Things to do in Asheville
Fall is Asheville's signature season, with Blue Ridge foliage peaking in mid to late October at the highest elevations and rolling down through early November in town. Spring brings blooming gardens and waterfalls; summer is warm, green, and busy.
Best months: April, May, September, October
What is worth your time in Asheville
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkDo not miss
The most-visited national park in the country, a misty wilderness of ridgelines, wildflowers, elk, and historic Appalachian cabins an hour west of Asheville.
Day Trip · 8 hr4.9
Basilica of Saint LawrenceDo not miss
A Spanish Baroque masterpiece by Rafael Guastavino with the largest freestanding elliptical tile dome in North America.
Architecture · 45 min4.8
The North Carolina ArboretumDo not miss
434 acres of cultivated gardens, bonsai, and forest trails tucked into a cove off the Blue Ridge Parkway south of town.
Park · 2.8 hr4.8
Biltmore EstateDo not miss
America's largest home, a 250-room Gilded Age chateau with formal gardens, a winery, and grounds by the designer of Central Park.
Activity · 8 hr4.7
Folk Art CenterDo not miss
Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with juried Appalachian craft, demonstrations, and a landmark shop.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.7
The Omni Grove Park InnDo not miss
A 1913 stone resort with a colossal lobby fireplace and a mountain-view terrace that frames Asheville's best sunset over a cocktail.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.6
Blue Ridge ParkwayDo not miss
America's most scenic drive, a ribbon of mountain overlooks, tunnels, and waterfalls winding along the crest of the Blue Ridge above Asheville.
Day Trip · 8 hr
Downtown AshevilleDo not miss
A compact, walkable core of Art Deco buildings, indie bookshops, buskers, galleries, and some of the South's best restaurants and bars.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr
River Arts DistrictDo not miss
Former riverside warehouses turned into 200-plus working artist studios, murals, breweries, and cafes along the French Broad River.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr
South Slope Brewery DistrictDo not miss
A walkable downtown grid of more than a dozen craft breweries and taprooms, the dense core of Asheville's Beer City reputation.
Nightlife · 2.3 hr
Navitat Canopy Adventures
A mountainside zipline and treetop course north of Asheville with long flights over forest canopy and ridgeline views.
Activity · 3.8 hr5
French Broad River Tubing
A lazy summer float down one of the oldest rivers in the world, a quintessential warm-weather Asheville afternoon.
Activity · 2.8 hr4.9
Mount Mitchell State Park
Drive nearly to the summit of the highest peak east of the Mississippi, 6,684 feet, for a short walk to a 360-degree observation deck.
Day Trip · 4 hr4.9
Asheville Pinball Museum
A downtown hall of 80-plus vintage pinball and arcade machines you can play all day on one admission.
Activity · 1.5 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Asheville calls itself Beer City; the South Slope district alone packs in over a dozen breweries within walking distance.
- Fall foliage peaks earliest at high elevations (Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens) in early to mid October, then descends to town by late October and early November.
- Many of the best waterfalls and overlooks sit on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which closes sections in winter ice and fog; check the parkway status before driving.
- A car is essential for the mountains, parkway, and waterfalls, but downtown and the River Arts District are walkable and connected by a free trolley in season.
- The Biltmore Estate is a separate paid attraction that easily fills a full day; buy timed tickets ahead, especially in fall and at Christmas.