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For more information or additional ideas, please contact Dodie Stephens, public relations manager at the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, (828) 257-4959 (media inquiries only).
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Fall Color Report
Date Posted: Oct 29, 2009
Halloween Fun in Asheville
Date Posted: Oct 14, 2009
Halloween is just a week away, and Asheville is filled with spooky fun for all ages. Check out our Halloween events and activities:
Only in Asheville Halloween Fun
• “The Legend of Tommy Hodges” walking outdoor mystery, October 23 and 24
• LaZoom Haunted Halloween Bus, October 29-31
• “Skeered,” an Evening of Local Ghost Stories, October 29-31
• Appalachian Ghost Stories Beneath the Stars, October 30
• Appalachian Mountain Mysteries, October 30
• Spirits of Asheville Masquerade, October 31
• Haunted Asheville Pub Crawl
• Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour
• Haunted Asheville Trolley Tour
• Haunted Biltmore Biltmore Village Tour
Family Friendly Halloween Events
• Halloween Dog Event, October 24
• Howl-O-Ween at the WNC Nature Center, October 24
• Harvest Hoe Down, October 31
• Cold Mountain Corn Maze, open through October 31
• Castle in the Corn Maze, open through October 31
• Blue Ridge Corn Maze, open through November until harvest
• Pinhead’s Graveyard
• The Woman in Black at Flat Rock Playhouse
• Graveyard Book Party at Malaprop’s Bookstore, October 31
• Screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with the Montford Park Players, October 24 and 31
• Screamfest at the Grove House
Grown-Up Halloween Fun
• Pinhead’s Graveyard
• The Woman in Black at Flat Rock Playhouse
• Graveyard Book Party at Malaprop’s Bookstore, October 31
• Screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with the Montford Park Players, October 24 and 31
• Screamfest at the Grove House
The Spirit of Asheville
Date Posted: Sep 01, 2009
Cool Asheville Savings
Date Posted: Apr 21, 2009
The economy isn't exactly at its best. We get it, and we want to help. You shouldn't be deprived of your opportunity to escape the daily stress with a cool mountain getaway to Asheville. We are here to provide insider tips on how to get the most value from your vacation in Asheville. We're sharing some of the locals' favorite free things to do. We'll keep you posted with the latest hot deals and coupons.
Check out our Budget Travel Planner for some cool Asheville savings..
April Bloom Schedule
Date Posted: Apr 01, 2009
When April arrives, the spring flower bloom season gains momentum. Discover beautiful and colorful varieties and species of flowers to see in the Western North Carolina mountains.
Romance on a Budget
Date Posted: Feb 02, 2009
Romance packages and hotel deals provide a chance for a couple's romantic getaway to Asheville, an ideal destination for some one-on-one romance. Asheville, nestled in the mountains and featuring a vibrant downtown, makes a great romantic destination.
D.K. Shifflet Associates, a leading travel and tourism research company, analyzed the Directions Travel Performance/Monitor for cities visited by couples and came up a list of cities with the best value-for-the-money. Asheville came in third place, beating out Nashville, San Diego, San Francisco, Myrtle Beach, and Las Vegas.
Activities for Couples
Date Posted: Feb 01, 2009
Check out these ideas to help you and your sweetheart enjoy a wonderful and romantic getaway in the North Carolina mountains.
Winter Sports
Date Posted: Dec 25, 2008
A winter stay in Asheville puts skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers about 30 minutes away from the closest slopes, and just over an hour from some of the highest ski peaks east of the Mississippi River, with elevations over 5,500 feet.
Gingerbread Houses on "Good Morning America"
Date Posted: Dec 22, 2008
Gingerbread houses from the Grove Park Inn in Asheville are headed to New York City for an annual television appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Ten of the houses will be carefully shipped for the Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, show. Aaron Morgan, executive pastry chef for the Grove Park, will also appear on the show.
New Holiday Recipes
Date Posted: Nov 26, 2008
Enjoy your holiday meal in true Ashevillian style with unique and delicious recipes from talented local chefs.
Asheville Seasonal Sizzle
Date Posted: Nov 13, 2008
Holiday nights in downtown Asheville get a glitzy makeover this December with Asheville Seasonal Sizzle: 21 days of not-so-silent nights. Merrymakers will enjoy free fireworks, live entertainment, seasonal appetizer specials at local restaurants, and extended hours of evening shopping in downtown Asheville’s eclectic boutiques and craft galleries.
Read more about Asheville Seasonal Sizzle.
