Biltmore Estate Lodging
 

Downtown Asheville & Attractions

Historic Places and Museums

  • Biltmore Estate
    Located in Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt, who first opened his country house to friends and family on Christmas Eve 1895. America's largest home, the 250-room French Renaissance chateau exhibits the family's original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. Biltmore Estate encompasses over 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Also included on the grounds is the award-winning Biltmore Estate Winery, which offers tours and tastings, the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate, the Equestrian Center and other outdoor activities.
  • Thomas Wolfe Memorial
    Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe's colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and the Old Kentucky Home boarding house earned the historic Victorian home a place as one of American Literature's most famous landmarks as the Thomas Wolfe Memorial.
  • Asheville Arts Museum
    The Asheville Art Museum annually presents an exciting, inviting and active schedule of exhibitions and public programs based on its permanent collection of 20th and 21st century American art. Any visit will also include experiences with works of significance to Western North Carolina's cultural heritage including Studio Craft, Black Mountain College and Cherokee artists. Special exhibitions feature renowned regional and national artists and explore issues of enduring interest. The Museum also offers a wide array of innovative, inspiring and entertaining educational programs for people of all ages.
 

Theatre, Music, Festivals and Spas


Theatres

  • Diane Wortham Theatre at Pack Place
    In the heart of the Pack Square Cultural District is the city's finest theatre, the Diana Wortham Theatre, an intimate 500 seat theatre inside the Pack Place complex, with convenient off-street parking and numerous restaurants within on block of the theatre. The theatre offers live performances of music, theatre and dance throughout the year by nationally touring artists (the Mainstage Series) as well as a wide array of performances by professional and avocational regional arts groups.
  • Asheville Community Theatre
    Come see community theatre at its best. The theatre is Located in downtown Asheville.
  • Fine Arts Theatre
    Are commercial hyped big budget studio films not your cup of tea? Are you a fan of first-run independent films or foreign films? Well if you answered yes for either, then kick back and enjoy something different at the Fine Arts Theater in downtown Asheville. A dazzling array of art and independent films keep Asheville in the loop of being one of the few places in Western North Carolina where patrons who love the art of filmmaking can truly be fulfilled

Music

Festivals

  • Mountain Sports Festival
    May 29, 2009 to May 31, 2009
    Whether you're a hardcore athlete or a newbie trying an event for the first time, the Mountain Sports Festival offers something for you. From intense trail running to laid-back disc golf, from adventure racing to the Iron Kids events, from high speed track racing to whitewater kayak clinics.
  • 2009 Downtown after Five
    The concert series is the 3rd Friday of the month May through September on North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. Music starts at 5:15pm and goes until 9pm.
  • Bele Chere
    Jul 24, 2009 to Jul 26, 2009
    Bele Chere is the largest free street festival in the Southeast, held in beautiful downtown Asheville each July. Arts & crafts, food, entertainment, interactive events, and a children's activity area will fill the streets, drawing about 300,000 visitors throughout the three-day event.
  • Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
    It's the 62nd season of the bi-annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, July 16-19 and October 15-18, 2009. The Craft Fair is an event where connoisseurs and novices alike come to craft a collection, connect with tradition, and invest in regional culture. The Craft Fair takes place in beautiful downtown Asheville at the Civic Center
  • 37th Annual Village Art & Craft Fair
    Aug 01, 2009 to Aug 02, 2009
    The fair hosts 125 exhibitors from 20 states, representing the full spectrum of craft media - jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more. The craft fair is a great opportunity to encounter new artists and to talk with crafters one-on-one. Most exhibitors are not represented at New Morning Gallery, so visitors are sure to find new treasures along with a few old favorites.
  • Shindig On The Green
    Aug 08, 2009 to Sep 05, 2009
    Enjoy unique performances of hundreds of the best traditional musicians and dancers from across western North Carolina celebrating the treasured cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains
  • Brew Grass Festival
    Sep 19, 2009
    Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 30 American breweries to showcase more than 100 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians. We also feature a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water. Put all these things together and you have the ingredients for the perfect beer
  • Lake Eden Arts Festival
    Oct 15, 2009 to Oct 18, 2009
    Enjoy a full weekend of art, music, and outdoor fun in a beautiful mountain lake setting. Experience cultural enrichment from all over the world!

Day Spa's

  • Sensibilities Day Spa
    Welcome to Sensibilities Day Spa, Asheville's oldest establishment dedicated to your health, wellness and relaxation. While visiting North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains or the Biltmore Estate, we invite you to join us for an afternoon of luxurious spa services. Relax and refresh at one of our beautiful locations - historic downtown or Biltmore Park in south Asheville.
  • Shoji Retreats
    An outdoor Japanese style hot tub retreat, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shoji Retreat is just 8-10 minutes east of downtown.

