Over the previous few years, I’ve been listening to so many nice issues about Asheville, NC. This hip, vibrant east coast metropolis is commonly on the “best of” lists of locations to go to within the US. It’s positively an up-and-coming metropolis, with numerous new eating places, breweries, outlets, and different points of interest.
I’ve all the time loved visiting North Carolina, so I used to be thrilled to have the chance to spend an extended weekend in Asheville.
Thinking of visiting for a household trip? In addition to the close by Great Smoky Mountains (positioned about an hour and a half away), Asheville has many enjoyable actions for the entire household. Here are some issues to do with children in Asheville North Carolina – it’s an excellent place for the complete household to go to.
Disclosure: I traveled to Asheville without charge with Holiday Inn to expertise the lodge and space. All opinions are my very own. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – a purchase order/click on by way of one in all these hyperlinks (together with on the map) could lead to a fee paid to us.
Some of the Best Things to do in Asheville with Kids
Asheville is hottest in the summertime and fall months, because of the gorgeous climate. Many of the perfect issues to do with the household in Asheville NC are open air, so that you’ll wish to maintain that in thoughts if you end up planning your go to. You’ll wish to make sure that the climate is sweet sufficient to spend time open air.
The Historic Biltmore Estate
The largest privately owned property within the United States and the previous house of George Vanderbilt is a must-visit when vacationing in Asheville. It’s surprisingly very family-friendly. Admission begins at $69 for adults however is predicated on the date you might be visiting. Kids aged 10-16 obtain discounted admission. Kids 9 and below are free with grownup admission.
Kids will love seeing how the Vanderbilts lived – particularly the empty indoor pool and the bowling lanes positioned within the basement of the home.
Guests may also select so as to add an audio tour to complement their tour by way of the home. If touring with children, you could wish to do the youngsters’ audio tour. It’s 50 minutes and is narrated by Cedric, the household’s St. Bernard canine.
During our journey, we noticed some children that appeared utterly captivated by the audio tour. It’s additionally a good way to be taught extra about the home and the household.
Once you might be completed touring the house, there are many different issues to expertise on the Biltmore Estate. Be positive to go exterior the property to see the beautiful mountain views and the gorgeous gardens.
Tickets to the property additionally embody a tasting on the vineyard. You’ll have to drive there, however it’s well worth the go to. At the vineyard, children are provided complimentary grape juice.
The property contains a number of eating places. There’s additionally an ice cream store and confectionary. All of the eating places are family-friendly. Kids’ menus are provided in any respect on-site eating places, and excessive chairs can be found.
If you’d prefer to discover much more of the property, there are many different actions. Options embody household bike leases, children’ fly fishing classes, horseback path rides, the Pisgah Playground at Antler Village, and the Farm at Antler Hill Village.
I’ve spent a whole lot of time across the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island, and the Biltmore is a lot extra spectacular. It positively looks like an American Versailles. You may simply spend most of your day there in order for you, though the home tour is usually solely about 90-120 minutes.
Visit the Biltmore web site for extra details about actions, facilities, and ticket choices. Keep in thoughts that costs and particulars are all the time topic to adjustments.
LaZoom Comedy Bus
One of my favourite actions in Asheville NC throughout my journey was the LaZoom Beer and Band bus. We drove round on this enjoyable bus being entertained by a neighborhood band as we drove to 2 separate craft beer breweries. I wasn’t positive what to anticipate, however I completely beloved it.
Of course, that isn’t kid-friendly, however LaZoom does provide a kid-friendly comedy tour bus. Geared towards children aged 5-12, the LaZoom Kids’ Comedy Tour presents a mix of enjoyable comedy and a tour of the encircling space.
Purchase tickets upfront, and catch the bus on the LaZoom Room at 76 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. It runs for an hour, so you’ll be able to positively mix it with different downtown Asheville actions. See extra info right here.
Asheville Pinball Museum
Love old-school pinball machines and basic video video games? The Asheville Pinball Museum is a novel spot that youngsters will get pleasure from. Located in Downtown Asheville, the Asheville Pinball Museum presents over 70 basic video arcade video games and pinball machines. Once you pay admission, you’ll be able to play any of the video games with out paying for every recreation individually.
The pinball museum does attain capability at 65 folks, so it’s greatest to reach earlier within the day. Otherwise, you’ll be able to go away your identify and also you’ll be contacted when it’s your flip to play. It can get busy on weekends and on a wet day, so plan forward. Learn extra right here.
Pisgah National Forest
Asheville can also be identified for its lovely mountains and climbing trails. If you’d prefer to spend a while doing outside actions, take into account climbing to Catawba Falls, within the Pisgah National Forest. During our journey, we went on a guided tour with Asheville Hiking Tours.
The tour we went on was about 2 hours and roughly 3 miles. It’s a simple to reasonable path, with just a few rocks to go over to achieve the 150-foot Catawba Falls waterfall. Our information defined a lot in regards to the space and actually made it each enjoyable and academic.
