Asheville and its surrounding bedroom communities are home to countless Attractions and fun Things to Do. This region is renowned for the arts, cultural festivities, and numerous historic areas, all of which boost its vacation getaway and second home appeal. Read on to find out about places like Biltmore Estate, The Parkway Playhouse and Mt Mitchell, and click to learn more about other things going on in the area like annual Festivals, area real estate, and more. Check out the Asheville Cam and Black Mountain Cam; both of these North Carolina Mountain Cams are located near some of these fantastic hotspots.
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate is probably the region’s most notable and widely recognized attraction. This enormous French Renaissance style mansion took over four years to build and served as the mountain getaway of George Washington Vanderbilt II, of the prominent New England Vanderbilts. The home is still the largest privately owned home in the United States, but today its grounds and many of the rooms inside the home are open for tours and exploration. It is situated along the French Broad River, and the river intersects parts of the estate at certain points. It was built during the height of the Gilded Age and houses numerous antiques and interesting items from this remarkable extravagant moment in history. When you visit Biltmore Estate, plan to stay the entire day and explore the Biltmore Estate Home, the Biltmore Estate Winery, Working Farm, Equestrian Center, and Gardens. Special times, such as when the home is decorated for Christmas, are hugely popular visiting times to this Attraction. The Asheville Web Cam is located downtown, and is near the exit to Biltmore Estate.
The NC Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum is a large, botanical garden and arboretum located in a section of the Pisgah National Forest. The Arboretum has several amenities including hiking and bicycling trails and large numbers of plants in its many gardens including the bonsai garden, the holly garden, a stream garden, and a Heritage Garden. Long ago, the landscape architect for Biltmore Estate, Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned creating an arboretum near the Biltmore, and today this project is open free to the public and all can enjoy it year round.
Mount Mitchell
Mt Mitchell is the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains and one of the most notable features on the area. People often visit Mount Mitchell to hike, mountain bike, explore, and photograph the mountain. They often visit Mt Mitchell State Park, which is the protected area on Mt Mitchell. The mountain sits at the foot of Burnsville, check out the Burnsville NC Cam for fantastic shots of the mountain and surrounding region. The mountain’s summit rises to 6,684 feet and is a wonderful outdoor spot to visit in the area.
The Orange Peel
The Orange Peel is aptly named “The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club” and it is one of the hottest live concert venues in the nation. In fact, renowned publication Rolling Stone magazine recently voted The Orange Peel in Asheville one of the Top 5 Rock Clubs in the country. It is located downtown, amidst the other downtown live music clubs, and is a large venue that has seen greats such as Bob Dylan, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Blondie, and Sonic Youth grace the stage. Many people head over to Asheville from surrounding areas to enjoy the concerts which are booked year round.
Black Mountain Center for the Arts
Black Mountain North Carolina is home to numerous artists and galleries and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts is a great central hub for all who love art in Black Mountain. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located in the Old City Hall in a historic, beautiful area. Here you can check out the works of regional artists near Black Mountain and be a part of classes and special workshops that help you learn more about different mediums.
Parkway Playhouse
The Parkway Playhouse is a unique mountain theatre company that is located in Burnsville North Carolina. Each season, Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville debuts numerous shows and in the past has done performances of favorites such as Annie and Guys & Dolls.
Golf
This breathtaking mountain area is renowned for its fantastic golf courses and there are numerous Asheville Golf Courses, Burnsville Golf Courses and even a Black Mountain Golf Course. There are a few exclusive golf communities in the region as well, which give the area the distinction of a golfer’s paradise. Golfers love visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains and the courses in this region and often find the mountain courses both challenging and beautiful.
NC Waterfalls
This area of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Western North Carolina is renowned for its numerous wilderness regions and lovely Waterfalls. Most of the Waterfalls that are often photographed and visited in the warmer months of summer are found in Asheville and the smaller communities that surround it. Places such as Bridal Veil Falls and Sliding Rock are easily traveled to from Asheville, Black Mountain, and Burnsville.
