15 Best Day Trips From Asheville, North Carolina - The Crazy Tourist.

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Best vacation spots near asheville nc.17 Terrific Cities & Towns Near Asheville, NC To Visit

  This kitschy, Epcot-style Alpine playground was dreamed up in the s by a few local businesspeople wanting to revitalize the town.  

Best vacation spots near asheville nc. 16 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Asheville

 

Opened to the public in , experienced guides take you into this subterranean world, providing the history of the caverns and allowing you to view the work of nature. The temperature stays a comfortable 52 degrees Fahrenheit virtually year-round. During winter and early spring, you'll also see bats that hibernate here. The Rocky Broad River tumbles downward through Hickory Nut Gorge to feed the deep, clear waters of Lake Lure , a acre body of water beautifully surrounded by tree-covered mountain ridges.

A favorite of water-sports enthusiasts, Lake Lure has a beach and marina where you can swim, boat, sail, canoe, kayak, fish, tube, wake board, water ski and knee board. Scott Fitzgerald to Franklin Roosevelt. However, the inn and surrounding area may now be best known for the filming of Dirty Dancing. But there is much more than scenery to keep you busy, including hiking, rock climbing and nature explorations.

Kids enjoy the Great Woodland Adventure, an easy trail on which Grady the Groundhog teaches about the woods and its inhabitants. Designated The State Theatre of North Carolina since , Flat Rock Playhouse has produced and provided high-quality theatre experiences for the region for decades. Each year the Playhouse features top professionals from across the country in major productions such as Mamma Mia , West Side Story , South Pacific and more.

Tens of thousands of patrons of the arts turn out annually for major musicals, engaging plays, musical concert series and a spectacular Christmas show worthy to be a tradition in any family. Sandburg and his family moved to Connemara Farm in , a plus-acre former estate that became a working farm on which to raise Mrs.

Visitors can tour the Sandburg home , visit the farm and hike on more than 5 miles of trails. The 1. Notable nearby: Visitors and locals also are drawn around the corner from Connemara to the village with its quaint shops along Little Rainbow Row, complemented by the tasty treats at Flat Rock Bakery and Hubba Hubba Smokehouse.

With two state parks and two national parks in its backyard, the charming town of Brevard is a prime gathering spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Lure has so much to offer and is one of the best towns around Asheville if you are craving that lake and cabin lifestyle. Spy herbs, flowers, and furry critters as butterflies and birds sail past you.

Chatty volunteers are always planting, weeding, and designing new creative garden spaces. Then, walk Morse Park for beautiful views of the lake. If it is summer, hang out at Lake Lure Beach or rent a boat. NC is home to tons of great filming locations. Baby carried that watermelon here and look back to many dancing scenes. We cannot leave out those quirky small towns near Asheville, and in , Hot Springs registered about inhabitants. Asheville to Hot Springs is just under a minute drive, and Hot Springs promises to live up to its namesake.

Along with the resort and spa, enjoy basic camping cabins, tent sites, and full RV hookups, which is perfect since Hot Springs is one access point for the infamous Appalachian Trail.

Find the sweetest library too. Nearby, continue along the Appalachian Trail at Max Patch. Also within Arden, head to Lake Julian for another popular recreational lake.

Enjoy horseshoe pits and a playground. Rent paddle boats or play disc golf. Arden has some of the most kid-friendly activities around Asheville , too, including Launch Trampoline Park and Lakeview Putt and Play. Asheville to Arden is about a minute drive. When considering relocating to Asheville , many people look at homes in Arden as it is largely residential.

For more cities near Asheville, Fletcher is similar to Arden and has one of our favorite wineries , Souther Williams. What is one of the best cities near Asheville for waterfalls?

In the summer, visitors and locals flock to Sliding Rock to slide down the foot, natural waterfall slide into a chilly pool of water. Looking Glass Falls is a popular roadside waterfall that freezes in the winter, and Daniel Ridge promises challenging mountain biking trails. After a day of Asheville hiking , head to Downtown Brevard for food and beer. Brevard has fun brewery options , too, like Ecusta and Oskar Blues.

Brevard One of the best small towns near Asheville — well, technically a village with a population under 3, people as of — Flat Rock is home to history, apples, and hiking.

Asheville to Flat Rock is about a minute drive, and Flat Rock and Hendersonville pair well together while you are in the area.

Flat Rock Playhouse showcases musicals, concerts, and plays. Cherokee is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which is one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. The Reservation, also known as the Qualla Boundary, holds 57, acres of land. On your way into the Smokies, climb the steps to stunning Mingo Falls , and pop into the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to get your bearings. While not the largest tourist destination, Mills River is a popular place to live and is most well-known for its cidery and breweries.

Sierra Nevada has a massive brewing facility in nearby Fletcher, which you can tour. We like to drop in here with hungry airport guests and try all of their beer while gorging on duck fries. Just down the road, Bold Rock is equally famous as one of the best cideries and has the most unique cider flavors.

Across the street, find Mills River Brewing — a more local brewery with camping vibes and food. Another one of the famous villages and small towns near Asheville, Chimney Rock lands on every Asheville bucket list of the best things to do.

Chimney Rock State Park is home to a million-year-old monolith that sits 2, feet above sea level. Visitors may hike or take an elevator to the rocks. Hickory Nut Falls is an easier waterfall hike, and Chimney Rock — as a whole — is a family-friendly hiking spot. There are admission fees to enter Chimney Rock State Park, and winter is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds. On your way out, explore Chimney Rock Village. Walk the short but picturesque Rocky Broad Riverwalk. Grab lunch — with gluten-free buns — at Old Rock Cafe.

For ice cream treats, dip into the Village Scoop. For boozy travelers, Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery offers local brews along the river and Burntshirt has a wine taproom. Asheville to Chimney Rock is about 45 to 50 minutes, and if you are hoping to explore multiple towns around Asheville, visit Chimney Rock and Lake Lure together. Tired of generic Asheville travel itineraries? Experience Asheville like a local with our free Asheville Favorites checklist, including restaurants, breweries, and hiking.

Plus, get local updates — including events and hidden gems — straight to your inbox. Sign up here. Lincolnton is one of those cities near Asheville that we just happened to wander into and now love. And, not too many tourists head into Lincolnton.

The perfect stop if you want to grab food on your way to or from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Lincolnton is east of Asheville and slightly north of Charlotte. Asheville to Lincolnton is about a 1 hour and minute drive — also making it one of the furthest cities on this list.

Stop in Lincolnton for the cafes, bookstores, woodfire pizza, and a walkable downtown filled with old school murals. Get lost in North State Books. Asheville to Waynesville is about a minute drive, and if you are starting at Lake Junaluska, Asheville to Lake Junaluska is an easy minutes.

Like many of the other mostly Western North Carolina towns on this list, Waynesville promises a unique downtown filled with beer, food, and shops.

Along with Lake Junaluska, visit Maggie Valley while here — another one of the most charming small towns near Asheville. Tyron is known for its equestrian culture, wineries, Christmas festival, Pearson Falls, and shops. Tryon International Equestrian Center hosts numerous horse events and competitions. Mountain Brook and Russian Chapel Hills are close by too.

Parker-Binns even has a delicious Burger Barn and Airbnb property for rent. Catch a movie at the indie theater, Tryon Theatre, and shop downtown for used books and local art. Saluda — another one of the small cities near Asheville worth a trip — is only 15 minutes away.