10 Best Things To Do Alone In Asheville, North Carolina - Updated 2024

1. Enjoy stand-up paddleboarding on French Broad River (from USD 85.0)

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As you are planning a vacation to Asheville, North Carolina, enjoying a stand-up paddleboarding on French Broad River has to be on the top of your things-to-do list. During this activity, you will get to float through the city’s calm, downtown waterway, exploring some of the famous attractions such as Biltmore Estate, as your professional guide gives you educative commentary about the city’s history. Before the activity starts, you will be provided with the needed gadgets which include a life jacket, paddle, river booties, your board, and receive a brief introductory lesson on the basics of SUP from your guide. The activity can take up to 2.5 hours and it is highly recommended for small groups.

Asheville Stand-Up Paddleboard Tour

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

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85.0

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2. Hike through the Blue Ridge Mountains

Are you looking for a fun activity to indulge in during your visit to Asheville, North Carolina? Hike the Blue Ridge Mountains named so because of the blue tint it exhibits when seen from a distance. This tint is visible because the trees release isoprene into the air creating the blue haze. While you are here, you can explore the elaborate hiking trails and the countless waterfalls or just enjoy the mountain views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in America. Given the fact that each season brings its own beauty, Asheville is the perfect base camp for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains at any time of year.

Blue Ridge Mountains

Address: North Carolina, USA

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

3. Tour the gardens at Biltmore Estate

If you rather enjoy a relaxing day in a peaceful setting, then you should head to the gardens at Biltmore Estate. Here, you will get to discover the grounds of the estate at your own pace as you hike through the extensive network of trails. You will enjoy the quiet and peaceful walk along the French Broad River, past the open meadows of deer park and through the lush green forests. During your visit to Biltmore Estate, make sure you take a stroll on the 2.5 miles (4 kilometres) of paths in the manicured gardens; the views and the atmosphere will just calm your soul.

Biltmore Estate

Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, USA

Website: Biltmore Estate

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

4. Meet the aquatic turtles at Western North Carolina Nature Center

Established in 1973 and managed by the City of Asheville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, The Western North Carolina Nature Center is a zoological park dedicated to introducing people to the amazing mix of animals and plants that inhabit the Southern Appalachian Mountain region. Western North Carolina Nature Center is home to more than 60 species of both domestic and wild animals, and hundreds of species of plants, all representing the uniqueness of this bio-region. Grab this opportunity and discover the world of reptiles at the Appalachian Station, an interactive indoor exhibit that showcases a variety of reptiles, such as turtles, rattlesnakes, and copperheads.

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Address: 75 Gashes Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28805, USA

Website: Western North Carolina Nature Center

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

5. Visit Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Even if you have do not know about the famous writer Thomas Wolfe, you will find his stunning 29-room “Old Kentucky Home” and its history very fascinating. The house was built in 1883 and now it is serving as the model for the boardinghouse named “Dixieland” in Thomas Wolfe’s autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Today visitors can visit the home and have a glimpse into Asheville’s early rise as a resort for recreation and health as well as hear the stories that are associated with Thomas Wolfe’s childhood. The museum also has a self-guided exhibit hall and a film presentation on Wolfe’s writings and his life in general.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Address: 52 N Market St, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

Website: Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

6. Cook organic meals at No Taste Like Home

If you are a foodie, then Asheville has your back. During your visit here, make sure you stop by at No Taste Like Home. The 25-years-old ecotour company, No Taste Like Home, is one of the largest foraging tour companies in the world dedicated to making people feel more at home in the natural world. Being the only tour company in North America that specializes in forage-to-table adventures, you will be involved in several programs including cooking wild food, bathing in the forest, hunter-gatherer team-building, and many more. No Taste Like Home also offers an introductory course that covers identification and use of wild food edible plants and fungi while utilizing experiential teaching methods instead of textbooks.

No Taste Like Home

Address: Asheville, NC 28805

Website: No Taste Like Home

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

7. Bike through North Carolina Arboretum

Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers a huge spread of cultivated gardens and fascinating trails featuring some of the most diverse foliage in the region. For those who prefer hiking and biking, there are many easy walking trails and easy to moderate mountain bike trails to choose from, including The Natural Garden Trail, Bent Creek Road and Trail and the 1.2-mile (2 kilometres) Carolina Mountain Trail that connects the Education Center with the production greenhouse and Bent Creek Road. The North Carolina Arboretum is a romantic destination perfect for couples.

North Carolina Arboretum

Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806, USA

Website: North Carolina Arboretum

Opening hours: 8am - 9pm (daily)

8. Drink in the cosy Curate Bar de Tapas

Located in Asheville, The Curate Bar de Tapas is one of the restaurants that is part of the family-owned Heirloom Hospitality Group. The restaurant focuses on serving authentic Spanish food that will make you feel as if it is your first experience. You will love the menu selections which are made with great care so as to ensure that only the best Spanish food and wine are served. It is done to keep up with the restaurant’s goal of only offering a high-quality dining experience. The restaurant also serves some of the best wines earning its place in the top 100 Americas Best Wine Restaurants by Wine Enthusiasts Magazine in 2018. Come by with your partner or friend and enjoy a glass of wine.

Curate Bar de Tapas

Address: 13 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

Website: Curate Bar de Tapas

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11:30am - 10:30pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 11pm (closed on Mon)

9. Admire the art and craft at Folk Art centre

If you are an art lover, you have to pay a visit to the Folk Art Center which is located in east Asheville only five-minute drive from downtown. Apart from the Blue Ridge Parkway information desk and Eastern National bookstore, the Folk Art Center also houses a library, three galleries, and the oldest craft shop in the Guild. The galleries at the centre also showcase the finest contemporary and traditional crafts of the Southern Appalachians. While you are here, make sure you grab a souvenir at the wonderful Southern Highland Craft Guild store which offers a wide variety of creations from hundreds of artists.

Folk Art centre

Address: 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Asheville, NC 28805, USA

Website: Folk Art centre

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

10. Indulge in cider tasting at Urban Orchard Cider Co.

Urban Orchard Cider Company and Bar focuses on delivering delicious local cider to all of Asheville residents. Urban Orchard Cider Company products are prepared using fresh local apples grown in Hendersonville which is located less than 20 miles (32.1 kilometres) from the company. By utilizing an innovative variety of fruits, herbs, vegetables, flowers and hot peppers, the Urban Orchard Cider Company and bar makes sure that there is a cider for everyone. If you are not a cider fan, you can enjoy the locally crafted beer and wine which will blow your mind. In addition, Urban Orchard Cider Bar also offers a small but diverse menu with delicious tastes like charcuterie boards, sandwiches and salads.

Urban Orchard Cider Co.

Address: 210 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806, USA

Website: Urban Orchard Cider Co.

Opening hours: Mon: 2pm - 10pm; Tue - Thu: 2pm - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 12pm - 10pm

Explore all the wonders in Asheville

During your visit to Asheville, there might come a time whereby you will get bored thinking that you have explored the whole town. When that time comes, check out the list above and enjoy the activities mentioned.