Top 12 Asheville Winter & Valentine Romantic Outings 2013

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The fall and holiday crowds are gone. The winter months of January, February and March are the most serene of the year in Asheville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. So it's perfect time for a North Carolina mountain romantic getaway, including a Valentine weekend. Surprising to some, it rarely snows in Asheville. The city is protected by the surrounding mountains, so snow is often kept about 20 miles away on the higher mountain peaks. Here are our Top 12 Asheville winter outings this year:

1. Winter Getaway Packages: Since the winter months 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 Specials: Enjoy the grand estate without the big crowds and get good deals on tickets through March. Save 50% on tickets and accommodations at the Inn on Biltmore. Photo at right is the fascinating Rooftop Tour. Read more about winter outings at Biltmore.

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. 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 (a.k.a. Beer City U.S.A) 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. If wine is more to your liking, see our guide to Asheville Wine Bars. Or find the best downtown Asheville coffee shops and bakeries.

6. Winter Events! (See below)

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 Grove Park Arts and Crafts Conference in February.

10. Ski & Snowboard: Beech Mountain is the highest ski area in eastern USA. Take advantage of great offers January-March. Read more.

11. 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 the roadside Looking Glass Falls. If you want a hike in the snow, head to higher elevations like Roan Mountain or Mt. Mitchell. See photos of rime ice, snow and icy waterfalls.

12. Stay in Style: See our complete list of small B&Bs, large B&Bs, cabins and hotels in the area.

Top Asheville NC Mountain Winter Events

Polar Plunge
January 1, 2013: Start the year with a fun adventure by jumping into chilly Lake Lure to help raise money for the local fire department. Or just watch the fun with some hot chocolate! Read more about the Polar Plunge.

Big Band & Swing Dance Weekend at Grove Park Inn
January 18-19, 2013: Grove Park Inn features concerts and dancing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Both weekend package and individual tickets available. Friday, January 18 The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, $35; Saturday, January 19 The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, $45. Click here to visit their Web site.

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
January 24-27, 2013: This avant-garde festival pushes the boundaries of artistic endeavor through a variety of media: dance, words spoken and unspoken, visual, theatre, picha kucha and others. See our Asheville Fringe Arts Festival Guide.

All That Jazz Weekend at Grove Park Inn
January 25-26, 2013: This Grove Park Inn event has earned national recognition as one of the premier jazz festivals of the Southeast! Special performances by multi-Grammy award-winning jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny and John Pizzarelli. Other fun activities include live music, a cooking demonstration, history tours and more. Both weekend package and individual tickets available. Friday, January 25 John Pizzarelli, $50; Saturday, January 26 Pat Metheny, $89. Click here to visit their Web site.

Winter Warmer Beer Festival
January 26, 2013: SOLD OUT-- Features specialty brews from the Asheville area as well as breweries in Tennessee and Georgia. Local chefs offering food pairings. Live music. Get advance tickets since it usually sells out. For tickets, go to their Web site.

A Painter's Journey: Watercolors by Ann Vasilik
January 26-May 19, 2013: Special exhibit at the NC Arboretum (we are a sponsor!) with renowned watercolor artist Ann Vasilik with familiar scenes of our mountains as well as exciting locales from her world travels. Read more about this NC Arboretum exhibit.

Bites… and Sips
January 31, 2013: Celebrate local food and drink with unlimited samples from 18 restaurants, three breweries and Troy & Sons Distillery. 6–9PM at the Kimmel Arena on the UNCA Campus. $50/person. Benefits Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Click here to visit their Web site.

Celtic Adventure Weekend at Grove Park Inn
February 1-2, 2013: Gaelic Storm is back at Grove Park Inn, by popular demand. Both weekend package and individual tickets available. Friday, February 1 Solas, $39; Saturday, February 2 Gaelic Storm, $49 Click here to visit their Web site.

Asheville Restaurant Week
February 1-7, 2013: Special fixed-price menus and meal deals at participating restaurants for lunch and/or dinner: $15 two-course lunch option; $20 two-course dinner; or $30 three-course dinner. 131 Main, Carmel's Kitchen & Bar, Chai Pani, Chestnut, Corner Kitchen, Cucina 24 Restaurant, Curate, Fig Bistro, Frankie Bones, Moose Café, Native Kitchen & Social Club, Nona Mia Ritrovo, Pack's Tavern, Posana Café, Red Stag Grill, Rezaz Restaurant & Wine Bar, Ruth's CHRIS Steak House, Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro, Sunny Point Café, The Blackbird, The Cantina Biltmore, The Lobster Trap, The Market Place, Vincenzo's, Wild Wing Cafe. Coordinated by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Read more.

