Although the beaches of North Carolina or South Carolina are a go-to for the summer, you cannot forget the mountains! The great thing about heading to the mountains is that they tend to be cooler than the beach. It means you can do a lot more outdoor summer activities without burning up. Asheville and its surrounding areas have lots of fun summer activities to offer. Below are some of our favorites!
Asheville is just one of many reasons why North Carolina is worth visiting. Check out all the reasons why you should visit here!
Where is Asheville, North Carolina?
When looking at the bigger cities near Asheville it is in close driving distance. From Raleigh it takes about 4 hours to get to Asheville. From Charlotte it is a 2 hour drive. Columbia, South Carolina is about 2.5 hours from Asheville. Finally, Knoxville, Tennessee is about 2 hours away. The centrality of Asheville further adds to its popularity.
Summer Activities in Asheville
Go River Tubing
This is one of the most fun summer activities we’ve done in the Asheville area. With the scorching hot summer of North Carolina, lazying down the cool river is an excellent way to spend the day. A bus will drive you and your group up river. You’ll get a donut ring tube, some straps, and some paddles so that you can connect your group’s tubes together and avoid rocks or the river banks.
I highly recommend bringing a cooler and springing for the cooler tube. Without any stops it probably takes 2-3 hours to get down river. We stopped to swing on a tire swing and to warm up in a sun patch while eating lunch. We packed some sandwiches and plenty of water to drink. Be sure to pack finger food, nothing too challenging to eat.
Summit Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi. You could spend the day hiking up the mountain, its about 40 miles. You could also drive up the mountain and hike up the last mile. We drove up. Please remember these are the Smokey Mountains for a reason, you’ll get foggy views in the early mornings or if its raining. This is something to keep in mind when planning your summit trip.
If you’re traveling with your dog, Mt. Mitchell is very dog friendly like most of Asheville. You can drive up to the top and find many wonderful hiking trails that are dog friendly. Remember that by law dogs must remain on leash while in the park. Bring some lunch for a picnic and you can truly make a day of Mount Mitchell. If you want to go on other hikes there are many in the area; check them out here!
Swim in a Watering Hole
There are many swimming areas in the mountains. Summer in North Carolina can be warm to hot so its important to have many ways of cooling off. Here you can explore the top 20 best swimming holes. Many hikes in the area can bring you to a waterfall with some swimming allowed. So pack a swimsuit along with your water bottle and lunch picnic! Looking Glass Falls and Lake James are by far the most popular spots. Hidden Falls is a good one if you’re looking to be away from loads of people, but it is about 1.5 hours away from Asheville.
Drive Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway goes through North Carolina into Virginia. It starts near the border with Tennessee as it moves through the mountains into Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Now driving through all of it would be a vacation on its own, you can do a little ride just near the Asheville area.
There are picnic areas where you can stop to enjoy the view. My suggestion is to find a little area you can park and watch the views during the sunset. The mountain sunset is incredible. Be sure to check the time of the sunset in the morning so that you can plan ample time to find a perch. Sunset can happen a little earlier in the mountains so you want to ensure you give yourself plenty of time to see it. However if you are at the summit of a mountain then sunset is later.
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Nantahala Outdoor Center has many fun outdoor activities for all skill levels and ages. There’s white water rafting (my favorite), tubing, zip lining, mountain biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and tree top adventure obstacle courses. Now for summer I would recommend doing the water activities and leaving the non-water activities for fall time! Also, they have a brewery which is fun for the adults. It is really an all day kind of place!
Brewery Hop
There are so many breweries and cideries in the greater Asheville area. You can really enjoy the open mountain air while trying local brews. Many breweries will also have tours if that’s of interest. Wicked Weed and Sierra Nevada Taproom are two of my favorites. Sierra Nevada Taproom has indoor and outdoor areas for seating. They also have a beautiful garden to explore after dinner. They have festivals and live music in their outdoor area so definitely check it out!
For a unique activity check out this floating bar crawl!
Asheville Salt Cave & Spa
This is such a unique place. Salt Caves are not found just anywhere. You can do a session for an hour for as little as $24. The private sessions are much more expensive. You can also do some yoga in the sessions or get some massages in the salt cave. Salt Caves have many healing and relaxing properties. Whether or not you believe in the healing properties of the salt caves, it is truly a unique activity to do. You can even lick the walls to taste the naturally made mineral salt of North Carolina.
Explore Downtown Asheville
There are so many cute local shops in downtown Asheville. Its an activity all on itself to meander through all the shops. You can truly find such unique things. You never know whats going to be around the corner. Like a shop that has their own little store Frenchie. Or a country store that has penny candy and expands two floors. Or a double Decker coffee shop. One of the most important things is that Asheville has several chocolate shops and a factory to tour.
There is plenty to see! Plus Asheville is very dog friendly! You will see dogs everywhere and many shops have dog bowls with water available for them. The downtown area is known for having fairs and festivals so definitely walk down to the park and see what’s happening.
Go for A Hike
You are in the mountains after all! There are many hikes that aren’t too long or difficult. There’s so many lovely places to see the breathtaking views that the mountains have to offer. Located right by the Pisgah National Forest and surrounded by many mountains, there are truly endless hikes and walking trails. They have options for people of all skill level and mixed distances. Bring some sturdy sneakers and a water bottle and enjoy the nature North Carolina offers. One of the many reasons why North Carolina is worth visiting.
Waterfall Chase
While you’re out for a hike might as well go to some that have waterfalls. There are so many different waterfalls in the area and you don’t have to hike far to find them. Even if you’re not going for a swim, its nice to sit by them and watch the water. Its very relaxing. Looking for waterfalls is one of my favorite things to do while on a hike. One of the cool aspects of the waterfalls in North Carolina is that they freeze in winter and you can scale them! It is truly a year round state.
Asheville really is such a fun place and it has tons of fun stuff to do even though it is a “small town”. There’s also a ton of stuff to do in winter! Check it out!
Final Thoughts About Summer Activities in Asheville
There are so many wonderful summer activities in Asheville. It is a lively town that appeals to all kinds of travelers looking for a relaxing time by the mountains. Between hikes, exploring breweries, and eating all the chocolate in sight, Asheville offers something for everyone. While there is so much to do, Asheville is still a town with a more relaxed and laid back pace. So get in your car, drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and enjoy some relaxing mountain time in Asheville. Because if the mountains are calling, you must go!
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