Looking for a fun, nature-filled adventure the whole family will love?Trolls: A Field Study at the NC Arboretum brings 12 giant, whimsical troll sculptures to the forest trails of Asheville. Kidding Around contributor Liene took her kids to explore the exhibit and is sharing everything you need to know before you go—where to find the trolls, what to expect, and tips for making the most of your visit.
Thanks to Eve Brown for providing additional photography.
Quick Info: Trolls at the NC Arboretum
What:Trolls: A Field Study – outdoor troll sculpture exhibit
Where: NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC
When: November 15, 2025 – February 17, 2026
Hours: 8 am – 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
Cost: Free with parking ($20 per standard vehicle)
Bonus Fun: Kids’ snow-themed exhibit + nature play areas
The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are celebrating the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study, which made its North American debut on November 10, 2025 at the Arboretum. Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, twelve friendly troll sculptures are scattered throughout the Arboretum in a scavenger hunt of epic proportions!
A Troll Story
The story goes, that “On the night he was born, a little troll named Taks wandered into the human world. What he saw left him puzzled—strange machines, noisy boxes, people rushing around without stopping to talk to the trees. When he returned to the forest, he shared his discoveries with his eleven siblings – and so it started: Trolls: A Field Study!”
What to Expect on Your Visit: Trolls at the NC Arboretum
The sculptures range from seven to nine feet tall, and are crafted from wooden materials like fallen branches, pallets and twigs. They are created to be interactive, and my kids had so much fun crawling into nets for photo ops, taking up-close looks at the materials used, and learning each troll’s name and story!
When to Go & What to Know
Admission to Trolls: A Field Study is included in the standard Arboretum parking fee, and no advance tickets are required. However, be aware that on weekends you may encounter crowds and a longer wait to enter the Arboretum, and should plan accordingly.
The exhibit is at the NC Arboretum from November 15, 2025 through February 17, 2026. As Winter Lights is also currently running at the Arboretum, daily hours have been shortened to 8am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm. After the holidays normal business hours will resume: 8am to 7pm starting January 5, 2026.
Even More to Explore at the Arboretum
While you’re at the Arboretum, make sure to check out the children’s exhibit Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact in the Baker Exhibit Hall, which runs through January 4, 2026. Visitors can peek inside the snowpack to find animals that make their homes in the snow, walk through a snowstorm, or even build a snowman!
The outdoor “Playing Woods” area is always a hit with our family; we plan for snack time and a rest there. The NC Arboretum is also a participant in the ecoEXPLORE citizen science program and the Kids in Parks TRACK Trail program, both of which make a visit even more immersive.
Mother of four young boys, Liene is constantly on the move since returning to Greenville in 2012. Whether she’s exploring the state parks and natural areas of the Carolinas or teaming up with other moms to organize activities for the kids, she’s always searching for the next adventure in the Upstate. For everything from hiking, travel, cooking and crafts to multicultural & global education posts, visit her blog, http://FemmeauFoyer2011.blogspot.com.
A North Carolina city ranks among the nation’s best places for singles to call home.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
A North Carolina city is bursting with “food and fun” — and ranks as one of the nation’s best places for singles.
Asheville is No. 8 on a list of destinations offering entertainment options, lower housing costs and other factors that are appealing for single residents, according to results published Oct. 13.
“While romance is still on the wish list for many, today’s singles are also prioritizing vibrant social scenes, strong career opportunities, and an affordable cost of living,” the online rental tool Zumper wrote in its report.
To create the list, Zumper said it studied 100 of the most populous cities across the country. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, online maps and other sources, the website graded places in eight categories: single population, median rent, median income, cost of living, unemployment rate, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment.
Why Asheville ranks as a top place for singles
Asheville was the only place in North Carolina to rank among the nation’s top 10 destinations for singles. Zumper called the city a “cultural hotspot,” boasting some of the most social venues per capita.
“Asheville, North Carolina leads the way for food and fun, ranking first in both restaurants and entertainment while also earning the number two spot for nightlife,” the website wrote in its report.
The mountain destination also received an “A” grade for having low unemployment. But it didn’t fare as well when it came to its share of single residents and economic-related metrics, scoring Cs and a D in those categories.
The results come as Asheville has been rebounding from Hurricane Helene, which knocked down trees and unleashed devastating flooding when it hit parts of Western North Carolina last fall.
As Asheville rebuilds, it has been recognized as one of the nation’s best places to visit and the No. 1 “nicest place in America.” Both of those rankings praised the city for offering a sense of community, mountain scenery and a bustling arts scene. The destination also is known for breweries, helping it to rank among the top U.S. cities for beer lovers, McClatchy News reported.
When it comes to the most attractive places for singles, here’s where other North Carolina cities landed on the latest list from Zumper:
Greensboro at No. 26
Raleigh at No. 32
Charlotte at No. 36
Durham at No. 54
Winston-Salem at No. 60
Nationwide, St. Louis ranked as the best place for singles to live. Rounding out the top five:
A North Carolina city was named the “Nicest Place in America.”
Simone Jasper
sjasper@newsobserver.com
A North Carolina city exudes the “true meaning of community” — and it’s been crowned the “Nicest Place in America,” a new report finds.
Asheville ranks No. 1 on a list of places where people show the utmost respect and concern for others, according to Reader’s Digest.
“The Nicest Places initiative called on readers across the country to nominate towns, businesses, and neighborhoods that exemplify goodwill,” the magazine wrote in a Sept. 26 news release. “Asheville stood out after receiving a record number of nominations highlighting how its residents came together following the devastating hurricane in September 2024.”
Reader’s Digest on its website didn’t share how many people voted in this year’s contest but said it’s received thousands of nominations since 2017. In addition to having readers share places that radiate kindness, the magazine turned to a panel of judges to determine the winners.
What makes Asheville, NC, nice?
Asheville topped the list as Reader’s Digest praised the city for its resilience and sense of community, especially after Hurricane Helene. When the deadly storm hit last fall, it knocked down trees and caused catastrophic flooding in parts of Western North Carolina.
“The community’s response, from grassroots relief efforts to neighbors helping neighbors, showcased a powerful culture of self-reliance and mutual aid that defines the city,” the magazine wrote. “Beyond its compassionate response to crisis, Asheville is celebrated for its vibrant arts and cultural scene, stunning Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, and an atmosphere of openness and tolerance.”
As Asheville continues to rebound, CNN Travel named it one of the nation’s best places to visit, and Southern Living said it was one of the South’s favorite destinations. Both of the rankings praised the city for having residents who banded together after the storm.
It’s not the first time the “Nicest Places in America” list has included a North Carolina winner. Last year, a free dental clinic in the mountain town of Cashiers was a finalist, McClatchy News reported.
In the latest contest, these places followed top-ranked Asheville in being named finalists:
Medina, Ohio
Monroe, Louisiana
Peru Amateur Circus in Peru, Indiana
Semicolon Books in Chicago
Here are the judges who helped choose the winners:
Mitch Albom, author
Sandra Clark, nonprofit CEO
Mónica Guzmán, author and senior fellow
Greg Hudnall, past nominator
Bonnie Kintzer, former media CEO
Al Roker, TV weatherman and anchor
McClatchy News reached out to a spokesperson for more information about the rankings and is awaiting a response.
A North Carolina city was named the “Nicest Place in America.”
Simone Jasper
sjasper@newsobserver.com
A North Carolina city exudes the “true meaning of community” — and it’s been crowned the “Nicest Place in America,” a new report finds.
Asheville ranks No. 1 on a list of places where people show the utmost respect and concern for others, according to Reader’s Digest.
