Located conveniently close to both the Great Smokey Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s no surprise that many travelers to the region choose to base themselves in this large, North Carolina town. There are naturally a lot of outdoor activities available in the surrounding areas and plenty of scenic spots that are well-worth the drive. But repeat visitors to this town may be stumped when it comes to finding activities that aren’t so obvious. After all, there are only so many times you visit local sites such as the Biltmore Estate, Chimney Rock, and Blue Ridge Parkway without growing bored. So without further ado, here are some other alternatives you might want to consider if you’re looking for new activities to try.
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Foraging Class. If you’ve always wondered what edibles lurk in the wood near your house, here’s your chance to find out. No Taste Like Home offers short 3 hour classes starting at $40 that provide people with the basic knowledge of how to find
their own food. You even get to take home what you’ve find on your walk. While class participants are allowed the option of cooking up their own bounty, this company is affiliated with a number of local restaurants that will take whatever goodies you found and turn them into a tasty tree completely free of charge. However, the longer $75 foraging classes have a cooking component as well so travelers that are also interested in that particular aspect might want to sign up for that one instead.
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Glass Blowing Workshop. North Carolina Glass Center has free demonstrations on a regularly basis between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm when the shop is open. However, travelers that are interested in trying their own hand at this craft can sign up for one of their glassblowing workshops if they want to know more. The simplest of these is a half-hour experience where participants can make their own wine glass, paperweight, or Christmas tree ornament. The cost is around $60, which is a bit expensive for the amount of time spent on it. But you do get to take your creation home with you a couple of days later and have a unique souvenir to remind you of your trip so perhaps that helps alleviate any sticker shock you might be feeling.
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Spelunking. Participating in this sport requires about an hour drive but it is still one of the top-rated Asheville outdoor activities. Appalachian Underground journeys meet up at their outpost, which is located at 105 John Sheffield Drive in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Trips start at 10 am, no matter what the weather, and cost $65 per person. Participants will need to bring old clothing because their outfits will get damp and muddy in the wet caverns. Close-toed shoes and thick socks are also recommended for much the same reason. You will get to spend a little over 3 hours climbing through the caves. However, keep in mind that it does take some time to collect your gear and ride to the opening after your arrival. It’s also a good idea to bring some dry garments to change into, a plastic bag to hold your previous outfit, and some wipes to clean off with since you probably don’t want to drive back to Asheville in damp, muddy clothes.
As always, have fun and happy travels!
Sources: Yelp; Wikipedia; WikiTravel.org; Google Maps
