Nestled in the sleepy Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina, is anything but a snoozefest. This city is surprisingly vibrant and eclectic with loads of fun activities for outdoor adventurers. Interested in ziplining through the treetops, whitewater rafting down the French Broad River, or exchanging vows at the elegant Biltmore Estate? Asheville has all of that and then some.
It’s next to impossible to do everything you want to do in Asheville in one lifetime, but let’s try one day. Here’s how you visit Asheville when you’re pressed for time and only have one day to explore.
Book a Flight and a Hotel
Get the crucial stuff out of the way first. Booking an Asheville hotel is easy using Hipmunk.com. The comprehensive travel site takes all the pain out of finding a hotel that you’ll love and on any budget. Consider staying at the Omni Grove Park Inn, The Grand Bohemian Asheville, Autograph Collection, or the budget-friendly Country Inn & Suites. And if you’re a procrastinator, you can use Hipmunk’s last-minute hotel booking app.
Your Itinerary
Plan to arrive Friday evening or early Saturday morning. If you arrive on Saturday, call ahead and ask the hotel if you can check in early or if the hotel can hold your bags.
The Asheville weekend blast starts with an Asheville By Foot Walking Tour at 10 a.m. Bring your walking shoes, and learn all about your host city. Tours last 90 minutes and include a listening device that enables you to hear the tour guide comfortably. You’ll burn about 375 calories, and you’ll have an excuse for the next must-do activity on your schedule.
Soothe your feet at Wake Foot Sanctuary after your walking tour. Take any excuse to pamper your feet. No, Wake isn’t a nail salon, and Wake doesn’t offer pedicures. Rather, Wake offers your feet the chance to invigorate, recuperate, and luxuriate while you drink a cup of tea, listen to calming music, and order an add-on massage (foot, shoulder, neck).
Stop for lunch at the Sunny Point Cafe. Be sure to check out the Mighty Good Chicken Sandwich served with maple black pepper bacon or the bowl of shrimp and grits.
After lunch, take a tour of the Biltmore Estate–on a Segway! How could you visit Asheville without visiting this historic destination? America’s largest private home is a magnificent ode to architecture. But the sprawling estate can be a killer to walk, so hop on a Segway instead. You don’t need a driver’s license, and you’ll have a blast zipping through this picturesque landscape. Tours take 90 minutes and cover 3.5 miles.
Visit Daugherty’s American Kitchen and Drink for a sumptuous dinner, such as filet mignon medallions, crab cakes with whipped potatoes, or fried chicken biscuit sliders served with collards.
Finally, top off your trip with the hilarious Haunted Comedy Tour. Squeal with horror and delight as this bone-tickling comedy troupe shows you all of Asheville’s haunts.
Can you do it all in one day? You can certainly have fun trying! Let us know in the comments which activity you’d love to try.
Author bio: Jacqueline Thomas is an award-winning writer who loves getting lost and finding new paths. Find her on her website, and follow her updates on Twitter and Google +.