“The Nicest Places initiative called on readers across the country to nominate towns, businesses, and neighborhoods that exemplify goodwill,” the magazine wrote in a Sept. 26 news release. “Asheville stood out after receiving a record number of nominations highlighting how its residents came together following the devastating hurricane in September 2024.”
Reader’s Digest on its website didn’t share how many people voted in this year’s contest but said it’s received thousands of nominations since 2017. In addition to having readers share places that radiate kindness, the magazine turned to a panel of judges to determine the winners.
What makes Asheville, NC, nice?
Asheville topped the list as Reader’s Digest praised the city for its resilience and sense of community, especially after Hurricane Helene. When the deadly storm hit last fall, it knocked down trees and caused catastrophic flooding in parts of Western North Carolina.
“The community’s response, from grassroots relief efforts to neighbors helping neighbors, showcased a powerful culture of self-reliance and mutual aid that defines the city,” the magazine wrote. “Beyond its compassionate response to crisis, Asheville is celebrated for its vibrant arts and cultural scene, stunning Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, and an atmosphere of openness and tolerance.”
As Asheville continues to rebound, CNN Travel named it one of the nation’s best places to visit, and Southern Living said it was one of the South’s favorite destinations. Both of the rankings praised the city for having residents who banded together after the storm.
It’s not the first time the “Nicest Places in America” list has included a North Carolina winner. Last year, a free dental clinic in the mountain town of Cashiers was a finalist, McClatchy News reported.
In the latest contest, these places followed top-ranked Asheville in being named finalists:
Medina, Ohio
Monroe, Louisiana
Peru Amateur Circus in Peru, Indiana
Semicolon Books in Chicago
Here are the judges who helped choose the winners:
Mitch Albom, author
Sandra Clark, nonprofit CEO
Mónica Guzmán, author and senior fellow
Greg Hudnall, past nominator
Bonnie Kintzer, former media CEO
Al Roker, TV weatherman and anchor
McClatchy News reached out to a spokesperson for more information about the rankings and is awaiting a response.
When Jamie Petersen moved to North Carolina last fall, she needed fresh air and a fresh start.
Ms. Petersen had faced a string of hardships while living in Brandon, Fla., a suburb of Tampa. In 2012, her brother died from complications of cystic fibrosis. A few years later, her son Wolfgang, now 10, was successfully treated for a cancerous tumor.
[Did you recently buy a home? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]
Then, on Labor Day weekend in 2023, Ms. Petersen was sitting in a car in the parking lot of a bar when an assailant fired several shots through the passenger-side window and fled, leaving her with five bullet wounds. “I almost lost my left arm and had to learn how to walk again,” she said. (A suspect was arrested in January 2024, but official charges were never filed due to lack of evidence.)
As she recuperated, she decided it was “time to get out of Florida.”
“I wasn’t happy with my job, the schools weren’t great, the weather was too hot,” she said.
She didn’t love her house in Brandon, either — a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch behind a shopping center in a flat, congested neighborhood.
After ending a relationship last summer, Ms. Petersen, 47, looked for job openings through HCA Healthcare, the hospital system she works for as a radiology technician. She applied for a position in Brevard, N.C., about 45 minutes outside of Asheville, in a smaller hospital that could accommodate her post-injury limitations. The job also came with a raise.
She and Wolfgang visited in August and quickly fell for the area’s majestic mountains and laid-back Appalachian vibe.
“We loved the beauty of it,” Ms. Petersen said. “Also the weather. It was noticeably cooler here, and there were much less people.”
The pair moved up to North Carolina in December, staying in an Airbnb while exploring the housing market. Sometimes they toured listings with Caroline Ericksen, a Coldwell Banker Advantage broker Ms. Petersen found online. Other times, they simply drove around checking out exteriors.
“It was fun, actually,” she said. “We’d pack up snacks, and you can get a feel for a place if you like the look of the outside or the neighborhood.”
Her house in Florida sold in March, giving her enough for a roughly 20 percent down payment on a $400,000 home.
Ms. Petersen wanted an updated home with at least two bedrooms, a porch, a nice view and some privacy. Ideally, it would be within 30 minutes of her job in Brevard, and near a good school. She also wanted some outdoor space where Wolfgang could run around and explore.
And, coming from Florida, central air-conditioning was a must. “I’d die without it,” Ms. Petersen said.
Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:
Have you ever panned for gold? Are you wanting to go gold panning in North Carolina? Did you know that Parts of Western NC are known for gems and gold mining and Lucky Strike in Marion, NC has both. We tried our hand at gold panning, and here’s how it went!
During our wonderful stay at Gold River, a glamping campground in Western North Carolina, only 90 minutes from Greenville, the kind owners recommended we go gold panning at Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine, just two miles down the road. I’ve done gem mining on a flume a couple of times, which is pretty fun, but it’s fast and not too hard. I thought gold panning would be the same. And did I think we would find gold? Absolutely not.
I was wrong on both accounts!
Where’s that gold?
Lucky Strike Gem Mine & Campground
Lucky Strike is located on the Second Broad River, a shallow, bubbling creek that apparently is rich in gold and mineral deposits. The place is a campground that has tent sites, camper pads, and cabins. It used to be a mining operation but switched in the late 90s to open up more to the public and amateur prospectors.
The owner, Liz McCormick, is one of the nicest people I think I’ve ever met. The woman is a wealth of knowledge about gold panning and the local area. She was so patient in teaching my kids and I how to properly pan for gold and sift through the massive bucket of dirt that we got.
The Miner’s Diner
I love me a good diner and Lucky Strike has a small diner with prices that will have you believing that you stepped back to the 1950s to match. They have coffee and breakfast sandwiches, grits, burgers, fries, hashbrowns, and sweet tea. It was too early for lunch when we went so we ordered a couple of bacon and egg sandwiches on biscuits. They were delicious!
Liz told us the burgers are what customers come back for. I almost went back there for dinner just to try the burgers (at $3 each, why not, right?) but we were so wiped out that we stayed back at Gold River to relax. Next time.
Panning for Gold
I honestly was not thinking we would find any gold. I mean, didn’t that already happen like decades and decades ago? Well, there is some gold left for us!
Gold panning lesson
First of all, panning for gold isn’t like gem mining. Gold flecks are a lot smaller than gems and precious stones so you can’t use those square pans with holes in them. You have to use concave discs that have ridges you use to create little sandy beds with the dirt. Then it is then sifted over with water and spun around a bit to separate any gold you may have from the sand. Liz explained this a lot better than I am.
There is definitely a method to figuring it out and it’s a slow process. I initially thought we would go through two 4-gallon buckets of dirt. We ended up getting one of them ($15) and more than two hours after we started panning for gold, we still had more than a third of the bucket left! I ended up giving the rest to a couple near us since we had to move on to another excursion. Between gold panning and eating at the diner, you could easily spend several hours here.
And we did find gold! When you do gold panning, you get a little suction thing to grab the gold and a small container to put it in so you can see your prize up close. It was so cool and my kids and I had such a blast doing it.
The gold we found
My kids, ages 11 and 8, really enjoyed it as well although my youngest seemed to be getting bored over an hour into it because she was having some trouble figuring out the whole panning technique. I think a lot of the interest will depend upon each individual kid.
Another cool thing about either choosing gem mining or gold panning is that you can do it rain or shine since the flumes are under a big, covered shelter.
Visiting Lucky Strike Gold & Gem Mine
Lucky Strike is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. They are closed on Christmas Day. They have other things related to panning there as well but I honestly have no idea what they mean: high banking, group digs, and dredging. I did see a lot of heavy machinery there and big tubes and hoses but I don’t know anything about this topic to even guess how they are used. My gold mining knowledge only extends to a couple of Discovery Channel shows.
