Plan Your Trip

This community-supported acupuncture clinic provides Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle counseling, and integrative healing techniques. Treatments are provided in a community room setting on a sliding scale and they are open almost every day, with evening and weekend hours. Acupuncture treatments last approximately 30-60 minutes

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains, enjoy fishing, boating, camping and swimming in this beautiful lake. Drive or walk across the highest dam east of the Rockies and stop by the Visitor Center to learn more about it.

Surrounded by a variety of gorgeous natural landscapes on 175 acres, this charming log cabin offers an expansive great room, two stone fireplaces, a fully stocked kitchen, and picturesque views.... read more

Asheville’s largest curated, pop-up market for antiques, art, vintage decor, jewelry, and beyond is in the River Arts District. Rain or shine. 10 AM-4 PM. (1 Foundy Street)

June, July, August: From street festivals to outdoor concerts, check out our top summer picks for Asheville and the surrounding NC mountain towns. Most are free.

Dine outdoors in nature! Plan a picnic at some amazing locations where you can enjoy sweet views.

This WNC institution stocks clothing, gear, toys, and souvenirs for all ages, but kids particularly enjoy the barrels full of all kinds of candy. (527 N Main St)

This 3.25-mile trail is a 10-foot-wide paved path that is great for walkers, joggers, and cyclists and is also handicap accessible. It connects five local parks.

Find the top senior housing options near Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains for older adults who need extra support. These communities include residential and personal care homes, memory care communities, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, hospice care, and respite care. 

Bearwallow Mountain Trail offers a one-mile hike to exceptional views. At 4,232 feet above sea level, with a grassy meadow summit, the mountain features a nearly 360-degree view that includes Mount Mitchell and Mount Pisgah. The trail also provides a bird's-eye view of Hickory Nut Gorge, downtown Hendersonville and the South Carolina high country. A historic fire tower occupies the summit, along with grazing cows.

We are lucky enough to have six rivers near Asheville that are good for rafting and kayaking. Find professional companies that provide rafting guides, so no experience is necessary. You can even learn how to kayak in the rapids or paddleboard on a lake.

In addition to indoor rock climbing and workout studios, The Riveter has a two-part bike park. Outdoors under a canopy, are four separate lines providing terrain for all skill levels. Experienced riders practice jumps and drops, while younger riders hit the flowy pump track. Also on the property, four larger outdoor lines vary in difficulty from green to double black.

Enjoy mining fun year-round no matter the weather at this indoor facility featuring rubies, sapphires, emeralds, Aquamarine, topaz, and other precious or semi-precious gems and fossils. You can even have your treasure made into a piece of jewelry before you leave. (507 N Main St)

So many things to do - art, train excursions, heritage sites and more! Includes the towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, Sylva, Balsam, Cullowhee, Glenville and Sapphire. 

Get married in an adorable tiny church in Maggie Valley, surrounded by the Smoky Mountains. Package includes a ceremony, recorded music and photographs. Extras include flowers or overnight cabin stay.
Rates: From $449

Located close to downtown Asheville, this community supported acupuncture clinic offers a casual and supportive group setting for treatment. They offer acupuncture treatments on a sliding scale making it affordable for those who need it. They also offer a variety of medicinal herbs for purchase!

Hike to the top of Glassy Mountain via a five-plus-mile trail system located on the grounds of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock.

Visit a gallery to be amazed at a big variety of local art and craft, including glass, paintings, pottery and every other medium you can imagine. Asheville and the North Carolina mountains are home to hundreds of world-class artists. Here are our favorite galleries to see their creations.

Find a variety of places to eat and drink in Brevard including upscale dining casual eateries, pubs, food trucks, bakeries, coffee shops, and more!

Asheville’s largest curated, pop-up market for antiques, art, vintage decor, jewelry, and beyond is in the River Arts District. Rain or shine. 10 AM-4 PM. (1 Foundy Street)

Getting married made easy near downtown Asheville with your choice of indoor or outdoor ceremony, photography, officiant, bouquet, two-tier wedding cake, two-night stay in a luxury suite, gourmet breakfast, concierge service and more. Up to 6 guests for the ceremony. Excludes holidays & October.
Rate: From $2,100

Solve clues, take on challenges and unlock secrets to find Alice! Dress the part in this self-guided, escape room-style event in downtown Asheville. Tickets are $80/team. Kids are free. Participants will use the event app to play. Start anytime between 9 AM and 2 PM and expect to solve the mystery within 2-3 hours. 

