The spectacular Nantahala Gorge, located in Nantahala National Forest, is one of America's favorite playgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts. It's located at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just a short distance from Cherokee and…
Take a free self-guided driving tour of the galleries and working studios of Graham and Swain Counties and buy arts and crafts directly from the artist. Pick up a map at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center near Fontana Lake and Robbinsville.…
January 1, 2024
The North Carolina state parks offer free guided First Day Hikes each New Year's Day, the perfect chance to begin a resolution for exercise and a connection with nature (#optoutside). If rain or snow is in the forecast, call…For a great date night at the theatre, check out North Carolina Stage Company. The professional equity theatre, located in the heart of downtown Asheville, presents high-quality productions in a very intimate theatre (only 125 seats!). They even…
New Belgium Brewing opened its riverside brewery and "Liquid Center" tasting room (21 Craven Street) in 2016 near downtown Asheville. Sample their locally made beers on Monday-Saturday, 11 AM-8 PM and Sunday 12 Noon-8 PM. Take a brewery tours…
Kick off the New Year with the fun only found in Asheville and Western North Carolina!
Take the scenic drive from Cherokee to Newfound Gap (5,046'), the highest point along U.S. Highway 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the parking area at Newfound Gap, you can stand on the state line between North Carolina and…
The Mountain Farm Museum and Oconaluftee Visitor Center are located at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on U.S. Highway 441 / Newfound Gap Road near Cherokee, North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway ends nearby. Stop by the…
The Oconaluftee Indian Village is a living history museum that portrays a 1760s Cherokee village. This is the place to learn about their culture and traditions. Take a guided tour and interact with villagers as they hull canoes, make pottery and…
October 7, 2023
Don't miss the fun and tasty Oktoberfest in downtown Asheville in Pack Square Park. This "Little Germany" mixes Bavarian traditions with Asheville’s eclectic vibe. It's a perfect time to celebrate our local beer scene. The…
March 2020: The Orange Peel is hosting a Quarantine Concert Series streaming live performances from a variety of musicians, nightly at 7 PM. Go to their website for the full line-up schedule. Click here for the live streaming link on www.IAMAVL.…
The Orchard at Altapass is a great stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway, at Milepost 328.3 (about 55 miles north of Asheville). It's between Mt. Mitchell and Linville Falls and just a few miles from Little Switzerland.
This 105-year-old apple…
Stop by the Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard for a tour and a flight of beer in the Tasty Weasel Tap Room. Founded in Lyons, Colorado in 1998, Oskar Blues was the first American craft brewery to can beer. Located in an industrial park a few miles…
Looking for ideas for activities and things to do for a getaway weekend trip or family vacation to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville and western North Carolina? Here are our readers' Top 20 favorites, according to our 6.13 million annual…
The very popular Asheville Outlets mall opened a few years ago with a big variety of national retailers and continues to expand. The open-air shopping village currently has 70+ outlets conveniently located at the intersection of I-26 at Brevard…
Waterfalls near Asheville can be even more spectacular to see during the winter months. Leafless trees often make for clearer views. And experience magical icy scenes during winter cold snaps in our North Carolina mountains. Not only are the ice…