Lucky Strike has restrooms and a little gift shop on site.
If you’re up in the area, I highly recommend checking out Lucky Strike for the sheer excitement of trying your luck panning for gold and of course, grabbing a burger while you’re at it.
Have you heard of French Broad Chocolate? This unique chocolate factory is nestled in Asheville, NC. The Asheville chocolate factory gives tours of their factory complete with a chocolate tasting. And while you won’t see any Oompa Loompa’s on this tour, or float down a river of chocolate on your way to rooms in the factory, you will learn where cacao beans come from and see how French Broad Chocolate turns the beans into their delicious bars, bonbons, and sipping chocolate. We attended the Bean-to-Bar tour and we have everything you’ll want to know about this educational and delicious family activity.
Thanks to French Broad Chocolate Factory and Cafe for providing complimentary tickets so we could bring this review to our readers.
The French Broad Chocolate Factory Bean to Bar Tour
What will you learn on this bean-to-bar tour? Literally, how chocolate is made starting with the bean and ending with the finished bar or product. Since chocolate making actually begins on the farms where cacao pods grow, and we can’t hop on a plane to Costa Rica to start our tour, the bean-to-bar tour officially begins in a classroom at the French Broad Chocolate Factory with a brief presentation on cacao pods, farms, and the process of harvesting the beans.
The tour guide is extremely knowledgeable and encouraged lots of questions. We learned a little geography about the parts of the world where cacao can grow. And, then we got to see how cacao pods are opened which is a process that is not automated and must be done by hand, meaning every piece of chocolate you’ve ever eaten has started by hand.
The interior of a cacao pod is totally not what I expected, and the work that goes into harvesting the beans out of a single pod is pretty amazing. But I won’t spoil this part of the tour for you, because they will do a far better job explaining it than I will.
The Tasting
During this classroom time, guests have an opportunity to taste 4 different types of chocolate and a roasted cacao bean. Two of the chocolate pieces are single-origin meaning the beans used to make the chocolate came from only one location. It was amazing to taste the differences in the flavors of the chocolate that came from different places. Some flavors were fruity while others were more nutty or earthy. In fact, there’s a whole chocolate flavor wheel. Who knew?
The Factory Tour
So, the beans have been harvested, fermented, dried, packaged, and shipped. They’ve arrived at the factory, so now what? It’s time to tour the factory.
On the factory tour portion, the tour guide will take your group to large viewing windows at each room in the factory where you can watch employees and machines working to make the chocolate sold by French Broach Chocolate. Our guide told us what was happening in each room and what the equipment we were viewing was doing, beginning with roasting the beans, then separating the shell from the cacao nibs. You’ll see how the chocolate is moved through the factory through pipes in the ceiling for each step of the process turning it into the creamy liquid chocolate they need to make their bars, bonbons, chips, and more.
There is even a stop on the tour where the chocolate aroma is piped out of the room to just above the viewing window. Our guide referred to it as an “aroma shower”. Let me tell you, I went 10 years without a sense of smell due to a chronic disease called AERD, I was never so glad to have my sense of smell back as I was standing under that aroma shower. It was magnificent warm, creamy, chocolate perfection somehow all rolled into a scent. You could practically taste it. They should bottle it.
The Cafe at French Broad Chocolate Factory
When arriving for the tour, you’ll check in at the cafe’s register. There is a delicious array of chocolate baked goods, bonbons, coffee drinks, and hot chocolate to purchase at the cafe. Perhaps the coolest part is that you can take your treats to the bar across from some of the factory viewing windows and watch the chocolate being made, while you enjoy it.
Cafe items are not included in the tour, but we arrived about 30 minutes early to purchase and enjoy some treats before the tour. It was a good move. The macaroon my son chose was basically the size of his hand. He said the hot chocolate he also ordered was the “best ever” and I really enjoyed my chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookie and coffee.
The cafe is also where you can purchase boxed chocolates, bars, and other gifts like chocolate-scented soap, candles, and even tea and t-shirts.
You do not have to attend the tour to visit the cafe. So, if you’re in Asheville and craving something sweet, you can totally swing by the cafe. And, I definitely suggest that you do.
Restrooms are available in the cafe area.
Can I bring kids on the factory tour at French Broad Chocolate?
Yes! My 11-year-old son was very engaged throughout the entire tour and the tour guide welcomed his questions and observations about flavors during the tasting.
That said, the tour is about an hour long, split about equally between classroom time and walking around the factory. I wouldn’t recommend this tour for kids who wouldn’t be able to stay focused for that time, but, that’s really up to parents. There is no age requirement. For younger kids, you might just want to visit the cafe and check out a couple of factory windows visible from the cafe floor.
The tour would be an amazing homeschool field trip. My kids are homeschooled and I just love well-done educational opportunities like this. Could we have learned all that in a book? Maybe. But it wouldn’t have been as cool, he wouldn’t have been as interested, and we wouldn’t have gotten to smell and taste that chocolate. It was a great tour!
Want to go?
Tours and tasting opportunities are offered daily at French Broad Chocolate Factory and Cafe.
Bean-to-Bar tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. These tours cost $12 for adults, $8 for kids ages 8 to 12. Kids ages 7 and under are free. You must book before visiting! Book your tour on the French Broad Chocolate Factory website.
On Sundays, no tour is offered, but they do have special tastings on select Sundays at 2 pm and 3 pm where you can taste chocolate, wine, and cider. Tickets are $35 for adults and only adults ages 21+ can attend these tastings.
Private tours and field trips can also be booked!
Parking is available on site, and the factory is located across from the French Broad River. There are numerous places nearby to park to enjoy the paved trails along the river before or after your tour.
Are you looking for fun day trips for couples? In this busy world, it is important for couples to spend quality time together, without the kids. And when a date night just won’t cut it, a day trip may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Local mom Anna put together this list of places perfect for any couple to escape to when they need to reconnect. Whether you want to head north to the mountains or south to the water this list has something for you!
Now that school’s in session, how about some parent time for Mom and Dad? In this list, we attempted to put together some destinations outside of Greenville but only about a 2 hour drive or so. Consider this the start of a new tradition in your household and a chance to spend some quality time with your significant other.
Want to venture a little further from home? Visit our travel page – it is loaded with inspiration!
Although this requires some advanced planning such as booking a babysitter ahead or coordinating afterschool pick-ups, once you have it all lined up, it will truly be worth it. We believe parents deserve some kind of pampering and fun on their own. We’re pretty sure once you get started, you can come up with your own. Do share with us, if you find some good ones!
Romantic Asheville
A mountain city, Asheville is teeming with activities for day-trippers filled with glorious views of the Blue Ridge Mountain. Our favorite of course is the Biltmore Estate which has restaurants and cafes on site as you take a break from viewing the vast property. We recommend dining at the stables, moderately priced, and everything they serve is sourced from the farms within the property. Try to arrive by 10 am so you have enough time for lunch and start heading back by 4 pm in time for dinner with the kiddies.
Our second choice for Asheville is the The Omni Grove Park Inn. A historic resort built in 1913, the hotel was designed in the Arts and Crafts tradition by Edwin Wiley Grove, a pharmaceutical manufacturer and his son-in-law Fred Seely. The hotel was resold in 1955, but most of the original design has been retained. It boasts one of the grandest lobbies we’ve seen next to the Biltmore mansion flanked by the biggest 12-foot fireplaces. Scattered all around the lobby is a sampling of authentic and inspired mission furniture.
