Asheville NC Attractions

Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday 10am-5pm

Grove Arcade is a beautifully preserved historical building in the heart of Downtown Asheville that represents the heart and character of the town. It’s rich history and ornate architecture combined with its eclectic mix of shops and restaurants offer patrons a full-day immersion into Asheville lifestyle and culture. Opened in 1929 by E.W. Grove, Grove Arcade was built to celebrate the city he loved so much. Its rich history, ornate architecture, and eclectic mix of shops and restaurants were designed to offer patrons a full-day immersion into Asheville lifestyle and culture. Learn the fascinating story behind its construction, government takeover, renovation, and finally its grand reopening in 2002.

Come play a wide array of pinball machines spanning from the 1950’s to the 21st Century!

In the heart of downtown Asheville many gather to participate listen and dance to the Asheville Drum Circle. Everyone is welcome to dance, drum, and celebrate with one another. It starts around 6:00 pm and ends at 9:45 pm. The drum circle has been active since 2001. For another authentic yet very different Asheville longtime music event, go to the Shindig on the Green.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the French Broad River, and parallel with the River Arts District, Asheville is home to our East Coast Brewery and Liquid Center tasting room. Come spend some of your time in Western North Carolina with us imbibing on an Asheville-brewed Fat Tire and vibing with friends, family, our amazing bartenders and tour guides. Every Friday is Fat Tire Friday. A delicious cast of rotating food trucks will feed your belly as we feed your soul on one of our award-winning brewery tours. Please visit our website to learn more about upcoming events, our live music schedule, private room rentals, and to reserve your ticket on one of our tour experiences.

• NEW! Out of an abundance of caution and due to the Coronavirus Delta Variant, masks are again required at Mass, parish meetings and activities.
· Sign placement to encourage masks, 6-foot social distancing, and frequent hand sanitization if necessary.
· All hymnals and missalettes have been removed.
· Offertory baskets are available as you enter and leave the church – not passed down the pews.
· Communion offered under one species – consecrated host.
· The Sign of Peace, which is an optional rite, is suspended.
· Touchless Holy Water Fonts.
· Limited supplies of disposable masks are available for those who need one and forgot to bring their own.
· Parishioners are asked to bring their own hand sanitizer; an extra supply is on hand if needed.
· Continued monitoring of Diocesan, Federal, State, and Local Covid-19 recommendations and apply as needed.

Visit our historic winery on Biltmore’s 8,000-acre estate nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. With your general admission Biltmore ticket, enjoy complimentary tastings of more than 20 of our handcrafted wines as our wine hosts take you on a journey through our reds, whites, and rosés. Linger at our wine bar where you can taste our reserve and sparkling wines by the glass along with delectable cheeses and locally-made truffles. Shop for your favorites and take home a taste of Biltmore. Interested in seeing our vineyards? Our exclusive “Vine to Wine Tour” combines an excursion over the river to our breathtaking vineyards on the west side of Biltmore—an area that most guests never see—with a walking production tour and wine tastings throughout the experience.

Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains just south of Asheville, The North Carolina Arboretum offers acres of cultivated gardens and groomed trails featuring some of the most beautiful, botanically-diverse plants in the region.

For more than 30 years…Cultivating Connections between People, Plants and Places…amid a 434-acre public garden, The North Carolina Arboretum is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest just south of Asheville and adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 393. Surrounded and crisscrossed by forested coves and meandering creeks in the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum is set in one of the most beautiful natural settings in America.

The Arboretum was established as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina System by the State General Assembly in 1986, nearly a century after Frederick law Olmsted, the Father of American Landscape Architecture, first envisioned a research arboretum as part of his legacy and plan for George Vanderbilt at Biltmore Estate.

Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Châteauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately …

Outdoor Recreation, Gardens, Food and Wine, Music, Family Fun and more…

Hiking Through a Rhododendron Tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Craggy Gardens offers one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch far into Tennessee to the west and toward central North Carolina to the east. These views can be enjoyed from the parking area near the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and along nearby hiking trails.

A large picnic area is popular with visitors. On clear nights, Craggy Gardens is also a perfect place for stargazing.

In early summer, Craggy Gardens becomes a mountain-sized bouquet when the rhododendron thickets on the upper heights cover the landscape in pink and purple. A favorite hiking trail, Craggy Pinnacle, leads hikers through a “tunnel” of rhododendron to the summit which offers 360-degree view. This 1.5 mile round trip is an easy walk.

Books, CDs, souvenirs, and a photographic display can be found in the Visitors Center, and restrooms are on premises. There is no food concession.

Hours of Operation

Craggy Gardens Visitor Center: Memorial Day through October

This section of the Parkway is closed in the winter months.

Hours of operation are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.

Location

Craggy Gardens is approximately 24 miles from Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Craggy Pinnacle parking lot Milepost 364.1
Craggy Gardens picnic grounds Milepost 367.5
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center Milepost 364.6

For more information, contact:

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
195 Hemphill Knob Road
Milepost 384
Asheville, NC 28803
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center: 828-298-5330
Visitor Information Recorded Message: 828-298-0398
http://www.nps.gov/blri

Visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center – home to over 60 species of animals including river otters, black bear, red wolves and cougars. The Western North Carolina Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity. The Nature Center is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Less than 230 facilities in the United States have met the high accreditation standards set by AZA.

Black bears, red wolves, otters, and red pandas await you! Learn more about the special animals you’ll see who call the WNC Nature Center home.