Discover Top Tours & Unique Experiences in Asheville, NC

Asheville Retrocade, located at 800 Haywood Road in West Asheville, is a nostalgia-packed arcade featuring more than 5,000 classic video games, pinball machines, skee-ball, foosball, air hockey, and racing games spread over two floors. For a flat fee of $10, visitors enjoy unlimited play from noon until 2 AM, with free admission for children under 5. The arcade offers a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere until 9 PM, after which it transitions to a 21+ venue with a full bar serving local craft beers, wine, and soft drinks. Along with arcade favorites like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, Retrocade also features nostalgic memorabilia and a cozy patio area, making it an ideal spot for gamers and nostalgia enthusiasts alike.

Oak and Grist Distilling Company is a small-batch, grain-to-glass artisan distillery just outside Asheville. They take pride in using locally grown and malted barley to craft unique whiskey and gin that capture the flavors of Western North Carolina. Oak and Grist Distilling Company is a small-batch, grain-to-glass artisan distillery just outside Asheville. They take pride in using locally grown and malted barley to craft unique whiskey and gin that capture the flavors of Western North Carolina. The distillery has a relaxed vibe with a covered patio and garden space overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, perfect for sipping their award-winning spirits and enjoying the outdoors.

Just 20 minutes from Asheville in Fairview, Hickory Nut Gap Farm is a vibrant family-owned farm and farm store with a rich heritage dating back to 1916. Known for regenerative farming practices, the farm offers visitors a unique chance to explore pastures, apple orchards, and heritage breed animals while shopping for premium, 100% grassfed beef, pasture-raised pork, and fresh farm goods. The Farm Store is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, welcoming guests for self-guided tours and picnics.

Urban Escape Vehicles offers campervan and Class B RV rentals that serve as the perfect basecamp for exploring Asheville and the wider Western North Carolina outdoors. Their vans come fully stocked with linens, towels, kitchen and camping gear, and have plenty of room for all your adventure equipment. Whether you're camping in the mountains, exploring local trails, or road tripping across the US, their campervans provide comfort, freedom, and style.

The WNC Nature Center is Asheville’s premier wildlife park—set on 42 wooded acres just east of downtown and home to 60+ species native to the Southern Appalachians. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the center offers up-close animal exhibits (red pandas, river otters, black bears, red wolves, cougars), interactive nature play areas, shaded trails, and educational programs for all ages. It’s stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, well maintained, and features a gift shop, picnic areas, and plenty of quiet spots to relax or play.

Asheville Art Museum, located at 2 S Pack Square in the heart of downtown Asheville, offers visitors a vibrant and evolving collection focused on 20th and 21st-century American art. The museum highlights important regional work alongside national and international artists, with special attention to Western North Carolina’s cultural heritage including Studio Craft, Black Mountain College, and Cherokee artists. The four-level facility includes rotating exhibitions, an intergenerational makerspace called Wells Fargo ArtPLAYce, a rooftop café with sculptures, and an extensive art library. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 6 PM, with extended hours on Thursdays until 9 PM, the museum encourages visitors to pre-purchase tickets online for a smooth contactless experience.

the Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) offers an engaging and hands-on science experience for visitors of all ages. AMOS features interactive exhibits spanning geology, biology, paleontology, physics, and environmental science, including the notable Teratophoneus dinosaur skeleton and the Colburn Hall of Minerals. The museum's highlights include a STEM lab, tree climb, terrabox topography simulator, fossil dig, toddler nest, and rotating special exhibits focused on current science topics.

Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours offers an award-winning guided experience exploring the best rooftop bars in downtown Asheville. Over the course of three hours, you’ll visit three stunning rooftops, sip seasonal handcrafted cocktails or mocktails, and take in panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville’s iconic cityscape. The tours combine great drinks with fascinating history shared by expert local guides, making it a perfect mix of fun and culture.

Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar is a signature Asheville experience, blending the atmosphere of a used bookstore with the indulgence of a champagne and wine bar—all housed in the historic Grove Arcade. Guests browse thousands of books across two stories, relax in plush seating, and enjoy literary-themed cocktails, champagne flights, more than 80 wines by the glass or bottle, local beers, and gourmet cheese and charcuterie boards. The cafe also serves pastries, small plates, and weekend brunch, all in an inviting mix of art, antiques, and live music.

Locals and travelers consistently rate Biltmore Estate as Asheville’s #1 experience for its layered blend of history, luxury, and hospitality. The restaurants are praised for locally sourced, farm-to-table menus and attentive staff. Cedric’s Tavern offers a relaxing atmosphere for unwinding over freshly made pretzel buns and Lusty Monk Mustard Butter, while the Stable Café and The Bistro deliver memorable lunches after estate tours. Families enjoy the annual Biltmore Christmas celebration with spectacular décor and festive dining. For special occasions, locals recommend The Dining Room and Wine Bar for anniversary dinners and tastings.

Dalton Distillery is downtown Asheville’s first legal distillery, crafting small-batch Caribbean-inspired vodka and rum right here in the mountains. They take pride in handcrafting their spirits using rainwater and local mountain spring water, creating clean, complex flavors that stand out. The distillery also features a lively bar with indoor and outdoor seating, billiards, ping pong, arcade games, and a great local vibe. Tours & Tastings offered every weekend.

Step back in time and level up your night at Level 256, a classic arcade bar right in Asheville’s buzzing South Slope. This spot packs over 30 meticulously maintained arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and more than 300 authentic console games across all generations—from Atari to the latest PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Entry gets you unlimited play, so whether you’re chasing high scores or battling friends, every round is pure nostalgia and fun. The bar boasts a rotating selection of 16 craft beers on tap alongside curated cocktails, making it the perfect place to mix drinks with game wins.

Scenic Helicopter Tours Premier Helicopter Tour Company, 2 Locations 📍Near Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg, TN 📍Asheville, NC 🚁 Tour of a lifetime | Every time

Highlights some of the best trails in Asheville with the mission to inspire great Southern adventures.

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 Amazing Pubcycle is a 15-person pedal-powered (motor assisted) vehicle like no other. Imagine riding your bike (sideways), hanging out at your favorite pub (on wheels), and witnessing entertainment that tantalizes all of your senses. Hop on!

The Salt Spa of Asheville is the only Himalayan Salt Cave in Asheville with a negatively ionized dry salt air microclimate. Here, you can breathe salt air & relax deeply at the same time. Halotherapy is an amazing natural health support. Breathe and Relax

Discover the unique flavor of Asheville, NC on our guided walking tours of the city’s culinary treasures in historic downtown.

Asheville Free Walking Tours is the best way to get to know the city from a local perspective! We walk through the cities rich history, while also learning about some of the best shops, restaurants and bars and even getting a taste at a few spots!

Hop on board one of Gray Line’s nostalgic trolleys for a fully narrated journey, highlighting the history, homes and hot-spots of this “city of surprises.”

Asheville's Only Authentic Salt Cave.

All-you-can-play arcade plus full bar.