15 Things to Do in Asheville North Carolina: Something for Everyone
Thank you to Asheville Salt Cave and Adventure Center of Asheville for hosting me. As always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
If you’re planning a trip to Asheville and you’re looking for more to do than just the Biltmore, you’ve come to the right place! This list of 15 things to do in Asheville North Carolina has something for everyone in all seasons! I recently spent 5 days in early March in Asheville on a fun girls’ trip and we hit up all of these activities in that amount of time! See? Winter can be just as fun as any other time of year in Asheville!Asheville Resources & Recommendations
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1. Asheville Salt Cave
A unique activity we did in Asheville (and perhaps one of the more unique things I’ve ever done) was a session at the Asheville Salt Cave. After a busy, active weekend, this was the perfect way to relax, recharge and wrap up our trip!
The Engaging Entrance
We entered the very tranquil cave silently…
immediately feeling the calming mood set by the lighting
and the peaceful rippling of a water feature.
The (Salt Cave) Skinny
Made with 20 tons (TONS!) of pure pink salt from all over the world, the cave maintains the micro-climate of a salt mine. They do this by keeping a specific temperature and humidity level equivalent to that of a natural salt cave.
Taking in this unique micro-climate through the skin and via respiration helps to detox as well as help conditions such as asthma.
The Deep Decision
You have the option of relaxing on blankets and pillows on the floor…
or in a zero gravity chair. I had never experienced a true zero gravity chair so I was extremely curious and eager to try it!
I was not disappointed! Honestly, I don’t know how it works, but I definitely felt like I was floating or weightless. Or floating and weightless! I’m not sure how else to explain it. No part of my body felt heavier than another when reclined. You can imagine how this immediately induces relaxation!
The Epic Experience
After they led us through a series of breathing exercises, we were left with calming music to slip into blissful rest while taking in the benefits of salt therapy.
Imagine 45 minutes in a dimly lit room, in a chair that gives you a weightless sensation with peaceful music in a cool, healing atmosphere…I didn’t want it to be over!
This would definitely become a regular practice if I lived in the area and is an experience that everyone should try on a visit to Asheville! If you’re with your significant other, try a private session with a couple’s massage!
TIPS: Arrive 20 minutes early. Once a session is started, it is not interrupted! Your belongings are safely locked up while you are in the cave; however, there isn’t a lot of space so try to keep what you bring with you to a minimum. To protect the salt, wear or bring clean, white socks to wear into the cave as shoes are not allowed. If you forget, they do have shoe covers. It is cool inside the cave and blankets are provided, but if you are cold natured, you might want to have an extra layer on. You can read more information here.
Asheville Salt Cave is open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm and Sun 9am-5pm and located at 12 Eagle Street (at Biltmore Avenue) in downtown Asheville, NC. There are different parking options available.
2. Chimney Rock
As you can see, I don’t have Chimney Rock in the photos below. This is because we tried twice to go in the late afternoon so we could see it’s amazing views during both the daytime and for sunset. However, we struck out. Both times.
When we arrived the first day, it was closed. We looked at the sign for the opening times for the next day and made sure we arrived before closing on the second day.
But, when we arrived, we found the exit gate open and the entrance gate closed. Again. The sign didn’t note that the hours were only valid AFTER the time change that occurs for most states in the US in March. UGH.
Lesson learned: Go by the website hours and not the hours on the entrance sign. 😉
It is a long, but pretty drive between Asheville and Chimney Rock and we stopped a couple of times. One was for this lookout point and as you can tell it was quite cold but so beautiful!
We loved this little church on the side of the road.
It’s called Wallow Bear Baptist Church. Is it not picturesque like something out of a movie??
So, when you do go to Chimney Rock, be sure to see the sights along the way!
Location: 431 Main Street, Chimney Rock, NC 28720
3. Write on the Before I Die Wall
What is that thing you HAVE to do before you die?? Make it known right here on the Before I Die Wall!
