Tantric Retreat: Enhance and deepen your connection with yourself and your partner through a unique and exhilarating Essence Tantra session at Tantric Retreat. They offer experiential and therapeutic sessions for men, women and couples. Couples enjoy a Tantric exploration of sacred sexuality through breath work, masculine/feminine dynamics, and relaxing, sensual touch.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Smith-McDowell House Museum: Relive the romantic Victorian era in Asheville's oldest house (circa 1840). Explore opulent period rooms, history exhibits and grounds designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers.
Open year round, 1.5 miles from downtown Asheville.
See our Smith-McDowell House Museum Guide.
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI): Initially developed by NASA in 1962 as the east coast facility to track satellites and monitor manned space flights, it's now a world-class research center. Tour this remote campus in the Pisgah National Forest and see their Galaxy Walk, the extensive astronomical poster, print and space memorabilia displays and the historical site of the first 26 Meter Antenna used to communicate with astronauts during the early NASA missions. Watch the stars during special events.
Read more about Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum: Explore the rich treasures of the earth at this museum called "a mini-Smithsonian of gems." Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5, located at Pack Square in downtown Asheville.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Western North Carolina Agriculture Center: See a big variety of shows, festivals and even the Mountain State Fair.
See our Western NC Ag Center Guide.
Western North Carolina Air Museum: See award winning restored and replica antique and vintage airplanes. You won't find airplanes under glass or velvet ropes to keep you away. You won't find guards and ticket sellers and concessionaires. You'll only find airplanes and people who love them. Many are pilots. Some even fly the airplanes. At Hendersonville Airport. Open April-October, Wednesday and Sunday from 12 Noon-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm; November-March Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 Noon-5pm . Free.
Read more about the WNC Air Museum.
Wheels Through Time Museum: See a hundreds of classic motorcycles and automobiles in Maggie Valley, open weekends. Read more about Wheels Through Time Museum.
Asheville Visitor Center: Your first stop in town should be the Visitor Center, with lots of information about things to do and knowledgable staff people to answer questions.
Read more about the Asheville Visitor Center
Winery Tours: Enjoy the tasting room, gift shop and winery. Sip wine with mountain and vineyard vistas.
See our Winery Tours & Wine Tasting Guide.
Billy Graham Training Center: Take a free tour of the Chapel at The Cove, a 1,200 acre retreat.
Read more about The Cove.
Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center: Home of thousands of enriching events and worship services each year, operated by the United Methodist Church.
Read more about Lake Junaluska.
Transcendental Meditation Program of Asheville: Offers free introductory lectures on the TM technique—a simple, natural procedure for accessing the limitless reservoir of creativity and intelligence within everyone. More than 600 studies conducted at over 250 medical schools and research institutes verify the benefits of the TM program for eliminating stress and anxiety and developing creativity, intelligence, focus and memory.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Better Tours of Asheville
Bettter Tours of Asheville offers Ghost Tours, Scandalous Pub Crawls, Culinary Tours, and Haunted Trolley and Murder Mystery Tours. Tours are conducted by the actual designers and researchers, not actors who have memorized a script.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Guided Walking Tours: Step back in time to glimpse the history of Asheville. Come along on a walking architecture/history tour of Montford or Riverside Cemetery Tour. All walking tours are given by appointment. Tours must be booked in advance.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Museum of North Carolina Minerals: Lcated at Milepost 331 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Little Switzerland, introduces the treasures found in the state and the local Spruce Pine Mining District through interactive displays on the wide variety of minerals and gems found in the region. See our Museum of NC Minerals Guide.
Asheville Historic Trolley Tours: A great way to begin your visit. See the best of Asheville on board a vintage trolley and enjoy the fully narrated 75-minute tour, which includes humorous stories and historical information.
Tickets at Asheville Visitor's Center.
Gray Line Trolley Tour: Learn about Asheville’s early settlers, famous citizens and illustrious authors through interesting stories and colorful anecdotes. Remain onboard the trolley for a comprehensive 1.5 to 1.75 hour tour, or hop-off at any of Gray Line’s 8 trolley stops to shop, dine and explore, then re-board the next trolley to continue your tour. Tickets at Asheville Visitor's Center.
Swannanoa Valley Museum: Buncombe County’s primary museum of general local history. The history of the region is interpreted in a unique collection of photos and artifacts from the Swannanoa Valley and Western North Carolina. 223 W. State Street in Black Mountain, in the former Black Mountain Fire House.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Shook Museum: Built in the early 1800s,
the Shook-Smathers House in Clyde, NC is a "grand old lady" with fascinating secrets. Take a guided tour on Saturdays.
Click here to visit their Web site.
Museum Guide: There are over 100 museums in the 25 counties within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. They are listed in the new, free comprehensive Western North Carolina Museum Guide available throughout the area. Download a PDF of the Western North Carolina Museum Guide.
Fodor's travel guide named Asheville as one of their “21 Places We’re Going in 2011”!
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