Plan Your Trip

Find information on Asheville-area public schools, private schools, colleges, and universities. Many also offer public events and programs.

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

Miners and gem enthusiasts have been panning the Smoky Mountains for gems as far back as the 1800s. Find a variety of spots to gem mine throughout Bryson City!

Whether you want a destination wedding, elopement, commitment ceremony, or vow renewal, these top Asheville wedding officiants can help you plan your vows with ease. With years of experience helping couples celebrate their love, officiants help create a meaningful wedding ceremony in the mountains that you'll cherish.

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

Watch the elk in beautiful Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The best time is just before sunset. Take a picnic and tailgate. Also, tour historic buildings or hike.

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)

Head to historic Grove Arcade for activities, games, demonstrations, and a live raffle at 5 PM. Enjoy beer and wine courtesy of Wedge Brewing at the festival, as well as food and drink specials at top restaurants nearby. Festival is free. 12-7 PM. 

Looking for the best places for takeout in Asheville? From wings, tacos, burgers, and pizza to soups, salads, ramen, sushi and more, here are the top 20 takeout restaurants in Asheville. Bon appetit!

See why Asheville receives countless accolades for being one of the best places to live in the United States, including our friendly small towns and communities high in the hills.

Enjoy live music, food, and beer at this big outdoor concert in downtown Asheville. Free admission, 5-9 PM.

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)

Daytime admission to Biltmore not only gets you access to America’s largest home but also the opportunity to explore the estate’s 8,000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountain beauty. Discover Biltmore’s rustic side with an array of outdoor adventures like biking, hiking, Segway tours, horseback riding, river float trips, carriage rides, sporting clays, and Land Rover experiences.

A bee mural now covers two sides of the building housing Hands On! Children’s Museum. The mural, which is designed to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, depicts honeybees, butterflies, and native flowers. Plants in the pollinator garden at the base of the mural provide shelter, nectar, and pollen. The mural is part of an international campaign by artist Matthew Willey called The Good of the Hive, which involves painting 50,000 honeybees in murals around the world. To see the mural, head east on Third Avenue from Main Street toward King Street and look to your left.

The newest addition to Kanuga Conference & Retreat Center is Ride Kanuga mountain bike park. Founded by world-champion downhill racer Neko Mulally, the park features 12 downhill-specific trails suitable for all ability levels.

Read all about this world-class, manmade whitewater wave, riverfront park, and greenway system coming to the French Broad River near Asheville as part of The Woodfin Greenway & Blueway Project.

A local Girl Scout troop created the Apple Quest scavenger hunt. A dozen clues lead participants on a search for bronze apples located at downtown landmarks. Free brochures are available at the Visitor Center. (201 S Main St)

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)

The Bearfootin’ Bears public art project unveils 20 new bears along Hendersonville’s Main Street May-October. The bears are decorated by local artists, and each one benefits a local charity when they’re auctioned off in the fall. 

Choose from a large variety of cabins, cottages, and vacation rentals in the Blue Ridge Mountains (that sleep 2-25 guests). Eligible properties offering our Mountain Discovery Pass will receive a Biltmore Estate pass as well as access to activities including zip-lining, a trampoline park, rafting, snow tubing, and a ski lift pass!
Rates: From $100/night studio, $134/night 1BR, $185/night 2BR

January, February, March: These months are the most serene time of the year in Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains, so it's the perfect time for a romantic North Carolina mountain getaway - maybe a Valentine's escape. See our Top 12 Asheville winter things to do and the best events.

Find children's museums and other hands-on learning centers in Asheville and Western NC including STEM-focused, interactive play, science museums, aquariums, and more. 

Stay on Lake Lure for two nights with plenty of amenities including a beach, boating, spa and pool. Included are golf rounds at both of their courses, range balls and breakfasts.
Rate: From $290/person, double occupancy

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.

Biltmore is a little slice of heaven and as any local can tell you, using the annual pass just twice almost makes up its value, plus it comes with so many great perks and exclusive discounts you can’t find anywhere else. Read on for the top reasons to get your annual pass, and find out how to get discounted annual passes, for a limited time.

Located in beautiful Jackson County, find many things to do in Cashiers including hiking, fishing, skiing, unique shopping, art shows, festivals, concerts, and more! 

This Broadway-style show in Marion features live music, dancing, and comedy sure to put you in the holiday spirit! There are four performances to choose from throughout the weekend. Tickets are $12-25. Mask required.

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.  

See one of Asheville's architectural treasures and spiritual anchors with the largest freestanding elliptical dome in the country.

Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. Many other things to do nearby. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission. 

Amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, here's a list of county health departments in our region with accurate information and resources related to each county. 

There are thousands of miles of hiking trails near Asheville, many of which are in pristine national forests or parks. We picked our favorites and created extensive guides for each with photos and details. Find hikes for all skill levels in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains.

Carolina Living Choices is a guide for active, senior living retirement in Western NorthCarolina. They offer a wealth of information and expertise on real estate, 55+, and retirement communities near Asheville, including lifestyle resources for education, enrichment, recreation, and travel. See helpful articles and request a free print and digital retirement guide on their website.

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

Whether you’re gathering around the grill at a hibachi steakhouse, have a hankering for sushi take-out, or want a colorful poke bowl, find our top picks for Japanese restaurants in Asheville.

Give the gift of camping comfort with products that make outdoor adventure accessible. What started as an idea to create an innovative pop-up camper has evolved into a line of award-winning adventure trailers and camping accessories. Check out their innovative gear, designed to enrich multiple areas of your life. 

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.

This 12-acre, nonprofit horticultural education center offers programs, activities, and workshops. The gardens and grounds include a popular fairy garden, a large dahlia garden, therapy garden, shade garden, butterfly garden, perennial borders, native woodland garden, pumpkin patch, and herb garden.

This grand couples getaway at an historic inn in the cool small town of Saluda includes two weekend nights in a private cottage, couples massage, elegant dinner for two in their farm-to-table restaurant, bottle of French Champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, breakfast each morning.
Rate: $995