Whether your goal is to motivate, inspire, or bond with your team, meeting planners will discover a diverse mix of memorable and impactful team building experiences in Asheville. Hailed for being the top destination for travel in the United States by Lonely Planet, our Blue Ridge Mountain town is filled with customizable opportunities to help unify teams, develop leadership skills, and improve internal communication. Plan an outing your team will never forget by exploring the historic landmarks, cultural arts, and scenic outdoor beauty that have enticed visitors to our region each year
- Outdoor Activities: Hiking, Rafting, Zip Lining and More
- Cultural Cool: Team Building at Biltmore, Art and Craft Experiences
- Foodtopian Paradise: Food and Brewery Tours, Cooking Classes
- Latest Trends in Team Building - Community Service Projects, Virtual Reality, Wellness, and more!
8 Million Acres to Explore
Immersed in the breathtaking beauty of Southern Appalachia, Asheville is an outdoor lover’s dream. Our region is home to the highest peaks, ancient rivers, and hundreds of spectacular waterfalls. Go miles away from the ordinary to let your team connect with nature in unforgettable ways, ranging from thrilling to chill.
On Top of the World — Ziplines & Treetop Adventures
Get a bird’s eye view of the mountains on one of the area’s many zipline courses. Navitat Canopy Adventures offers two courses, one that zips from treetop to treetop and another that races at 65 miles per hour fr
om one mountain ridge to the next. Tours can accommodate 8-10 guests at a time, with larger groups split into staggered timeslots. Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground can shadow a zipline tour from below on one of Navitat’s custom RTV tours.
For an urban outdoor experience, head to The Adventure Center of Asheville, where facilitators will craft a custom team building itinerary for your group’s needs. Beginning with on-the-ground icebreaker activities, planners can then choose from dozens of fun options aimed at building communication, trust or decision-making skills. Pair these “low-ropes” elements with a zipline tour or a visit to the Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, where guests navigate a tree-based aerial obstacle course.
Go With the Flow — River Rafting & Float Trips
Western North Carolina is filled with opportunities to encounter the excitement of whitewater rafting. Guided tours showcase the region’s most stunning views while also inviting your group to work together to navigate river obstacles. From the thunderous rapids of the Ocoee River, to the milder, more relaxed Nantahala, to the nearby French Broad, the Explore Asheville team can help you choose the right speed for your group.
Close to the city center is the Asheville Adventure Company, which can set your group up for an outing on a calm-water section of the French Broad River. Choose your own kayak or team up in a raft for a seven-mile, self-guided float trip that winds through the grounds of the Biltmore Estate.
Book a trip with Wai Mauna SUP Tours for a guided paddle through the River Arts District, led by knowledgeable guides who will begin your trip with an introduction to stand-up paddleboarding (it’s easier than you might think!) and will share fascinating Asheville history along the way. Tours accommodate up to 40 participants.
Climb Your Way to the Top — Guided Hikes
Head out on foot and make your way up the mountains to reach some of the area’s most stunning vistas. The local guides at the Blue Ridge Hiking Company will help your team experience the world-class trails and epic waterfalls found throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tailor the experience based on the fitness and skill level of your attendees. There are plenty of options for beginners and for more experienced hikers.
For teams that need to unwind, Namaste in Nature will pair your hike with guided meditation and yoga on picturesque mountaintops or beside breathtaking waterfalls.
Asheville’s Cultural Cool
In Asheville you can’t help but notice the bohemian vibe permeating the city. Find lively street performers jamming on the sidewalks and a plethora of arts and crafts galleries lining every block. Asheville has a rich cultural history, one that helped create the thriving arts scene the city experiences today. Here you’ll discover how easy it is to find inspired, interactive activities to help get your team’s creative juices flowing.
Team Building at Biltmore
Over a century ago, George W. Vanderbilt brought his master vision of an American chateau to life. Biltmore’s architectural masterpiece stands as a testament to the nation’s Gilded Age in the heart of Asheville and remains the largest privately-owned home in America.
The sprawling estate provides numerous ways to test your team in some uncommon skill-building experiences. Biltmore offers group scavenger hunts, tutorials in archery and clay shooting, hands-on falconry experiences and guided fly-fishing expeditions. Or your team can embark on a Land Rover expedition, which teaches off-road driving and outdoor skills. Afterward, take your group on a private tour through the back rooms and secret passages utilized by servants of George W. Vanderbilt, head to the rooftop for an incredible view of the estate, or tour the winery and enjoy a complimentary tasting.
