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Top 10: Free Fall Fun in Asheville

With a 5,000-foot elevation change within 50 miles of Asheville, the lush Blue Ridge Mountains put on one of the longest-running fall color displays in the country. You don’t have to spend a bundle to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Here's our top 10 free things to do for Fall:

1. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway! Cruise one of the top scenic drives in the country with breathtaking views from overlooks, walking trails, and great spots for picnics.

2. Take a hike with trails for all fitness levels, from short walks in the woods to strenuous hikes up to mountain peaks. Find hundreds of trails along the Parkway, and in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.

3. Hang out in Downtown Asheville with 200+ locally-owned stores and interesting boutiques. Enjoy street entertainers, great people watching and the Friday night Drum Circle.

4. Drive to the top of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rockies, and enjoy panoramic views from the new observation deck.

5. Discover lots of art since this is one of the top arts destinations in the country. Galleries abound in downtown Asheville and in Biltmore Village, along with artist studios in the River Arts District. The Folk Art Center has galleries and daily craft demonstrations.

6. Find waterfalls in free state and federal parks. At Dupont State Forest, take a short hike to see three waterfalls. Other waterfalls include Looking Glass Falls, Rainbow Falls and Linville Falls.

7. Watch elk graze a short distance away from your car in the Cataloochee Valley section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are two additional entrances to the park within 50 miles of Asheville with many free historic sites, hiking trails and more.

8. Tour the Estes-Winn Antique Automobile Museum with collection of 20 classics. The impressive Grovewood Gallery is next door.

9. Explore architecture, art and history on downtown Asheville’s Urban Trail, a 1.7-mile walking tour.

10. Enjoy the fall foliage in the Pisgah National Forest from your bicycle on the new Point Lookout Greenway that climbs the ridge between Old Fort and Black Mountain.