Overview
The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.
39 sights · 52 things to do · 25 places to eat · 13 bars & cafés · 41 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Asheville
Battery Park Hotel
A 14-story building faced with brick, limestone and terra cotta trim with a Mission Revival style roof, erected in 1924.
The Biltmore Estate
A French Renaissance-inspired chateau; with over 250 rooms, it is the largest single family home in the U.S. and the largest privately-owned house in the world, just a few minutes outside the city and should be on any vi…
Buncombe County Courthouse
Completed in 1928, the outside features complex setbacks, window groupings and overlay of Neo-Classical Revival ornamentation. The Neo-Classical interior lobby contains a sweeping marble staircase, bronze and glass scree…
Asheville City Hall
Designed by Art Deco architect Douglas Ellington and completed in 1927, the City Building is constructed out of Georgia Pink marble, brick, and terra cotta. The steeped, octagonal shaped roof is the logo of the City of A…
Grove Arcade
Commissioned by Dr. E. W. Grove, the Grove Arcade is an elaborate Tudoresque building occupying an entire city block. It is particularly worth noting, as it was, when it was built in 1927 by architect Charles N. Parker, …
Grove Park Inn
Completed in 1913, this historic resort hotel is an important example of the Arts and Crafts style.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Wettest: Aug and Jun.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 10 mi away. Directions
- GSP Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greenville/Greer/Spartanburg — 51 mi away. Directions
- TYS McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville/Maryville — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions
Flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina, or McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee, are sometimes cheaper than flying directly to Asheville. Greenville is about a 1½-hour drive, Charlotte and Knoxville are both about 2-hour drives.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $69–$189 a night (typical $125), from 37 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $7 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$170, comfortable ~$290.
Options are grouped as Bed and breakfasts, Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Battery Park Hotel, First Baptist Church, Thomas Wolfe House
- Lunch Heiwa Shokudo
- Afternoon Masonic Temple, Drhumor Building
- Dinner Mela
- Evening Asheville Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning Grove Park Inn, First Presbyterian Church
- Lunch Wasabi
- Afternoon American Folk Art & Framing, Asheville Gallery of Art
- Dinner The Market Place
- Evening Barley's Taproom
Day 3
- Morning The Biltmore Estate, Mt. Zion Baptist Church
- Lunch Table
- Afternoon Appalachian Craft Center, Asheville Glass Center and Gallery
- Dinner Limones
- Evening Bier Garden
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them.
Asian
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, and is the largest city in Western North Carolina with a population of approximately 93,000 (2019) and a metro population of 425,000 (2018). Asheville was named after the ninth governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe.
It is the principal city in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, with a population of about 425,000 in 2010.
It has been described variously as the "San Francisco of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky." It's a city that Rolling Stone magazine dubbed "America’s New Freak Capital." Self magazine proclaimed Asheville as America’s "Happiest City."
History
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area belonged to the Cherokee Nation. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area known as Guaxule, bringing the first European visitors along with European diseases, which seriously depleted the native population. The area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century.
In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley. Soon after, Davidson was lured into the woods by a band of Cherokee hunters and killed. Davidson's twin brother Major William Davidson formed an expedition to retrieve Samuel Davidson's body and avenge his murder. Months later, Major Davidson and other members of his extended family returned to the area and settled at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.
The American Civil War "Battle of Asheville" was fought in early April 1865 at the present-day site of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with Union forces withdrawing to Tennessee after encountering resistance from a small group of Confederate soldiers in prepared trench lines across the Buncombe Turnpike. In late April 1865, North Carolina Union troops captured Asheville. After a negotiated departure, the troops nevertheless returned and plundered and burned a number of Confederate supporters' homes in Asheville.
In 1880, the Western North Carolina Railroad completed its line from Salisbury to Asheville, the first rail line to reach the city. Asheville experienced a slow but steady growth as industrial plants increased in number and size, and new residents built homes. Textile mills were established and plants were set up for the manufacture of wood and mica products, foodstuffs, and other commodities.
In 1900, Asheville was the third largest city in the state, behind Wilmington and Charlotte. Asheville prospered in the decades of the 1910s and 1920s. During these years, Rutherford P. Hayes, son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, bought land to create the African-American Burton Street Community.