Stunning views can be soaked in at the in the beautiful views without having to pay the steep room prices. For a fancy lunch, book a date at the Sunset Terrace or admire the same views from the more casual, dine at the Great Hall Bar. For something to do, in addition to exploring the resort property, we highly recommend either an afternoon at their luxurious top-rated spa or visiting the Grovewood Village. Here you will find probably the one of the best Antique Car Museums in our part of the country, see the Biltmore Homespun Museum, walk thru the sculpture garden and shop for special souvenirs at the Gallery of the Mountains.
If you love being close to the water but can’t do the long drive to the coast, Lake Murray, a water reservoir with about 500 miles of shoreline, is a great easy escape. Walk across Lake Murray Dam, rent a motorboat to explore the waterways, go fishing or hit the beach on the Lexington side. Feeling romantic, visit the Love Lock Bridge, clip a padlock to the fence and proclaim your undying love by throwing away the key. Paris may have lost their love lock bridge in Pont des Arts due to tough love by local police, but for now, Lake Murray remains a haven for romantics.
Suggested places for lakeside dining: Rusty Anchor Restaurant for some great seafood and surf and turf combinations, Frayed Knot Bar & Grill for more dining options and finally Liberty Tap Room on the lake for some pizzas and light brews. Before you go, or for more information on Lake Murray Public Park, please call 888.383.5032.
Lake Murray, Lexington side 1797 North Lake Drive Lexington Monday – Friday, 11 am – 8 pm Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 10 am – 8 pm $5 per vehicle Season pass can be purchased for $50 Lake Murray Website
Vineyards Tour in Yadkin Valley
A trip to Raffaldini Vineyards will transport you to the Italian countryside and a great early foray into the Yadkin Valley wine trail. One could easily design a weekend escape around this destination with the numerous vineyards around the valley. Tour their estate grounds and learn about how they use Appasimento, an Italian method for incorporating dehydrated grapes into wine. As for dining, we highly recommend packing a lunch that pairs well with wine or grab some light sandwiches and nibbles from their commissary. They offer a full calendar of events you can attend on their website here.
The perfect day trip for more adventure driven couples, Congaree National Forest, is a perfect Fall hike since it will be less buggy and the weather will be cooler. South Carolina’s very own National Park, the Congaree National Park is filled with such unique natural wonders that we are so glad it received its official designation in 2003. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States! Allot a half-day or full day to explore the forest
. Make sure to bring your camera, lots of water, bug spray and wander through dramatic marshland with a self-guided boardwalk tour. Be on the lookout for the unique Bald Cypress trees and their knobby “knees” scattered throughout the forest. If you are an avid kayaker, this would be the place, just make sure call ahead to check water conditions and mosquito meter! Bring your own or rent canoes and kayaks in the Columbia area. Picnics are the order of the day for this trip, but there are also lots of local BBQ places around the park if you get hungry.
Congaree National Park 100 National Park Road, Hopkins Congaree National Park is open 24 hours a day year round. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 7 days a week, 9 am – 5 pm. 803.776.4396 Congaree National Park Website
For Foodie and History Buffs: Athens, Georgia
Athens is a college town steeped in history with a vibrant contemporary music and restaurant scene. Our favorite restaurants to try are the high-end National, hearty brunch at Mama’s Boy or a eat by the tracks and have some good ol’ BBQ at Pulaski Heights BBQ. Athens has a great vegetarian restaurant called The Grit. For things to do, Athens is the gateway to Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and you will have lots of options to view house museums, heritage sites and historical districts.
Your first stop should be to get a map at the Athens Georgia Welcome Center located in the Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum. If you can get away for a weekend, enjoy some live music at Georgia Theater, 40 Watt or at the Furnace. Athens is also known as the place that launched the careers of R.E.M. and the B-52’s, but we’re pretty sure you already knew that!
In need of a perfect plan, packed with fun things to do in Asheville, NC, for your next family-friendly trip? We have you covered! Situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville makes a beautiful day trip destination. But if you’re looking for something a little longer, there’s enough to do in Asheville to fill up a long weekend. This Guide to Asheville, NC will help you plan your trip!
What Would You Like to Explore in Asheville, NC?
Day Trips and Date Nights: Things to Do in Asheville, NC
Asheville has a lot to offer families. These places make great day trip destinations in Asheville, NC. String a few together and you’ve got a mini-vacation!
If you’re looking for more day trip ideas in the Asheville area, visit our Guide to Western North Carolina where you’ll find many more ideas!
WNC Nature Center is a great place to spend the day with the family and learn about animals native to Western North Carolina! The nature center is home to foxes, black bears, cougars, a hellbender salamander, and more!
WNC Nature Center 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC
WNC Nature Center is so fun. We also LOVE eating at Farm Burger.
Ride KidZip, the first Zipline in the country built for kids ages 4 to 10. But don’t think this place is just for younger kids, there’s an adult zipline course, a climbing wall, and their Treetops Adventure Park, and more!
The North Carolina Arboretum is a beautiful place to spend a few hours. Enjoy the gorgeous flowers, plants, and fountains. Stroll through the Bonsai Garden, or watch the outdoor model train run through a garden village. The NC Arboretum is located just before the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, so you can explore there once you leave.
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828.665.2492
It wouldn’t be a visit to Asheville if you didn’t embrace the art culture there. There are art galleries galore to explore, with tons of local and award-winning artist’s works on display.
Winter Things to Do Near Asheville
Winter activities in Asheville include skiing and snow tubing. Here are a couple of places where you can enjoy these winter sports and activities in Asheville.
We love corn mazes! Asheville is home to the Eliada Corn Maze where you can get lost in a corn maze, but also enjoy hay rides, cow train rides, a small hay bale maze, spider web play area, giant slides, corn cob guns, giant checkers game and more!
After I saw photos from the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, NC, I knew that my family would have to go. We love outdoor adventures and seeing animals, so I knew that my kids enjoy a visit. When we decided to finally visit, the WNC Nature Center was even better than I anticipated. If you haven’t been, you need to schedule a visit. And guess what? If you already have a Greenville Zoo membership, you can get half off admission to the WNC Nature Center.
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Why the WNC Nature Center is so cool
The WNC Nature Center focuses on animals and plants in the southern Appalachian mountains so you’ll get to see animals that roamed this area eons ago up to the present day. The uniqueness of this aspect helps guests to understand more about their own environment and animals they may see in the area.
The center is built into nature with lots of shade, walkways, and natural playgrounds. It’s not huge so it’s very manageable for a day trip, especially with smaller children. The exhibits are interactive and fun for kids of all ages and the park is hardly commercialized.
What You Will See at the WNC Nature Center
You will start your visit in the Appalachian Station where kids can see a variety of small animals and reptiles. Children will also enjoy interacting with a textured wall and looking at rocks under microscopes.
Then, you will venture outside where you will follow paved and wooden sidewalks through animal exhibits. Most of the animals are behind glass or chain link fences but the exhibits themselves are large and full of animal play structures. These animal exhibits include: otters, raccoons, foxes, gray wolves, cougars, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, hawks, owls, and more. There is a brand new red panda exhibit with the cutest, fluffiest red panda ever. And the red wolf exhibit is an educational experience unto itself.
While exploring, you will also find the Trillium Nature Trail, a .6 mile nature trail to allow children to see the beauty along the Swannanoa River.
Kids will enjoy the Arachnid Adventure, a playground based on spider web jungle gyms. This playground also is surrounded by spiders hiding on the surrounding trees making a fun “eye-spy game”. There are also other playgrounds scattered throughout the park where kids use natural materials to build and play with.
Otter Falls also has a slide that kids can play on while they watch the active animals enjoy the water.
