If you’re wondering what to do around Asheville, NC, look no further than Asheville Adventure Company to get the insider “local” experience. We are long time Asheville residents and we are passionate about showing people what we love about Asheville and the surrounding area.
For too long the guiding industry has been ruled by a collective of companies that build their business by charging crazy money to take customers to the most popular spots around. We want to change the game. We strive to offer the same level of service (or better!) as our most prolific competitors but opt instead to build meticulously planned trips that are as unique as the many visitors that flock to this area. We hope that every trip leaves customers with a sense of awe and wonder for this incredible area. We want to push our customers outside of the tech and stimulus heavy world that we live in to a place where they can explore and push their own boundaries as far as they feel comfortable. We hire only the best guides, and we refuse to offer a trip unless we think it’s awesome (as a group of adventure nuts we have a pretty high standards).
We currently offer a selection of day hiking trips, e bike trips, overnight backpacking trips, and paddling trips. We are also always open to crafting private trips. If you have a trip that you have been dreaming up but need some help getting it across the finish line then contact us and we will help you plan something amazing!
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing family float trip or an extreme adventure weekend, you’ll find it at USA Raft. Offering guided trips convenient to Asheville on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Wild caving available in Worley’s Cave. Full Day trips with lunch and morning and afternoon half day trips offered daily in season. Let us plan a fantastic day trip for your family or a weekend full of adventure. We also offer guided fishing, SUP instruction and riverside lodging.
Cataloochee Ski Area, located high in the mountains of Western North Carolina is the home of “Great Skiing in the Great Smokies!” One of the first areas in the region to open each season, Cataloochee is committed to making your skiing and snowboarding experience the best it can be by utilizing one the most advanced snowmaking systems in the Southeast. With 100% snowmaking on 18 slopes and trails including the Cat Cage Terrain Park, 3 aerial lifts and 2 moving carpet lifts, and over 4,000 sets of snowsports equipment, the Cataloochee experience offers something everyone.
We feature a PSIA and AASI member Ski and Snowboard School with instruction for all ages and abilities, and offer our HEAD Kids Adventure Center with ski and snowboard programs for kids ages 4-12 and a variety of terrain for beginners to experts alike. With our new Terrain-Based Learning programs, you will learn quicker and easier than ever before. Group and corporate meeting space is available. In the lodge, a fireplace and cozy atmosphere await you along with our on-mountain restaurant offering three ala carte meals daily and a lounge with full ABC permits. Round out your day on the mountain with a visit to The Shop at Cataloochee, featuring signature gifts and apparel. Down the hill in Maggie Valley, we offer Tube World, a snowtubing hill with up to 12 lanes of tubing fun!
Cataloochee Ski and Sports, our rental and clothing shop in Maggie Valley allows you to rent your ski or snowboard equipment at a discounted rate, purchase your lift ticket and get everything you need for a day on the slopes. Bib, jacket and helmet rentals are also available at the shop as well. Best of all, you can pick up everything you need the night before and be ready to go straight to the snow on the day you plan to ski or snowboard with no waiting! The sports shop sells goggles, gloves, hats, sunglasses and other accessories to complete your visit. Cataloochee is located only 35 miles west of Asheville with easy four lane access.
Closest whitewater rafting outfitter to Asheville, 22 miles northwest, Blue Heron Whitewater offers a variety of trips on the French Broad River. Choose the trip that fits your group and schedule. Half-day trips enjoy five miles, class II-III rapids, minimum age is 8. Full day trips enjoy eight miles, a fresh, deli-style lunch and a class IV rapid, minimum age is 8. Families with younger children can choose the calm water Float Trip, minimum age is 4. When water levels permit, the adventurous may opt to paddle inflatable kayaks, or guide their own raft. Blue Heron guides share the best rapid routes they know, and in the pools between, the human and natural history of this ancient river corridor. We provide the river-related gear, including splash jacket and pants,and wet-suits in cool weather, no extra charge. Hot showers on site. High quality experience, competitively priced. A fun rafting trip engages you with the mountains. When you are on the river you are no longer a spectator!
Found ‘Em Fishing was born out of passion. We love the outdoors, plain and simple. We find our serenity there, and we want to share that. Through education and consciousness, we are out there to protect the beautiful waterways in WNC. There is a special bond between self and nature that almost can’t be explained out there. A peace that so many have forgotten in their daily lives. For us, there is something meditative about smooth paddle strokes through water, come with us, you’ll see.
All Asheville Anglers fishing guides are highly experienced, CPR certified, and natives of the Appalachian region. A day on the water with our guides will no doubt leave you a more experienced angler and pictures to prove so. Regardless if you’re a seasoned angler, or a novice we strive to make each and every fishing trip a successful and memorable experience, and look forward to spending a day on the water getting to know you.