The Great Depression, the period of Asheville's history made famous by the novel Look Homeward, Angel, hit Asheville quite hard: eight local banks failed. Because of the explosive growth of the previous decades, the per capita debt owed by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest in the nation. From the start of the Depression through the 1980s, economic growth in Asheville was slow. During this time of financial stagnation, most of the buildings in the downtown district remained unaltered. Therefore, Asheville has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, urban renewal displaced much of Asheville's African-American population. Asheville's neighborhoods of Montford and Kenilworth, now mostly white, used to consist of majority-black home owners.
Climate
Asheville has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Year-round, the average relative humidity in the morning is 90% and in the afternoon is 58%. Summers are warm to hot and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Average summer heat indices are around 85°F during the day and 65°F at night, with some hot and humid days higher at around 94°F with 70°F overnight lows. In the fall (peaking in October), the area is very popular with "leaf lookers", people who visit Asheville and the surrounding mountains to see the area's splendid foliage. Winters are generally mild and major snow storms are rare. However, snow is common with the area averaging an inch or two of snow at a time, normally melting off in a day or two.
Tourist information
- Explore Asheville website
Get in
By plane
Go Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Western North Carolina's largest airport. It offers jet and commuter service on United, American, and Delta. Asheville has non-stop service from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York City, Newark, Orlando and Tampa. It is 15 miles (25 km) south of downtown Asheville near the town of Fletcher. Ground transportation and major rental car companies are available at the airport terminal.
Flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina, or McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee, are sometimes cheaper than flying directly to Asheville. Greenville is about a 1½-hour drive, Charlotte and Knoxville are both about 2-hour drives.
By train
The closest Amtrak train station to Asheville is in Greenville, South Carolina or Spartanburg, South Carolina.
By car
Asheville is located at the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Mountainous, curvy, and scenic sections of highway are found along the interstates in all four directions while traveling into Asheville. The Asheville area is also served by 10 US and state highways. The Blue Ridge Parkway has four primary accesses in Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191. Maps are recommended as highways may have listed directions but may travel in different directions; for example, a road signed "east" may travel north/south for a significant amount of time.
By bus
Get around
By car
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown.
There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $0.75 per hour thereafter. Attendants are on duty M-F 10AM–7PM.
By taxi
Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes $0.40.
Uber and Lyft are also available.
Place Checker Cab
Pick-ups in 10 minutes on average. Econo-line vans available for up to 10 passengers.
By bike
Self-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours.
All buses in the Asheville Transit System are equipped with bike racks.
By bus
Place Asheville Redefines Transit (ART)
A city-wide transit service called ART (Asheville Redefines Transit) provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and to the Town of Black Mountain with 18 bus routes. Service runs early morning to late evening, Monday through Saturday. Service is regular but infrequent outside of downtown; inside downtown walking is almost always faster. Routes originate from the ART Station at 49 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville (next to the U.S. Post Office). The ART Station provides clean restrooms, indoor and outdoor seating and an on-duty information assistant until 10PM. The assistant and website can provide you with the latest maps and schedules; help you with monthly or annual pass purchases; and answer questions that you may have.
See
Architecture
Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20s was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nation's most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the modern BB&T Tower.
See Battery Park Hotel
A 14-story building faced with brick, limestone and terra cotta trim with a Mission Revival style roof, erected in 1924.
See The Biltmore Estate
A French Renaissance-inspired chateau; with over 250 rooms, it is the largest single family home in the U.S. and the largest privately-owned house in the world, just a few minutes outside the city and should be on any visitor's itinerary. Basic admission includes access to the fabulous gardens, stables, expansive hiking trails, winery and self-guided house tour.
See Buncombe County Courthouse
Completed in 1928, the outside features complex setbacks, window groupings and overlay of Neo-Classical Revival ornamentation. The Neo-Classical interior lobby contains a sweeping marble staircase, bronze and glass screens, a coffered ceiling with ornate plasterwork and a mosaic tile floor.
See Drhumor Building
The Drhumor (pronounced "drummer") is a boldly detailed, Romanesque Revival style building constructed in 1895.