Your visit will end at the Western North Carolina Farm where kids will get to pet animals and even pretend to be farmers themselves in an interactive play zone with small wheelbarrows and tools inside the huge barn. Be sure to check out “water painting” nearby. A gem mine is also next to the barn and the buckets can be purchased in the little shop.
A new Songbird Garden is near the wolves and built like a big wall but cutouts to try to find the birds that are pictured on the wall.
Sensory Bags are available for free
For parents of children with autism or sensory processing disorders, free sensory bags can be signed out at the gift shop upon entering the center. They are sponsored by KultureCity, a national non-profit, and include headphones, a fidget toy, and a feelings chart.
Signs are posted throughout the park indicating areas to perhaps use the headphones. It’s great that the WNC Nature Center now has these available!
Should I bring a stroller?
If you’ve got small kids, bring a stroller or rent one ($10) there. There are lots of hills and little legs will probably get tired. There are plenty of places to rest and enjoy the animals and playgrounds but yes, strollers would be ideal.
Our Experience at the WNC Nature Center
We came later in the day, so we ended up missing the petting zoo (it closed at 4 pm) and didn’t have time to explore the trail. My kids had such a great time though that we hardly missed the extra activities. We easily spent two hours exploring and could have spent another 30 minutes if the nature center would have been open longer. We tend to be slow visitors to attractions, so your family may tour the center quicker especially if you don’t have small children who want to play in the play areas.
I really enjoyed that the layout and outdoor walkways seemed more like a nature walk than zoo. The animals were active in the cool fall air and most of them were easily visible. The paths were easy to follow, though it was confusing figuring out which way to turn to explore the center without missing any of the exhibits.
My kids favorite exhibits were the Otter Falls and the WNC Farm play area. I personally loved watching the cougars and was thrilled to get some wonderful photos even through glass. I was disappointed that glass and fences made it difficult and even impossible to get good photos of some of the animals, but at least the animals were easy to see in person.
Some concessions are available through vending machines and new concession areas will likely be opening in the next year. The center also has plenty of picnic space for families wanting to bring a lunch. The WNC Nature Center is also right beside a large park with a playground, picnic shelters, and public pool. The center has restrooms in the ticket access, barn near the petting zoo, at the arachnid climbing playground, and in the Appalachian Station which are wheelchair accessible.
Open: 7 days a week, 10 am – 3:30 pm Admission: $13.95/ adults ($1 off for seniors), $13.95/ youth (13-15), $9.95/ kids (ages 3 – 12) 2 and younger free, half off with Greenville Zoo membership 75 Gashes Creek Road; Asheville, NC 28805 828.259.8080 WNC Nature Center
Have you ever visited the WNC Nature Center? What did you think?
Have you tried Poppy Popcorn? If you love popcorn and want to support a local small business, KAG contributor, Kristina, has just the place to get some delicious popcorn.
I love my kids dearly but I don’t want to share everything with them. I have to be pretty stealth when it comes to hiding my favorite snacks from them since kids don’t listen when you ask them to pick up their toys yet somehow hear the crackle of you opening a bag of snacks and come running from the furthest place in the house to get some of it.
For more local food, see our many stories on places to find local meat, eggs, bread, and other goodies.
So it goes with Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, a company out of Asheville, NC that makes perhaps the most perfect and delicious popcorn I’ve ever had. They sent us some samples of several of their best-selling flavors like Birthday Confetti and Salted Caramel last fall, which I can pinpoint as the time I fell in love with the company. I’ve searched them out ever since.
The joy of popping those delicious flavors on a hike, at a playground, in the kitchen when my kids were outside playing was blissful. I will readily admit I hid the last remnants of the popcorn from my kids because well, I’m the mom and I wanted this small thing for myself.
During the holidays, I was making an effort to buy local gifts for my clients and sent a bunch of gift packages from Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn to all parts of the country. They were such a hit. The company has become my go-to gift for pretty much anyone now and the recipients always enjoy it and I get that good feeling of shopping from a local small business. Win-win.
Poppy Was Started by a Mom
Poppy was founded by a mom named Ginger. She wanted to do something that allowed her to be there for her kids’ sports games, school programs, and all those things a lot of working mothers miss out on. So in 2014, she had one popcorn machine and made some delicious popcorn with no artificial ingredients in efforts to set herself apart from the bigger popcorn brands.
Her popcorn was a huge hit and word got around that this mom was making popcorn that was amazing and delicious. Stores started asking her if they could sell it and the business took off. Everything is still made locally in Western NC and ingredients are sourced as close to home as possible.
Both Savory and Sweet Flavors of Popcorn
Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn has both savory and sweet flavors to enjoy. I think my favorites are their Chocolate Peanut Butter and Reindeer Crunch.
Yet they recently came out with a new BBQ line of popcorn I was able to try. Not going to lie here – I was hesitant about these because really, how can you make BBQ flavored popcorn taste good?
They somehow managed to make these new flavors delicious. They have Honey BBQ, Kansas City BBQ, Carolina BBQ, and Texas BBQ, each with different notes of tangy, sweet, and spicy. And they really taste like BBQ, which is pretty crazy considering you are eating popcorn. My kids also loved these.
If you like cheesy popcorn flavors, Poppy also has those concoctions. Try the Chili Cheese, Parmesan and Black Pepper, White Cheddar, or Pimento Cheese to satisfy those cravings.
They also sell vegan, gluten free, and dairy free popcorn flavors. All their popcorn is GMO-free and also has zero artificial flavors/colors/dyes.
Where to get Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn
You can get the popcorn at local retailers like the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Whole Foods. I’ve seen them at the Biltmore and even at a small shop in Florida! For a full list, go to their store locator page.
You can also easily order the popcorn straight from their website. I usually order one of their best-selling gift packages. I find them to be reasonably priced and pretty awesome gifts.
What is your favorite flavor of Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn?
If the idea of touring the Biltmore Estate in Asheville with your kids sounds daunting, have no fear. We lay out all kinds of things you can do at the estate – most of them don’t even involve visiting the house itself. I’ve been several times and had so many questions initially, but every time I’ve gone, I learn more and explore more of the 8,000+ acres – and fall in love with the Biltmore just a bit more.
Biltmore: It’s a real-life castle
Have you ever daydreamed of visiting a real-life castle? Touring the halls and stately rooms, being transported to a different time and place, experiencing the luxurious life? How about touring the castle vineyard, visiting the stables, exploring the renowned gardens? Well, you don’t have to hop on a plane for Europe to set your eyes upon gargoyles and ball gowns, just head to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, a picturesque castle with over 8,000 acres, 250 rooms, and a hundred years of history.
Regardless of whether you are a pass holder or visiting for the day, if you want to tour the house, you need to reserve a time online. Be sure to print out your confirmation email, since you’ll need to show the staff before they let you in. And get there at least 45 minutes before your scheduled tour time to allow for parking and either taking a shuttle to the house or walking over via the trails.
Is Biltmore Worth It?
Many parents ask if taking the kids through the house is worth it, which is a valid question. If you don’t reserve a guided tour (an extra cost), you’ll automatically be doing the self-guided tour, which you can go at your own pace but will be following a crowd. Even though the house is just stunning and seeing the grandeur of the rooms is amazing, some kids will be bored. And if you have little kids, you need to keep them with you and not let them run behind the roped-off sections.
I first took my kids to the house when they were 7 and 3 and we didn’t make it through the whole tour because one of them needed to use the restroom – which you must do before you enter the house as there are no bathrooms inside for guests. Bathrooms are located near the Stable Cafe to the right of the house outdoors.
The second time we went was a couple of years later and we got through most of the house, maybe because it was Christmastime and the decorations were mesmerizing. Now, my kids are 9 and 13 and we go every Christmas and they truly enjoy it.