Location: 37 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
4. Pack Square Park
Walk through Pack Square Park in the wintertime
and enjoy festivals and concerts in the summertime.
Location: 80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801 (for GPS 121 College Street). This is the start of the Asheville Urban Trail and you can read all about it here.
5. Adventure Center of Asheville
Get your adventure on at the Adventure Center of Asheville.
We spent a day up in the trees ziplining and completing cool obstacles courses!
Location: 85 Expo Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
6. Omni Grove Park Inn
Whether or not you’re staying there, you must watch the sunset from the back terrace of the Omni Grove Park Inn.
It’s perhaps the best place in Asheville to watch the sunset. Grab a drink or a bite and take it all in!
Location: 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804
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7. Hunger Games Filming Locations
Did you know that the entire first Hunger Games movie was shot in North Carolina?
District 12
Visit District 12 from the Hunger Games franchise.
It’s located right on the main road in the Henry River Mill Village, an old deserted village in Hildebran, NC built in the early 1900s. It is roped off so you can’t actually walk to any of the buildings, but they can easily be seen from the road.
Remember when Peeta throws Katniss the bread outside this bakery? 😍
Location: 4272 Henry River Road, Hildebran, NC
The Games
DuPont State Forest was used for The Games in the first film. This is Triple Falls where Peeta is lying on the rocks…
where Katniss runs across the falls
and where Katniss finds Peeta disguised in the mud and moss. Can you see it?
Location: Click here for directions.
8. Iron Sculpture
See the giant Flat Iron located directly across from the Flat Iron building. It was designed by local artist Reed Todd in 1997.
It’s pretty cool at night too!
Location: Intersection of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. It is Station 8 on the Asheville Urban Trail.
9. Blackwell Memorial
The Blackwell Memorial pays tribute to former Asheville resident, Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman who received a medical degree in the United States! She went on to become a pioneer in medicine for women and children.
Location: 39 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. It is Station 6 on the Asheville Urban Trail.
10. Pritchard Park
Have a picnic or people watch in Pritchard Park, a small outdoor amphitheater in the middle of downtown Asheville.
Every Friday night, April-October, the park hosts Drum Circle, an event where people gather together to play their own drums and dance to the rhythm!
Don’t miss the Deco Gecko, a brushed aluminum sculpture designed to honor the art deco stylings of architects who designed different buildings around Asheville. The sculptor is Harry McDaniel who was named Asheville’s first Public Artist of the Year in 2008.
Location: 67 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.
11. Battery Book Exchange
Head to the Battery Book Exchange & Champagne Bar for a lazy morning or evening.
Get some champagne, grab a treat and relax by yourself or bring a friend. It’s a great place to catch up with the girls!
Location: 1 Page Avenue #101, Asheville, NC 28801
12. Grove Arcade
In the same building as the Book Exchange is the Grove Arcade. It was built by E.W. Grove, the designer of the Grove Park Inn. We were there on a Sunday morning so all of the shops hadn’t yet opened.
It was one of the top public markets in the country before World War II. Renovated and reopened to the public in 2002, it features shopping boutiques and restaurants.
Location: 1 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
13. DuPont State Forest Three Waterfalls Hike
Hike to see the many waterfalls in DuPont State Forest.
I highly recommend this easy (and fairly level) 4.5-mile roundtrip trail leading to Hooker Falls
High Falls where water rushes 120 feet down granite
and Triple Falls. Yes, this is the same one from The Hunger Games. It was also a location in The Last of the Mohicans!
You can even see High Falls Covered Bridge on this hike!
I wanted to do Bridal Veil Falls (another Hunger Games filming location), but we ran out of time.
Location: 1300 Staton Road, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718. More information can be found here.
14. River Arts District
If you love art or want to see some of the most incredible and unique murals anywhere, you have to go to the River Arts District. You can also see artists work in their studios and even purchase their artwork.
They bring in artists from all over the world to paint these murals!
