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Are you looking for a great place to travel away from the typical spring break and summer crowds? If you are looking for a destination with mild weather, beautiful natural scenery and plenty to do during late spring and early summer without the crowds, then look no further than Asheville, North Carolina. This gem of the Blue Ridge Mountains is an incredible travel destination any time of year but this outdoor lover’s paradise offers a gorgeous climate to enjoy before peak travel season. Those visiting Asheville in spring and early summer will find comfortable weather with daily temps typically between 55 and 80 degrees (F). In today’s post, I will give you 7 great reasons to consider an escape to Asheville, North Carolina during the spring and early summer.
1) Visit the Biltmore Estate for the Biltmore Blooms Event
The Biltmore Estate is America’s Largest Home and is one of the most impressive structures in all of the United States. While the interior of the home is jaw-dropping and is absolutely worth a tour, in spring the gardens reign supreme. During Spring at Biltmore, the grounds of the Biltmore estate come to life. During the months of April through late May, visitors can attend the Biltmore Blooms event and tour acres of pristinely manicured gardens with vibrant flowers, trees and shrubs. In addition, visitors can enjoy complimentary tastings at the winery. The Biltmore grounds are truly incredible and are home to more than 50,000 tulips, 14,000 daffodils and more than 100,000 bulbs planted throughout! While The Biltmore is always a beautiful place to visit, spring is the aesthetically ideal time for you to get lost in this majestic estate.
2) Drive and hike along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of stunningly beautiful driving, with no shortage of incredible lookouts (photographers rejoice!) and hiking to enjoy along the way. One of the most beautiful segments along the parkway is Craggy Gardens which offers moderate hikes to nearby summits with amazing panoramic views. While stunning at any time of year, Craggy Gardens is best experienced in spring and early summer when the pink and purple rhododendron are in full bloom along the mountain peaks.
3) Stroll the Asheville Botanical Gardens
When spring is in the air and summer is just moving in, the flowers are blooming at Asheville Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden offers lovely floral displays along its walking paths and wide open green areas. The colorful flowers are in the height of blooming during spring, so come for a visit in late spring into early summer for a stunning visual treat.
4) Check out some Asheville area waterfalls
There is no shortage of waterfalls in the Asheville area, with more than 100 in the surrounding area. The trails to check out the waterfalls can get crowded in late summer, so consider visiting in late spring to early summer when the weather is mild. While there are seemingly endless waterfalls to explore, a few highlights include Looking Glass Falls in the Pisgah National Forest, as well as Triple Falls, High Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in the Dupont State Forest. Perhaps the most famous waterfall in the area, not to be missed, is Lineville Falls.
5) Grab a beer on the patio
Asheville, North Carolina has a craft brewery scene that is comfortably within the top in the country. Not only does Asheville have more than 40 breweries within the city, but many of them have patios that come abuzz when spring hits. Highland Brewing is the oldest and largest craft brewery in the city and offers tours of the facility. Wedge Brewing is a great spot to check out in Asheville’s River Arts District that also houses awesome food trucks most of the week, or grab a sour specialty at Wicked Weed Brewing and Funkatorium (who doesn’t want to check out a Funkatorium)? Or if you want to check out one of the most indisputably beloved area breweries, head to Burial Beer Co and enjoy your beer with a side of eccentric mural art.
6) Take in the views at an area rooftop bar
Move over, beer – Asheville’s drinking scene not only has some of the best brewery patios, it also has some of the best rooftop cocktail bars around as well. For a break from the beer, head to one of Asheville’s area rooftop bars for craft cocktails and unforgettable views. A stylish spot to add to your short list is Pillar Rooftop Bar, located on top of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Asheville. The Montford Rooftop Bar is another stellar spot offering unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from every angle. For amazing eats at one of the hippest spots in the city check out Capella on 9, or Hemingway’s Cuba with its signature traditional Cuban cuisine. While the rooftop bar culture is buzzing year-round in Asheville, I recommend going early to avoid the peak crowds of late summer and autumn.
7) Walk around downtown Asheville
Downtown Asheville is a historic beauty not to be missed. The weather is perfectly comfortable for a stroll around the city in spring into early summer before the temperatures soar. While visiting downtown, be sure to enjoy the many street performers and take time to explore some of the many local shops and boutiques. Downtown Asheville is also home to the Grove Arcade, a gorgeous structure housing additional shops. During the spring, many local artisans come together at the Makers Market, an outdoor bazaar of shops outside the Grove Arcade. There is so much to be found exploring the market and talking with the local creators about their locally made jewelry, clothing, art, food and other goods. While downtown, head over to Chai Pani, an unassuming Indian restaurant previously voted “America’s Most Outstanding Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation.