Things To Do
White Water Rafting at the NOC
We've visited the Nantahala Outdoor Center a few times to say the least. These are class III rapids, so nothing too intense... but fun for everyone! You can paddle down the river with or without a guide and the cherry on top is grabbing lunch outside while you dry off at the Big Wesser Riverside Pub right where you exit the river. We are planning to do this on Friday, June 2 @ 9am if you can make it that day to join us, but would recommend going regardless if you enjoy a good adventure!
Explore Downtown Sylva
Park near the Visitor Center and make your way down Main Street and then back up Mill Street. You'll find plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, boutiques and galleries!
Visit the Biltmore
If you enjoy a bit of history, and/or a good wine tasting... we highly recommend visiting the Biltmore Estate (make sure to book your tickets in advance!). It is the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt and the largest home in the U.S. to date. You will find 16th century tapestries, a library with 10,000 volumes that looks like something out of a fairytale, 65 fireplaces, an indoor swimming pool, botanical gardens and more... Don't forget to do the complimentary wine tasting in Antler Hill Village after your tour (Reservations required!).
Hike the Blue Ridge Mountains
There are tons of hiking trails in West North Carolina, but these are a few favorites we've done. *Waterrock Knob & Browning Knob - Moderate 5 mile hike with spectacular views - Waterrock Knob has the highest elevation on the Parkway with the visitor center at 5,820' and the summit at 6,273'. Once you reach Browning Knob you can wander a bit further and find the wreckage of a 1983 Cessna 414 plane crash - pretty wild. *Soco Falls - Very close to Waterrock Knob, Soco Falls is an easy 0.2 mile walk to a beautiful double waterfall on the edge of the Cherokee Reservation *Triple Falls Trail - South of Asheville, this fairly easy 3 mile loop trail has 3 stunning waterfalls that you can stand right in front of and let the mist hit you... if you're a movie buff, these falls might look familiar because they were in The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans!
Brewery-hop in Asheville
With the most breweries per capita in America, this is a must! We normally begin at Wicked Weed Brewing (make sure to find your way downstairs for the best vibes!) before we head to our #1 favorite Burial Brewing Co., (arguably the best beer you will ever try - seriously). We then usually stop for a snack and a sour at Wicked Weed's Funkatorium (a separate location known for their sours) or head to OneWorld brewing and maybe stop at some others along the way... there's basically a brewery on every corner! If you only got to try one.... make it Burial. Others worth mentioning: GreenMan (original location), Bhramari, DSSOLVR, Hi-Wire, and Sierra Nevada (the Disneyland of breweries - 5 minutes from the airport). Honestly, they are all good.
Visit Highlands, North Carolina
If you're looking for something with an even more refined, upscale mountain charm, Highlands is where you want to go! Highlands, NC is only 40 minutes from the venue in the Nantahala National Forest where Georgia, North and South Carolina all meet. Here you will find five-star spas, white table-cloth dining, and Main Street shopping with everything from mountain treasures to high-end boutiques. Make sure to visit the Old Edwards Inn and Spa, they've even got a heated mineral pool!