Mardi Gras Parade
February 10, 2013: Asheville's Mardi Gras Parade is presented by the Mystic Mountain Krewe, an all-volunteer community based organization made up of New Orleans ex-pats, and aficionados of that culture! Read all about the Mardi Gras Celebration!

Asheville Bluegrass First Class Festival
February 15-17, 2013: This annual festival features plenty of bluegrass music and jamming. See our Asheville Bluegrass First Class Festival Guide.

Bark!
February 15-March 10, 2013: Asheville Community Theatre in downtown presents BARK! that follows six canine characters for one day at Deena’s Doggie Daycare, and the entire show is presented from a dog’s point of view. BARK! opened in Los Angeles at The Coast Playhouse in 2004 to rave reviews including Critic’s Choice from the Los Angeles Times. Go to their Web site.

RiddleFest
February 16, 2013. Held at Burnsville's Town Center, RiddleFest is a day of musical education and activities honoring Yancey County native Lesley Riddle, a talented African-American musician who traveled the Southeast with legendary A.P. Carter from 1929-1934 documenting and recording the earliest forms of country music. This year's event focuses on capturing mountain life via story and song. At 1 PM, Michael Reno Harrell demonstrates how to take family memories and turn them into stories and songs revealing life in the southern Appalachians. Laura Boosinger of Madison County will look at the ballad as a musical form used to transmit community values from one generation to the next. Free. Concert at 7 PM.

Arts & Crafts Conference at Grove Park Inn
February 22-24, 2013: Arts and Crafts enthusiasts, including new collectors, veterans, curators, craftspersons, authors, builders, architects, designers, editors, and bungalow owners gather for workshops, tours, crafts show and more. See our Arts & Crafts Conference Guide.

Black Mountain Marathon & Mt. Mitchell Challenge
February 23, 2013 (Races are full, plan for 2014!): The event for the elite athlete or weekend warrior! Begin at dawn in Black Mountain and run up the mountains. With a starting altitude of 2,360', the elevation gain for this 40-mile run is 4,324 feet on a demanding course run over rugged mountain terrain under potentially life-threatening winter weather conditions to reach the Mt. Mitchell 6,684' summit. For more, go to their Web site.

Totally '80s Retro Ski Weekend
February 22-24, 2013: Dig out those parachute pants or leg warmers, and don't forget that favorite bandana at Beech Mountain Resort. Read more.

Asheville Small Plate Crawl
February 26-28, 2013: Sample the best of our culinary scene at the Asheville Small Plate Crawl!

The Paper Chase - Celebrating 100 Years of Collage
March 2-April 2, 2013: Special art show in the Grand Bohemian Hotel Gallery. See our Paper Chase Exhibit Guide.

Asheville Marathon
March 3, 2013: Held on the grounds at Biltmore Estate, runners will explore 26.2 miles through America’s largest backyard through hardwood forest, meadows, and gardens. SOLD OUT

Comedy Classic Weekend at Grove Park Inn
March 8-9, 2013: Two days and nights at Grove Park Inn of laughter, hosted by comedian Caroline Rhea. Both weekend package and individual tickets available. Click here to visit their Web site.
Friday, March 8 - Cy Amundson, Al Jackson, Julie Scoggins, David Crowe and Tom Cotter, $45/person
Saturday, March 9 - Headliner Caroline Rhea, Don Friesen, Nick Griffin and Rocky LaPorte, $50/person

SoCon Basketball Tournament
March 8-11, 2013: Catch an exciting game at the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament in Asheville. Read more.

Asheville Tattoo Fest
March 14-17, 2013: Live tattooing, music, competitions, art walk, celebrities and more at Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville.

Biltmore Blooms festival of flowers
March 21-May 31, 2013: Stunning floral displays across the estate as spring unfolds.
See our Biltmore Blooms festival of flowers Guide.

Du the Asheville Duathlon
March 23, 2013: The first ever duathlon event held at Biltmore with a 5k road run, off-road 10.75-mile bike and then another 5k run through packed dirt and single track challenges both mind and body.

Orchid Show and Sale
March 23-24, 2013: This popular show at the NC Arboretum features hundreds of orchids, education classes, plant and supply vendors. See our Orchid Show Guide.

Easter Sunrise Service at Chimney Rock
March 31, 2013: Celebrate Easter by watching the sun rise over Hickory Nut Gorge.
See our Chimney Rock Sunrise Service Guide.

Looking Ahead: Top Spring Events | Top Summer Events | Top Fall Events

See beautiful ice formations at Looking Glass Falls

Official romantic guide for vacations in Asheville and the North Carolina Mountains