Things to Do in Asheville

Biltmore Estate is a private estate and a popular tourist attraction in Asheville. Owned by the Vanderbilt family, the mansion and its spectacular gardens were built between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt and is currently the largest privately owned house in the United States.

The regal estate, which is one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age, can be explored on a variety of self-guided and guided tours, including a breathtaking rooftop tour, which offers unbelievable views, and a tour through the magnificent manicured gardens.

Stroll through Biltmore’s charming Antler Village and Winery, where you can browse quaint stores and taste fine estate wines, or get a feel for what estate life is like with an overnight stay at one of three luxurious accommodations.

Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, North Carolina 28803, Phone: 828-225-1333

Home to over 60 species of animals, including black bear, cougar and red wolves, the WNC Nature Center is a 42-acre zoological park dedicated to connecting and educating people about the fauna and flora of the Southern Appalachian region.

The Nature Center has an array of exhibitions showcasing incredible wildlife, including a variety of reptiles, amphibians and small mammals housed in the indoor Appalachian Station.

Otter Falls is home to North American river otters and several species of aquatic turtles. If you are wondering what to do in Asheville with kids, this is a great place to visit.

The largest area of the park is the Appalachian Predators exhibit, which is home to red and gray wolves, bobcats and coyotes, while Black Bear Ridge features American black bears, white-tailed deer and a variety of birds of prey. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park for family picnics. Vending machines provide soft drinks and snacks.

Address: 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, North Carolina 28805, Phone: 828-259-8080

Experience Asheville’s unique Southern culture and charm through its cuisine on a fantastic food tour through the city. Asheville Food Tours take you on a culinary journey, visiting up to seven carefully selected restaurants, eateries and food shops in the trendy downtown area, where you can enjoy a range of food tastings, from delicious melt-in-your-mouth appetizers to freshly cooked entrées, accompanied by splashes of fine wine.

Established with the aim of introducing people to Asheville’s burgeoning culinary scene, as well as ‘keeping Asheville local’ by supporting and promoting local businesses, Asheville Food Tours offers visitors the chance to taste some its best gourmet delights, while at the same time meeting the expert hands behind the culinary creations.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial was once the home of a 20th-century American literature giant, Thomas Wolfe.

Situated in the Downtown Asheville Historic District, the Victorian period house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and is one of American literature’s most famous landmarks today. Wolfe depicted his beloved childhood home in his first epic novel, ‘Look Homeward, Angel’.

In 1998, the historic house was all but destroyed in a fire, however after an extensive restoration of both the house and its surviving artifacts, the building was once again opened to visitors.

Address: 52 North Market Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801, Phone: 828-253-8304

No Taste Like Home takes visitors on a unique forage-to-table experience that lets them pick their own ingredients in the surrounding forest, accompanies by expert guides who help them identify edible roots, berries and mushrooms. Once the foraging is done, you get to cook what you picked as well.

Wild Food Adventures lets you choose from a number of signature experiences, excursions and events. ‘Lookin’ and Cookin’’ consists of foraging and cooking at one of the local restaurants. Other popular adventures and presentations include ‘Wild Food Banquets’, ‘Off-the-Eaten-Path’ and ‘Show and Smell’.

Ranked as one of Fodor’s ‘best food experiences in the world’, No Taste Like Home is a must-try when visiting Asheville.

Headed up by owner and multi-award winning Chef John Fleer, Rhubarb has become a destination restaurant where friends, families and even strangers can bond around a shared table and a memorable dining experience.

Rhubarb is located in vibrant Pack Square, where you will find a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food, perfectly prepared from the finest locally sourced ingredients.

Guests are invited to stop by for a cocktail and light afternoon snacks or to settle in for the dinner main event. The dinner menu includes appetizers, salads, Small Plates for sharing and delicious entrees. There is also an extensive wine list featuring sustainably sourced grapes.

Address: Rhubarb, 7 SW Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801, 828 785 1503

Built in a former 1927 bus depot in the heart of Asheville’s historic downtown district, Curate Bar de Tapas is a stylish tapas bar that celebrates traditional Spanish cuisine in a warm and welcoming setting.

Cúrate’s delicious and ever-changing menu will take you on a journey to Spain where dishes boast fire engine-red peppers, huge black olives and golden dollops of the smoothest virgin olive oil. In true Spanish style, eating good food is a celebration to be shared with friends and family and this vibrant atmosphere shines through in every corner of the restaurant.

Savor delicious delights such as smoky jamón Ibérico (cured ham), crispy croquetas de pollo (chicken croquettes) and melt-in-your-mouth patatas bravas (spicy, marinated potato cubes), accompanied by fine wines from across the country.

Address: Curate Bar de Tapas, 13 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, Phone: 828-239-2946

Resting within the Pisgah National Forest southwest of Asheville, the North Carolina Arboretum is a 434-acre public garden that offers a range of activities for the whole family.

Established in 1986, the arboretum is home to hiking and biking trails, an intimate stream garden and a pretty garden dedicated to native and non-native hollies. Guided tours can be taken through the park, where expert botanists introduce you to the unique fauna and flora of the region.

The gardens also boast one of the most renowned bonsai collections in the country, as well as a diversity of beautiful flower exhibits year round. Refreshments in the form of snacks and drinks are available at the Savory Thyme Café located in the education center.

Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, North Carolina 28806, Phone: 828-665-2492

Asheville is best known for its craft beer, but Urban Orchard Cider Co. is planning to change that. The first craft cider tasting room and production company in North Carolina, Urban Orchard is a family-owned production company and tasting room in West Asheville where visitors can taste up to six kinds of apple cider every day.

Spacious and relaxed, it is one of very few true cider bars in the country. It is a great place to learn more about hard cider, such as the fact that cider styles can be traditional Sweet English and Dry Ridge, or try inventive, quirky mixes with berries, hops, vanilla, and even jalapeno peppers. Since Asheville is close to one of the country’s biggest apple growing regions, Urban Orchard makes its ciders exclusively from local apples. The family that owns and runs the company planted 55 apple trees on their property, but they will have to wait some time to make cider from their own apples.

Address: Urban Orchard Cider Co., 210 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806, Phone: 828-774-5151

Since they started brewing their great range of craft beers in 1998, Asheville Pizza and Brewing has been the go-to place in Asheville for a drink with friends, great pub grub, home-made pizzas, and movies old and new.

With three locations, you do not have to go far. At their north Asheville location, you can get a bite to eat with your favorite brew, spend some time with the kids in the game room, or watch a movie. They show both the latest and classic movies in their in-house theatre, and the ticket prices are the lowest anywhere. The downtown location hosts all their brewing equipment, which you can visit, or you can relax on their deck or covered patio with friends and family with select flights of their brews. The south Asheville location makes great pizzas to go with their beers, and they also deliver.

Address: Asheville Pizza and Brewing, 675 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804, Phone: 828-254-1281