Asheville, NC

Asheville, NC Attractions

There are too many Asheville-area attractions to list, but I have compiled some of my favorites as well as the most popular things for visitors to do. We keep a great selection of maps and brochures for our guests and we are happy to gather information in advance for our guests to help you plan a fun visit.

At the top of my list of websites to check out before you come is Asheville’s official tourism website: exploreasheville.com. This comprehensive site is user-friendly and easy to navigate around.

Leslie’s Picks for Things to Do (+ time/distance to reach from Blake House):

• Asheville Food Tours – downtown Asheville & Biltmore Village walking taste tours – 10-15 minutes
• Blue Ridge Parkway – 7 Minutes (3.5 miles)
• Biltmore Estate – 12 minutes (6.5 miles)
• Downtown Asheville – 15 Minutes (9 miles)
• Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville – downtown, Biltmore Village, Grove Park Resort & Spa, Chamber of Commerce – tickets available at the Inn
• WNC Nature Center – 15 minutes (10 miles)
• North Carolina Arboretum – 10 Minutes (5 miles)
• Navitat Canopy Zipline Adventures – 30 Minutes
• Chimney Rock Park – 30 Minutes
• Dupont State Forest – 40 minutes
• Z-Z-Zip! – 35-45 minutes (30 miles – just past Brevard in Rosman) – Zip lines over the French Broad River with or without a canoe/kayak trip down the river
• French Broad Rafting – 35-40 minutes
• Pisgah National Forest – 35-40 minutes

Ski Resorts (usually open November – February)

• Wolf Ridge Ski Resort – Mars Hill, NC – 50 minutes
• Cataloochee Ski Area – Maggie Valley, NC – 50 minutes
• Sugar Mountain Resort – Banner Elk, NC – 1 hr 45 minutes
• Appalachian Ski Mountain – Blowing Rock, NC – 2 hours

Leslie’s Recommended Places to Eat:

Finally! An Asheville attraction that involves eating: Asheville Food Tours run from February – December. Tours are 2 to 2 1/2 hours long and involve a handful of restaurants in Biltmore Village and downtown Asheville. Most tours are mid-week, but there is a Saturday tour as well and these fill up fast! All tours begin at 2 pm and you WILL be full by the end. Definitely check out the Asheville Food Tours website for more information. Leslie is happy to make reservations for you.

Leslie also recommends checking out the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR)

South Asheville is quickly developing into its own microcosm within the city of Asheville. Several downtown restaurants are opening South Asheville locations including Tupelo Honey Cafe, Pomodoro’s Greek & Italian, and Fiore’s Toscana Ristorante. Before long, guests will have to think up reasons to leave South Asheville in order to eat!

Some of Leslie’s favorite restaurants include:

• Tupelo Honey Cafe (1.5 miles – South Asheville)
• Rezaz Mediterranean Restaurant (7 miles – Biltmore Village)
• Frankie Bones Restaurant & Lounge (1.5 miles – South Asheville)
• Pomodoro’s Greek & Italian Café (1.5 miles – South Asheville)
• Fig Bistro (6.5 miles – Biltmore Village)
• Umi Japanese Fine Dining (13.5 miles – Hendesonville)

Child-Friendly Information:

• The Health Adventure – 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: 828.254.6373
• NC Arboretum – 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806-9315 Phone: 828-665-2492
• WNC Nature Center – 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28805 Phone 828-298-5600
• The Fun Depot – 7 Roberts Road, Asheville, NC 28803 Phone: 866-303-4FUN
• Tropical Gardens Mini Golf & Batting Cages – 956 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC Phone: 828.252.2207
• Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County – 400 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 Phone: 828.698.1977
• Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education – 475-C Fish Hatchery Road, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Phone: 828.877.4423
• Sandy Bottom Trail Rides – 1459 Caney Fork Rd., Marshall, NC 28753 – 800.959.3513 – Open year-round
• Wildwater Ltd. Rafting (ages 4 and up) – 800.762.2463
• Jake Rusher Park – a public park located across the street from the Inn. This is a well-maintained park and it includes playground equipment for children and toddlers, plus a big field for kids to run around. There is a sidewalk around the park, good for walking. Many guests have dubbed it the “Castle Park.”