Asheville Adventures, Recreation and Things to Do

Urban Escape Vehicles rents campervans and Class B RVs out of East Asheville, and owner Melody King started it for people who love van life but aren't ready to buy a van. The fleet runs from two custom Ram Promaster vans at $145 and $167 a night to a Winnebago Travato and a Mercedes Boldt with a shower, toilet and TV at $287 and $350 a night. Every van comes stocked with linens, towels and kitchen and camping gear, plus power for laptops and phones, and they fit in a regular parking space. Rentals start at three days, and pets are welcome.

The Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center shares the story of the Swannanoa Valley from 223 West State Street in downtown Black Mountain, a 1921 brick firehouse designed by Richard Sharp Smith, supervising architect of the Biltmore Estate. Founded in 1989, it covers the social, cultural and natural history of the valley through exhibits, archives and programs. Through December 2026, the Valley at War exhibit honors the valley's veterans. The museum also leads guided Rim Hikes and Trails Less Traveled hikes, historic driving tours, and Haunted History walking tours of downtown Black Mountain. It's open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm from March through December, and Saturdays only in January and February.

The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission is a nonprofit that has worked since 2010 to bring sporting events to Asheville, Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. It recruits tournaments and championships, partners with local and national event organizers, and offers full event support, from venue coordination and logistics to staffing. Recent events include the Asheville Grass Open in October 2026 and the Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville.

Asheville Parks & Recreation runs the City of Asheville's parks, community centers, pools and greenways, with more than 50 parks across town. Highlights include the 17,000 square foot Asheville Skatepark downtown, with a beginner bowl, a street course and an advanced vertical bowl, and Splasheville, the splash pad in Pack Square Park. Asheville Municipal Golf Course, the Donald Ross course locals call Muni, dates to the 1920s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Community centers across the city host afterschool programs, summer camps, youth athletics and classes for kids, teens and adults. Every October brings the Festival of Frights, with costume parties for people and dogs, creepy climbing and crafts. The department office is at 70 Court Plaza downtown, and you can reserve picnic shelters for birthdays and reunions.

Jus' Running is a specialty running store at 523 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville that calls itself Western North Carolina's running headquarters. Walk in for a custom shoe fitting with a biomechanical analysis, no appointment needed, then stock up on running shoes, apparel, gear and fuel. Owner Norm leads the Tuesday Track workouts, and there are training programs for the Asheville Marathon and Half. Every $250 you spend earns a $15 store credit. It's open Monday through Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday 1 to 5.

Sky Lanes is a bowling alley in West Asheville at 1477 Patton Avenue, open since 1963 and still bowling seven days a week. Daily open lanes, cosmic bowling nights, and a full arcade make it a reliable family destination, while the bar and grill serves wings, pizza, burgers, and cold drafts for bowlers of all ages. Bumpers and lightweight balls keep the kids happy, and league nights keep the regulars coming back.

The WNC Nature Center is a 42-acre wildlife park on Gashes Creek Road in East Asheville, and it's all about the animals of the Southern Appalachians. Black bears, red and gray wolves, cougars, bobcats and river otters live in big wooded habitats, plus red pandas, and the new Gateway to the Southern Appalachians area was just finished this year. It's open every day from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, with last admission at 3:30. Adult tickets run $16.95 plus tax, kids 3 to 12 are $12.95, 2 and under get in free, and City of Asheville residents pay less. Active duty and retired military get in free, and the ticket window is cashless. The calendar stays busy, with monthly behind-the-scenes Wild Walks, Wolf Howl nights in the fall, a stuffed animal Critter Check Up in December, and Brews & Bears after-hours nights with beer and live music on second Fridays in summer.

Black Mountain Escape is an escape room company in the basement of 103 Black Mountain Ave in downtown Black Mountain, about 15 minutes from Asheville. It has three themed rooms, each for up to 8 players. USS McKoy, the most popular, puts your crew aboard a WWII destroyer in the North Atlantic with crewmen missing and vital intel at stake. Out of Time centers on a time machine found in the basement of Black Mountain's oldest building, and Vanishing Act takes you backstage in the workshop of magician Fritz Franco. It's open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 9:40 pm, and the per-person price drops as you add players. Birthday groups can use the courtyard before or after a game for pizza.

Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. is a brewery, restaurant and mini golf spot on Weaverville Highway in Woodfin, a few minutes north of downtown Asheville. Two outdoor courses add up to 36 holes of mini golf, so you can play a round with a pint in hand and grab dinner after. The house beer list covers a West Coast IPA, a hazy IPA, an Irish stout and the gold-medal Mosey on Over Pilsner, plus wine and cocktails. The kitchen does burgers, sandwiches, fried fish, chicken and shrimp and grits, with a kids menu too.

