12 of the Best Asheville Activities to Add to Your Vacation Plan
The mountains may be one of the top things to do in Asheville, but within the city limits you’ll also find a number of attractions. From museums to tours, you’ll find the city offers something for most people’s interests.
Many of the best Asheville activities embrace the artistic flair of this popular mountain town. These popular Asheville attractions will help you fill in every day of your vacation...
1. Biltmore Estate
1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803-2662
The Biltmore Estate usually tops the list of Asheville attractions. The 8,000 acre property includes the largest private home in the country. The home's impressive rooms draw thousands of visitors each week.
You can tour the house, gardens, and property, but keep in mind it’s impossible to see all of it in one visit. You can give yourself more time to explore if you book a stay in the cottages or hotel on the property. There's even a spa and restaurant here.
2. Asheville Pinball Museum
1 Battle Square, Asheville, NC 28801
You can leave the quarters at home when you visit the Asheville Pinball Museum. Your admission gives you unlimited play on the arcade and pinball machines. Several vintage games give this space a retro feel, which earns it the name museum. However, all the games work and you can play them.
This attraction earns awards as the area’s top arcade, and you’ll want to plan a few hours here to explore all of the games.
3. LaZoom Tours
76 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
LaZoom is redefining tours by making them quirky and fun. Instead of drab explanations of the city’s history, you’ll have guides that crack jokes and even swallow fire.
Each guided tour explores the history of the city, but it also entertains. The tour guides are theater and comedic talent from the area, and it shows. You can choose from multiple tours depending on the ages and interests of your fellow travelers.
4. WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28805
The animals that live in the Blue Ridge Mountains are notoriously hard to spot. With a trip to the WNC Nature Center, you can see 60 different species who are originally from the area. This Asheville attraction lets you see and learn about them in a safe environment, so you can leave the wild ones alone when you head to the mountains.
This might be your best chance to see a black bear. Even though thousands roam the mountains, they are quite shy and hard to find in the wild.
5. Lexington Glassworks
81 S. Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
Not only can you shop for beautiful glass artwork at Lexington Glassworks, but you can also watch glass blowers in action. You can shop in the gallery for vases, jars, glasses, and lighting. You can also commission a custom piece.
No matter what you choose, you’ll return home with a one-of-a-kind souvenir and an experience to talk about. The artisans at this attraction strive to create pieces to fit most budgets, too.
6. River Arts District
191 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Get in touch with your creative side by visiting the River Arts District. This shopping district is packed with local artist galleries. Its location on the French Broad River makes it a beautiful spot to do some shopping.
You’ll hear live music performed regularly here, and there are dining spots as well. You can easily spend a day exploring the artwork and enjoying the local cafes and breweries. There are over 700 artists here for you to experience.
7. Folk Art Center
382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC 28805
The Blue Ridge area has a rich history of crafts and folk art, and you’ll see exhibitions and galleries at the Folk Art Center. Each day a different artist will give live demonstrations in the lobby. This location is part museum, part shopping destination.
It’s home to Allanstand, the first craft shop in the country, and three galleries. All of the artists are craft artists from Appalachia, making it a highly local experience. The Folk Art Center showcases the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
8. Asheville Botanical Gardens
151 W.T. Weaver Boulevard, Asheville, NC 28804
Take a stroll on a well-tended, beautiful garden trail with a visit to the Asheville Botanical Gardens. This garden features local flora growing strong in its natural environment. It takes just 15 minutes to walk through the garden, but the beauty you see is well worth the trip.
Keep a lookout for the garden’s Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid. You’ll appreciate the clear signage in the garden that makes spotting local plant life easier.
9. The Flying Bike
36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
See more of the city when you tour on a bike. The Flying Bike offers guided bike tours and electric bikes for rent. Whether you grab a rental to explore the city on your own or jump on board one of the tours, you’ll see more of the city or the surrounding mountains than you could on foot.
The Downtown Asheville Bike Tour is one of their most popular options. This kid-friendly tour will take you through 14 miles of the city’s heart.
10. Adventure Center of Asheville
85 Expo Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
Climb a rope bridge or soar down a zipline at Adventure Center of Asheville. This spot has four seasons worth of activities and includes a canopy zipline adventure, a bike park for mountain biking, and a ropes course for getting a birds-eye view of the forests.
If you want to take advantage of the bike park, which features four miles of carefully designed terrain, you can rent a bike on site.
11. Shoji Spa
96 Avondale Heights, Asheville, NC 28803
Shoji Spa is a mountainside retreat where you can indulge in Japanese baths and soaks. Each guest has a private outdoor salt tub to relax in. During your soak, you will hear nature around you.
The spa also has massage therapy and a variety of spa products for sale. You’ll leave rested, rejuvenated, and reconnected with nature. The spa even has hotel rooms and cottages you can use to stay on the property, if you wish.
12. Gray Line Trolley Tours
36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
One of the best ways to see Asheville is on a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour with Gray Line Trolley Tours. You can get on and off as you wish, while getting commentary about the area when you ride.
If you see an attraction, shop, or restaurant you want to visit, just get off and explore. When you’re ready, the trolley will take you to the next stop.
With so many activities, Asheville is a place you’ll want to stay for a while. Find cozy Asheville accommodations and get expert travel tips from our partners at Greybeard Rentals.