The Biltmore offers an audio tour ($15) for kids, narrated by the Vanderbilt’s dog, Cedric, which they may find entertaining.
Either way, be prepared to bail if you need to. There’s a lot to do on the estate besides the house, no matter how gorgeous it is. The Biltmore ticket system requires you to choose a House ticket or a Grounds & Gardens ticket. The House ticket includes the Grounds but a Grounds & Gardens ticket does not include the House tour.
Biltmore Gardens
I’ve taken so many walks through the Biltmore Gardens and just can’t get enough. They were designed by the father of modern-day landscaping, Frederick Law Olmstead, and are breathtaking.
I thought Spring was my favorite season there as the tulips and daffodils light up the pathways. Then I thought early summer was my favorite because of the beautiful rose garden and azalea garden. Then I decided Fall was my favorite because of the colorful mums that were planted in mesmerizing patterns.
Biltmore sunflowers
But after I took walks and bike rides along the sunflower fields near Antler Hill Village in the late summer and early Fall, I just figured I’d get a season pass so I could visit whenever I wanted.
I can’t decide on when all the flowers are the most gorgeous so you’ll just have to go for yourself to see them.
Your House and Grounds & Gardens tickets both include access to the gardens, the walking trails, and the Conservatory. You don’t need a reserved time to walk through the gardens, you just go when you want.
Antler Hill Village: Biltmore with Kids
Antler Hill Village is my favorite place at the Biltmore Estate because it’s filled with lots of kid-friendly things to do and it’s all included with admission.
The Farmyard is a small farm area where kids are welcome to pet the animals. They have goats (baby goats come March of every year!), chickens, horses, and pigs. On some occasions, they have had border collie sheep herding demonstrations, which are fun to watch.
Next to the farm is the Pisgah Playground, a big play area with swings, slides, and climbing structures. It’s a great place to let the kids enjoy a beautiful day outside.
And up the hill a little ways from the playground is the Antler Hill Barn where craft demonstrations take place every Thursday-Sunday. I love this area as the staff are so kind and engaging with the kids. There is also a little cafe with beer and wine so I’ve had a beer while watching my kids do crafts or play there. It’s a perfect place to relax. There are also restrooms at the barn.
You can also pick up several hiking trails at Antler Hill Village right behind the barn and wander past the fields with cows and pens with goats. Grab a map at the Outdoor Center near the barn.
Also in Antler Hill Village is the Winery. We’ve actually done grape-stomping there before, which was a blast. From the village, you enter the winery in the main square and get to walk through an underground tunnel to get to the tasting room and shopping area. Adults are welcome to do a complimentary wine tasting and kids can tag along and have grape juice. The servers are generous with the wine samples so take that into consideration when figuring out the best time to go!
Get Your Adventure On
The French Broad River runs right through the estate, which makes for great rafting trips. It’s a wide river with few rapids, which makes it perfect for families. The rafting trip is about two hours long and costs $50/person.
If horseback riding is on your to-do list, the Biltmore also offers guided tours of 1-10 people with a two-day advance registration. Ages 8 and up are welcome to do this activity and it costs $135/person for an hour ride through the estate.
You probably won’t be surprised the Biltmore offers carriage rides through the estate. A 60-minute carriage ride is offered Friday through Sunday and takes guests around the beautiful estate and house. Cost is $95/person and one child 5 years and younger is free per paying adult.
Fall at the Biltmore
There are more than 20 miles of biking trails at the Biltmore Estate, which run all throughout Antler Village and up to the house. You can either rent bikes ($20/bike for two hours) at the Bike Barn, which is open daily dependent on weather, or bring your own bikes and ride them at your leisure. I’ve brought my kids’ scooters and bikes and we rode the trails from Antler Hill up to the house, to the Gardens, and to the pond, and had so much fun.
The two-hour kids fly fishing lesson is at the top of my list at the Biltmore. I really want to learn how to do this and would love for my kids to have instruction (since I know nothing about it). For a private lesson at the Biltmore, it will cost you $125 per kid.
Dining with Kids at the Estate
There are several dining options at the Biltmore. The Stable Cafe right at the main house has a selection of comfort food that’s easy to grab and eat. Families also love Cedric’s Tavern in Antler Hill Village, which has typical pub fare. Consider making reservations at the sit-down places to get your preferred time.
If you’re feeling extra fancy, the Inn has Afternoon Tea, where they serve a delightful mix of sweet and savory treats, tea, and fine cheese. Prices currently are $75/person.
Antler Hill Village also has a confectionery and creamery, where you can’t possibly make a bad decision. My kids and I try to make a stop here just for their ice cream.
Also feel free to bring your own lunch or picnic and eat at the covered tables in Antler Hill Village or at any number of the beautiful open spaces around the estate.
Seasonal Fun & Exhibits
I’ve gotten to see some pretty neat exhibits at the Biltmore like the Titanic exhibit with so many of Kate Winslet’s dresses [insert completely excited face here], a fantastic train exhibit, Christmas at the Biltmore, and Chihuly at Biltmore. These special events and exhibits are incredibly well done and worth a visit.
Christmas at the Biltmore
I have started taking my daughters every year to tour the House during Christmastime because it is so beautiful. We really love checking out the 50+ Christmas trees in the House and seeing the decorations.
They are decorated in the most delicate of glass ornaments, and most likely not shatter-proof. We admired the gorgeous velvet ribbons carefully wrinkled at the right places seemingly mimicking the damask finery found in the guest rooms.
My personal favorite was a tree on the second floor, close to the Louis XV suite. Beneath the tree, a vignette of vintage toys were carefully assembled to stir any child’s imagination of toy soldiers and sugar plum fairies. Perhaps its proximity to the room where Cornelia Vanderbilt was born, was the reason for the child-friendly tree. It was a good reminder that a family once lived in this beautiful home.
The spots for the Christmas House tours usually go fast so you’ll need to reserve your preferred time and date online. They also have wildly popular candlelight tours, which I have yet to do, but would love to take in that experience sometime. Christmas at the Biltmore runs from November 2, 2024 through January 5, 2025.
Chihuly at Biltmore
Chihuly at Biltmore is an incredible collection of blown glass art from Dale Chihuly. The Biltmore has collaborated with him in the past, placing several of his gorgeous pieces around the estate in 2018. This time, his work is featured in seven galleries at Amherst in Deerpark near Antler Hill Village. The exhibit runs March 25, 2024 through January 5, 2025.
Chihuly at Biltmore
We got to go through it and take a tour with representatives from the Biltmore and Dale Chihuly’s studio, which was completely fascinating as we learned how the exhibit came about and the unbelievable preparations for it to be held in that location. The exhibit is extraordinarily unique with 33 pieces that include thousands of smaller pieces of blown glass. The creations don’t even seem real.
Chihuly has a background in weaving, which he somehow used in several of his pieces that were inspired by Native American art, which you’ll see in the second gallery. Be sure to watch the short movie about Chihuly before you head to the galleries and read the plaques because they are fascinating.
Chihuly’s knowledge of how how light interacts with glass is on display throughout the exhibit but especially in the room with the Parisian ceiling. The art is above you and the light is reflected through all of those pieces to create art on the surrounding white walls. You’ll feel transported to another world.
Chihuly at Biltmore
I kept staring at the chandelier pieces in the room next to the one with the Parisian ceiling trying to figure out how Chihuly put them together and created the nuances in color in the glass. I can’t even wrap my head around it.
The next gallery features a garden of glass flowers that looks like it is floating on water. It’s called the Millie Fiori, thousand flowers, and I advise just taking your time in here, walking around the piece and looking at every detail. Chihuly was inspired by his mother’s garden and this specific composition was designed and created specifically for the Biltmore.