See Grove Arcade
Commissioned by Dr. E. W. Grove, the Grove Arcade is an elaborate Tudoresque building occupying an entire city block. It is particularly worth noting, as it was, when it was built in 1927 by architect Charles N. Parker, one of the nation's most unique and interesting buildings. On each side of this city landmark, four giant arches allow entrance into the building. On the main side facing the equally impressive Victorian Battery Park Hotel, are two monumental gryphons, guarding the entrance into the expansive interior, which features oak shopfronts, spiral staircases, and opulence around every corner. Today, it serves as an influential public market with several restaurants, vendors, and mountain craft shops.
See Masonic Temple
Features robust brickwork and a tall portico of paired Ionic columns. A three-story, blind arched window is on its Woodfin Street side.
See YMI Building
A simplified English Tudor Cottage style with pebble-dashed walls, red brick quoin trim, multi-pane windows and hipped roofs.
Churches:
Most of the churches listed below are working churches. When entering, please be respectful of any activities occurring.
See Basilica of St. Lawrence
Designed and built in 1905, the Basilica is on the National Register of Historic Places and was elevated in status to a Minor Basilica in 1993 by Pope John Paul II. Features the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America. This place is gorgeous and a must-see.
See Central United Methodist Church
Erected in 1902, the imposing limestone church presents Romanesque Revival style massing and forms, but the detailing more closely reflects the Gothic Revival style. A five-bay loggia, set between two pinnacled towers, fronts the large, gable-roofed auditorium.
See First Baptist Church
In Art Deco/Romantic style, Douglas Ellington's first big commission in Asheville. A beautiful distinctive dome with a copper cupola cap.
See Mt. Zion Baptist Church
A redbrick late Victorian Gothic church featuring a tin-shingled roof where three towers are topped by ornamental sheet-metal finials. A large number of Art Glass windows ornament the towers and walls. Built in 1919.
See St. Matthias Episcopal Church
A Gothic-style building with a gable roof nave. The brick walls are laid with a darker shade of headers presenting a horizontal texture to the building's surface on every face. The interior contains a rich display of well maintained dark woodwork fashioned in various Gothic motifs. The pulpit, lectern, altar and other furnishings are all original to the church and are decorated with trefoil arch panels, quatrefoil incisions and other Gothic elements.
Art galleries
Museums
Do
Activities
Tours
Do Eating Asheville Tours
Eating Asheville’s walking food tour leads you through an orchestration of the finest and most delicious sights and tastes that the city has to offer. Join us for a tour of the city’s unique food culture. Inquire about our walking brewery tours of downtown Asheville!
Do Herstory Asheville: A Tour that Tells the Rest of the Story
Come hear tales of the famous, the infamous, and the unsung heroes of the female persuasion in engaging detail. This 90-minute walking tour covers the history of downtown while spotlighting the women who helped shape Asheville. Tours leave daily from The Old Kentucky Home, Julia Wolfe's former boarding house at Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Reservations required.
Do Historic Trolley Tours
Sightsee Asheville aboard a vintage Trolley. Fully narrated, covers all major points of interest in Asheville including: the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Village, the Grove Arcade, the Montford Historic District, the downtown shopping and restaurants district, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the Asheville Museum and Art Gallery district, the Asheville Chamber and Visitors Center.
Do LaZoom Comedy Tours
LaZoom Comedy Tours is "A Tour with a Twist!" You'll get all of the facts plus loads of fun. Your costumed tour guide will take you and your family on a 90 minute adventure covering all of the points of interest. This isn't your grandma's tour (but she can still come).
Do Urban Trail
A self-guided walking tour in downtown Asheville, tracing the footsteps of Asheville’s historic past. Twenty-seven "stations" are highlighted in this continuous 1.6-mile loop, from churches and buildings to streets and landmarks. Guided tours are available April through November on Saturdays at 3PM. Tours leave from the front desk inside Pack Place. Headsets and maps are available for self-guided tours.
Festivals
Live music
Theatre
Do North Carolina Stage Company
Asheville's only professional theatre. Voted Best Local Theatre by readers of Mountain Xpress for four years running. Winner George A. Parides Award for Outstanding Professional Theatre, North Carolina Theatre Conference. NC Stage Company has something either in rehearsal or performance 49 out of 52 weeks.