Are they not incredible? I loved the reflection. I got lucky since it had rained the day before!
Location: Click here for all locations. Above murals located along Lyman Street near the intersection of Old Lyman Street.
15. Biltmore Estate
You were wondering when I was going to get to it, weren’t you? 😉 Yes, the ever-popular Biltmore Estate. No visit to Asheville is complete without it!
There’s so much to do at the Biltmore, George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre estate.
If you only have a few hours, be sure to explore the grounds around the outside of the mansion
as well as take a tour of the inside. You can choose to walk through on your own, do an audio guide tour or a guided tour. Whichever you decide on, book in advance. They do book up and there is timed entry!
There are so many beautiful aspects to see in the mansion. It’s truly incredible!
It snowed the day we were there. Do you see it? Too bad it wasn’t enough to see it covered in a winter wonderland!
Special Events
From time to time, there are special exhibits going on such as this Titanic exhibit when we were there in March. These are the actual costumes from the film on loan to the Biltmore!
The tie is not only that these are clothes that would have been worn in George Vanderbilt’s time, but also the Vanderbilts were supposed to be on the Titanic for its fateful maiden voyage! They got homesick and canceled their plans to come home early. Can you imagine? 😲
Being a film junkie and former background artist myself, I thoroughly loved seeing these costumes for all the characters.
But my absolute favorite was getting to see the dress Rose (Kate Winslet) wore in the famous water scenes. In all, there were 24 of these dresses made to be able to last through all the filming in the water.
Cue “I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go…”
Christmas at the Biltmore
This is also a beautiful time to see the Biltmore. It is absolutely gorgeous all decorated for Christmas! Definitely plan well in advance for this!
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Hope you enjoy these! They are really a great mix that should be fun for anyone and everyone.
I thoroughly loved visiting Asheville and plan on heading back. There’s so much to see there and I want to see it all!
How about you? Have you been? If so, what would add to this list? If not, what on the list do you want to do most?
‘Til next time…
Trimm Travels,
Great post! I had no idea there was so much to do in the area, besides The Biltmore, of course. Tweeted to share with my readers as well! <3
Hey Jennifer! Thank you! There is SO much to do! I didn’t even get it all done if you can believe that! So, of course, I want to go back! Makes a great girls’ trip, we should go! 🙂 Thanks for sharing it! <3
Awesome. With family in the area, we are always looking for something new to do. Sierra Nevada is another favorite. Even if you don’t drink, it’s an awesome garden (with cornhole and such activities) and delicious restaurant.
Hey Shannon! Good to know, I haven’t heard of Sierra Nevada so I will definitely have to check it out next time! I really enjoyed Asheville!
Oh I love book exchanges! And that zero gravity chair seems really cool! I’ve never heard of anything like that before! What do you float on, air? That estate looks amazing, too. I love visiting mansions of the rich and famous and pretending I live there. lol.
Hi Natalie! You cracked me up! “love visiting mansions of the rich and famous and pretending I live there”! LOLOL! Asheville is a truly unique and amazing place. It has so much from one end of the spectrum to the other. And the zero gravity chair? I can’t really explain it, but I know I want one! It just positions your body in such a way that I didn’t feel one part heavier than the other…it was like nothing was under me. Totally relaxing, hopefully, you can go try it and visit Biltmore and pretend you live there! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I had no idea there were so many things to do here! The Waterfall hike and covered bridge are gorgeous and a definite must-do. I also love exploring the street art when I visit new places, so would definitely check out the River Arts District. And the Adventure Center looks like it would be a ton of fun! Might have to start planning a trip to Ashville…
Hi Cynthia! Isn’t street art the best?? There are a ton of things to do in Asheville-I didn’t even cover them all if you can believe that! On top of all this, it’s a super foodie town too! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wow I never realised there would be so much to do in Ashville! It looks like a pretty fun place to visit and that book and champagne bar looks awesome. I would also love to try a zero gravity chair 🙂
Hi Lauren! The books and champagne bar is pretty unique. We were in there for a while and still found new stuff to look at. The perfect place to chill! The zero gravity chair is amazing! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I went to Biltomore almost a decade ago but hardly spent any time in Asheville. I remember thinking it looked neat though. Didn’t realize they had the Before I Die wall, I’d love to write on one of those 🙂 The River Arts District looks really cool!
