Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC
Not to be confused with Nashville lol! Located in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Asheville is a city full of history, natural beauty, and the arts. It has recently become a trendy go-to spot for bachelorette parties which is exactly what I was there for. Asheville wasn’t ever on my list but I’m so glad I went, it was a great spot for a girls trip and we had a blast! Let’s get into the top things to do with your girlfriends while exploring Asheville.
Explore the Biltmore Estate
No visit to Asheville would be complete without a visit to the iconic Biltmore Estate. This French Renaissance-style château was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 19th century. Fun fact: Anderson Cooper is actually a descendant of the Vanderbilt family per his mother.
At 179K square feet, it is the largest privately-owned house in the US. You can take a self-guided tour of the mansion inside or wander around the stunning gardens. You will need a ticket to be granted access to the grounds and the grounds are massive so it’s a bit of a drive to the actual mansion. We did not go inside but we did have a full on photoshoot outside and roamed around. We ended the trip with a wine tasting that is included with your ticket. To explore inside, you will need an additional ticket - I made it easy for you and linked where you can buy tickets.
French Broad River
If you love the outdoors but don’t love a lot of physical activity, floating down the French Broad River is the experience for you. We used Zen Tubing to rent tubes, we packed a cooler full of drinks and snacks and relaxed our hangovers away. You can also rent kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes. After floating, there are tons of bars and restaurants lined up along the river. You can post up at them if you want to check out the food or even continue the drinking (our hangovers did not). Our tubing bus driver specifically recommended White Duck Taco Shop for food.
Experience the Food and Beverage Scene
Asheville is widely known for its craft beer culture with various breweries and taprooms. You could bar hop to different breweries, our group wasn’t big beer drinkers so we did not do this but it was an activity that came highly recommended by several people. Some of the breweries include: Wicked Weed, New Belgium, Zillicoah, and Highland Brewing Co. In addition, there are ample restaurants to check out and a decent food scene if you want to change that bar crawl to a food crawl. I recommend checking out Tupelo Honey for brunch and La Bodega by Curate for dinner.
Immerse Yourself in Nature
Asheville has no shortage of outdoor activities for all you nature enthusiasts. Hike along the scenic trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway, experience the views from Chimney Rock State Park, or explore the waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest. If you’re looking for more rigorous activity, you can go white-water rafting, zip-lining, and mountain biking. Or you can do what we did and rent a cabin in the middle of the woods and “immerse yourself in nature” by drinking coffee on the porch.
Spa Day and Sunset Drinks at the Omni Grove Park Inn
When has drinks on a patio ever been a bad idea? Coming here at sunset came recommended to us by several different locals so obviously we obliged. They also have an incredible 43,000 subterranean spa if you want to make a day out of it. You can expect delicious cocktails on the terrace overlooking the mountains and we even saw a proposal! The terrace is first come, first serve. They also have a restaurant but it does require reservations. The lobby is equipped with fireplaces and rocking chairs giving that cozy cabin vibe. They also had live music playing at night. Our favorite drinks were the spritz and espresso martinis. It’s a perfect place no matter the time of year
Discover the River Arts District or Historic Downtown
For art appreciators, the River Arts District is an absolute must. Located along the French Broad River, this neighborhood is home to studios and galleries to witness artists at work. There is also a good selection of bars, restaurants, food trucks, and live music overlooking the river. We didn’t get the chance to check it out but saw from afar during our float and kept talking about how much fun it looked!
In addition, you can also checkout Asheville's Historic Downtown. It’s very charming with beautiful architecture, a cute mix of shops, and a lively atmosphere. There is a vibrant live-music scene with piano bars, wine bars and various venues. The quaint downtown makes it easy to walk around and hop from place to place.
I didn’t really know a lot about Asheville prior to going except that it seemed like a romantic getaway for couples’ type of place. But I really loved it for a girls’ trip. There’s something to do for everyone: outdoor activities, a food and drink scene, and a wide array of both history and arts. If you’ve been to Asheville and have a place that you love, let’s hear it!
