Remarkable for its mountain views, beautiful Lake Julian and family-friendly environment, the peaceful town of Arden offers a number of fun activities to spend a day with family members of all ages. Arden is a friendly community located in the southern Buncombe County of North Carolina, USA, and, even though it is not as well-known as its neighboring bigger cities, Arden will definitely win over your family’s heart by presenting a list of opportunities to make new unforgettable family memories. Here are 10 things to do for a perfect day with family and friends - you can devote an entire day to one of the activities or combine them by your own choice, but whichever idea you go with, it promises to be fun! Read on to learn about the things to do in Arden, North Carolina.
1. Enjoy a family breakfast at Baked Pie Company
Starting a day at this pie shop will definitely set a great tone for the rest of the day. Baked Pie Company is a bakery with cozy interior, smooth coffee and an amazingly wide range of delicious pies, which will make you want to come back for another piece. You can either buy a whole pie or just a slice - in any case, your kids will love it! To make sure, you can check numerous positive reviews, however, be careful - looking through the pictures of yummy pies gives you quite an appetite!
Baked Pie Company
Address: 4 Long Shoals Road, Arden, North Carolina 28704
Website: Baked Pie Company
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 10am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 4 pm
2. Go for a picnic by Lake Julian
Lake Julian and a park located by its side deserve a separate must-visit and must-do list as they offer a whole set of leisure activities that would excite all family members. First off, having a picnic by the lake or on the territory of the Lake Julian Park will give an opportunity to a whole family to make new memories while sharing food in the fresh air. Re-energized kids can let off steam in the playground of the park, while older members of the family can enjoy mountain and lake views or even take a contemplative break by fishing session (note: NC fishing license required). Feeding cute local inhabitants - ducks and geese is another must-do and family-bonding experience that Lake Julian Parks offers (just make sure you don’t feed bread to birds as it may harm them seriously).
Lake Julian Park
Address: 406 Overlook Road Ext, Arden, North Carolina 28704
Website: Lake Julian Park
Opening hours: 8am – 6pm (daily)
3. Take your kids to Mountain Play Lodge
Cheerful reviews by the visitors of Mountain Play Lodge leave no doubt that this place will keep children busy with its fun attractions and imagination-sparking activities. One of the advantages of the Mountain Play Lodge is the availability of numerous seats arranged inside the territory of the play center. In this way, parents and especially grandparents can spend some quality time, staying at rest in comfortable chairs, chatting and watching their children play. There are high chances that your kids would refuse to leave the playground and go back home, so make sure you have enough arguments to convince them!
Mountain Play Lodge
Address: 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, NC 28704
Website: Mountain Play Lodge
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri - Sun: 10am - 6pm
Price: 8 USD onward
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4. Practice your gaming skills at Lakeview Putt & Play
Lakeview Putt & Play can be a credible alternative to Julian Lake Park, as it offers a range of activities that would interest both children and adults. Located on the other side of Julian Lake, it provides visitors with magnificent views of the lake and its surroundings. But what Lakeview Putt & Play is most famous for are the mini-golf yards and VR (virtual reality) rooms. Both of these activities will bring you joy and exciting experience, so gather your family and join the game! Have no or little experience of playing mini-golf? No worries, there are courses available and who knows, maybe you and your relatives will turn it into a family tradition.
Lakeview Putt & Play
Address: 2245 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704
Website: Lakeview Putt & Play
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 10am - 8pm; Fri - Sun: 10am - 9pm
Price: 7 USD onward
5. Test your stamina at Launch Trampoline Park
Dodgeball anyone?
Posted by Launch Trampoline Park on Monday, 8 October 2018
If your family is looking for an indoor but extremely fun and energetic activities, then you definitely should be heading to Launch Trampoline Park! It might seem like a place for children only, at first glance, but there are no doubts that adults will enjoy visiting the park too, as to offers lots of activities of various levels - trampoline courts, dodgeball, cliffhanger, battle pit, and fury laser tag. Aren’t you convinced yet? If you are not, then check out Launch Trampoline Park website, watch the promo video and bring your family to the fun park. They will thank you later.
