Asheville, NC is a destination I’ve been wanting to visit for years, partially because it gets compared to my hometown of Austin, TX so much. Now that there’s a new non-stop from Austin to Asheville on American Airlines, the 2-hour trip was so easy that I finally had to do it. Asheville is a city filled with the arts, good food, and the cutest shops. Honestly, I can see myself living there! Let me guide you through the best hidden gems in the city – the best things to do in Asheville, where to eat in Asheville, and the coolest places to stay. Let’s go!
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Explore Asheville. Thanks for your support!
Biltmore Estate
Table of Contents
The Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC
Explore RAD – The River Arts District
If you’re an art lover, Asheville is the place for you. The River Arts District (or RAD) is home to over 200 working artists in a variety of mediums. You can take classes at places like Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Blue Spiral Gallery, or even just stroll through the studios and galleries to see some amazing local artwork – I dare you not to buy something!
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- Encaustic wax painting workshop with artist Sarah St Laurent
Some of the highlights of my visit included doing an encaustic wax painting workshop with artist Sarah St Laurent, trying glass blowing for the first time at the North Carolina Glass Center, and a hands-on pottery class with Katie Meili of The Village Potters. I highly recommend researching art workshops and classes you can do in the River Arts District in advance of your trip to add a little spice to your itinerary!
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- Glass blowing for the first time at the North Carolina Glass Center
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- Pottery class at The Village Potters in the River Arts District
Another way to explore the River Arts District is via a walking tour. Asheville Art Experience can arrange various art classes for you directly with the local artists, as well as showing you around the many galleries and outdoor murals of the area!
See “The Land Of Waterfalls” on a Jeep Tour
In order to get a taste of a little bit of the nature that Asheville is known for, we booked with Asheville Jeep Tours for a ride through the backroads of Pisgah National Forest. Our guide took us on a 3-hour off-roading adventure to see some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area, including the amazing Looking Glass Falls, which you can go for a swim in if you’d like (spoiler alert: the water is pretty cold here). So, if you’re planning to get up close to the waterfall, make sure to wear a swimsuit under your clothes and pack a towel! Or, at least be prepared to get a bit wet from the spray if you get close enough while you snap your photos (a dry bag for my camera ended up being a great choice).
Since the Jeep is open-top, we were able to enjoy the refreshing mountain air as we drove up in elevation. We also stopped at one waterfall that was a 0.5-mile walk from the parking spot (so wear comfortable shoes for sure).
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, they also offer a 5-hour Extreme Off-Road Jeep Tour that goes over some rougher terrain of Pisgah National Forest. You’ll cross rivers and go up steep slopes as you explore, and I quote them, “one of Western North Carolina’s most notorious off-road sections”.
Tour the Biltmore Estate and Feel Like You’re a Bridgerton (or a Vanderbilt)
No trip to Asheville is complete without a visit (or two) to the Biltmore Estate. A basic ticket gets you entry to the estate’s grounds and gardens (which could easily take a day by themselves) and timed entry to the self-guided audio tour of Biltmore House – which is the biggest house in America by the way.
Biltmore House has 250 rooms, each more opulent than the next. You could easily spend an entire afternoon walking through the main house and exploring the different rooms, including a two-story library, an indoor pool, and even a bowling alley in the basement. I guess that’s what all that crazy Vanderbilt fortune gets you!
For something more exclusive or in-depth, there are options like the Biltmore House Backstairs Tour and the Expert-Guided Small Group Tour. We decided to do the Rooftop Tour, which for an extra $40 per person takes you on a guided hour-long tour through areas of the house the normal tours don’t visit, including a few rooftops. This tour is great if you’re really interested in the architecture and history of the Biltmore House (and you might get a cool photo from the top do) – but you do need to be able to climb 250 stairs to access the tour.
You can easily spend a whole day exploring the house and grounds, so make sure to leave yourself plenty of time. We didn’t even really get to explore the gardens ourselves, but they looked beautiful and definitely a great Instagram photo opp – though I’d say the best photo is on the front lawn in front of the house! Another great spot is the terrace on the left side of the house, which offers fabulous views of those North Carolina mountains that provide the amazing backdrop Biltmore is known for.
While you’re at Biltmore, you can also visit Antler Hill Village, which is included in your ticket price. This area includes a winery, a farm-to-table restaurant, and an outdoor adventure center. We didn’t have time to visit Antler Hill Village on this trip, but it’s definitely on our list for next time!
