1. Christmas at Biltmore Estate: Asheville's biggest holiday event is Christmas at Biltmore. Starting on November 7, America's largest home is decked out in festive finery. Candlelight Evenings are especially magical. New for 2008 is a majestic forest sparkling with thousands of lights and an enormous evergreen tree on the front lawn of the Biltmore House.
See our Christmas at Biltmore Guide.

2. Shop Downtown Asheville: Make holiday shopping more fun and relaxing while finding truly special gifts. Browse through more than 200 shops, 30 art galleries and a dozen antique stores - all locally owned. No cookie cutter chain stores here. And if you need a break, stop at one of the 50 restaurants or many coffee shops. During December, enjoy fireworks on three Saturday nights (Dec. 6, 13, 20) at 7:00 PM. Tour the fascinating Thomas Wolfe Home for only a buck! See our Downtown Asheville Guide.

3. Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park Inn: For a real treat, see the amazing display of gingerbread houses from the National Gingerbread House Competition at the famous Grove Park Inn Resort on November 19-January 11. Guests at the resort can view the display at anytime. If you're not a guest, visit on on Mondays-Thursdays. It's free to tour the display and see the other elaborate decorations at the grand hotel. See our Gingerbread House Competition Guide.

4. Shop Biltmore Village: What a charming area for holiday shopping! Located across from the entrance to Biltmore Estate, the Village is home to more than 40 unique shops and 10 cafes and restaurants. Most businesses are housed in historic cottages and buildings. Tree-lined streets, brick sidewalks and period architecture make it a delight to stroll through and explore. See our Biltmore Village Guide.

5. And More Art: Asheville is a mecca for artists, so this is the place to find one-of-a-kind gifts. With more than 100 galleries and even more artist studios, you will need plenty of time for exploring. In addition to the galleries downtown and Biltmore Village, head to the Folk Art Center and the River Arts District. See our Gallery Guide.

6. Antiques: The best area in Asheville to find antiques is the Biltmore Antiques District with 13 stores within a mile and a half of the Biltmore Estate. Included is the local long-time favorite, the Antique Tobacco Barn. See our Antique Shopping Guide.

7. Winter Hiking: For the best views of the year, take a winter hike. With leafless trees, cool temperatures, less crowds and frequent bright blue skies, it may become your favorite time of the year to hit the trail. See our Hiking Guide for our top picks. And don't forget to find some of our spectacular waterfalls.

8. Stay in Holiday Style: Stay in a home away from home, complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays, at one of the elegant bed and breakfast inns. See our complete list of small B&Bs and large B&Bs in the area. Many of them have special holiday packages and specials.

9. Cabin Fever: For a quiet retreat from the holiday madness, escape to a romantic cabin or cottage.

10. Holiday Events: Catch one of the many holiday events in Asheville. See our top picks.