Asheville Attractions at Asheville Live Cam

Asheville Attractions

Asheville may be the perfect small city. The eclectic vibe and laid back feel attract a wide range of visitors and residents to this southern city with mountain roots. With two downtown areas, Historic Biltmore Village and downtown Asheville, a diverse and vibrant art scene, Art Deco architecture and friendly locals, all surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s a variety of attractions to keep everyone happy.

Visitors and locals enjoy a day at the Biltmore House and Estate, the country’s largest private residence. Guests can wander through the beautifully decorated house, enjoy the extensive gardens and paths, and live it up like an heir at a country estate at the new Antler Hill Outdoor Center, where you can take a lesson at the Land Rover Experience and Driving School, learn to fly fish, float down the French Broad River, or take aim at clay pigeons with a Berretta shotgun.

Even if you’re not staying at the Grove Park Inn, treat yourself to brunch on Sunday morning. It’s divine, and the view is unmatched, with the expanse of mountains and the city of Asheville visible a few miles away.

The self-guided 1.7 mile Urban Trail in downtown Asheville is a mix of urban exploration, history lesson and art exhibit as you follow the trail through 5 periods in Asheville’s history. Other tours allow you to glide through Asheville on a Segway, taste your way through the streets of Biltmore Village or downtown with a foodie tour, or laugh on a purple bus as you learn Asheville’s history with husband and wife comedians as your guides. Visit our tour section for more information.

Shoppers will love the variety of traditional arts and crafts to avant-garde attire. The art galleries, Folk Art Center, and the Woolworth Walk and Kress Gallery, both representing a treasure trove of artists, provide endless possibilities for reminders of your trip to Asheville.
Nature lovers can hike part of the Mountains to the Sea Trail, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, kayak past the Biltmore House and through town. The North Carolina Arboretum provides an ever changing tableaux of native flora, some in natural setting, some in thoughtfully arranged gardens such as the Bonsai Exhibit or the Quilt Garden. For a free treat for the eyes, visit the Botanical Gardens next to UNCA.

Kids in tow? Pack Place is the place to be. The Health Adventure has the right balance of fun and learning with hands-on permanent and traveling exhibits. The Colburn Earth Science Museum has displays of gems and minerals from around the world. For the most fun you can have with a rock, pick out a geode and be the first person in the world to see what’s inside when the museum staff crack it open right in front of you. A visit to the Asheville Art Museum, also in Pack Place, is a good bet for older children. The Nature Center is home to many native animals, including bears, red wolves, and playful river otters which you can watch from above or through a glass wall, as they swim and twirl underwater.

Asheville is an invigorating place to explore. You will find a rich blend of people, from self-proclaimed “crunchy nutty granola” types, to regular folks, active retirees, to well-heeled shoppers. Since Asheville is one of the best places in the country to live, perhaps one of the rarest people to find is an Asheville native. If you find one of this rightfully proud bunch, pull up a chair, they are happy to talk about their favorite place.