Have a Luxury Picnic in Asheville’s Beautiful Outdoors
Asheville is seriously so *green* that it’d be a waste to not enjoy the outdoors there during the right time of year (or the amazing foliage in autumn). Dreamscape Luxury Picnics set us up with the most gorgeous outdoor picnic at UNC Asheville Botanical Gardens. Monka’s Bakery provided the almost too beautiful to eat cakes and we had a fabulous few hours picnicking in the park. If you’re looking for a bougie experience with your girlfriends or a romantic afternoon date, definitely check this out!
Dive Into Asheville’s Music History on a Walking Tour
A great way to explore Asheville’s music legacy is via a walking tour through downtown. Alli Mashall guided us to stops like The Orange Peel and Citizen Vinyl and other musical landmarks of the city, including the historic Black neighborhood of AVL. On our 2-hour tour, we learned stories of local legends like Robert Moog and the Stephens-Lee High School marching band – the tour spans all genres of music that have passed through Asheville from the 1870s to now.
Do a Hands-On Cooking Class at the Asheville Mountain Kitchen
If you’re down for some learning on your vacation, consider signing up for a hands-on cooking class at the Asheville Mountain Kitchen. During our class, we made fresh pasta from scratch (she kept it simple for me because I’m not much of a cook!). My favorite part was probably the lush greenery and mountain views that surrounded us as we dined on what we made on the porch.
Walk and Shop Around West Asheville
I’m a sucker for good food and cute shops, so I was in heaven strolling around West Asheville. Highlights included breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe, lunch at Haywood Common, plant shopping at Flora, and checking out Fleetwood’s – a wacky little spot that’s a bar, rock ‘n roll wedding chapel, and vintage store. A must-visit!
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- Lunch at Haywood Common
Looking for more ideas of things to do? I’ve got you!
- Do some shopping for local crafts at the Folk Art Center and see live art demonstrations
- Tour the Asheville Art Museum
- Take a lesson in en plein air painting
- Eat locally-made chocolate at French Broad Chocolate Factory and take a tour of their chocolate-making process
- Check out live music at The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall or see what’s on at The Orange Peel
- Snap a photo at the beautiful Grove Arcade
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Check out the many, many breweries of Asheville’s epic beer scene
- Visit the Thomas Wolfe Memorial to learn about Asheville’s literary history
Where To Eat in Asheville, NC
There are so many good dining options in AVL – where to start? For the best breakfast in Asheville, check out spots like Sunny Point Cafe, Biscuithead, Tupelo Honey, and OWL Bakery for something grab-and-go.
For lunch, you can try White Duck Taco, Haywood Common, S&W Market (it has multiple options as a food court and is in a cool historic building downtown!), or Chai Pani for Indian street food (whose chef just won the James Beard award!).
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- Breakfast at Biscuithead
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- Lunch at White Duck Taco
And then for dinner, try Table (I’m obsessed with the Japanese milk bread we ordered as an appetizer), Andaaz for Indian, Bull & Beggar, Huli Sue’s BBQ (their other location is on the Big Island, so they’re legit Hawaiian BBQ – get the Sue’s Huli Chicken), Isa’s French Bistro, and the Red Stag Grill at the Grand Bohemian Hotel.
Huli Sue’s Hawaiian BBQ
Where to Stay in Asheville, NC
For my visit, I stayed at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, which is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. This is a great choice if you have Marriott status and are looking to stay near the Biltmore Estate. Because it’s in the Biltmore Village, the hotel has a tudor-esque exterior, which is required for all buildings in the village. The inside is done in a hunting lodge style and they have a great restaurant on property – the Red Stag Grill.
Another popular luxury hotel option is The Omni Grove Park Inn, and of course, you can always stay at The Inn on Biltmore Estate if you’re looking to spend more time there.
Outside of the city, there are also some epic glamping options, like the popular Ultimate Slide Dome at Asheville Glamping. You can also find a few pretty cool properties on Airbnb, like this treehouse. And back within the city, there are tons of adorable inns and bed and breakfasts, so those are well worth doing some research on if you’re looking for something small and unique.
Truly, Asheville is a great city for art, music, food, and outdoor lovers. There’s something for everyone in this North Carolina gem! What are your favorite things to do in Asheville? Let me know in the comments!
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