Outdoors
Hiking:
Do Blue Ridge Parkway
Some of the most beautiful (and abundant) waterfalls can be reached via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Park your car on any Parkway overlook and there will most likely be a trail nearby. Popular spots include Mount Pisgah (15 miles south on the Parkway), Graveyard Fields (25 miles south on the Parkway), Craggy Gardens (24 miles north on the Parkway), and Mount Mitchell, the eastern United States highest mountain (35 miles/1 hour drive north on the Parkway). The Parkway intersects Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191.
Do Pisgah National Forest
Much of Western North Carolina is covered by national forest, making it a hiker’s paradise. For maps or information on great places to hike, call the National Forest Service.
Do Lutheridge
Faith-based outdoor camp and conference center located between Asheville and Hendersonville. Lutheridge offers a variety of summer programs for elementary to high school aged youth and hosts retreats and conferences from fall to spring. Lutheridge is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Climbing:
Fishing:
Rafting:
Do Lake Julian
Riding:
Skateboarding:
Sports
Yoga
Buy
Asheville does not necessarily have a specific commercial district but rather it resembles a long line, curving through the mountains. Beginning directly north of downtown, Merrimon Avenue has many low density restaurants and small shopping strip malls. It is the typical American shopping street and many locals consider it “The Strip.” As you move south towards the city-center, Merrimon Avenue changes names to Broadway, then Biltmore Avenue after it intersects with Patton Avenue at Pack Square, home to the Vance Monument, located directly in front of City-County Plaza.
Surrounding this area, Downtown, you will find many boutiques, cafes, museums, and interesting historical buildings. At the eastern end of downtown, The Beaucatcher Tunnel is carved directly into Sunset Mountain. The street leading out of downtown and into the mountain goes into the edifice as College Street and comes out as Asheville’s most celebrated shopping street, Tunnel Road.
Tunnel Road is very commercial and hosts mostly large corporate chains. Construction has boomed along this stretch, and reaching towards the skies above the restaurants and stores you will see some brand new hotels. Finally, Tunnel Road transitions into South Tunnel Road, which is home to the city’s main mall and smaller chain shopping centers. This area of town is not at all touristy, and prices are average and intended for locals.
At the end of South Tunnel Road there is a vast shopping center that extends across the Swannanoa River and up over the mountain, eventually overlooking the Industrial district, containing a relatively new and quite controversial shopping complex along the river, having the city’s Super Walmart as its flagstore. It was built upon the rubble of the abandoned Sayles-Biltmore Bleachery, which used to bleach paper for the US Treasury's currency manufacture.
From Pack Square going south (away from I 240), Biltmore Ave continues down past Biltmore Village and into South Asheville and Arden, with many chain stores and strip malls, from which one can access via NC 146 Long Shoals Rd, Biltmore Park an exurb with high end shopping around a reproduced downtown square.
Downtown Asheville is full of neat and quirky shops and prides itself on the lack of corporate chain stores. Spend some time exploring downtown (it's very walkable) and see what you can find. Here are some highlights:
- Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
Biltmore Village Just South of Asheville's downtown, and right outside the gates of the Biltmore Estate is the quaint village built around the 1890s called Biltmore Village. It is easily accessed from I-40 (Exit 50). A number of small independently owned retail stores which have carved out specialty niches can be found intermingled with restaurants beneath the shade of the tree-lined streets. You'll find national specialty stores and a boutique notel have begun construction there. Of particular note are:
River Arts District Wrapped along the river, and visible from the bridge over the French Broad River (i.e. from I-240 or Patton Ave.) is an enclave of Art Studios, Galleries, and restaurants that is still not quite user-friendly but accessible to the adventurous. Some worthy points of interest are:
Shop 240 Clingman
This used to be warehouse. Right after the Katrina Hurricane it was turned into a gallery by the owners of Bella Vista Art Gallery. After they left, Jonas Gerard, from Miami, took over the space. He was featured on 20/20 and has some eye-popping art on display, and for sale.
Head away from downtown and visit the WNC Farmer's Market for a huge selection of locally grown and produced crops 'n' crafts. You could spend hours and still not see everything.
Eat
Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them.