Creative Encounters With the Arts
The River Arts District is one of Asheville’s can’t miss destinations. This thriving, creative neighborhood along the banks of the French Broad River is filled with former industrial warehouses that are now home to hundreds of working artist studios, galleries, restaurants, and breweries. Dozens of galleries are open daily, and you can often find artists at work, inviting you to watch their craftsmanship and ask questions.
Knowledgeable tour guides at Art Connections and Asheville Art Studio Tours will customize a group experience in the River Arts District or beyond. Led by local artists, your group can choose specific types of art and craft to learn about and purchase.
Or go hands-on with a workshop in painting, glassblowing, or jewelry arts. Batton Clayworks welcomes small groups (up to 8 ppl) to the artists’ home studio for a 2-hour lesson that includes several ceramic techniques and your finished piece shipped to your home. Head to WAXON Studio to for a workshop on batik and shibori dye techniques (currently for a max. of 4 ppl), or have their textile artists set up a DIY tie-dye booth at your event.
Eating and Drinking in Foodtopia
With more than 250 independent restaurants, dozens of craft breweries and a thriving network of local farms and artisans, we see Asheville as a veritable Appalachian “Foodtopia.” Our buzz-worthy food scene has attracted culinary talent from around the globe, including a dozen chefs and food writers recognized by the James Beard Foundation. Mix it all up and you have a perfect recipe for incredible (and delicious!) culinary experiences.
Try a Taste - Food Tours
It could take months to taste your way through all the Asheville food scene has to offer, but if you want to make the most of your visit, let the local experts from Asheville Food Tours lead the way. This walking tour of Asheville provides attendees with the chance to sample the culinary genius of multiple chefs at their restaurants, cafes, and breweries throughout downtown.
For the group with a sweet tooth, visit the French Broad Chocolate Factory for a behind-the-scenes look at how chocolatiers make artisanal truffles, chocolate bars, and pastries. This sustainable bean-to-bar factory and tasting room will provide your group with insights into the company’s handcrafted practice — and some free samples to sweeten the deal. See a full list of culinary adventures here.
Experience Beer City - Brewery Tours
Looking for a fun way to engage with your team? Let a local beer connoisseur from Asheville Brewery Tours guide you on a tour through a selection of Asheville’s best craft breweries. You’ll get brew-master access, learn about the brewing process, and can sample numerous local beers to find your favorite. Tours for up to 150 people are available.
You can also visit Highland Brewing Company, Asheville’s oldest craft brewery. Highland offers ample space for larger groups and will provide private tours of the facility. Groups can enjoy the rooftop bar as well as an abundance of outdoor space perfect for some friendly lawn game competition.
From Roots to Recipes - Foraging Tours & Cooking Classes
Take your group on an “off-the-eaten-path” foraging adventure. With No Taste Like Home you’ll go into the forest to learn how to safely identify edible wild plants and mushrooms, plus practical uses for them in cooking, home remedies and brews.
Or team up with a chef and learn how to make fresh pastas, French macarons or even a multi-course dinner. Check out the class listings at The Farm, The Asheville Kitchen or Asheville Mountain Kitchen to customize your menu.
Latest Trends in Team Building
Give Back — Group Service Projects
The best team building can happen when it’s not about the team. Work with local organizations to plan a river clean-up, package meals for kids at the food bank, assemble kits for students, or volunteer in a customized project on-site at your hotel. Explore Asheville has community service ideas for your group.
Axe-Throwing
Think way outside the conference room by planning a trip to the Axeville Throwing Club, where they say that hatchet-throwing is just “an incredibly more exciting game of darts.” No experience necessary — coaches are on-hand to answer questions and lead a short lesson on throwing technique, scoring and saftey. Groups up to 60 people can enjoy some good-natured competition, plus a selection of snacks and local beers on tap.
Virtual Reality
Better Than Unicorns delivers virtual-reality team-building experiences designed to improve creativity, effective collaboration, and trust. Choose from several “off the shelf” scenarios or work with Better Than Unicorns to customize a session focused on your needs. They provide all VR headsets, equipment, instructions, and a facilitator to walk your group through transformative virtual activities.
Take a Deep Breath — Wellness Experiences
Tap into Asheville’s long history as a place of healing and restoration as you offer your group a chance to unwind. From yoga hikes to sound healing and sauna parties, there are countless ways to model the importance of self-care and taking a break from day-to-day stressors. Learn more about group wellness offerings here.
Need Help Deciding?
Explore Asheville is your one-stop-shop for meeting planning assistance. We’re here to ensure your meeting is a success and are your best first point of contact when choosing Asheville as your meeting's destination. Learn more about the services we offer for meeting planners and see more group activity listings.