Get Hitched in Asheville
Date Posted: Sep 19, 2008
From the inspiring vistas to the vibrant downtown, Asheville is a unique and natural destination for your wedding ceremony.
Utilize one of the many helpful listings below and make planning your Asheville wedding easier, stress-free and personalized just the way you'lll like it. All that will be left on your "to-do" list is to say "I Do!"
Browse Asheville Weddings.
Fall Insider Tips
Date Posted: Sep 17, 2008
Fall in the Asheville area is a busy time as visitors from all over come in search of vibrant fall color. Locals and repeat color hunters know that there’s more than just one week to catch spectacular color.
The fall color season begins at the end of September and goes until early November due to the differences in elevation and many species of trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains. So your first insider tip is to not fight the crowds in mid-October, but consider coming in late September or early November.
Get some more insider fall foliage viewing tips.
Cool Asheville Savings
Date Posted: Jul 15, 2008
The budget travel planner is here to provide ideas to plan a fun-filled vacation in the Asheville area despite rising gas prices and economic concerns. There are many ways to stretch your dollar in Asheville, and here are various insider tips for saving gas and finding values.
Get your tips and deals now: Cool Asheville Savings
Active Getaway in Asheville
Date Posted: Apr 21, 2008
With a growing emphasis on fitness, it's no wonder that travelers are planning vacations around staying fit and eating healthy, according to new research from Travelocity's Travel Plans Forecast for 2008. To keep up with this trend, destinations such as Asheville, Miami, Hawaii and Maine are designing active getaway packages and wellness amenities for this new breed of vacation multi-tasker. In Asheville, being active and healthy isn't a dreaded chore but an indulgent pleasure.
View the multimedia version of this press release with high-resolution photos and video.
Health Statistics
- Dieting today is beginning to shift from weight management to total health management. 68% of people said they're on a diet "to feel healthier," according to a report by NPD Group, Inc. (Jan. 2008).
Facts from the Travelocity Travel Plans Forecast for 2008:
- 46% of respondents find ways to stay active while traveling.
- Nearly 50% ranked outdoor activities in their top five vacation activities.
- Respondents are most likely to avoid generally unhealthy foods to maintain a healthy diet when traveling.
- 64% travel to outdoor destinations conducive to walking.
Active Getaway Package
- Asheville has launched a new healthy vacation package: The Highgear® Getaway.
- Travelers who book an active getaway to Asheville this spring will receive a free "Get Fit Kit" to jumpstart their wellness adventure (while supplies last). Package details are available at ActiveGetaway.com.
- Components of the Highgear® Get Fit Kit:
- VIA Step Pedometer (New Balance Sports Monitors, A Division of Highgear® USA, Inc.)
- Asheville "Get Fit" Backpack
- Step-Count and Calorie-Burn Itineraries
- Walking Trails Guide
- Healthy Recipes from Asheville Top Chefs
- Wellness Adventure Coupons (active attractions, yoga, farm-to-table dining, spa, etc.)
Other Fitness Vacation Resources
- Maine Wellness Vacation Packages
- Miami Beach to Welcome CanyonRanch Wellness Hotel
- Healthy Outdoor Adventures in Hawaii
- Texas-Sized Fitness Vacations
Quote
Attribute to Mike Hosey, founder, Highgear® USA, Inc.:
- "Fitness and wellness are becoming increasingly integrated into the American lifestyle. Not only are people wearing pedometers and heart rate monitors to the office and the gym, but they're using them to stay active on vacation as well."
About
With more than 2,000 miles of hiking and biking trails, and the highest peaks east of the Mississippi, Asheville is an oasis for health-conscious vacationers and adventure seekers. Outside magazine recently named Asheville "Best Southern Town" for its eclectic cultural scene and boundless eco-adventure opportunities. Asheville is also cited as the happiest place in America in the New York Times bestselling book Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner.
Multimedia
Asheville Music Scene Hits Big Time
Date Posted: Apr 15, 2008
Locals have always known what a treasure we have here in Asheville when it comes to live music. The variety of live music available in intimate settings is enough to satiate any passionate music lover.Be it bluegrass, blues, jazz, mountain music, reggae, traditional roc
k 'n' roll, Asheville's got it all. No Britney Spears here, y'all. Just good ol' fashioned good-time, genuine artists.Now, the secret is coming out and the world is beginning to learn about the magnetic appeal of Asheville's music scene.
In its next issue, Rolling Stone magazine is naming The Orange Peel as one of the top 5 music venues in the country.
