Outdoor Activities

Asheville has a growing reputation as one of the more progressive alternative health communities. Relax with one of the many healing modalities available at local spas.

Visiting the Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn, newly opened Grove Arcade and the NC Arboretum programs are favorites as well as attending the NC Center for Creative Retirement classes, or Billy Graham’s “The Cove” workshops. Golf the spectacular mountain clubs. Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway, picnic at Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak on the east coast, and, (personal favorite), hike to the waterfalls of the Dupont State Forest. The Pisgah National Forest and Great Smokies are great day trips with opportunity to go on guided river rafting tours, mine for gem stones or view the elk of Catalooche Valley.

Harrah’s casino in Cherokee is an hour and 15 min. west. Local mountain biking trails are ranked as some of the best in the country. Motorcycling the winding roads to Chimney Rock is popular. Shopping for handmade arts and crafts, antiques, and local flea market finds is always an adventure.

The eclectic architecture of Asheville, where most of the buildings were built between 1890 – 1929, can be explored on the Urban Trail tour. The downtown is alive 7 nights a week with live music, micro-breweries and diverse ethnic restaurants as well as the popular chains. There are many city-sponsored festivals like “Shindig on the Green” every Saturday night in the summer and “Bele Chere,”a 3 day, city-wide street festival the last weekend of July.