Things To Do
Biltmore Estate
If you are interested in Asheville's history and are on sight-seeing mode, we encourage guests to visit the Biltmore Estate. It is America’s largest privately owned home, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895. Tour the house, walk the gardens, and stop by Antler Village to shop, eat at the on-site restaurants, and try the free wine tasing from their winery.
Food... Food... Food...
Nicer Dinner Cúrate — (downtown) Downtown, Spanish tapas downtown - they own the welcome party venue! Reservation only Chai Pani — (downtown) Downtown, Indian street food, James Beard Winner, no reservations - put your name in and explore Asheville while you wait Nine Mile — (5 minute drive) Casual sit-down, Caribbean food with lots of flavor - no reservations Casual Lunch White Duck Taco Shop — (downtown) Quick, casual tacos with creative fillings Bear's Smokehouse BBQ — (downtown) Casual BBQ spot with brisket, pulled pork, ribs, sandwiches, and classic sides - low-key lunch Luella’s Bar-B-Que — (5 minutes) Casual BBQ spot with pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and classic sides. Breakfast / Brunch Sunny Point Café — (10 minutes) Classic Asheville brunch spot; known for hearty breakfasts Biscuit Head — (downtown) Big Southern biscuits with lots of toppings and gravies Early Girl Eatery — (downtown) Casual Southern brunch with local ingredients
Hiking and Outdoor Activities
We think August in Asheville is best spent outdoors! We suggest folks take advantage of the mountain scenery and enjoy a hike. Hiking Suggestions: Craggy Pinnacle — (30 min, 1.4 miles RT) Short summit views; easy/moderate climb. Mount Pisgah Trail — (40 min, 2.6 miles RT) Steeper wooded summit; moderate workout. DuPont Three Waterfalls — (1 hour, 2.5 miles RT) Waterfall route and swimming hole; easy/moderate Black Balsam Knob — (1 hour, 1.5 miles RT) Open bald views; moderate, exposed terrain. Mount Mitchell Summit Area — (1 hour 15 minutes, 0.5 miles from parking lot at peak or 5.5 miles RT) Highest eastern peak at 6,684 feet; easy summit or strenuous options. If you'd rather enjoy a cold one and air conditioning you might like...
Breweries
Asheville is known for the craft brewery scene and has one of the largest concentrations of breweries in the country. There are over 50 breweries, but some of our favorites are: The South Slope: This area of downtown has many breweries within 5 minute walking distance of each other: Burial Beer Company, Green Man Brewery, Wicked Weed Funkatorium, Hi-Wire Brewing, and Asheville Brewing Company. Sierra Nevada Brewery: This is a 20 minute drive south of downtown with beautiful indoor/outdoor taproom with great food - if you have time, sign up for a brewery tour as well to see how one of the largest craft breweries in the United States brews their beer! New Belgium Brewing: This is a 5 minute drive from downtown located in the River Arts District - they offer brewery tours of their impressive facility with a tasting at the end!
River Arts District
Visit the art district that features work from over 700+ artists in many studios. This area was severely impacted by hurricane Helene in 2024 with many artists losing their studios and work. Any support is greatly encouraged to help them get back up and running! Many studios allow visitors to watch painters, potters, and jewelers in action. There are also many galleries to explore. Here are some of our favorites: River Arts District: Use the link below to see a full list of artists, their work, and where their studio is located! https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/ Galleries: Asheville Art Museum - (downtown) https://www.ashevilleart.org/ Blue Spiral - (downtown) https://bluespiral1.com/ Woolworth Walk - (downtown) https://www.woolworthwalk.com/