Southern Living Readers' Choice Awards
Date Posted: Feb 05, 2008
| The Blue Ridge Parkway earned the top spot for best scenic highway. |
- Best Mountain City - Asheville earned the prestigious distinction of best mountain city in the South. Southern Living writer Tanner C. Latham writes: "Asheville epitomizes this category. The Blue Ridge Mountains serve as permanent backdrops—wizened, pointy humps on the horizon—to such an active city. I return often and love to feel the downtown buzzing, especially when exploring the blocks surrounding the Grove Arcade, a historic building full of shops and restaurants."
- Best Resort/Hotel - Asheville accommodations made both first and third place, dominating this category for reader favorites. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa was first place, and the Inn on Biltmore Estate ranked third with readers.
- Best Country Inn/Bed and Breakfast - Again, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa was favored, placing second in this category.
- Best Scenic Highway - The Blue Ridge Parkway earned the top spot for best scenic highway.
- Best Public Gardens - Biltmore was chosen second place as the best public garden in the South.
Hot Winter Deals
Date Posted: Jan 08, 2008
Enjoy a fun getaway in the Asheville area with a generous savings as local accommodations offer winter specials including three nights for the price of two.
See the deals>
Hot Chocolate Tasting
Date Posted: Jan 08, 2008
Go on a hot chocolate tasting as the ultimate winter gourmet warm-up. Whether your Asheville visit takes you gallery hopping on Broadway, antique shopping in Biltmore Village or checking out the hip hangouts in the Westville neighborhood, you’re always close to a cup of hot chocolate.
Is Jack Frost nipping at your nose just a little too much? What you need is a rich, steaming hot mug of hot chocolate. Once reserved for Aztec royalty, hot chocolate has been a wintertime favorite since Montezuma introduced the drink to the Spanish conquistadores nearly 500 years ago.
Go on a Hot Chocolate Tasting>
Winter Events
Date Posted: Jan 08, 2008
Asheville doesn't hibernate when winter strikes. The mild climate keeps things hopping throughout winter, with various winter events and activities. Whether you'd like to kick back and listen to some jazz, chuckle at a lively comedic play or let the kids learn all about building, Asheville has something for everyone to enjoy in the winter.
Find out What's Happening in Winter>
New Year's Eve in Asheville
Date Posted: Dec 27, 2007
Still no plans for New Year's Eve? There are a lot of fun things you can do in Asheville to welcome 2008. You can enjoy a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration, or an intimate luxury package for couples.
Find out more: New Year's Eve in Asheville
Ski and Snow Report
Date Posted: Dec 26, 2007
It may be early in the winter sports season, but there are already lots of opportunities to ski, snowboard and snow tube. We also just got a little wintery weather, particularly in higher elevations, that will help with the snow conditions at Western North Carolina ski resorts.
See the full report: Western North Carolina Ski and Snow Report
Warm Up for Winter
Date Posted: Dec 18, 2007
Find out more: Warm Up for Winter
Ultimate AsheCache Treasure Hunt in Spring 2008
Date Posted: Dec 12, 2007
The Ultimate AsheCache Program
Treasure is hidden in the Blue Ridge. Coming May 2008, the Ultimate AsheCache adventure program unites the principles of geocaching with the excitement of a treasure hunt for visitors staying in participating area accommodations. Whether you're an avid cacher or interested in starting a new hobby, The Ultimate AsheCache presents the perfect way to explore the area as you visit numerous spots to find clues for the coordinates of the final treasure.
Each Tuesday, the caches will be replenished with incredible treasures from area partners. Five themed caches – culinary, arts, shopping, couples/romance and outdoor-inspired - ensure that no matter what your interest, you could find something incredible to write home about, from incredible pieces of art to culinary tours to incredible outdoor gear.
AsheCache Program Details | AsheCache Treasure
Official AsheCache Accommodations
What is Geocaching? | Top Geocaches in Asheville
Watch Geocache Video
Biltmore Decorating Good Morning America Set
Date Posted: Dec 03, 2007
On Wednesday, December 5, the set of Good Morning America will be in the Christmas spirit thanks to Biltmore's floral displays team, led by Cathy Barnhardt.
Rather than the typical reds and greens associated with the holiday, Barnhardt took inspiration from Good Morning America's set, with this year's stunning decorations featuring pale blues, lemon yellows, greens, oranges, white and gold accents.
Garlands and trees will reign in soft blue, green-toned spruce instead of dark evergreen to complement the theme.
Biltmore decorations will grace Good Morning America's set throughout the season. Tune in on December 5 to see Barnhardt share decorating tips with viewers. You may learn some insider secrets that will help get your own home merry and bright this season!
