Asheville Top 20 Things to Do in 2015

According to the two million readers of RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide during 2014, here are the Top 20 Things to Do and See during romantic getaways and family vacations to Asheville and the western North Carolina mountains as you plan for 2015:

1. Blue Ridge Parkway: Unwind on “America’s Favorite Drive” and escape from your busy lives. Slow down to enjoy a leisurely drive with many scenic overlooks and attractions along the way. Hike, picnic, camp and meander without a schedule to keep!
2. Waterfalls: Find cascades of all sizes from a never-ending list in the “land of the waterfalls.” Of the hundreds of waterfalls near Asheville, most are within state and federal parks with no admission fee. See our Top 60 waterfalls with guides for each.
3. Hiking: Take a hike to fully appreciate the outdoor splendor. There’s a trail for all fitness levels, ranging from multi-day treks on the Appalachian Trail to short strolls in Nantahala National Forest. See our Top 60 hikes with detailed directions.
4. Fall Color: Hunting autumn colors is definitely the favorite time of year for many visitors. With a leaf season that lasts 4-5 weeks, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy.
5. Biltmore: Exploring America’s largest castle and most-visited winery, along with grand gardens, is a fairytale outing for sure. It’s the perfect spot to experience the “Downton Abbey” lifestyle, especially with the Dressing Downton costume exhibit that runs February 5 through May 25!
6. Events: Attend a street festival, concert, play, art tour and other events. Check out our seasonal calendars for our favorites. Most are free.
7. Downtown Asheville: Browse 200+ local stores, boutiques and art galleries, while enjoying the street performers, drum circle, and plenty of local food and brews. And don’t forget the many charming small towns nearby.
8. Accommodations: Stay in an elegant bed and breakfast, hip hotel or secluded log cabin, providing the perfect romantic getaway with options for all tastes and budgets.
9. Restaurants: Tasting your way through our booming culinary scene will keep you busy for weeks with many farm-to-table restaurants with local food and world-class chefs. See our Foodie Favorites guide to get your started.
10. Sliding Rock: Gliding down this natural waterslide in Pisgah National Forest has been the favorite summer pastime for generations.
11. DuPont State Forest: Hike, bike or ride a horse to beautiful waterfalls and mountaintops with panoramic views.
12. Beer: Sample the local brews at dozens of craft breweries in Asheville and western North Carolina. Tour the new Sierra Nevada Brewery.
13. Mt Mitchell: Drive to the top of the highest mountain in the eastern United States. See the views from the observation deck and walk through Alpine forests.
14. Great Smoky Mountains: Discover this International Biosphere Reserve, home to rugged mountains, historic buildings, trails and 100,000 different types of plants and animals.
15. Weddings: Get married and bring your friends and family for a memorable vacation. Destination weddings are booming in Asheville, and we have some amazing venues.
16. Zip Lines & Whitewater Rafting: Fly through the trees in the morning and raft down river rapids in the afternoon.
17. Chimney Rock Park: Ride the elevator through the famous rock formation to the top for spectacular views of the Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. Plus, hike to a 400-foot waterfall.
18. Art: Get up close to artists and their work. Hundreds of galleries and artist studios feature many art festivals, shows and tours. Take a hands-on class in the River Arts District.
19. Spa: Pamper yourself with a soak in natural hot springs or a massage in a tranquil setting.
20. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad: All aboard for a scenic train excursion in the Smokies. Their Polar Express train during the Christmas season is their most popular ride.

For more information on all of these things to do, go to the 650-page online Asheville travel guide at www.RomanticAsheville.com.

Top 20 Things to See & Do in Asheville for 2013

Mountain Views on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Our 1 million readers in 2012 have spoken! Here are YOUR Top 20 Things to See & Do in 2013, based on readership in 2012. So start planning your romantic getaways to Asheville and the western North Carolina mountains today at www.RomanticAsheville.com:

1.Biltmore: See America’s largest castle and most-visited winery, along with grand gardens. It’s the perfect spot to experience the “Downton Abbey” lifestyle.
2.Blue Ridge Parkway: Travel one of the most scenic drives in the country with breathtaking mountain views, hiking, museums, camping and picnic spots.
3.Waterfalls: Explore our Top 25 waterfalls near Asheville, and most are located in state and federal parks with no admission fee.
4.Hikes: Take one of our Top 50 hikes, ranging from long treks on the Appalachian Trail to short strolls in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
5.Downtown Asheville: Browse a big variety of local stores, boutiques and art galleries, while enjoying the street performers and Friday night drum circle.
6.Accommodations: Stay in an elegant bed and breakfast, hip hotel or secluded log cabin, the perfect romantic getaway with options for all tastes and budgets.
7.Fall Color: Soak in the spectacular leaf color show in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the most popular time of the year for visits to Asheville.
8.Restaurants: Savor a culinary scene with many farm-to-table restaurants with local food and world-class chefs.
9.DuPont State Forest: Ride your mountain bike, take a hike and see waterfalls in these beautiful sanctuary.
10.Sliding Rock: Cool off in the summer on this natural waterslide in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard. Nearby is Looking Glass Falls.
11.Events: Attend street festivals, concerts, plays, art tours and other events in western North Carolina, and most are free.
12.Mt. Mitchell: Climb the highest mountain in eastern America easily in your car with a museum and panoramic views from the observation deck.
13.Great Smoky Mountains: Discover an International Biosphere Reserve with rugged mountains, historic buildings, and 100,000 different types of plants and animals.
14.The Hunger Games: Find the film locations for the blockbuster movie that include a ghost town, forests and waterfalls.
15.Graveyard Fields: Hike this mile-high meadow on the Blue Ridge Parkway with mountain views and waterfalls.
16.Beer: Toast our “Beer City USA” title at with 20 craft breweries in western North Carolina, with 10 in Asheville.
17.Zip Lines: Zip through the mountain forests, over rivers and across valleys on guided canopy tours, with no experience needed.
18.Chimney Rock Park: Enjoy the expansive mountain views from the famous rock formation in Hickory Nut Gorge overlooking Lake Lure.
19.Art: Meet artists and learn about their craft at the many galleries and artist studios, including many art festivals, shows and tours. We are definitely the Santa Fe of the east.
20.Linville Falls: Snap the most photographed waterfall in North Carolina as it cascades into Linville Gorge. Hike from the visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For comprehensive guides on all of these, go to our 600-page online Asheville vacation guide.

