ATTRACTIONS

what to do..

where to go

• Arboretums & Gardens
  • Asheville Botanical Gardens
  • Biltmore House & Gardens & Winery
  • North Carolina Arboretum
• Exhibits & Museums

  • Asheville Area Arts Council

  • Asheville Historic Trolley Tours

  • Asheville Urban Trail

  • Smith-McDowell House Museum

  • Thomas Wolfe Memorial

  • Western North Carolina Nature Center

• Historic Sites

  • Biltmore Estate: House, Gardens & Winery

  • Biltmore Village

  • Grove Arcade

Asheville Botanical Gardens  Lovingly maintained by a local garden club, this quaint, restful garden has become virtually surrounded by the growth of the University of North Carolina - Asheville. There are about ten acres, much of which has been landscaped into gardens to display native flora in their natural settings. Wide walks, mostly wheelchair negotiable, range throughout the gardens. There are even benches here and there for the weary. The visitors' center at the parking lot is staffed with very helpful volunteers. Admission is FREE but donations are gratefully accepted. Open daily during daylight hours. 151 Weaver Blvd (between Merrimon Ave and Broadway) next to the main entrance of University of North Carolina - Asheville. With the recent expansion of its parking lot, the Botanical Gardens is now able to accommodate tour buses. Reservations for guided tours for groups can be made by calling (828) 252-5190.

Biltmore Estate: House, Gardens & Winery - Built as the home of George Vanderbilt, the 250-room French Renaissance chateau known as Biltmore House is the largest private residence in America. Richard Morris Hunt designed the mansion and Frederick Law Olmsted landscaped the original 125,000 acre estate (now 8,000 acres). On view in Biltmore House are more than 70,000 priceless antiques and art objects collected by Vanderbilt during his travels. In addition, guests can enjoy over 75 acres of gardens and formal grounds surrounding Biltmore House and tour The Biltmore Estate Winery, America's most visited winery. Admission FEE. All tours are self-guided. Special "Behind the Scenes" and Rooftop guided tours are available at an additional cost. The Estate is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

Take exit #50 (US-25) of I-40 in Asheville, head north (downhill) to the second traffic light, bear left (there are two left-turn lanes), continue two more blocks and turn left into the entrance. Postal address (not the physical address of the estate): 1 North Pack Square, Asheville NC 28801. For more information call 828-274-6333 or 1-800-543-2961.