The largest adult soccer series in the States hosts their "Finals" at John B Lewis Soccer Complex once again. If you're a soccer fan, do not miss this event. If you're not, you're gonna become one if you join us. 10 divisions have their Semi Finals and Finals on Sunday with beer sales beginning at Noon! Food trucks on site. Very family friendly event! You'll probably recognize some of these ballers as they live their alter ego on the field. Come cheer them on!

Hunter Banks Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop and guide service at 29 Montford Avenue, near downtown Asheville, open since February 1985. Founder and owner Frank Smith's shop stocks rods, reels, flies, waders, apparel and gear from brands like Simms and Umpqua, and its guides take anglers out on the French Broad River, nearby tailwaters and freestone streams in the Blue Ridge. New anglers can start with a half-day fly fishing school from $300 or a full-day school from $400 that covers casting, knots, fly selection and reading water. The shop also teaches fly-tying classes and hosts fishing travel trips.

Asheville E-Bikes rents e-bikes from its downtown office at 70 Woodfin Place, with four-hour, daily and multi-day rentals by appointment. Standard e-bikes fit riders from 5 foot 1 to 6 foot 2, with a 500-watt motor and about a 45-mile battery range, and cargo e-bikes carry up to 400 pounds. You can pick up downtown or get delivery and pickup within five miles for all-day rentals.

Black Dome Mountain Sports is Asheville’s original, locally-owned outdoor gear outfitter, serving Western North Carolina adventurers for over 40 years. Located just outside downtown on Tunnel Road, Black Dome offers a premium selection of outdoor apparel, hiking boots, trail running shoes, climbing equipment, camping gear, kayaks, and travel essentials from brands like Patagonia, Osprey, Rab, Cotopaxi, and more. Their expert staff provides personalized fittings and advice for everyone from beginners to seasoned backcountry pros. The store also hosts the Carolina Climbing Museum and Southern Appalachian Paddlesports Museum, great for outdoor education and inspiration.

Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing is Asheville’s premier indoor axe throwing venue located inside Asheville Mall at 3 South Tunnel Road, Suite E12. Featuring six axe-throwing lanes, Valhalla offers a thrilling experience perfect for beginners, leagues, parties, and corporate events. The venue can accommodate groups up to 40 people and offers flexible booking options including full space rentals for larger gatherings. Guests ages 10 and up can participate, making it a family-friendly location with safety rules including mandatory closed-toe shoes. Besides axe throwing, Valhalla features additional entertainment options like air hockey, shuffleboard, video games, and Pop Golf in a lively, social atmosphere. Ages 10+ can throw axes. Must wear closed toe shoes.

Liberty Bicycles is a full-service bike shop at 1378 Hendersonville Road in South Asheville, serving Western North Carolina since 1980. It sells bikes for every kind of rider plus gear, and offers bike fitting, repairs, tune-up packages, rentals you can reserve online and trade-ins. Special financing is available, and it carries closeout bikes for riders on a budget.

Lake Julian Park is a Buncombe County park on the banks of 300-acre Lake Julian at 37 Lake Julian Road in Arden, just south of Asheville. Families come for fishing from the bank and the docks, paddleboat rentals, a playground, picnic areas and shelters, a disc golf course and outdoor games. The lake is a good spot for birding too, with herons, geese and ducks along the shore. The park is open every day, and hours change with the seasons, closing as early as 5 PM in December and as late as 9 PM in summer. The county also rents out spaces at the park for events, reunions and parties.

Black Mountain Golf Course is a public 18-hole course at 17 Ross Drive in Black Mountain, about 17 miles east of Asheville in the foothills of the Black Mountain Range. Established in 1929, the 6,215-yard, par 71 course has a front nine first designed by Donald Ross and a 747-yard par 6 17th hole that was once the longest hole in the world. There's a practice green, a pro shop, and the Green Tee Grille, and the course hosts group outings and charity tournaments. It's open year-round except Christmas Day, weather permitting, and you can book tee times online any time.

Navitat Canopy Adventures is a zipline park in Moody Cove at 242 Poverty Branch Road in Barnardsville, about 25 minutes north of downtown Asheville. The Mountaintop Tour runs side-by-side zips high over the cove, and the shorter Treetop Express Tour stays 100% in the trees, with ziplines and a rope descent in about half the time. Navitat at Night takes the Mountaintop Tour out under the stars. For family members who'd rather keep their feet on the ground, the Guided RTV Shadow Tour follows the zip course by off-road vehicle. Guests are weighed at check-in: the Mountaintop Tour takes riders from 60 to 265 pounds, and the Treetop Express takes riders from 35 to 225 pounds. Navitat is open Thursday through Monday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and closes December through February.

