Our Favorite Things to Do in Asheville

Within 10 Miles of Cedar Crest Inn Biltmore Estate This 8,000 acre estate features America's largest home, 250 rooms filled with art and antiques. Stroll through vibrant gardens and along woodland trails. Explore the countryside on horseback, mountain bike or in a romantic carriage. Dine in one of their fine restaurants featuring estate-raised food and award-winning wines. Shop for keepsakes in one of the many gift stores. Located just 3 blocks from Cedar Crest. Read more about Biltmore. Downtown Asheville Downtown is a hotspot for tourists. On any given evening, downtown Asheville hums with life as people stroll the streets shopping at 200+ stores and dozens of galleries, dining at a variety of eateries (50+ restaurants), and being entertained by the diverse mix of culture, music and art that have led our city center to be dubbed the "Paris of the South." Downtown Asheville is so compact that you can park and walk to everything. The Asheville Urban Trail is a 1.7 mile walking tour of downtown that tells the fascinating story of Asheville interpreted through art. Don't miss the restored Grove Arcade, full of restaurants and galleries. Read more about Downtown Asheville. Biltmore Village A collection of historic restored English-style houses that contain shops and galleries located adjacent to Biltmore Estate and just 1/4 mile from Cedar Crest. Read more about Biltmore Village. Blue Ridge Parkway Located just 4 miles south of Cedar Crest, this scenic roadway winds 470 miles from the Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Among America's most popular national park sites, the Parkway caters to visitors who come to simply take a leisurely drive, picnic, fish, bike, tube, swim, and of course, hike. Take your camera! Read more about Blue Ridge Parkway. Antiquing Be sure to consult us on our favorite haunts for great treasure finds from European pine antiques to garden art. We can map out a route from Cedar Crest with a dozen shops that will take you no more than just blocks from our back door! Gallery Hopping Seek out the best in both contemporary and traditional mountain crafts at a multitude of shops as close as Biltmore Village or in downtown Asheville. Each of these shops strive to promote and preserve our mountain legacy of craft. Whether you are in search of folk art, pottery, jewelry or baskets, you can be assured of multiple days of endless shopping without even leaving Asheville! Folk Art Center Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Center features museum galleries, craft exhibits, demonstrations and a shop for purchasing both contemporary and traditional mountain crafts. Visit the Ranger Station there for recommended nearby hikes and make it a day! North Carolina Arboretum Just a few miles from Cedar Crest is the beautiful Arbroetum with a visitor education center, greenhouse complex, gardens and loop trail on 424 acres. Smith-McDowell House Museum At 283 Victoria Road, Asheville, is a Victorian home built around 1840 and restored as Asheville's oldest brick residence. Thomas Wolfe Memorial The boyhood home of novelist Thomas Wolfe; was depicted as the Dixieland boardinghouse in his novel "Look Homeward, Angel." Open for tours in downtown Asheville. Grove Park Inn Located on Sunset Mountain, this resort is one of the South's oldest grand resorts, built of massive granite boulders in 1913 on 140 acres. We suggest a cocktail to take in the view of Asheville's illuminated skyline at dusk, or a hot toddy sipped by one of the two massive stone fireplaces. Play a round of golf or try one of the latest treatments at its unique subterranean luxury spa. 10 to 50 Miles From Cedar Crest Inn Mount Mitchell At Milepost 355 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this mountain is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Drive to the top! Terrific hiking, scenic overlooks, restaurant and visitors center. Chimney Rock Park & Lake Lure Features 26-story elevator ride through solid granite to the top of Chimney Rock with a 75 mile view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nature trails lead to Hickory Nut Falls. While you are there, explore nearby Lake Lure by boat, or enjoy the sand beach! About 25 miles from Cedar Crest. Go to the Chimney Rock Park Website. Connemara, The Carl Sandburg Home This National Historic Site is the home of famed poet and Lincoln biographer. Carl Sandburg spent his later years on this 263 acre estate with his wife, who raised prize-winning goats in Flat Rock, 3 miles south of Hendersonville (about 30 miles from Cedar Crest). Guided tours available. Go to the Carl Sandburg Home Website. Cradle of Forestry Features forestry exhibits, films, guided tours, and restored historic buildings from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Check out the restored locomotive and gift shop! Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina Seven driving tours with almost 450 stops including craft shops, studios, galleries and historic inns and restaurants are included in this 145 page guidebook. Purchase the guide online before your trip! Great Smoky Mountains National Park Extends about 70 miles along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. More than 4,000 species of plants grow in the Smokies; it is an enclave of rich botanical diversity, stunning beauty and tremendous popularity. More than 10 million visitors come annually, making it the most popular park in the nation. Hiking Where to begin? There are 1,000+ miles of hiking trails near Asheville for all skill levels. Many are located just a short drive from the city. Go to a Asheville Hiking Guide. Waterfalls Welcome to the Land of the Waterfalls! Nearby are dozens of beautiful waterfalls. Go to a Asheville Waterfalls Guide. Whitewater Rafting Whitewater Paddling magazine named Asheville as a "Top 10 Whitewater Town." It's no wonder with four rivers (French Broad, Pigeon, Nantahala, and Nolichucky) nearby. All whitewater rafting companies provide guides, so no experience is necessary. One and two person inflatable kayaks are also available on many of the trips. Canoes and regular kayaks are only available on the calmer section of the French Broad River through the Biltmore Estate.