Asheville and Tri-Cities (East Tennessee/Virginia) are known for year round adventures during four beautiful seasons with outdoor activities, pristine rivers, scenic mountains, arts, entertainment, and culinary events. After a day of fishing with Asheville Anglers explore everything else the region has to offer while you’re here.
Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, an exciting Asheville attraction, is an aerial challenge course in the trees that has over 77 unique climbing, rolling, walking, jumping, swinging, and rappelling challenges anchored to over 30 trees and towering poles tucked into a wooded park. There are 7 different adventure trails ranging from beginner to challenging level that allow Park Guests the choice to challenge only the obstacles they feel comfortable with. There are several elements that are representative of the activities you can do in North Carolina including a sky kayak, a parkway tunnel, a snowboard in the sky, swinging hula hoops, bumper boats and a zip hang glider, all in the trees that make this a “Truly Asheville Adventure.”
We use a new technology called “smart belays” that, when used properly, are designed to assure Park Guests are attached to safety systems at all times and cannot detach from the system until they have completed the aerial trail and are back on the ground. Guests can explore freely knowing the safety system monitors their attachments and is designed to not allow accidental unclipping from the safety points. It is an active adventure that incorporates physical fitness and personal accomplishment.
Wildwater Adventure Centers wants to share their 42 years of rafting and outdoor leadership experience with your family, group, high adventure trip or team building retreat on four Southern rivers: the Chatooga, Nantahala, Ocoee & Pigeon. Wildwater offers the best in outdoor adventure in the Asheville area with attention to detail both on and off the water. Wildwater also offers their exclusive Quality Service Guarantee! In addition to great whitewater adventures, join Wildwater for scenic Jeep and train excursions combined with your rafting trip. Elevate your vacation and take flight on one of their 5 zipline canopy tour adventures including the newest right in the heart of Asheville. Only Wildwater can provide unique Raft & Rail, Rails & Trails, or Float & Fly packages. Wildwater is a family owned and operated business focused on providing a unique Western NC outdoor adventure vacation experience. They create memories and family traditions that will last a lifetime. Please join them!
Guiding is our passion. Sure we love catching fish on our days off, but sharing the experience is far more rewarding. We are guides and instructors who enjoy helping both beginners and advanced anglers alike. Being a professional guide requires a diverse set of skills, not just being able to put people on fish. A professional guide is patient under pressure, a teacher and coach to their clients, has excellent work ethic in all situations, has a keen sense of awareness and the ability to adapt to different learning styles, fishing styles and personalities. All AFFC guides are endorsed by multiple gear companies which allows us to provide you with the best gear available. We are dedicated to giving you the best service you have ever experienced, and to always enjoy as much river experience as possible while putting fish in the net. We are problem solvers who enjoy the connections and process just as much as the pull. We push each other to be innovative, aware of the fine details and to always anticipate the next move gracefully and with respect. Our first time out with you, we take note of the details that make a difference to you. From the moment we meet you onward, we go the extra miles so you are right where you want to be, fishing better and laughing louder.
The North Carolina Arboretum’s 434-acre campus is nestled off the Blue Ridge Parkway minutes from downtown Asheville and offers beautiful gardens and natural areas, including the Bonsai Exhibition Garden, 10 miles of forested hiking and biking trails, garden tours, nature activities for families, changing science, art and cultural history exhibits, an on-site bistro and gift shop.
Daytime admission into the Arboretum is free; however, a $16 parking fee applies for personal vehicles. To view full listing of parking fees and hours, click here.
Donald Ross originally designed this historic course in 1926, and it was overhauled in 2001 to keep the same feel and spirit. It has since earned nods from Conde Nast Traveler (Top 20 Southern U.S. Golf Resorts in 2011) and North Carolina Golf Panel (Top 100 Golf Courses in the State). This historic course has consistently been acknowledged as one of the Top Resort Golf Courses in North Carolina by Golfweek Magazine.
Our golf course is open year round excluding inclement weather. Booking a tee time is as easy as picking up the phone and calling (800) 438-5800 or use the link below. For tournaments and events, call the Golf Shop at (828) 252-2711, ext 1049 or email us at gpi.golfpro@omnihotels.com
We love the hip vibe, down-to-earth people and breathtaking scenery of Asheville! Our full-service bike shop provides the ultimate cycling experience with an Asheville feel. MustAsheville offers bike rentals and carries new and preowned, high-quality bikes and all of the gear you need to make every ride awesome. Our dog-friendly bike store offers products to help rescue dogs in need. We are part of Rags To Royals Bulldog Rescue.
Meet the man behind MustAsheville. Jeff is a bike matchmaker extraordinaire who pairs each person with the best bike for a fun and long-lasting relationship. His love began at the young age of 13 during his first triathlon. Jeff quickly became passionate about road, cyclocross and mountain competitions. Now, he rides for enjoyment and to maintain his sanity. Jeff’s dream is for all of his clients to become hooked on bikes too.
Guided float fishing on the French Broad River North Carolina’s premier smallmouth bass fishery.