Enjoy many choices for great theatre, plays, music, dance and more in Asheville and nearby areas.

Create romantic memories of your big day on a mountain peak, by a waterfall or even at a brewery. Elopement and small wedding packages suit your personal style with custom vows, a short video of the ceremony, beer or champagne, photography, commemorative gifts and more.
Rate: From $495

This beloved WNC toy store is not only a place to shop but also a place for kids and adults to play. From classic toys to the newest, hottest items on the market, you’ll find them here. (418 N Main St)

This quaint mountain village at 3,700 feet elevation has great restaurants, breweries, shops, Wildcat Lake beach, and many events including the Woolly Worm Festival in October. Near Beech Mountain skiing and Grandfather Mountain hiking.

Travel back in time with historic cabins, crafters, old logging equipment, guided tours, movies, food and shopping. Home of the first forestry school (opened in 1898) in America. In Pisgah National Forest. Open mid-April through October.

From casual to sophisticated, there are many restaurants for all tastes, with flavors from around the world. Plus, find many more award-winning chefs throughout the mountains. See our top picks for dining in Asheville.  

Arrive on Sunday to your romantic honeymoon cabin. Enjoy 5 nights of romantic seclusion, before checking out on Friday. A bottle Biltmore wine and chocolates truffles are included to help you celebrate. No wedding required! Outdoor hot tub on porch. (Sun-Thurs nights only.)
Rate: From $500

There are plenty of outdoor adventures for children of all ages, including a special KidZip, educational trails, nature centers and more.

Serving a variety of traditional Japanese dishes including sushi and sashimi, this restaurant is a local favorite for take-out. Enjoy hibachi dishes (though not cooked in front of guests) and large portions. Try the Fire and Ice roll! 2 Regent Park Blvd

Enjoy some virtual experiences in Western NC including outdoor video tours, fitness, meditation, museum tours, kid resources and more. 

Fed by Greenland Creek, this falls features multiple sections of sliding cascades, totaling 45 feet in height. The waterfall’s namesake, Carlton McNeill died at age 86 in 2007 after years of living in and caring for the hiking trails and scenery of Panthertown Valley. It’s hard to find a veteran hiker of the area who doesn’t have a memory of McNeill stumbling out of the woods to give them a hand with their expedition.

Enjoy the many outdoor street festivals, art fairs and other events. Most are free, and you can find one about every weekend during the Spring, Summer and Fall in Asheville and the surrounding mountain towns. See our Top Spring Festivals, Top Summer Festivals, Top Fall Events and Art Events. 

Tapas style Mediterranean restaurant is ideal for sharing with your group and trying new things! Enjoy small plates you can eat with your hands along with a creative, herbal-focused menu of house sodas, tonics, and cocktails. Try their shatta spicy dip, chicken shawarma, and beef kebabs. Order the baklava for takeout to enjoy at home!  853 Merrimon Avenue

Fly above the trees and experience the mountains' natural beauty from a bird's perspective. See our favorite zip line canopy courses to enjoy in the Asheville area of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. No experience is needed. Canopy guides provide all instruction and assistance. It's fun for all fitness levels!

Looking for some family fun in or around Asheville, North Carolina? Check out our list of the top family-friendly outings for exploring Asheville with kids! Western North Carolina is a virtual outdoor playground with parks and gardens, kid-friendly hikes, whitewater rafting, ziplining, biking, and more.

Kids of all ages will love this 42-acre wildlife park, providing a home for 60+ animals native to this region, including foxes, bears, wolves, bobcats, cougars, river otters. Don’t miss the Red Panda Exhibit! 

Take a "walk in the woods" in the most scenic sections of the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail near Asheville, high in the North Carolina mountains. See our favorite six-day hikes for all fitness levels.