Downtown
Asian
Eat Heiwa Shokudo
Traditional Japanese and sushi.
Eat Mela
Authentic Indian food in a beautiful and exotic atmosphere. Full bar available.
Eat Wasabi
Japanese restaurant and sushi bar.
Modern American
Eat The Market Place
Innovative "farm to table" cuisine.
Eat Table
New-American cuisine with a daily written menu.
Mexican/Latin American/Caribbean
Eat Limones
Upscale fresh Mexican-Californian cuisine. Reservations recommended.
Eat Mamacitas
Fresh, made from scratch Mexican cuisine.
Eat Salsa
Mexican-Caribbean food.
European
Eat Bouchon
French comfort food of the Lyon area of France and wine bar.
Eat Cucina 24
Traditional Italian. Reservations recommended.
Eat Zambra
Tapas and Spanish cuisine in a very romantic atmosphere.
Southern
Eat Early Girl Eatery
Made-from-scratch Southern regional cuisine using local organic produce and free-range meats.
Eat Tupelo Honey Cafe
Check this out for some delicious New Southern cuisine.
Steakhouses
Eat Chop House
Signature steakhouse.
Vegetarian/Vegan
Eat Laughing Seed
A vegetarian/vegan restaurant with a variety of international-inspired unique dishes. Jungle-themed elegant indoor dining or great outdoor dining on Wall Street, the heart of downtown. The bar Jack of the Wood is downstairs.
Eat Rosetta's Kitchen
Vegetarian/vegan (mostly organic) food in a very unique atmosphere. It's open until 3AM on most nights, and you're sure to find an assortment of interesting characters no matter the time of day.
North
Eat Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
Known to locals as the APBC or Brew n' View, is a good place to relax with a beer, pizza (available by the slice), and watch a movie for $3.
Eat 828 Family Pizzeria
New York style pizza.
Eat The Hop
Serves acclaimed ice cream (vegan selections available) made on-site.
West
Eat Sunny Point Cafe & Bakery
A great brunch spot.
Eat Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack
Delicious fried chicken as hot as you want it.
Eat Firestorm Cafe
Employee-owned cafe with all vegan menu offering wraps, handmade pastries, and more exotic options. Unusual selection of progressive books, anarchist pamphlets, and free internet. Firestorms hosts community events and concerts on a regular basis.
South
Drink
Liquor is available by the drink in Asheville, but if you want to buy liquor by the bottle you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores rather than at a traditional liquor store. These stores have limited exterior decorations so they can be difficult to find. If you plan to explore nearby counties keep in mind Madison County (to the north) and Yancey County (to the northwest) are "dry counties" and prohibit all alcoholic beverage sales. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations. The alcohol laws of the state prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2AM Monday through Saturday, and from 2AM until noon on Sundays. Pick up a copy or check the website of the local alternative newsweekly Mountain Xpress for an up-to-date, detailed guide for what is going on at each bar and club for the night.
Downtown:
Drink Asheville Brewing Company
A brewpub with their own locally-brewed beers on tap and a full liquor bar, piles of board games, and a large outdoor covered patio with giant movie screen.
Drink Barley's Taproom
A popular destination with an expansive variety of beers, local, regional, and continental. 52 beers on tap. Small stage with live music 3-4 nights a week, no cover charge. Upstairs Billiard Room with four tables available by the hour.
Drink Bier Garden
Over 200 beers from around the world and a full liquor bar. For the sports fans, they have 16 televisions including a 15-foot screen.
Drink Green Man Brewing & Tasting Room
Drink Jack of the Wood
Serves its own locally-brewed Green Man Ales on tap and a limited selection of bottled beers.
Drink Scandals
A huge gay-oriented nightclub with 3 dance floors and 4 bars.
Drink Thirsty Monk
Pub specializing in Belgian beers.
Drink Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
Drink Yacht Club
Tiki bar/restaurant serving lunch, dinner and a late night menu. Check out their specialty cocktails, particularly the 'Pain Killer', it's served on fire.
North:
Drink Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
Locally brewed beer at $3.75 a pint.
East:
Drink French Broad Brewery Tasting Room
Offers tastings, tours and live music five nights a week in a relaxed, intimate setting.
