Travel in Asheville and its Surroundings in North Carolina
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
The city of Asheville is located in western North Carolina at the lower end of the famous scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, about 130 km east of the resort town of Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains. It is a relatively small city, with an area of 117 sq km at an elevation of 650 meters above sea level, with a little over 90,000 residents, yet it is the largest city in the vicinity of the Blue Ridge. It is located in close proximity to 8 nature reserves (national and state parks), 200 waterfalls, and four rivers, and is considered a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. It is also an ideal destination for outdoor activity lovers: kayaking, cycling tours, and ziplining in the forests. Hiking and cycling are not limited to areas outside the city; the city itself abounds with parks and greenery with plenty of organized trails, where walking for just a few minutes makes you forget you are near a bustling city center. Asheville is not just a starting point for nature trips; within the city, especially in its downtown, there are 130 structures declared as "National Historic Sites" that are carefully preserved. Near the city is the famous Biltmore Estate, built in 1895, located on a vast area with beautiful gardens.
Other historical buildings include the Grove Arcade, a massive and magnificent structure that now serves as a luxury shopping center—even if you are not a shopping enthusiast, it is highly recommended to visit it—and the S+W Building, which has been converted into a market with food stalls. Downtown features vibrant streets full of shops, galleries, restaurants, and cultural venues alongside charming alleys with graffiti and atmosphere. Near Asheville are several mountain artist colonies and also the town of the native Cherokee people, where you can experience their lifestyle, handicrafts, and music. It is located about 80 km (about an hour and fifteen minutes' drive) west of the city. Asheville lies in a "Wine Valley," and within a 25 km radius, there are 15 different wineries. Asheville has been twice named the "Beer City USA," meaning it has more bars and breweries per capita than any other city. Asheville is also known for its excellent restaurants, many of which are "Farm to Table," a term that has become popular and "in" across the US in recent years, but has been a way of life in Asheville for many years. No wonder it was selected by a prestigious magazine as one of the ten best cities for "foodies." Those with a sweet tooth will also be happy to discover a French bakery and the French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe, which is full of delicacies based on local chocolate and offers tours.
As fits a resort and health city, it also has a large number of high-quality spa sites.
Did you know? Over the years, several very popular movies, or at least important scenes from them, were filmed in Asheville. For example: The Last of the Mohicans, Hannibal, and Forrest Gump.
♦ Recommended Hotels in Asheville:
The Omni Grove Park Inn - Asheville – A unique historic 5-star resort. This is the most luxurious hotel in the city and includes 3 swimming pools, a spa, a sports club including tennis, squash, and a golf course, a children's playground, gardens, restaurants, and views of the Blue Ridge. Parking is for an additional fee. Free internet.
The Inn On Biltmore Estate – A high-quality historic 4-star resort located on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, featuring a pool, spa, gym, 3 restaurants, a children's playground, and parking for an additional fee. Free internet.
Element Asheville Downtown – A modern and high-quality suite hotel by Marriott located near the city center (a few minutes' drive). The hotel offers studio apartments and one-bedroom suites suitable for 2-6 people. Each room has a fully equipped kitchen. The price includes a good breakfast. The hotel has an indoor heated pool, a gym, free bicycles for guest use, and a courtyard with BBQ facilities. Pet friendly. Free internet and parking.
Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Area – A 3-star hotel with spacious rooms suitable for 2-6 people. The price includes breakfast. The hotel has an indoor pool and gym. Free internet and parking. Located near the Biltmore Estate.
Recommended Tours and Attractions in and around Asheville:
Recommended tours in Asheville for booking from Viator:
Guided Bicycle Tour in Asheville
To get a quick introduction to the city, it is highly recommended to take a guided electric bike tour of about three hours, where you can visit many distant places in the garden-filled and green city of Asheville while receiving interesting and detailed explanations.
The tour passes near many sites in the city center, such as the City Hall building with its unique architecture that stands out above other buildings, and the adjacent courthouse,
The large church, The Basilica of St. Lawrence,
The large and special shopping center, Grove Arcade, which was the largest of its kind when built,
Gardens, beautiful murals,
Entertainment and food centers, as well as residential neighborhoods and a luxury hotel far from the city center. At certain attractions, you stop for explanations about the various buildings, the city's development, recommended restaurants, and even a tour inside the magnificent and historic Grove Park Inn, which has a unique building style that has hosted many celebrities, including ten US presidents.
In the hotel, built in 1913, there are many works of art, excellent restaurants, an impressive lobby with a giant fireplace, and a magnificent view of the city and the surrounding mountains.
The hotel was selected by the esteemed travel magazine Condé Nast as one of the resorts with the best spas in the US.
The electric bicycles are comfortable and advanced, making the tour through the city—which has quite a few uphills and downhills—a great experience.
