How Locals Spend Free Time in Asheville
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Asheville? If you like the idea of hiking along Blue Ridge's jaw-dropping views, trying your hand at the pottery wheel in River Arts, and are daring enough to try tubing down the French Broad, Asheville is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from mountaintop trails to neon murals and give you a quick taste of Asheville's culinary scene and craft culture.
Rachael, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Some people collect stamps. Vanessa collects zip codes. After 13 moves (including one four-day, five-kid, one-puppy odyssey from Washington to North Carolina), she’s learned that relocation is equal parts logistics and comedy. Now settled in Winston-Salem, she’s fallen for the BBQ, the breeze, and how everyone waves like they’ve known you since kindergarten. Her claim to fame? She once sat on Shamu. Her real skill? Turning past moving trauma into local wisdom and relocation knowledge. As a Snappy Scout editor, she mixes mom-level multitasking with cross-country survival instincts to help newcomers settle into the Tar Heel life without losing their minds.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Asheville?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
on a Saturday with perfect weather
Asheville City Market haul, river greenway cruise, IPAs with a sunset view
when the gals come to town for the weekend
Spa at Grove Park, champagne at Battery Park Book Exchange
dude hangout
Burial Beer patio, smoked wings, questionable tales of summit misadventures
rainy dreary day
Moogseum synth jams, Biscuit Head backups, vintage arcade redemption tour
intellectually stimulating
Black Mountain College Museum rabbit hole, quoting Bauhaus at brunch
artsy
River Arts District studios, paint still drying, wallet spontaneously lighter
something inside and free
Folk Art Center galleries, Parkway folklore (the gift shop is a self-control test)
outdoorsy
Craggy Gardens rhododendrons, hikes above the clouds
fitness oriented
Mount Pisgah climb, calves protesting, victory tacos at White Duck
with your dog
French Broad River Park romp, downstream to dog-friendly breweries
in need of a selfie
Blue Ridge Parkway overlook twirl, arches and murals in the River Arts District
you have to see this
Biltmore Estate's library ladders and winter garden jungle
My Favorite Local Spot in Asheville
Filipino food lovers rejoice -- Master BBQ is now officially the permanent food truck at Zillicoah Beer Company, and they have all of your comfort Filipino food favorites. You can never go wrong with the chicken adobo, especially if your taste buds are new to Filipino cuisine, but my go-to order includes the pork BBQ skewers and a little boba tea.
— Rachael Riner
North Carolina Local Expert
Ready to See If Asheville Fits You?
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