North Carolina Arboretum - Asheville - A visit to the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina would not be complete without taking time to enjoy The North Carolina Arboretum. Nestled in the inspirational mountains of the Pisgah National Forest, this innovative public garden offers the visitor a chance to enjoy gardens in a unique and beautiful setting. An exceptional number of public programs featuring crafts and gardening demonstrations make it a destination that the entire family can enjoy. Open year-around, health enthusiasts and families will enjoy the miles of biking and hiking trails from streamside strolls to more strenuous hikes. The Arboretum is also pet friendly! Your dog is welcome to enjoy the natural beauty of this site, as long as they are kept on a leash.
  The NC Arboretum hosts the Southeast's most extensive collection of bonsai, which is the ancient Japanese art of growing dwarfed, ornamentally shaped trees or shrubs in small shallow pots or trays. It is currently housed at the Arboretum's Greenhouse and Production facility. Central gardens highlight the cultural and natural heritage of the Southern Appalachian Region and feature the Heritage Garden, Stream Garden and the Quilt Garden. The NC Arboretum's Visitor Education Center offers art and craft exhibits and education programs. A gift shop is in the lobby of the Visitors' Education Center on top of the hill overlooking the parking area. There is always a lot to see and do at this jewel of the Southern Appalachian mountains!  The NC Arboretum has recently embarked on a program to improve visitor facilities, infrastructure and gardening exhibits. Two special treats are the National Azalea Repository and the Bonsai Exhibition Garden (opening fall, 2004).
  The mission of The North Carolina Arboretum is to cultivate connections between people and plants through education, garden demonstration, economic development, conservation and research. The NC Arboretum offers visitors classes, demonstrations, exhibits, tours and events that focus on the horticulture, cultural heritage, natural history environmental sustainability.
  Some visitors' comments:
  "My husband and I were impressed with the handsome headquarters building and were delighted to visit the beautiful gardens and grounds. The greenhouses and the bonsai collection were of special interest as we have several small bonsai of our own" -- A visitor from Washington, DC.
  "What a gorgeous setting at the height of the autumn color (I had never been to that part of the world before!) and what a splendid complex for you to do all your work in. Thank you for the most interesting tour of the building, the gardens and the greenhouse." -- A visitor from the Mid-Atlantic region.
  Property is open: November through March from 8a to 7p, and April through October from 8a to 9p.
  Visitor Education Center is open: Monday through Saturday from 9a to 5p; Sundays from Noon to 5p.
  Greenhouse and Production Facility is open: Monday through Friday from 8a to 4p. (Please note that the Greenhouse and Production Facility closes at 2p Wednesdays).
  Admission is free, but the Arboretum does have a parking fee. Personal motor vehicles - $6; commercial vans - $25; tour buses - $45. All day Tuesday, parking is free for all visitors.
  For more information, please phone 1-828-665-2492. Web site: NCArboretum. 
  From I-40 exit 46, get on I-26 Eastbound and then take the first exit (currently marked exit 2).
  From I-26 - All the exit numbers on I-26 are supposed to have been changed due to the opening of the new, north extension to Tennessee. This hadn't happened last time we checked. You want to exit at the NC-191 exit (old number is exit 2). This is the first exit going east from I-40 or the 2nd exit after the Airport exit if westbound.
  At the top of the off-ramp, if eastbound turn left; if westbound turn right. Follow NC-191, past the shopping malls, to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway (about 2.2 miles). There is a traffic light at this intersection. Turn right and stay to the right (the well-marked Arboretum entrance is straight ahead). Please watch your speed; the limit is 20 mph all the way up the mountain to the parking area and it is strictly enforced.

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Asheville Area Arts Council

Asheville Historic Trolley Tours - Perhaps you've seen those white busses that look like old-timey trolley cars slowly cruising around Asheville. These state-of-the-art vehicles carry folks on fully narrated tours of the city. Starting at the Asheville Chamber & Visitors Center, you'll see the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Village, the Grove Arcade, the Montford Historic District, the downtown shopping and restaurants district, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the Asheville Museum and Art Gallery district. You can deboard the 'trolley' at any of the many designated stops and reboard, later, to continue the tour and return to the Asheville Chamber & Visitors Center. For reservations phone (toll-free) 1-888-667-3600. Fee charged.

Asheville Urban Trail - walk your way through time and view highpoints of Asheville history. For information and tickets contact Ms MacLeod at 11 Biltmore Avew (Pack Place) or phone 258-0710 ext 101. (e-mail kristinmacleod@ashevillearts.com)

Smith-McDowell House Museum - a restored mid-19th Century house housing a Asheville area history museum

Thomas Wolfe Memorial - the restored, childhood home of Thomas Wolfe, one of the country's most famous authors. 52 N Market St

Western North Carolina Nature Center - It started life as a zoo, - complete with the typical animal cages of yesterday. Then, in 1977 it reopened as a true nature center with immense help of many donations in money, materials and labor. True, it still has a 'petting zoo' for the children but, now, instead of the old-fashioned, terribly confining cages the Nature Center has habitats where the animals can roam almost as in their natural element.
   On of the primary missions of the Nature is the rescue of wild animals. Many are returned to the wild when fully recovered but some are either no longer able to survive in the wild or have become to accustomed to human presence to be allow back in the wilds. The Nature Center has (or has had) in its compound such predators as bobcats, cougars, foxes and wolves. Black Bears, common in Western North Carolina, are frequent guests as are white-tailed deer. The Nature Center is also host to many predatory birds, such as hawks, owls and vultures. A complete list is published on their web site.
   The Nature Center is open from 10a to 5p every day except some major holidays (see their web site for specific schedule) and there is a slight admission charge. Phone: 298-5600
DIRECTIONS: From I-240 take exit 8. If eastbound (toward central Asheville) turn right on Fairview Road. If westbound, turn left on Fairview Road. Follow Fairview Road to its end at the bottom of the hill and turn right on Swannanoa River Road. The first street on your right (about 0.7 miles from Fairview Road) is Azalea Rd. Turn right then right, again at the next street which is Gashes Creek Road and the Nature Center. There are many signs pointing the way.