Handcrafted Appalachian Christmas Ornaments
Date Posted: Nov 26, 2007
Asheville area artists create high-quality, handmade Christmas ornaments for you to choose from.
This can be a great way to preserve memories of your holiday getaway to Asheville, especially with many families carrying on the tradition of adding – or passing down – one heirloom-quality bauble to the holiday tree every year. You can find a variety of these holiday Appalachian ornaments at local art galleries and craft shops.
Artists from across the southern Appalachians offer handmade ornaments year-round at the Folk Art Center (pictured), located on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville. The center boasts an impressive collection of pottery, glass art, furniture and jewelry, but don’t leave without selecting an ornament from some of the region’s premier craftspeople working in almost every possible medium and style.
Find Handcrafted Appalachian Christmas Ornaments>
Holiday Shopping That's Actually Fun!
Date Posted: Nov 20, 2007
Christmas shopping should be fun! Turn holiday shopping upside down, and actually enjoy it this year. In Asheville, you can avoid tension, bad attitudes and long lines by strolling our pedestrian-friendly shopping districts and visiting independent, locally-owned boutiques and galleries.
You will find shopping catering to almost every recipient on your Christmas gift list, whether you want to hit one of hundreds of arts and crafts galleries to find a one-of-a-kind gift or wonderful outfitters to find gifts for the outdoor adventurer. You can even visit a year-round farmers market for some fine food gifts.
Holiday Shopping>
November 14 and Still Color!
Date Posted: Nov 14, 2007
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| This photo was taken recently at Chimney Rock Park. |
NOV. 14, 2007 - We're closing in on Thanksgiving, yet amazingly the Asheville area is still experiencing impressive displays of late fall color. In fact, the Chimney Rock area is expected to be at its best this weekend. This could very well be one of the longest fall foliage seasons here.
"It's still holding on," said Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture for Biltmore. "It's amazing. It's just been a long and wonderful fall. What we got was this beautiful, long tapestry of color, which I thought was wonderful. I hope it happens this way again." At Biltmore, the oaks, maple and hickory trees are displaying their fall colors.
This spectacular fall color season has provided a unique and rare opportunity to get two seasons for the price of one. Come for the fall color, but also enjoy the holidays in Asheville with seasonal events like Christmas at Biltmore, the Gingerbread House Display and the Polar Express getting under way. You can even view fall color, then take a 35-mile drive to Cataloochee Ski Area, which just opened for the season, to hit the slopes.
Read the entire Fall Color Report >
Fall Harvest Video
Date Posted: Nov 05, 2007
This week, the Asheville Color Hunter seeks out the fall harvest in Asheville, which has a farm to table tradition dating back to the 1800s.
Watch the Fall Harvest Video
Fall Color Report
Date Posted: Oct 31, 2007
Although some of the highest elevations are now passing their peak colors, many are still reporting some captivating displays of fall leaves.
Read the entire Fall Color Report!
Fall Whitewater Rafting Video
Date Posted: Oct 25, 2007
In the quest to find the best area fall color and adventures, the Asheville Fall Color Hunter goes whitewater rafting on the mighty Nantahalla. This video was just shot Sunday near Bryson City.
See the video!
Hot Air Balloon Video
Date Posted: Oct 17, 2007
The Asheville Fall Color Hunter this week seeks out fall color from hundreds of feet in the air, taking a hot air balloon ride to search for fall color and extreme autumn adventures. This video was just shot Saturday during a ride with Asheville Hot Air Balloons.Watch the video!
Fall Color Hunter Video
Date Posted: Oct 11, 2007
The Fall Color Hunter will go on a new adventure each week in search of the best fall foliage and cool extreme autumn adventures in the Asheville area. This week, the Color Hunter visits one of the area's earlier spots to be blessed with brilliant fall colors, Grandfather Mountain, to experience mile-high views of the mountains, valleys and the various fall foliage colors.
You too can be a color hunter! Get out and shoot a fall video and you can submit your video to win! There is no limit to the number of videos you can upload, so long as the videos show off the great Asheville area and are approved for publication. Each video is a new entry into the contest. Videos submitted through our new video sharing service between now and Monday, October 15 will be eligible to win this handcrafted Appalachian pottery leaf mug made by Asheville artist Sonrise Pottery.