Asheville, North Carolina: Oasis for Gay & Lesbian Travel

Downtown Asheville

Gay and lesbian visitors to Asheville, North Carolina, find a very friendly atmosphere, especially in the eclectic and artsy downtown. Home to the famous Biltmore Estate, Asheville is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains with limitless outdoors activities. The Blue Ridge Parkway, which rides along the ridge tops, is one of most beautiful drives in the country. You will find a diverse population, with a large gay and lesbian community that enjoys meeting visitors (since most of them were once visitors before they fell in love with the area and moved).

RomanticAsheville.com is a 500-page online travel guide (free) with 1,600+ photographs with plenty of “insider” travel tips, including a special gay and lesbian Asheville guide. Find guides to accommodations, hiking, waterfalls, art, Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, shopping, restaurants, nightlife, events, and more. To help you plan a trip, here are ten favorite outings for gay and lesbian visitors to Asheville:

1.    Romantic Dinner: The farm-to-table craze is full steam in Asheville with dozens of locally-owned restaurants that work closely with local farms.

2.    Bed & Breakfast or Cozy Cabin: There are many gay-owned or gay/lesbian friendly grand bed and breakfast inns and cabin vacation rentals to choose from that offer plenty of privacy and romance. Many B&Bs are near downtown, while secluded log cabins can be found in the mountains right outside the city.

3.    Drinks: From beer to wine to coffee, there are many options downtown. Since Asheville is Beer City USA, you will find quite a few brew pubs downtown. For the most beers on tap (and great pizza), head to Barley’s Taproom at 42 Biltmore Avenue. For a glass of wine, go to Sante Wine Bar in the Grove Arcade. Smokey Tavern is a friendly, cozy gay bar in the middle of downtown at 18 Broadway. You don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy a cocktail at the famous Grove Park Inn. You will find 10 coffee shops in downtown Asheville with local flavor and great atmosphere. Don’t miss the French Broad Chocolate Lounge with French press coffee.

4.    Shop: Downtown Asheville is a shopper’s paradise with a wide variety of 200 locally-owned shops. To experience a true slice of Asheville, stop by Malaprops, voted “Best Independent Bookstore in the Southeast.” Lesbian-owned, it has a spirited atmosphere which draws a diverse crowd for readings and live music at 55 Haywood St.

5.    Biltmore Estate: Don’t miss seeing the largest home in America, with an amazing collection of art and antiques, grand gardens, wine tasting at the winery, and the outdoor equestrian center. And there are numerous places to escape from the crowd for a romantic picnic or walk. Christmas decor is definitely over the top!

6.    Live Music or Theatre: To listen and dance to some great jazz and blues, go to Tressa’s at 28 Broadway, which has a mixed straight and gay crowd. For a variety of music headliners, check out The Orange Peel at 101 Biltmore Avenue. In the mood for the theatre? There are several community and repertory theatre groups in town, with several choices for professional theatre. Or see a first-run independent film or often a gay-themed film at the Fine Arts Theatre at 36 Biltmore Ave.

7.    Antique Shopping: The Biltmore Village area has a great variety of antique stores and malls, including the Antique Tobacco Barn.  Plan a visit to Asheville around a Robert Brunk Antique Auction, one of the premier auction houses in the southeast.

8.    Gallery Hopping: John Cram owns the two biggest galleries in Asheville, Blue Spiral I downtown at 38 Biltmore Ave and New Morning Gallery in Biltmore Village. Blue Spiral has an incredible collection of fine art and crafts. Walk to 30 galleries in downtown or explore the River Arts District, home to many studios and galleries.

9.    Hikes & Waterfalls: Choose from hundreds of great trails (see the Hiking Guide), many taking you to a beautiful waterfall. Find something for all skill levels, from a short stroll to a strenuous full-day hike.

10.   Dance Bars: The premier nightclub for dancing is Scandals, downtown at 11 Grove Street near Patton Avenue in a brick building (Grove House). It has a lively dance bar and various areas to escape the madness of the dance floor. There are two other gay clubs nearby, Club Hairspray at 38 N French Broad Ave and O.Henry’s at 237 Haywood Street.

If you are thinking of moving to Asheville, find an Asheville Gay Real Estate Agent.

For more information on vacations in the North Carolina mountains, go to our Asheville Gay & Lesbian Travel Guide.