make it to two breweries, Burial Brewery and Urban Orchard Cider Co. We tried a flight at each and were impressed with the variety we got to sample. With dozens of breweries in the area, you can’t go wrong no matter which ones you choose!
• Blue Ridge Parkway – If you want to see incredible vistas and really understand why the mountains in this area are called the Blue Ridge Mountains, take a drive on this parkway. As you navigate the twists and turns, you’ll be rewarded with commanding views of the mountains. Of course, when we went, it was raining and foggy, so we didn’t see the vistas we were hoping to, but that’s just another reason for us to return to this charming city!
• Antiquing – There are some huge antique shops here full of Americana. We stopped by Tobacco Barn Antiques and marveled at how much stuff there was! I mean, rows upon rows of furniture, dishware, jewelry, statues, signs, window frames, old doors, garden planters, vintage bicycles. You name it, they had it. It’s a fun place to explore, especially on a rainy afternoon.

Things to Do in Asheville – Food

• The Admiral – This is considered one of the best restaurants in town. The décor is modest and retro and totally reminded me of a restaurant you’d find in Brooklyn. It’s worth putting on your list and I recommend making a reservation in advance.
• Bull and Beggar – Located by an old railway, in a large, industrial space, this place has a great vibe. We shared a bunch of plates, including charred octopus, a seasonal salad of grilled peaches and green beans, and the filet. The best part is that all of this food was reasonably priced!
• Biscuit Head – I was so excited about this place because they had gluten-free biscuits. I repeat, gluten-free biscuits. Not only that, but they have a bunch of homemade jams, butter, and gravies to choose from. Add some scrambled eggs and bacon, and my friend and I were both very happy campers.
• 12 Bones – Alas, we only had so many meals we could squeeze in, so we did not make it to this famed BBQ spot. Open only for lunch, we heard it has the best ribs in town. It’s definitely on my list for my next visit!
• BimBeriBon – Recommended to us by a waitress at the Admiral, this was another spot I became obsessed with because EVERYTHING on the menu, including the baked from scratch cinnamon rolls, is gluten-free. We went for breakfast and I was tempted to order the entire menu!

Things to Do in Asheville – Where to Stay:

• Airbnb – My friend and I opted for an Airbnb apartment with two bedrooms which was walking distance to town. It was very well priced and we liked that we had a kitchen for coffee etc. in the morning.
• The Inn on Biltmore Estate – For straight up luxury and elegance stay at this hotel.
• Windsor Boutique Hotel – Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, this Beaux Art hotel offers all suites.
• Grand Bohemian Hotel – Just outside of Asheville in Biltmore Historic Village, you’ll find this old-luxury boutique hotel, with resort-style amenities.

Our Side Trip – Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

We wanted to splurge one night on a really nice hotel, so we chose The Greystone Inn, situated on a hill overlooking Lake Toxaway. The resort had every activity we could ask for, including paddle boarding, kayaking, tennis, golf, and even croquet! We opted for a sunset cruise on the lake, followed by dinner at the formal restaurant. The next morning, we rose early and took paddle boards out on the lake. For the first hour, we were literally the only ones on the water, and it felt like our own private oasis.

After lunch on the terrace, we hit some hiking trails on our way to Asheville. We stopped at Hooker Falls and Triple Falls and had a delightful afternoon wandering through the forest, checking out waterfalls and chatting with locals who were also out for a hike.

All in all, this trip was perfect because it had a bit of everything – outdoor activities, culture, great food, and sightseeing. If you’re looking for travel inspiration, you must put Asheville on your list!

Looking for more travel guides for easy weekend getaways? Check out my recommendations for Montreal, the North Fork, Saint Michaels, Maryland and the Catskills.

Happy travels!