Guided Segway Tour in Asheville
Another recommended way to explore the city easily, quickly, and in a special vehicle is a guided Segway tour. Suitable even for the inexperienced, as every tour dedicates time at the beginning to practice operating the Segway.
Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate is undoubtedly the number 1 tourist destination for visitors to Asheville. The estate, built in 1895, served as the home of George Washington Vanderbilt II, who amassed great wealth in the steamship, railroad, and other businesses. Today, the massive 250-room house, which was the largest private home in the US, serves as a museum. The house has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, three kitchens, and an indoor pool. In addition to the estate, there are also beautiful gardens and a winery.
The estate can be toured via a self-guided tour with the help of a headset device that describes the exhibits throughout the tour. Another option is to book a guided behind-the-scenes tour, which is particularly expensive (about $300), or you can purchase tickets for the gardens only without touring the estate itself. On the self-guided tour inside the massive estate, you follow a one-way signposted route through the building's three floors and the basement, visiting luxurious rooms with antique and upscale furniture, guest halls, magnificent dining rooms, the parlor, the large and impressive library, pool, gym, billiard tables, as well as the servants' quarters, kitchen, laundry, and more.
The entrance ticket also includes a visit to the beautiful and designed gardens near the estate and a large greenhouse with magnificent plants and flowers.
Inside the greenhouse, cute little electric trains have even been installed, running between the various plants and miniature models of the estate buildings.
The estate also has a winery, and the tour includes a visit to the winery and wine tasting (requires pre-registration) and a deer farm. The winery visit is actually a visit to the very large winery shop and not the winery itself. Adjacent to the winery, there is also a hotel and a luxury shopping center with galleries, shops, cafes, and restaurants. The estate is situated within a forest with plenty of hiking trails, and its grounds also feature various agricultural crops, including giant sunflower fields. Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock State Park is a nature park whose main attraction is a dramatic cliff about a hundred meters high in the mountains of North Carolina, about 40 km (about fifty minutes' drive) southeast of Asheville, near the town of the same name.
The rock can be reached and climbed via many stairs, but also by an elevator reached after a short walk through a tunnel carved into the rock. The view from it is spectacular: a green valley with a beautiful river and lake, Lake Lure. Around the rock and the adjacent mountain are hiking trails with views as well as an impressive tall waterfall.
It is better to arrive at the site before ten in the morning or after 3:00 PM due to the crowd of travelers causing a shortage of parking. There are two parking lots at the site: one is upper, close to the elevator that goes up to the rock, and the second, lower one, is further away, from which you take a shuttle to the upper lot. Address for the lower lot: Chimney Rock Parking, Great Woodland Adventure, Lake Lure, NC 28746 Between the two lots is a narrow and winding road, and it seems the site operators allow traffic only upwards in the morning and only downwards in the afternoon to avoid safety risks on the narrow road. A short bridge connects the mountain with the protruding rock, upon which a large US flag proudly flies. There is room for a few dozen people on the rock. You can descend to another, smaller rock, from which you can view the cliff from a different angle. There are several hiking trails and viewpoints at the site.
Recommended Hiking Trails:
Exclamation Point Trail—leads from the top of the rock via many stairs to the top of the mountain, from which a trail of about 2.5 miles starts, first reaching Exclamation Point and continuing on the Skyline Trail to a view from above of the waterfall called Hickory Nut Falls. A difficult trail with many inclines and stairs. Hickory Nut Falls Trail—from the parking lot, you descend stairs and then follow a moderate trail about half a mile long to the impressive waterfall. Children's Trail—Great Woodland Adventure Trail—a short circular trail for children starting from the lower parking lot.
Video about Chimney Rock:
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
The "Flowering Bridge" over the Broad River at the entrance to the town of Lake Lure is a magical place that shows how a small community can turn an old bridge facing demolition into a charming gem that attracts many tourists. The old bridge was turned into a flowering garden where each section has different and unique landscaping; there are pleasant sitting areas and a playground for children, many works of art, flowers, and butterflies, and a view of the lake, with different types of plants in each section, and walking paths in this flowering garden on and near the bridge.
As mentioned, the bridge is located near a small and lovely lake called Lure in North Carolina, in the town of the same name near Chimney Rock. The bridge is located about 40 km (about fifty minutes) southeast of Asheville. Admission is free, and the walk across the bridge is magical and suitable for everyone.
Video about the Flowering Bridge:
Beach at Lake Lure
At Lake Lure, near the Flowering Bridge, there is a recommended beach called Lake Lure Beach and Water Park. It is a long sandy beach that also includes several water slides. This is a fenced beach that requires an entry fee (quite modest).
"Grandfather Mountain"
Located at a distance of 115 km (about an hour and forty minutes' drive) northeast of Asheville, also in the state of North Carolina near the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Additional information about the impressive park (featuring a suspension bridge with dramatic views and a variety of attractions and outdoor recreation options) will be published in a new article soon.