Biltmore Village - Biltmore Village, at the entrance to George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate, was built in the late 1890's as a classic planned community for the employees of George Vanderbilt and his estate. Now, Biltmore Village, with its quaint tree-lined streets and old-timey brick sidewalks, is a unique touring and shopping attraction hosting a broad range of shoppes, and restaurants and galleries. The Village is at the bottom of the hill (on US-25) on the north side of exit 50 of I-40 (which is about 2 miles south of downtown Asheville). Using the directions to the Biltmore Estate (above) the traffic light where you are instructed to turn left is actually the southwest corner of Biltmore Village. Parking is frequently a challenge so grab the first spot you find. Walking around in the Village is part of the enjoyment and it isn't so large as to be a challenge.
   Shoppes range from antiques, Kitchen, Bed and Bath, clothing, Home Accents, Jewelry to Nature & Outdoors supplies. There is even a specialty yarn shoppe with a dazzling array of yarns. Art galleries, too, span the universe of creativity and include:

Bellagio - showcasing clothing, jewelry, and accessories by American artists

New Morning Gallery - handcrafted furniture, home accessories, glass, pottery, jewelry and other imaginative gifts ~ all handmade by American artists

The Compleat Naturalist - full selection of binoculars. telescopes. weather instruments. mineral specimens. hats. t-shirts. day packs. hiking guides. field guides. nature books. nature-related gifts. art gallery with limited edition prints and nature photography

Fireside Galleries - antiques, art, home accessories, estate jewelry, interior design, lighting, porcelain, garden accents

Marie Pargas Art Gallery - fine art by Armenian artists featuring oil on linen, sculptures and jewelry

Thomas Kinkade at Biltmore Village - Kinkade limited edition prints and collectibles, including many sold-out images

Village Galleries - art glass, hand-built ceramics, woodcrafts, quilts, handcrafted jewelry, porcelains, garden art, handmade dolls, fine graphics, limited edition prints, music CDs

Grove Arcade - is one of the country's first 'shopping malls'. Designed by Charles Parker and financed by E. W. Grove following his completion of the Grove Park Inn, the Arcade was completed in 1929. It survived the great financial crash of '29 and successfully served the Asheville community until the early '40s. During this period it was one of the country's leading public markets.
   In 1942 the U.S.Government evicted all the shop owners and converted the building for federal use. In the 1980s there began a growing interest among many of the citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County to have the building historically restored and returned to its original function. The Feds finally relented and, by 2002 this lengthy and expensive project was completed. The Grove Arcade finally reopened as a downtown shopping mall.
   The Grove Arcade now hosts a broad array of shops, restaurants and even 42 luxurious apartments. It is open to the public from 10a to 6p Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5p Sundays. (Most of the restaurants have extended hours.)
DIRECTIONS:
I-240 Eastbound: take exit 4-C. Continue straight ahead from the off-ramp on O'Henry Ave. The Grove Arcade is the large building on your left between Battle St (2nd street) and Battery Park (3rd street). We recommend you use the parking garage at Battery Park.
I-240 westbound; take exit 4-C. At the top of the off-ramp (traffic light) turn left, crossing over I-240 to the next traffic light ('T' intersection). Turn left, again, go 2 blocks to O-Henry (next traffic light) and turn right. The Grove Arcade is the large building on your left between Battle St (1st street) and Battery Park (2nd street). We recommend you use the parking garage at Battery Park.