As things are changing, RomanticAsheville.com remains the same friendly guide that started 17 years ago for visitors and locals of Western North Carolina. We have faith in the resiliency of Asheville and the many Small Towns here in the mountains. Stay home, stay safe, and dream ahead! In time we will adventure out, gather, and celebrate with a new gratitude for our mountains and communities. Use our Trip Planner tool to save experiences you'd like to have when the time comes. In the meantime, enjoy some virtual experiences highlighting some of the best parts of our region below.
Virtual Experiences of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Art & Music
- 310 ART Gallery is offering a variety of virtual classes! Find details here.
- LEAF is hosting a virtual festival May 15-17 with live concerts, poetry slam, panel discussions, global connection, and more! Read more.
- Earl Scruggs Music Festival is presenting a new livestream series called a Month of Mondays. See their Facebook page for more info. Below is the line up:
- Monday, May 4 - The Barefoot Movement
Monday, May 11 - Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Monday, May 18 - The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Monday, May 25 - Unspoken Tradition
Monday, June 4 - Jerry Douglas of The Earls of Leicester
- Monday, May 4 - The Barefoot Movement
- Walkthrough history on Asheville's Urban Trail. See a video here.
- Asheville Art Museum: See collection and exhibitions on their website.
- See music performances on I Am AVL.
- Southern Highland Craft Guild: Tour exhibitions on their website and read more about the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands and the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Find many Creative Mornings AVL talks here.
Fitness & Wellness
- Skyterra Wellness Retreat in Lake Toxaway is offering free live classes, webinars, and workouts on Skyterra’s Facebook page. Additionally, Skyterra is publishing a Daily Inspiration for making it through these times of social distancing. You can find all of those posts on their website.
- Namaste in Nature: Find virtual yoga and meditation videos to boost your physical, mental, and emotional health. Click here.
- Asheville Community Yoga has online classes available including vinyasa, gentle, and yoga for seniors. Go to their website.
- Cisco Pilates is offering free and pay-what-you-can classes through Zoom. See their website for details.
Western NC Outdoors
- Take a virtual hike on Wildcat Rock Trail by our friends at Namaste in Nature here.
- Enjoy a 360 virtual Bearwallow Mountain Hike by our friends at Namaste in Nature here. This award-winning trail was designed and built by Conserving Carolina.
- Read all about the Shadow of the Bear, with video of this natural phenomenon.
- Find plenty of video tours on our Hiking and Waterfall Guides. Videos are at the bottom of each guide.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Find 5 live webcams from various points in the park, including Newfound Gap, Clingman’s Dome, and LeConte Creek. Read more about unique vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains, including LeConte Lodge.
- See photos of the Synchronous and Blue Ghost Fireflies that live in our region.
- Grandfather Mountain: See a video on the Mile-High Swinging Bridge.
- See folks brave Sliding Rock's frigid waters on our YouTube video. (Be nice, it's old)
- Find a virtual tour of NC Arboretum's gardens on their website.
Small Towns
- Take a quick virtual tour of Jackson County on their website. Also, find live webcams of small towns Cashiers and Sylva here.
- Enjoy a virtual tour of Bryson City on their website.
For Kids
- Print a comic for kids about the Coronavirus from NPR.
- Find hundreds of activities and resources for kids here.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates, tips, and virtual things to do. Looking ahead, order free printed travel guides from many counties in Western North Carolina to plan your next adventure.