Launch Trampoline Park
Address: 24 Walden Drive, Arden, NC 28704
Website: Launch Trampoline Park
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 4pm - 8pm; Fri: 10am - 10pm; Sat: 11am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm
6. Explore flora at B. B. Barns The Garden
Are you and your family nature enthusiasts, who are eager to have a garden oasis in their own backyard? Then B. B. Barns is a must-visit destination, where you can walk in the 4-acres (1.6 hectares) fairy-tale garden center and get inspired for designing your own garden. The visit can be a fun activity for children as they have an opportunity to observe and participate in the decision-making of the future landscaping process. And, what is more, B. B. Barns The Garden have their own gift shop (check out their gift cards!), as well as they organize interactive seminars, where you can enrich your knowledge of gardening with the help of passionate professionals. For more events, watch for updates by checking a calendar on the official website of the company.
B. B. Barns The Garden
Address: 3377 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, North Carolina 28704
Website: B. B. Barns The Garden
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm (Closed on Sun)
Price: 15 USD onward
7. Have a lovely day in Jake Rusher Park
What is so special about Jake Rusher Park is its imagination-sparking wooden castles. Unusual for today’s playgrounds, wooden forts surrounded by greenery create a unique environment, where kids will definitely keep themselves entertained. Much to the delight of parents, the fenced-off playground area is located far enough from the main roads, so that children playing around won’t accidentally run out into the roadway. On top of all of that, there are picnic tables, sandboxes, toddler area, swings and so much more, which makes Jake Rusher Park worth spending a day out with family.
Jake Rusher Park
Address: 132 Peachtree Street, Arden, North Carolina 28704
Website: Jake Rusher Park
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)
8. Enjoy craftsmanship at AR Workshop Asheville
Welcome to the world of creativity and craftsmanship! AR Workshop is a place where family members of all ages and of all skill levels can apply their imagination to create something special. Along with general do-it-yourself projects, there are special DIY sessions for kids, which means that children can enjoy their time at summer camps, family-friendly workshops, fundraisers and, of course, birthday parties! And there are plenty of things to create - lots of wood projects (even pet beds!), knitting, card designs, game boards, canvas pillows, wall hangings… and so on and so forth, just keep an eye on the event calendar and choose your workshop.
AR Workshop Asheville
Address: 3726 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, North Carolina
Website: AR Workshop Asheville
Price: 40 USD onward
9. Go sailing on Lake Julian
For those who prefer active recreation, Lake Julian offers another set of fun activities. You can try kayaking and sailing on the lake as well as play volleyball and golf disk in the park nearby. Whatever your choice is, you can be sure that the most active members of your family (a.k.a. kids) will find a way to use their energy. For enjoying kayaking and sailing with children, make sure they are age-appropriate to go onboard and go full speed ahead!
Lake Julian Park
Address: 406 Overlook Road Ext, Arden, North Carolina 28704
Website: Lake Julian Park
Price: 8 USD onward
10. Have a family dinner at 12 Bones Smokehouse South
Sharing a meal is one of the best bonding experiences your family can have, so why not bring the whole family to a nice restaurant after spending a day in the park or entertainment center? 12 Bones Smokehouse South is one of the best places in Arden, where you can have delicious meals worth taking home! Make sure you try out ribs, pulled pork and brisket because they are the most popular and recommended!
12 Bones Smokehouse South
Address: 2350 Hendersonville Road, Arden, NC 28704
Website: 12 Bones Smokehouse South
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 1am - 6pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Make the most of your time in Arden
These are 10 ideas for spending a great day with your family in the fine town of Arden, North Carolina. No matter how old your family members are, everyone will find a way to have fun and rest in this friendly community. Are you interested? Discover Arden by following this list and going beyond it!
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