Art Galleries, Shopping and Antiquing


Art Galleries

  • Downtown Galleries
    Whether you call them "art walks", "gallery hops or "studio strolls", it all means one thing, lots of great Asheville art and an opportunity to connect with artists and other local art lovers. If this atmosphere sounds like your cup of tea, then you should check out one of the five annual City Center Art Walks that take place on the first Friday of April, June, August, and October between 5-8pm. Pick up a map at any of the 29 participating galleries or at the Chamber of Commerce and stroll, crawl, hop, or just walk your way through many fine galleries in Downtown Asheville.
  • River Arts District
    This is another example of an emerging area in Asheville. The burgeoning River Arts District is home to a fresh approach to art. Old abandoned factories have been refurbished into studios and galleries for Asheville artists to display a wide array of art mediums. Each building has its own vibe, from youthful contemporary, to traditional folk; this is a great area to see the "hidden" art scene in Asheville. If looking to buy, one can also find some awesome deals. During normal hours, most galleries are open to the public, however twice a year, on the 2nd full weekend of June and November from 10-6pm, all of the galleries and studios are open for tours, meet-and-greet with the artists, or purchasing some very fine artwork.
  • Folk Art Center
    Nestled among the pines and dogwoods of the Blue Ridge Parkway., yet only a few miles from Asheville, the Folk Art Center is the Southern Highland Craft Guild's flagship facility. The Center showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary craft of the Southern Appalachians. It houses the Guild's century-old Allanstand Craft Shop, exhibitions in three galleries, a library and an auditorium.
  • 16 Patton
    Features original work by regional artists presented in an intimate gallery setting. We specialize in fine art for residential and private collectors, including paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics
  • Ariel Gallery
    Asheville's contemporary craft collective featuring Fine Craft from 10 preeminent local artists of the Western North Carolina Mountains.
  • Asheville Gallery of Art
    Welcome to the Asheville Gallery of Art where visitors, collectors, interior designers - anyone with an eye for fine art will find a wide range of talents, subjects, styles and mediums as broad as the Blue Ridge, at prices to accommodate every budget. Portraits and site specific or general commissions are also available.
  • Blue Spiral
    Founded in 1991, Blue Spiral 1 presents the works of Southeastern artists and object makers in elegant and spacious surroundings.
  • The Haen Gallery
    Committed to providing access to stunning and unique artwork for discerning collectors and our community in general. Our offerings will reflect the character and sensibilities of this wonderful region.
  • Kress Gallery
    The collection represents the creativity of more than 80 distinguished regional artists and craftspeople and is showcased in the spacious splendor of the historic Kress building in downtown Asheville. The Kress building is an important architectural landmark, built in 1928, featuring exquisitely detailed polychrome terra cotta tile in neoclassical motifs.
  • Mountain Made
    Regional crafts, including jewelry, pottery, glass, wood, and metal. Local books and music. Owned by nonprofit Mountain BizWorks.
  • Grovewood Gallery
    Located in a 1917 English-style cottage in Asheville, North Carolina, is a destination gallery that radiates old world charm. Grovewood exhibits 9,000 square-feet of handmade American crafts by more than 500 artisans. The gallery features ceramics, glass, jewelry, garden sculpture, and an impressive second floor studio furniture collection. Come see for yourself why Grovewood Gallery is considered one of Western North Carolina's premier showcases for fine American craft.
  • The Satellite Gallery
  • Graffiti Art and Folk Art
  • Woolworth Walk
    There are now more than 150 exhibiting artists and artisans selling and making jewelry, fine art, decorative art and crafts in its nearly 20,000 square feet of air-conditioned, quality display and studio space.

Shopping

  • Biltmore Village
    Originally constructed as housing for the employees of George Vanderbilt and his estate, the Biltmore Village recreates the old-fashioned atmosphere of a Victorian-era mountain community. Declared a historical site in 1979, today the Biltmore Village is home to over 30 unique shops, exquisite galleries and many fine, independent and locally owned restaurants. Most businesses are housed in historic cottages that are outlined with brick sidewalks and tree-lined streets, giving the Biltmore Village a charming ambiance. Slightly more upscale, and with a similar uniqueness to downtown Asheville, this is a delightful area to stroll through and explore.
  • Grove Arcade
    Built by E.W. Grove, the visionary and creator of the Grove Park Inn, the Grove Arcade opened in 1929 and thrived until World War II as one of the country's leading public markets. The historically renovated Grove Arcade has once again returned as a premier Asheville destination featuring the best this region has to offer from delicious dining, to one-of-a-kind art and an outdoor market where local merchants and artisans peddle their wares.

Antiques