Chihuly at Biltmore
The last gallery is a neon glass gallery that was inspired by tumbleweeds. It’s so unexpected because it’s not as colorful as his other pieces yet somehow flows well in the entire exhibit. The pieces are anchored in sycamore trees.
By the time we exited the gallery, I think my head was spinning (in a good way). I love art and especially glass blowing but Chihuly at Biltmore was a whole other level. His art almost cleared my head and became therapeutic because all I could consider was the beauty and awe of it. I’m grateful for the partnership the Biltmore and Dale Chihuly forged in order to bring the exhibit here. I wish I could afford even a small piece of Chihuly’s art, which you can absolutely buy in the gift shop if you’ve got the funds!
One thing to mention if you plan to bring your kids is that Chihuly designs his pieces to be see up close and enjoyed by all, which means there are no barriers around any of his art. So, parents, watch your kids closely.
Your entry ticket or annual pass does not include entry to Chihuly at Biltmore. Ticket prices are:
March 25–May 23, 2024: Starting at $125
May 24–November 1, 2024: Starting at $115
November 2, 2024–January 5, 2025: Starting at $145
$30/adult and $15/kids for pass holders
The entire exhibit is wheelchair and stroller-accessible. Plan to spend about an hour inside the exhibit galleries.
Need-to-Know Tips for Visiting Biltmore Estate
Plan to spend the day
There is plenty to see (or cut short if need be), but it would be awful to feel rushed. Many of the kid attractions close at 5 pm.
Getting around can take some time
You can drive to the Biltmore House and park in one of the several lots. Lot A is about an eight-minute walk to the house while the other lots are further away. There are shuttles to take you to the house and to Antler Hill Village. You can also take shuttles – which come about every 20 minutes – from the house to Antler Hill Village.
The Deerpark Trail from Antler Hill to the house is around three miles. You can also drive to Antler Hill and walk to the house or take the shuttle. There is a parking lot near the lagoon and trail as well if you want to park there and walk the 1.5 miles to Antler Hill or up the hill to the house and come out on the side near the gardens.
Free things to do at Biltmore
While you need a ticket to get into the Biltmore, there are lots of free things to do once there: bring your bikes and bike the trails, take a walk amongst the gardens and sunflowers, visit the Conservatory, visit the Farmyard, play on the Pisgah Playground, do a wine tasting, make a craft at the Antler Hill Barn.
Less lines mean happy kids. (Kids 16 and under are free during the summer. The rest of the year, kids 9 and younger are free.) Ticket prices start at $95 and vary depending on season. Read on to learn about the annual pass and saving money.
Bring your stroller/backpack
Strollers and backpack carriers are welcome. You will want to stick with a carrier in the house as some of the areas are difficult to navigate with a stroller.
As part of the Biltmore bag policy no backpacks are allowed on any guided tour.
Wear your walking shoes
Put everyone in comfy walking shoes and put on sunscreen as exploring the grounds is one of the best parts of the trip.
Think about getting an annual pass
An annual pass is usually $249/person and kids ages 16 and younger get in free with a passholder. They usually offer discounts on their annual pass in November (that’s when I got mine for a lot less than $249). Stay tuned to their social media and website to score a deal.
Passholder benefits are awesome, too – discounts on tickets for guests, discounts on tours, shopping, dining, and lodging, and discounts at other attractions like Chimney Rock State Park, Dollywood, Tweetsie Railroad, Mast General Store, and Grandfather Mountain.
In Asheville, NC you’ll find the Asheville Retrocade, a fantastic place to spend a few hours during rainy, cold, or hot weather. You can play all day for one price and it’s great for the whole family.
Need someplace in Asheville, NC to spend a few hours indoors during a rainy, cold, or hot day? We’ve got just the place: Asheville Retrocade, an old-school arcade that features two floors of games and is family-friendly.
Asheville Retrocade
Playing at Asheville Retrocade
I am always looking for fun, indoor things to do when the weather isn’t cooperating and found just the spot at Asheville Retrocade. For this trip, I was visiting with a friend and her young daughter staying in the area and thanks to Google, found this indoor mecca of Pac-Man and race car driving. Now you don’t even need Google to find cool places like this since you have this story!
So at Asheville Retrocade, you pay a flat fee of $10/person (kids under 5 are free) and that gives you access to two floors of pinball, Pac-Man, dance-off games, race car games, air hockey, skeeball, and tons more games. No quarters are needed here.
Pinball at Asheville Retrocade
They claim to have more than 5,000 games at the arcade. They do have a lot but I’m not sure it equals 5,000. That said, I totally lost track of time there and ended up spending about two-and-a-half hours at the arcade, which was such a fun way to spend time with my own kids and my friend.
Play All Day with Retro Games
When you get to Asheville Retrocade, you pay $10/person and get a wristband, which allows you to come and go all day. The arcade is truly like taking a step back in time. I didn’t play a lot of video games as a kid but the ones I did play, like Pac-Man, are ingrained in my childhood and I love them. It was a lot of fun to play those nostalgic games I did as a kid.
We went during Christmas Break and there was actually a line to get in. I was nervous that we wouldn’t be able to play many games because there were too many people. But I shouldn’t have been worried. We only ever had to wait maybe five minutes for a game and there were always spots open at other games that we could play.
The kids we had with us were ages 3, 9, and 12 and all of us had a blast. The place is truly family-friendly and welcoming. There were a lot of families when we went and it was so much fun to enjoy that time together and see other families doing the same.
Asheville Retrocade
Food and Drinks at Asheville Retrocade
The arcade has several options for drinks, including local craft beer, wine, and fountain drinks. They have free water available also.
They also have snack food available for purchase.
Things to Know When Visiting Asheville Retrocade
Here are a few tips when you visit:
There is free street parking, which is awesome.
After 9 pm, guests need to be ages 21+
If a game is occupied that you want, just be patient and wait or play something else. It will open up!
There are bathrooms and hand sanitizer available but still wash your hands during and after your visit.
Expect heavier crowds during school breaks, holidays, and rainy days.
You can book a private party at the arcade.
Heading to the Asheville Retrocade
The arcade is open daily Noon-2 am. After 9 pm, patrons need to be 21+. You can purchase your wristband when you get there.
Need more ideas for Asheville fun? Visit our Asheville Guide for ideas on how to enjoy the city with your family.
If you are planning a festive day trip, then Christmas in Asheville, NC will check off all the boxes on your itinerary! Asheville, North Carolina offers a variety of things to do for the holidays, from Christmas lights to gingerbread houses, parades, and more!
We’ve got a list of kid-friendly holiday events to do in Asheville, NC, and all the details you’ll need to plan your visit.
Christmas in Asheville, NC
I never need much of a reason to visit Asheville. I love the view of the mountains in the background while walking around downtown. There is always live music by musicians busking outside and all the shops welcome you with a smile. There are a variety of different restaurants and historical landmarks to visit within walking distance or just a small drive away. Plus, with the gorgeous backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, maybe you’re family will get a magical snowy adventure while you celebrate the holiday season in Asheville.
Watch A Holiday Parade To Kickoff The Season
Get in the holiday spirit by watching a Holiday Parade. Everyone gathers together to welcome the beginning of the holiday season.
The Asheville Holiday Parade November 18th, 2023 | 11 AM to 12:30 PM, with streets closing and traffic beginning around 7 AM Downtown Asheville will have a variety of streets closed for this event, but come early and you can snag a spot along the one-mile route. There will be over 100 entries to enjoy as they travel down the main part of town. The parade starts at Biltmore Avenue and travels up, ending at South French Broad Avenue. There will be photos with Santa at the Restoration Hotel from 2 pm to 4 pm following the parade.
