activities

Antique shops abound, with Lexington Park in downtown Asheville and Cherry Street in Black Mountain the best known areas. For more information stop in the Asheville or Black Mountain Visitors Centers.

Bicycling

The Asheville area is a haven for mountain biking. Click the link above for information about cycling on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Also click on MTB WNC for other mountain biking information or Call the Asheville Visitors Center for more information. (828) 258-6109.

Crafts

Asheville is known for top-quality artisans who carry on mountain traditions through their crafts. Downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village, Black Mountain and Tunnel Road offer a concentration of craft shops, many with exhibits and demonstrations. The Folk Art Center is on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mountain Festivals and Events lists art and craft fairs held throughout the year. Stop by Asheville or Black Mountain Visitors Centers for more information.

Fishing

Lakes: Lake Julian, a few miles south of Asheville, is stocked with bass and bream. Canoes and picnicking are available. Lake Powhatan, on NC 191 in the Pisgah National Forest has a sand beach, fishing, swimming, camping and picnicking. No boats available. Lake Lure, on US 74 about 30 minutes southeast of Asheville, has trout, bass, bream and water sports. Power boats available. Rivers and streams: There is an abundance of well stocked rivers and highland streams within easy distance of Asheville. Take a kid fishing at Morgan Mill Trout Fishing resort. For more information about fishing in our area, Click the link above for a list of fishing guides in our area or check out North Carolina WilldlifeResources Commission for regulations and information.

Golfing

The rolling terrain of our mountains presents golfers with hundreds of lush, uncrowded fairways, demanding the use of every club and stroke. There are over 50 golf courses spanning Western North Carolina. Courses in Asheville/Buncombe County include: Asheville Municipal (828) 298-1867; Black Mountain (828)669-2710; Brookwood (828)684-6278; French Broad Golf Center (828) 687-8545; Holiday Inn Sunspree (828) 253-5874; Grove Park Inn (guests only), (828) 252-2711, Reems Creek (828)645-4393i Springdale (828)235-8451. For more information contact Great Smoky Mountain Goloe (828) 258-0123 or stop by the Asheville Visitors Center.

Hiking

The famous Appalachian Trail passes through a large section of Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the state border. The greater Ashevillle area is a hiker's paradise, with trails in almost every direction and in every major park. Hikers may wish to contact the local Carolina Mountain Club, the Sierra Club or local outfitters. 100 Favorite Trails can be purchased at area visitors centers. The U.S. Forestry Service provides trail maps for a small fee, (828) 253-2352.

Horseback Riding

There are stables in the Asheville area that offer trail riding led by experience guides. Some stables also offer multi-day trail rides and pack trips in the surrounding mountains. In association with Double R ranch we offer Horseback riding packages please contact us for rates and availability. (828) 645-9661

Mountain Dancing

Asheville Every Saturday night during July and August folks gather for a Shindig-on-the-Green at City-County Plaza in the middle of town. Drop by for some fine picnicking, singing, mountain square dancing and clogging. Wear your dancing shoes. Free. Or join in for Contra dancing mountain style at The Old Farmers Ball. There is fun for all ages.

National Register of Historic Places

lncludes the following listings: All Souls Episcopal Church in BiltmoreVillage, designed in Gothic style by Richard M. Hunt, 1896; The Basilica of St. Lawrence at 97 Haywood Street, with the largest unsupported dome in North America, designed by Rafael Guastavino, 1909; Grove Arcade, faced with cream glazed terra cotta, 1929. Douglas Ellington's design of City Hall, City-County Plaza, 1928; First Baptist Church at Oak and Woodfin Streets, 1926- and S&W Cafeteria, 1929 added a significant art deco influence to the city. Biltmore House, Thomas Wolfe House and Smith-McDowell House are on the register and listed in the Attractions section. Several neighborhoods are National Historic Districts. Contact the Historic Resources Commission, (828) 259-5836 for more information.

Gem Mining

The mountains of North Carolina are one of the richest areas in the continental United States for gemstones and minerals. Visitors at gemstone mines sift through buckets of dirt to discover their own treasure. Click here for information on Spruce Pine Gem Mine or For more information, stop by or click here Asheville Visitors Center.

Skiing

The highest slopes in Eastern America are close to Asheville. Natural snow is enhanced with man-made snow to keep the base deep. Wolf Laurel (828) 689-4111 and Cataloochee 1-800-768-0285 are closest. Sapphire Valley (828) 743-3441 is on US 64 just east of Cashiers, and there are six more resorts in the Banner Elk/Boone region including Beech (828) 387-2011 and Sugar Mountain (828) 898-4521.

Waterfall Country

An area stretching from just east of Brevard to just west of Highlands with nine of the eleven major waterfalls listed in North Carolina. Click link above for more about Waterfalls in our area.

Whitewater Rafting

Choose a raft, kayak or canoe and ride the whitewater rapids. The rivers of Western North Carolina and the Tennessee border offer Class l-Y difficulty of rapids for the whitewater rafting enthusiast. Outdoor outfitters offer trips ranging from half day to full weekend. Try the Nolichucky and French Broad Rivers to the north, or the Nantahala, Ocoee, Chattooga and Green Rivers to the west and south. Click the link above for Whitewater rafting or click this link for Calmwater Canoe trips or Call the Asheville Visitors Center for further information. (828) 258-6109.