Drink Root Bar
Home of the original sport of rootball (a cross between horseshoes and bocce)! Beer only.
West:
Drink Westville Pub
Family-oriented bar with pub grub and live music.
Sleep
Bed and breakfasts
Asheville is rightfully well known for its many Bed and Breakfasts
Montford Historic District:
Stay Asheville Seasons Bed & Breakfast
Beautifully restored historic home, all rooms with private baths and most with working fireplaces. Your hosts will offer you wine or beer upon your arrival and in the morning will cook you a wonderful breakfast, served with organic coffee. A half-mile walk to downtown.
Chestnut Hill Historic District:
Other areas:
Stay Blake House Inn
An 1847 example of Italianate architecture with Gothic Revival influence. Five rooms and one suite.
Stay Oakland Cottage B&B
Bed and Breakfast, Circa 1910, 1.5 miles north of the Biltmore Estate, Biltmore Village and 2 miles south of Pack Square. Spacious, family friendly two-room suites with a bit more space than your average B&B room. Cyclists welcome. Wireless internet access, complimentary on-site laundry facilities, on-site massage available, full breakfast each morning.
Stay The Albemarle Inn
Elegant 1907 Greek Revival mansion. This AAA four-diamond inn features exceptionally spacious guest rooms with period furnishings, fluffy robes, flat screen televisions, wireless internet, private baths and on-site parking. Full breakfast and afternoon refreshments included in room rate.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay Zen Asheville Inn & Spa Retreat (A Spa Inn Asheville)
Boutique Bed & Breakfast Spa. Breakfast served where and when you want it. 5 rooms: fireplaces, 2-person jacuzzi tubs, king beds. Finnish sauna, steam room, Massage Suite, Facial Suite with Eminence Organic skin products. Massages, facials, body wraps.
Stay The Omni Grove Park Inn
Probably the most famous hotel in Western North Carolina. It has a spa, several restaurants, a sports complex with weight rooms and fitness classes, indoor and outdoor pools, and two 2 retail promenades. In the winter months it houses the National Gingerbread House Competition & Display and entries range from the heartfelt efforts of elementary age children to fantastic creations that must have taken months to prepare. The hotel has its own ghost, the Pink Lady. Even if you don't stay here, stop by the bar and lounge for a cocktail or, in the winter, some delicious hot cocoa by the roaring fireplace. Wander outside for some of the finest views in Asheville.
Go next
A thirty-mile drive south to Flat Rock will bring you to the Flatrock Playhouse where dramas, comedies, and musicals are shown April through December. Also in Flat Rock is the Carl Sandburg Home. This historic site consists of a 22 room house, barns, sheds, rolling pastures, walking trails, two small lakes, ponds, flower and vegetable gardens, and an orchard.
A thirty-mile drive west to Waynesville during the last weeks of July will bring you to Folkmoot, a festival of song and dance staged by performance groups from around the world.
The town of Brevard, an hour drive southwest, hosts the Brevard Music Festival each summer. Lasting almost two months, a variety of musical events ranging from grand operas and symphony orchestras to Broadway musicals and pop concerts as well as renowned guest artists are featured.
A 45 minute drive north brings you to the Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Reserve the jacuzzi-style tub of your choice, all individually enclosed and private. Bring a bottle of champagne and spend an hour or two. Hot Springs also has a few campgrounds and is passed through by the Appalachian Trail.
The Cradle of Forestry is located about 20 miles southwest of Asheville off U.S. Highway 276 in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. Visitors will find a number of hiking trails in the area. Open 9AM-5PM, mid April through the end of October. $5 for adults, 16 and under free.
A popular tourist attraction is Chimney Rock Park, located 25 miles (about a 30 minute drive) southeast of Asheville in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge. It's a privately owned park (not part of the US system) with a fairly high admission fee ($17 for adults), but the views are incredible and there are six different hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from easy-to-moderate to moderate-to-strenuous. Open all year.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and is the country's most visited national park. A variety of trails for hikers of any age or skill level are available.
Gorges State Park is approximately 45 miles southwest of Asheville, located in Transylvania County and joins the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Gorges State Park has over 80 inches of rain a year making it a temperate rain forest. The plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls, and concentration of rare and unique species makes this a wonderful park to visit.
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