Georgie's Bunker is an indoor golf simulator bar and lounge at 1141 Patton Ave in West Asheville, open every day from late morning to 10 PM and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Four pro-grade bays let you play courses from around the world and track 19 club, ball and swing stats. The bar pours local beer, liquor, seltzers and ciders, and there are 8 TVs, two free PS5s, a pool table and no dress code. Memberships and leagues are available.

Thyme in the Garden is a family-run plant and gift shop at 190 Weaverville Road in North Asheville. It sells perennials and native plants, annuals, herbs, heirloom tomatoes, hanging baskets, tropical houseplants and potted arrangements, plus stone statuary, garden accents, local soaps, fair trade gifts and products from more than 20 local makers. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5, with Sunday afternoons in spring and during the holidays.

Fired Up Creative Lounge is a paint-your-own pottery and art studio at 26 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. Pick a piece of bisque to paint, try glass fusing with staff help, sculpt with clay, take a pottery wheel lesson, or paint a canvas with a template or your own design. No experience is needed, walk-ins are welcome, and you can order pottery to-go kits online.

Ballcrank Pickleball Club is an indoor pickleball club in Weaverville, inside the former Balcrank Corporation headquarters on Reems Creek Road. It has 12 cushioned indoor courts, six with video capture, plus a bar and cafe, patio, pro shop and shower rooms. Leagues, lessons, clinics, open play and tournaments run year-round for every skill level.

One stop shop for all things bike related.

Whitewater rafting, zipline activities, mountain biking and stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Fontana.

Bent Creek Experimental Forest is a national forest research area just southwest of Asheville, next to the North Carolina Arboretum off Brevard Road. Established in 1927, it is the oldest experimental forest in the East, and today it is open for mountain biking and hiking. Trails include Explorer Loop, Homestead, Deerfield Loop and Pine Tree Loop, and Lake Powhatan has a swim beach, picnic tables and fishing. Horseback riding is allowed on marked trails. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Carrier Park is a City of Asheville riverfront park on Amboy Road in West Asheville, built on the site of the old New Asheville Motor Speedway along the French Broad River. Hurricane Helene flooded the park in 2024, and the city is planning its rebuild as part of the French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery project, with construction expected to start in 2027. For now the east side is open, with the picnic shelter, wetlands education area, rolling lawn and parking lot, and the French Broad River Greenway runs through the whole park. The west side, including the playground, basketball and volleyball courts, roller rink, lawn bowling and sports field, is still closed, along with the velodrome. The park is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM.

Dragon Phoenix is a traditional Chinese martial arts school at 51 North Merrimon Avenue, Suite 109, in Reynolds Village, Woodfin, just north of Asheville. Founder and head instructor Shifu Aaron Dison opened it in 2014, and it teaches Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qigong and Baguazhang. Kids Kung Fu is a beginner program for ages 7 to 14 that builds focus, self-control and confidence, with classes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 5 PM, and families pick two days a week. Adults can start with Tai Chi, Qigong or Kung Fu, and there's an online academy for training at home. The first class in a structured program is free, drop-in classes are $20, and a 10-class pass is $180 with no long-term contract.

Located within the scenic Pisgah National Forest just south of downtown Asheville, The North Carolina Arboretum encompasses 434 acres of stunning cultivated gardens, hiking and biking trails, and outdoor discovery spaces. Easily accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway and located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, the Arboretum is a premier destination for nature lovers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts. Key highlights include the Bonsai Exhibition Garden, National Native Azalea Repository, inspiring Quilt Garden, and multiple garden-themed trails representing native Appalachian flora. The Arboretum also features year-round rotating educational exhibits and programs, a visitor center with a gift shop showcasing regional crafts, and seasonally operated on-site dining. While admission is free, a parking fee applies to most vehicles. The Arboretum welcomes pedestrians, cyclists, and members with no charge. Accessibility features include wheelchair-friendly paths and complimentary wheelchairs available on-site.

Experience the best of the mountains all in one place! Enjoy six unique hiking trails, 75-mile panoramic views, and the tallest waterfall in any North Carolina State Park.

The Adventure Center of Asheville is an outdoor adventure park at 85 Expo Drive, about five minutes from downtown, behind Sam's Club. The Zipline Canopy Adventures fly through 150-year-old oaks with views of downtown Asheville: the Asheville Zipline Tour has 9 ziplines and the Skyline Tour has 5, and both end on 1,200-foot side-by-side zips, for ages 8 and up. Asheville Treetops Adventure Park has more than 77 climbing, rolling, swinging and rappelling challenges on 7 aerial trails, for ages 4 and up. KidZip was America's first zipline course built for kids, with 9 ziplines and 4 climbing elements for ages 4 to 10. Kolo Bike Park adds pump tracks, jump lines and skills areas, with bike rentals for adults and kids. In October the park hosts Asheville Plays' family-friendly Haunted Trail.