Fall Has Arrived
Date Posted: Oct 05, 2007
| The leaves are beginning to change color, photo by Helen Hopper of Grandfather Mountain. |
OCT. 4, 2007 - The fall foliage season is gaining momentum quickly, with bursts of fall color striking first at the highest elevations. Even at the lower elevations, pockets of yellow and red are blazing bright .
Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are many changes occuring with the first cool evenings, according to the parkway hotline. There are tremendous displays of wildflowers like sunflowers, ironweed and bee balm. Row crops of pumpkins, cabbage and corn are reminders of the agricultural heritage of this part of the country.
This is a wonderful time to experience the Asheville area's commitment to agriculture and locally-grown produce with some autumn harvest adventures.
Read the rest of this week's Fall Color Report.
First Hints of Fall Color
Date Posted: Sep 20, 2007
The first signs of fall color are bursting to life in pockets at varying elevations around the Asheville area.
Find out more with the latest Fall Color Report at the new Fall Color Hunter Blog.
Wearable Art in Asheville
Date Posted: Aug 02, 2007
The undeniable elegance of the surrounding mountains infuses the Asheville fashion scene. Local designers and boutiques draw inspiration from nature to create a style culture that is unique and Asheville chic.
- Art to Wear: Designs from the canvas to your closet at newly opened Bellagio Everyday
- Scenics in Silk: Renowned artist Jen Swearington’s luscious apparel is as smooth as…
- NeoNatural Fashion: Mother Nature would approve of these one-of-a-kind designs
- Sustainable Design: Organic fashion pioneers call Asheville home
- Fido on the Catwalk: Designer Collars Anyone?
Fall Foliage Forecast
Date Posted: Aug 02, 2007
Find out more: Read the Fall Color Report or stay posted with the Fall Color Hunter Blog.
Asheville ranked "Best Southern Town"
Date Posted: Jul 31, 2007
Outside magazine recently ranked Asheville as “Best Southern Town” in its “Best Towns In America” story (August 2007). In each region of the country, the magazine selected the best town with a population of fewer than 100,000 people and the best city with a population of more than 100,000 people. Winners are all “smart, progressive burgs with gorgeous wilderness playgrounds,” places that “have realistic housing and job markets,” according to the magazine.
Asheville has been recognized for its splendors by dozens of magazines, Web sites and publications in recent years, ranging from the recent designation by Frommer's as one of a dozen top travel destinations in the world for 2007 to accolades for the local arts, outdoor adventures, cuisine, organic and vegetarian eats, as a top place to live and retire, and much more. Click here to learn more about Asheville’s accolades and media praise.
Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center
Date Posted: Jul 25, 2007
Imagine fifty years ago, Black Mountain College being the place where some of the most innovative and influential artists, designers, architects, poets, dancers and craftspeople of the 20th century gathered to share ideas and explore creative thinking. It was here that creative minds such as designer Buckminster Fuller, Albert Einstein and William Carlos Williams, as well as many other artistic innovators, came from all over the world to draw ideas and inspiration from one another. Explore how Black Mountain College (BMC) served, through its faculty and students, as a major nexus for modernist design and understand the importance of the college in the context of 20th century culture and its continuing impact today.
Glimpse into History by Rickshaw
Date Posted: Jul 25, 2007
Explore Asheville’s history through tours, reenactments, guides and leisurely walks through town. At many nationally registered historic sites, there are rotating exhibits and seasonal activities that tell the city’s story. Other secrets to the city’s past can be found at such places as the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Historic Site, Biltmore Village or aboard a vintage trolley. A stroll along the Urban Trail reveals downtown Asheville’s unique architecture, famous residents and cultural history as told at more than 30 stations marked by bronze placards, whimsical sculptures and other public art. New this year, two-passenger rickshaw tours are being offered through the Historic Montford District. Visitors can learn about these historic homes and hear about Asheville’s famous residents whose final resting place is the Riverside Cemetery.
Hands-On Farm Tours
Date Posted: Jul 25, 2007
See first hand what modern-day agriculture is all about during a tour of an operating farm, led by HandMade in America, an Asheville-based non-profit organization promoting Western North Carolina’s rural farms and artisans. This organization hosts visitors from around the world who come to see the workings of both historic Southern Appalachian farms and cutting-edge new farming methods and niche crops. With a variety of tailgate markets, organic farms, bakeries, breweries, cheese makers and restaurants that help to promote and support local produce, groups can embark on a pre-arranged guided tour of a working farm to learn about milking, jam-making and crafting organic cheeses or growing shitake mushrooms. This unique, hands-on, educational experience connects visitors to Western North Carolina’s culture and the people whose lifestyle keeps long-standing family traditions alive.
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