Attend A Tree Lighting Ceremony or Festival In Asheville
The Grove Arcade Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony is the place to be the weekend after Thanksgiving. In addition, the Ingles Giving Tree lighting ceremony is always spectacular! You can also explore the decorated Christmas trees throughout December at the Monte Vista Hotel.
Go See The Gingerbread Creations at Omni Grove Park Inn
One of my favorite Asheville traditions is attending the annual National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Resorts Grove Park Inn. Wondering who gets to vote? The team judges consist of a selected group of culinary experts such as Yolanda Gampp, known as the “Beyonce of Cakes”. Don’t worry, you can still see the creations!
Not only is the Grove Park Inn a historic landmark, but they also go all-out with decorating for the holidays. After checking out the gingerbread competition (seriously one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen!), people are free to wander around or grab a hot chocolate and head to the outside deck to experience a stunning view of the mountains. They have a couple of family-friendly restaurants inside such as the Blue Ridge Artisanal Buffet (where kids under 5 eat for free!), and the Cabana Grill and Bar.
The display opens to the public from November 27, 2023 through January 2, 2024.
Non-guests are permitted Sundays after 4 pm and anytime Monday through Thursday with the exclusion of December 23 -25, and December 30- January 1, 2024.
Viewing the display is free, however, the self parking rate is $25 per car.
Ashville, NC: Christmas at the Biltmore Estate
Of course, one of the most popular places in Asheville to visit during the holidays is the Biltmore. Known for its elegant displays of holiday decor, infamous Candlelight Tours, and a multitude of festivities, Christmas at the Biltmore is a must. You’ll find over 55 Christmas trees throughout the grounds and a variety of activities for kids such as crafts and carriage rides. Nothing says Christmas like a magical carriage ride! They even have an entire greenhouse full of poinsettia plants and Antler Hill Village is illuminated with trees lined with lights.
Most of the restaurants offer a children’s menu, such as the Bistro (Farm-to-table fare), and Deerpark Restaurant (a southern-inspired buffet). Be sure to plan your visit soon!
Christmas in Asheville, NC: See Holiday Lights
When it comes to visiting Asheville for the holidays, you can’t leave without experiencing the Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum. This magical event features over half a million LED lights and walks you through stunning gardens and unique landscapes. This event is great for the entire family – there’s even have a hot cocoa shack. Kids can also experience interactive games, a model train exhibit, free crafts, and a nature-themed animatronic children’s program. Every dollar goes towards their educational programs to keep the Arboretum up and running. A few years ago, Kristina from the Kidding Around team experienced the lights with her family and said it was beyond amazing.
The annual Lake Julian Festival of Lights is a Lake Julian Park and is a quicker drive-through light display that benefits the Buncombe County Special Olympics. Lights include animated and stationary light displays. Tickets are $10 – $50 per car/bus.
Grab A Fresh NC Christmas Tree
Does your family want to chop down your own tree this year? Asheville has a variety of tree farms!
The Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm is known for its gorgeous rolling hills of Christmas trees. Trees are not the only things available at the farm, they also sell fresh wreaths, roping, and tree stand. It’s located at the foot of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains near Maggie Valley and Lake Junaluska and you can even stay the night in one of their cabins (dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash).
Please check with the farm before you head out to make sure they are open and have trees available. Most are only open on select days.
Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farmoffers fresh-cut trees fromNovember 16 – November 19, 2023, November 22 – November 26, 2023, November 28-30th, 2023, and December 1st-3rd, 2023
Mehaffey Tree Farmoffers choose and cut trees on select dates from November 16th through December 10th, 2023
Have you heard about the National Gingerbread Competition at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC? Hansel and Gretel would not miss this Christmas extravaganza, as it showcases dozens of gingerbread houses and holiday decorations galore! Luckily you don’t have to worry about the waistline, because this is a feast for the eyes, not the stomach.
The charming Grove Park Inn in Asheville is a seasonal delight you won’t want to miss this holiday season, and who knows – once inspired, maybe you’ll find yourself building a gingerbread house with the kiddos.
This article was originally published on Femme au foyer.
Looking for more great holiday fun in Asheville, NC? Don’t miss our Guide to Christmas in Asheville, NC. It is loaded with fun things to do from Asheville’s Christmas lights to free Santa photos!
The Annual Gingerbread Competition at Asheville’s Grove Park Inn
The famous gingerbread house competition at the Grove Park Inn is a favorite winter activity for families. Viewing dates are November 27, 2023 through January 2, 2024. If you are not staying at the resort, you are invited to view the displays after 4 pm on Sundays or anytime Monday – Thursday based on parking availability. Excluded dates for guests not staying at the resort are December 23-25, 30-31, and January 1. Only registered resort pets are allowed and no outside pets are permitted.
The gingerbread houses are as diverse as they are amazing; on our last visit, we saw everything from clock towers to sleighs to igloos to skate parks. The entries must be constructed entirely of edible materials with the exception of the base, but the ingenuity in construction is simply remarkable.
There are four entry categories: adult, teen, youth and child, and entries are judged on overall appearance, originality and creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme.
While there is no admission charge to view the display, although there is a $25/car parking fee. Half of this fee goes to local non-profits. For more information on the gingerbread competition visit the website, and make sure to keep a lookout for entries from the Upstate; in previous years an entry from Greer placed second in the teen category, while a Greenville entry in the child category received an honorable mention.
Holiday Decorations at Omni Grove Park Inn
All decorated areas of the hotel may not be available to those who are not registered guests staying at the hotel.
As you walk through the hotel viewing the gingerbread competition winners you’ll see more than a few Christmas trees decorated in all sorts of motifs. My boys’ favorite part of the visit was discovering the elaborate ornaments on these themed trees, deciding on their favorites, and planning which decorations we should have in our home. The giant Christmas tree in the lobby is a perfect place for that family photo, the entire Great Hall filled with the smell of the giant evergreen.
The enormous fire places in the Great Hall are adorned with wreaths, heat radiating out to warm those seated in the area. One year, there was a gingerbread house in the hall, built by the pastry department. The ingredients included 50 pounds of egg whites, 440 pounds of powdered sugar, 220 pounds of red fondant and 400 pounds of bread flower!
Visitors could purchase hot beverages and gingerbread from the gingerbread house, and then settle into the giant rocking chairs near the fireplace with hot chocolate to enjoy the holiday bustle. Spend a little more time than just a couple of minutes in the rocking chairs – sitting by a roaring fire in a relaxing chair is part of the mystique of the Inn that should not be glossed over.
The Grounds of Grove Park Inn
The original Grove Park Inn was built in 1913 and over the years has grown to encompass a golf course, spa, sports complex, five restaurants, three bars and a café.
To truly appreciate the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains it is worth stepping out onto the veranda, or even descending down into the gardens and spa area. This descent via outdoor stone staircases is also a good use of the kids’ extra energy; ask them to take a photo of the Inn from the lowest level.
The view of the front of the hotel is also quite grand, and after imagining the long-ago sound of horse-drawn carriages rattling across the cobblestones you might want to take a short stroll. From the front of the hotel up to Sunset Mountain is a short hiking trail that is appropriate for all skill levels and ages that will let you work off whatever delectable you may have bought at the Inn, but will also let you appreciate the spectacular natural setting of the Grove Park Inn.
Then, as you set off on the drive home take a minute to determine whether you should enter next year’s Gingerbread Competition – or once more return as a spectator to this wonderful annual event.
Plan a trip of your own
Grove Park Inn 290 Macon Avenue Asheville, NC 28804 800.438.5800