While I loved the entire hike, the payoff actually was seeing the beautiful waterfall. It’s completely beautiful. We obtained many of the narration whereas strolling to the waterfall, after which the stroll again was faster.
Asheville Hiking Tours presents a household low cost. With 2 grownup tickets, children’ tickets (for youths 14 and below) are discounted. Definitely make sure you convey acceptable footwear (climbing boots or sneakers) to your stroll.
You’ll have the ability to do the hike in gentle rain, however it will be canceled in heavier rain. I discovered that it was chilly once we left within the morning however acquired hotter as we hiked. Dressing in layers is a good suggestion.
Learn extra about Asheville Hiking Tours right here.
If you’d choose to go for a brief hike, there are many choices as nicely.
In the summer season, you might also wish to go to Sliding Rock. Also positioned within the Pisgah National Forest, Sliding Rock is a 60-foot slippery pure slide. It’s very fashionable in the summertime when there are lifeguards current. If you do go to Sliding Rock, convey alongside swimsuits that you simply don’t thoughts sporting down on the pure rocks. See extra about Sliding Rock right here.
Tour Asheville Breweries
With probably the most breweries per capita than every other US metropolis, Asheville positively has loads of breweries to go to. While you could not take into account visiting them with children, lots of them are child pleasant.
We visited the Highland Brewing Company throughout our Band and Beer tour, and it will positively be a spot the place you possibly can convey children. There’s a big meadow, which frequently hosts occasions. The brewery additionally regularly has meals vehicles go to. This article lists some choices for family-friendly breweries in Asheville.
River Arts District
Asheville is house to lots of of impartial artists, lots of whom have their studios within the River Arts District. This neighborhood of Asheville options galleries and studios which might be house to working artists.
During our journey to Asheville, we took a tour of the district with Asheville Art Studio Tours. The proprietor and information, John Miguel Almaguer, is a River Arts District artist himself. He confirmed us just a few of the studios alongside the best way, the place we had the chance to satisfy with the artists and find out about their studio and their inventive course of. Families are welcome on John’s excursions, and kids below 10 are free with a paying grownup.
If you’ve acquired older children, I’d positively advocate an expertise tour. That’s what we did throughout our journey, and it was one of many highlights of my go to. There are a number of choices, however we did the Clay Experience. At the beginning of our tour, we visited a neighborhood clay room the place we discovered learn how to use a pottery wheel and create our personal pot.
While it wasn’t simple, there have been two artisans there to help. We did have to go away our pots there to be fired and glazed, however they are going to be individually shipped to our houses when they’re prepared.
Learn extra about Asheville Art Studio Tours right here.
Adventure Center of Asheville
If you wish to spend a while being adventurous exterior in Asheville, you’ll wish to go to the Adventure Center of Asheville. This outside journey middle presents family-friendly actions which might be nice for adventurous households. Here, you’ll discover a zipline cover tour. Depending on how lengthy you’ve got, you’ll have the choice of both the total cover tour or the specific cover tour.
There’s additionally the Asheville Treetop Adventures Park, the place you’ll be able to expertise 60 particular person challenges together with flying, climbing, rappelling, and swinging.
If you’ve acquired youthful children, you could wish to do the KidZip. It’s made for kids aged 4-10 years previous and contains 9 zip strains. Or, in the event you’d choose to bike, there’s the Kolo Flow Bike Park, the place you’ll be able to lease a motorbike or convey your personal. See extra in regards to the Asheville Adventure Center right here.
Pritchard Park Drum Circle
We had been in downtown Asheville on a Friday evening however simply missed the Pritchard Park Drum Circle. It runs from April by way of October on Friday nights from about 5-6 pm by way of 10 pm. Anyone can convey their very own drum and take part, or you’ll be able to simply be a spectator at any level in the course of the night.
Other Things To Do in Asheville North Carolina with Kids
During your go to to Asheville, you’ll additionally discover numerous different enjoyable issues to do. These embody the Asheville Museum of Science (a small hands-on science museum), the 42-acre Western North Carolina Nature Center (a zoological park), and the close by Hands On! Children’s Museum in Hendersonville, North Carolina. These are all nice actions that youthful children will love in your trip!
Where to Stay in Asheville With Kids
Asheville is a small metropolis, however there are nonetheless loads of lodging for households. I like to recommend staying someplace that might be comfy for your loved ones, with some facilities that you could be get pleasure from throughout your trip.
For my keep in Asheville NC, we stayed on the Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore East. This boutique lodge is one in all a number of Holiday Inns within the space. It was just lately awarded the distinguished Torchbearer Award, and the employees on the lodge are so pleasant and useful.
It’s so comfy for households, and rooms embody a microwave, fridge, and really comfy beds (amongst different facilities). The lodge additionally has a 9-foot-deep outside pool, which is the deepest pool in Asheville. I’d positively advocate staying there.
This map beneath accommodates another lodging choices – close to a few of the in style points of interest. These are affiliate hyperlinks.
Guests to Asheville can fly into the Asheville Regional Airport, which a number of airways serve. These embody Allegiant, American, Delta, and United.
