Spring break in Asheville is an invitation to move together—outdoors, indoors, and everywhere curiosity leads.
Spring is the perfect time to visit Asheville with your family. Somewhere between the wildflowers blooming in the mountains and buskers sprouting up on downtown corners, spring brings something to satisfy everyone (and every mood) in your brood. Asheville is a place where adventure and ease get along just fine, making it a natural fit for a spring break getaway that balances play, learning, and time well spent together—rain or shine.
Where can families find adventure that meets kids at their level?
Asheville’s outdoor playgrounds and guided experiences
From rolling through downtown Asheville on an electric bike tour with The Flying Bike to soaring through the trees at Navitat Canopy Adventures, Asheville makes it easy to turn fresh air into shared memories. Families with younger kids can head to The Adventure Center of Asheville, where ziplines, a treetop adventure park, and the Kolo Bike Park offer room to roam, ride, and build confidence at a comfortable pace.
Where are the best places to explore the outdoors with kids?
Asheville area trails, gardens, and picnics with big payoffs
Asheville sits at the center of an outdoor landscape that invites exploration without pressure. Pack a picnic from The Rhu or 67 Biltmore and head for shorter hikes with standout scenery, like Graveyard Fields or Black Balsam Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway. For a more guided approach, local outfitters and tour guides such as Pura Vida Adventures and Asheville Jeep Tours help families tailor experiences to their interests and energy levels. For a slower pace, The North Carolina Arboretum offers miles of paths through a 434-acre public garden, where kids can explore the landscape alongside Shelly, the Arboretum’s eastern box turtle guide. Kids of all ages can get a closer look at the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians at the WNC Nature Center, where river otters play, red pandas roam, and black bears, cougars, and wolves offer a powerful reminder of the wild just beyond the city.
Where can kids connect with creativity and culture?
Museums and hands-on arts spaces made for curiosity
At LEAF Global Arts Center, families can explore music, movement, and cultural traditions from around the world, with scavenger hunts and interactive exhibits designed for all ages. The Asheville Art Museum adds to the mix with rotating exhibitions and family-friendly programs that invite kids to look closer, ask questions, and see the world from new perspectives. For tweens and teens ready to try something hands-on, North Carolina Glass Center offers short, experience-driven classes in both the River Arts District and the town of Black Mountain. In the flame shop, ages 11 and up can shape their own marble, pendant, or icicle, while the hot shop invites older teens (13+) to work with molten glass to create pieces like paperweights, pumpkins, ornaments, or cups. It’s a creative deep dive that turns curiosity into something tangible—just note that participants under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Sweet Home
Devote at least one day to Biltmore—America’s largest private home and its 8,000-acre backyard. The gardens and grounds explode with color each spring during Biltmore Blooms, making for some Insta-worthy family/flower pics. Serafina fans can experience the inspiration for the bestselling Young Adult series firsthand, while a kids’ audio guide narrated by the Vanderbilts’ dog keeps younger ones engaged as you tour the house. Antler Hill Village has a farm with a petting zoo and playground. Bring your own bikes to explore the 20 miles of trails or rent them from the Bike Barn. Pro tip: Take a lightweight stroller or baby carrier so you don’t have to lug a heavier stroller (or tired toddler) up and down all of the house stairs.
Rainy Day? That's OK!
Channel your inner Charlie with a tour of the French Broad Chocolate Factory. Get a behind-the-scenes peek at how they take their chocolate from bean to bar, including samples, and snap up some of their sought-after Spring Eggs to take home. You won’t want to limit screen time at the Asheville Pinball Museum, and you don’t have to—one admission price includes all the pinball and classic video games you can play! Have a child on the spectrum? You will love the open sessions at We Rock the Spectrum. Open to all kids, the indoor gym features sensory play equipment with a zipline, swings, imaginative play stations, a calming room and more. The Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center is the place to discover the storied past of this region, located inside Black Mountain’s century-old firehouse.
Half Pint-Friendly
Don’t feel bad bringing the brood along to sample the famous Asheville beer scene. Many of the taprooms have yard games and live music that’s fun and kid-friendly. Breweries are also a great place to find some of Asheville’s favorite food trucks! Of particular note: The Meadow at Highland Brewing has an outdoor bar for you, space for the kids to play, and a nice mix of shady and sunny spots to sit and sip. Sweeten Creek Brewing has a huge creekside lawn and a covered outdoor patio with heaters, perfect for spring’s unpredictable weather. Can it get more kid-friendly than a train-themed brewery? Housed in real train cars, Whistle Hop Brewing Company in nearby Fairview offers craft soda and snacks in addition to innovative beers on tap like their Fruit Loops Milkshake IPA. Three acres of fun include a six-hole mini golf course, disc golf and more!
