Winter Getaway Ideas

Winter Getaway Itineraries, Last-Minute Trips and Fun Travel Ideas

Asheville makes the perfect winter getaway, with mild temperatures in the city yet snowcapped mountains minutes away. Here are ideas for some last-minute, cheap and fun winter getaways:

Winter sports and spas

Get the perfect combination of rugged outdoor adventures skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing, and then relax those muscles with some wonderful spa treatments or a soak in a hot, bubbling spa tub.

Plan your trip: Winter Sports | Spa Resorts and Day Spas

Shopping and sightseeing getaway

These are two things that are splendid activities in Asheville, and both are more accessible and less crowded yet still just as enjoyable in the wintertime. Shopping in Asheville is amazingly diverse for a city of this size, whether you want the typical malls and big box stores or you seek out unique, locally-owned shops like those found downtown and in Biltmore Village. Some of the Southeast's most interesting sightseeing attractions are located here, from America's largest home to Asheville's oldest home.

Plan your trip: Historic Attractions and Museums | Shopping in Asheville

Cinema and cocoa

Get out of the cold and out of your typical routine with a night out watching an indie film at the Fine Arts Theatre, situated in an Art Deco building downtown. Afterwards, hit one of the area's many downtown coffee shops for a steamy cup of cocoa or Joe, such as the Double Decker bus, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe or True Confections. For the true film buff, also check out some of the Asheville area spots where major Hollywood films were shot.

Plan your trip: Fine Arts Theatre | Asheville in the Movies

Culinary and literary adventure

Asheville has long been known for its strong literary tradition, and it's increasingly being recognized for its outstanding gourmet cuisine. Plan a getaway to spend the day exploring some of Asheville's amazing literary treasures, such as the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Carl Sandburg Home or Riverside Cemetery, where Thomas Wolfe and O'Henry are buried. In the evening, enjoy some of Asheville's much-acclaimed cuisine, whether you are a lover of Southern homestyle cooking or well-made organic and vegetarian cuisine. Better yet, combine both of these with a visit to the Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar. Need we say more?