Things to do in Asheville, NC with Kids

by Lesli Peterson – Written for and published on HomeSchool.com

Conde Nast readers recently named Asheville, NC the no. 4 friendliest city in the US.  While my family of six visited last week, we felt that southern hospitality! We also fell in love with the farm-to-table dining experiences, the eclectic mix of business and arts, and the breathtaking hikes and waterfalls.  Here is your guide to family fun in one of the “Most Beautiful Places in America.”

Play Here

Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park

Swing through the trees at this ropes course and zip lining adventure Mecca.  There are options for kids 7 years and up.  Plan to spend about 2 hours doing the ropes course.

DuPont State Forest/ Pisgah National Forest

A short drive south of Asheville brings you two Forests of fun.  DuPont offers multiple waterfalls, including woodlands featured in the movie Hunger Games.  About 20 minutes on the other side of Brevard is Pisgah National Forest. You could fill a week with hiking and sightseeing, but if you only have short time then don’t miss Sliding Rock.

Biltmore

Take a “hands on” tour of George Vanderbilt’s home and gardens. This American mansion is fun for families, and especially friendly to homeschool families.  Tour the home and gardens, take an outdoor adventure on the property, enjoy the animals at the farm, and so much more. Stay tuned for more about their new Homeschool Workbook, as well.

Chimney Rock State Park

Enjoy a climb 500 stairs to the top of this iconic North Carolina attraction, and take in a gorgeous 75-mile panoramic view.  See the falls made famous in Last of the Mohicans. Walk the miles of trails, and behold the work of Mother Nature at the North Carolina State Park.

Eat Here

Tupelo Honey Café

Tupelo Honey Café has won several accolades, including “Best of Asheville” from Southern Living Magazine (2011.) Our family gave it two thumbs up for three reasons: Delicious locally grown food, a family-friendly ambiance, and an owner with a heart for his community.

Also worth a visit:

City Bakery Café – Awesome cappuccinos, and the stuffed French toast will fill you up for a day of exploring.

Mayfel’s – Get a table outside in the back courtyard – it’s fun and makes your meal family-friendly. Don’t leave without buying a jar of Mayfel’s sweet and spicy pickles, and I recommend the fried oyster salad with remoulade dressing.

Sleep Here

DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton

This Hilton hotel is perfect for families. There is a fridge in the suite, an indoor pool for year-round play, and a breakfast and snack bar ensure you get out the door on time each morning. It is only minutes from Biltmore and Downtown Asheville, and provides easy access to the interstate for day trips to the surrounding area waterfalls.

Another consideration:

Brookstone Lodge – Another family-friendly location, and we love that it is locally owned and operated.

Disclosure: Thank you to the city of Asheville for assisting us on our family adventure. Thank you, also, to Asheville Treetops Park, Biltmore, Tupelo Honey Café and DoubleTree Hotel for their complementary contributions to our Asheville adventure.   While we appreciate their kindness, it never deters us from reporting our honest opinion.