Surprising to some, it rarely snows in Asheville. The city is protected by the surrounding mountains, so it often snows about 20 miles away on the mountaintops. Meanwhile, the valley rarely gets a big snow. So it's a great time to visit. The summer and fall crowds are gone, making a perfect time for a North Carolina mountain getaway to unwind.
1. Winter Getaway Packages: Since the winter months of January, February and March are the slowest months of the year for inns, hotels and cabin rentals, you will find the best deals of the year. See a big variety of Winter Packages and Specials. Rates will be higher on Valentine's Weekend, so bring your Valentine before or after the big day to save more!
 2. Biltmore Special Package: Enjoy the grand estate without the big crowds and get good deals on tickets through March. Take advantage of our exclusive RomanticAsheville.com Winter Package for a day at Biltmore for $99 per couple! Read more about this Biltmore Package.
3. Downtown Asheville: Browse through more than 200 shops, 30 art galleries and a dozen antique stores - all locally owned. No cookie cutter chain stores here. And if you need a break, stop at one of the 50 restaurants. Tour the fascinating Thomas Wolfe Home for just a dollar! See our Downtown Asheville Guide.
4. Destination Spas: Be it a simple weekend of relaxation, a romantic couple’s getaway in the mountains or a chance to improve your health, Asheville is the ultimate destination for spas and wellness. Stay at an Asheville area destination spa and well some well-deserved pampering from your busy life.
Warm up in the 100-degree mineral waters in Hot Springs.
5. Beer Crawl: Asheville has an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, microbreweries, and restaurants for a city of its size. In fact, Asheville (per capita) has one of the highest rates of craft brew consumption in the Southeast. Sample some excellent brews, enjoy some great food, and meet some very interesting people along the way. Here are our top picks for beer the Asheville area.
 6. Coffee Shops: After exploring downtown, stop to relax with a hot cup of java or hot chocolate and something sweet at one of the many, cozy coffee shops, including Malaprops Bookstore. For a free cupping (coffee tasting), stop by Counter Culture Coffee at 77 Broadway on Fridays, 10-11:30 AM. Find the best downtown Asheville coffee shops and bakeries.
7. Live Music & Dance: Each evening, Asheville comes alive and offers a mulitude of places to go for a big variety of live music any day of the week - some jazz to plenty of bluegrass. See some of our favorite music venues. Join the locals at weekly contra dances on Monday and Thursday. Regulars love to help beginners. Lessons and an evening of great memories are $12/couple.
8. Biltmore Village: Ready for more shopping? Located across from the entrance to Biltmore Estate, the Village is home to more than 40 unique shops and 10 cafes and restaurants. Most businesses are housed in historic cottages and buildings. Tree-lined streets, brick sidewalks and period architecture make it a delight to stroll through and explore. And this is the best area for antiques. See our Biltmore Village Guide.
9. Art & Craft: With more than 100 galleries and even more artist studios, you will need plenty of time for exploring. In addition to the galleries downtown and Biltmore Village, head to the Folk Art Center and the River Arts District. See our Gallery Guide and info about the big Arts and Crafts Conference in February.
 10. Winter Hiking: For the best views of the year, take a winter hike. With leafless trees, cool temperatures, less crowds and frequent bright blue skies, it may become your favorite time of the year to hit the trail. See our hiking guide for our top picks. And don't forget to find some of our spectacular waterfalls, including a very short hike to Looking Glass Falls. If you want a hike in the snow, head to higher elevations like Roan Mountain (photo on right). See more photos of rime ice in the mountains.
11. Ski: Two ski resorts are within a 45-minute drive of Asheville. Hit the slopes at Wolf Ridge and Cataloochee for great natural and man-made powder. See our directory of North Carolina Ski Resorts.
12. Stay in Style: See our complete list of small B&Bs, large B&Bs, cabins and hotels in the area.
See beautiful ice formations at Looking Glass Falls
Blue Ridge Parkway Winter Update: The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed north of Asheville. South of Asheville, sections of the Parkway will close if it is snow or ice covered.
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