Hi Jenia! Yes, the Before I Die wall is pretty cool. I’d never seen one or heard of one before! And just like you, the first time I went to Asheville was for the Biltmore at Christmas. We went up, saw, came home. That was it. There is SO much more to Asheville! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Quite impressive… for a city of fewer than 100.000 inhabitants. Ashville appears to be a perfect holiday destination where the activities and “chill factor” balance each other perfectly. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Eva, that is actually a great way to describe Asheville actually! It is the perfect balance between activities and chilling out! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I’ve heard about the Before I die wall quite a while back. Before I die.. I wanna go write on the Before I die wall. :))
I really like the idea behind it, I think it’s great to remind people about what really matters to them.
Hi Travel Bunny, I totally agree! Makes you think about what really matters! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Loved the salt caves .. Never knew such a thing existed… Asheville seems to be a place to visit . All the attractions are inspiring .. The little church & the before I die wall are quite exciting ..
Hi Rohini! I didn’t know about the salt caves long before I visited either. Aren’t they cool? Definitely stop in if you visit Asheville! Thanks for reading!:)
What a cool place. I never realized this area was filming location for Hunger Games and Last of the Mohicans. It’s strange really to see the Hunger Games film-set in broad daylight. Loved the look of that salt cave too–I can imagine this as the setting of a fantasy film.
Hi Chris! I never thought of it, but it was a different lighting than in the film, huh? The salt cave is just an amazing experience. Try it if you are ever in Asheville! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Good to know you can visit Asheville in any season and still have a great time! I think fall would be my favorite. Those mannequins scare me but what a great visit 😉
Hi Carmen, yes for sure any season is great in Asheville, but fall is definitely a pretty time! Fall is probably my favorite time (besides Christmas) to travel to most places! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Great list. Another that I would suggest for adding is riverboarding on the French Broad river with Appalachian Riverboard Company. Riverboarding is like ocean bodyboarding meets whitewater, but on a beefier, more buoyant board.
Hi Kevin-sounds like a really cool adventure. Definitely have to check that out when I’m in Asheville again. How would you rate this on a scale of 0-10 as far difficulty level? In other words, if you aren’t a huge whitewater rafting fan, how does this compare? Thanks for reading! 🙂
I would rate it as 5 on a scale of 1-10 as guests do need to be in moderate physical shape since there is a lot of kicking involved. It is a lot easier to learn compared to whitewater kayaking since you only have to learn a few kick turns instead of having to learn to roll in a kayak. One major benefit is the expectation of being in the water for the activity and being geared up for it compared with a rafter who only has a helmet, PFD, and pair of sandals if they fall out and have to swim. Since you’re in the water, you get to feel the currents instead of sitting above them; and smaller waves that would be boring in a raft are more exciting since you are seeing the rapids from a face level perspective.
Hi Kevin-good to know. Very interesting concept that I haven’t heard of before. Sounds like a cool adventure! 🙂
I have been told that there is not much to see in ASHEVILLE BY a resident of Candler. I beg to differ as it looks to me that there is plenty to see if you don’t mind hiking..hopefully one day I will visit and get a chance to see it all.. from NSW AUSTRALIA.
Hi Michelle-You are right, there is PLENTY to see in Asheville and not only for hikers. It’s a fantastic destination for street art, arts in general, history, hiking, and FOOD! It’s a big foodie place! I hope you get to make it there soon and thanks for reading! 🙂
I would love to hear about great places to eat in Asheville!
Hi Vickie-I have a post on places to eat in Asheville too! Thanks so much for reading! 🙂