Join us for guided whitewater rafting near Asheville on the French Broad, Watauga, and Nolichucky Rivers. No experience is required and there is a professional guide in every raft. We also offer guided caving trips. Visit our website for discounts!

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A Sense of Humor is a "humor boutique" featuring fresh and witty merchandise for the home, office, and general everyday elimination of global grumpiness. We celebrate the unusual, the whacky, and the subversive nature of humor, and want to help you celebrate your own unique style of humor. We're a family-run, mostly family-friendly, and dog-friendly store that operates in the heart of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. We also operate a retail website at www.asenseofhumor.biz. Our list of fans grows daily. Come see why.

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The Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre (ACDT), founded in 1979, is Western North Carolina's first professional modern dance company. The company performs up to 80 times a year in Asheville, the southeaster United States, and abroad (France, Canada, Cuba, Mexico...). ACDT's repertoire consists of full length modern dance theatre productions, smaller modern dance works, and educational dance theatre performances for children. ACDT is the producer of several dance and performing arts festivals in Asheville: The Fringe Arts Festival, the North Carolina Dance Festival, the Men's Dance Festival, and the 48 Hour Dance Project. In addition to their regular performance season, ACDT also invites dance companies and artists from around the world to share their talents and enrich the Asheville community.

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You'll tour through Montford Historic District, one of the largest historic districts in North Carolina! You'll see Asheville's impressive collection of Queen Ann style historic homes, the exquisite Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa where six U.S. presidents and countless celebrities and historical figures have visited, see the Thomas Wolfe Home and Museum, travel through Battery Park shopping and restaurant district and the Grove Arcade, Visit Pack Square cultural area, Biltmore Village, River Arts District, enjoy fabulous mountain views and so much more. Our professionally trained tour guides will relate the history and lore of Asheville… the Paris of the South. Your guide will combine humorous stories and historical information into a fun-filled tour. Asheville's Longest Running Trolley Line. Unlimited Hop-On & Hop-Off Privileges

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Calm water float trips on the French Broad River through the Biltmore property, in Asheville. Canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes. Family fun adventure. Minimum child weight requirement is 35 pounds. Beautiful riverside facilities. Asheville's only riverside GEM Mining coming in spring of 2009, along with adventure kids camp, ACA canoe instructions, bicycle rentals, and guided interpretive float trips. Check Our web site for complete details. We also offer beautiful riverside facilities with vollyball court, childrens playplace, basketball and horse shoe pit. All of these ingredients make for a great day at the Asheville Outdoor Center for corporate retreats/meetings, team building, family reuinions, parties, receptions large or small. Our location is just ten minutes from downtown Asheville and Historic Biltmore Village with easy interstate access.

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More than 50 parks offering golf, swimming, tennis, skateboarding, roller hockey, climbing wall, nature center, playgrounds, basketball, community centers, ballfields, picnic shelters, trails and much more.

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The Asheville Tourists are a single-A minor league baseball team that competes in the 16-team South Atlantic League. The Tourists are currently affiliated with the major league team, Colorado Rockies.

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The Asheville Urban Trail has often been called Asheville's "museum without walls." Started by a small group of citizens interested in helping revitalize downtown, the Urban Trail consists of thirty stations of bronze sculpture around downtown. Each station has a plaque illuminating some of the very interesting history of downtown's development and the various notable people who once lived here. Mostly local artists helped to create the whimsical bronze sculptures and other art works that are found at each station. The tour is a 1.7 mile walk that begins and ends at Pack Place and takes about two hours to complete in its entirety. Groups can arrange to schedule a tour guide by contacting Christy Ammerman at the Asheville Area Arts Council 10 days to 2 weeks in advance of their desired tour date. Guide-led group tours are $5/adult and $2/child. Additionally, walking guides and maps are available for self-guided tours free of charge at Pack Place and the Asheville Area Arts Council.

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Asheville's only family entertainment center featuring indoor and outdoor go-carts, indoor mini golf, multi-level laser tag, indoor batting cages, climbing wall, soft play area, bumper cars, arcade gallery, mini-bowling and more. Ride for fun or race to win…our outdoor track is two stories tall and 1/4 mile long - it's the only one of it's kind in Western North Carolina! Check out Asheville's only laser tag arena complete with black lights, music and fog, our fully-interactive game matches two teams head to head in our multi-level arena. Our state-of-the-art arcade gallery hosts over 110 games. With such a large selection and a frequently updated game selection, there is something every age and every skill level can enjoy. Fuel the Fun at The Depot Diner, located inside our facility. With a wide variety of menu items including pizza and burgers, and more healthy choices such as salads and wraps. The entire family will love Asheville's Fun Depot!

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Float on an inner tube, picnic in the shade, or just catch some rays at this beach in the mountains. Enjoy the Water Works with water slides and other soaking-wet fun.

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Explore the wonders of Biltmore in Asheville for a day or a week. Discover America's largest home, magnificent gardens, award-winning winery, great shopping and delicious dining and a four-diamond escape at our inn.

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Closest whitewater rafting outfitter to Asheville, 18 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 5 miles, class II-III rapids, min. age is 8. Full Day Trips add 3 more miles, a fresh, deli-style lunch, and a class IV rapid, min. age is 8. Families with younger children can choose the Float Trip, min. age is 4. A guide in your raft is always an option. 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 wetsuits in cool weather, no extra charge. 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!

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Studio tour offers a guided walk through of the sound stages, wet stage for water effects, re-enactment of scenes from projects filmed and some of the secrets of movie production from an insider's viewpoint.

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The 25 western most counties and Qualla Boundary in North Carolina comprise the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. In designating this region as a National Heritage Area in 2003, Congress recognized that the cultural and natural resources of the Blue Ridge Mountains have played a significant role in the history of the United States and the State of North Carolina. Some of the defining landscapes include the deepest gorge in the Eastern US, Linville Gorge; the oldest river in North America, the New River; the most visited National Park lands in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway; the highest mountain east of the Rockies, Mt. Mitchell; the ancestral home of the Cherokee, and America's largest home, Biltmore.

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Outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular units of the National Park System. "America's Favorite Drive" winds its way 469 miles through mountain meadows and past seemingly endless vistas. Split-rail fences, old farmsteads and historic structures complement spectacular views of distant mountains and neighboring valleys. Don't miss the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2010. The Parkway incorporates several recreation areas, some exceeding 6,000 acres. These parks within the Parkway have visitor centers, camp grounds, picnic areas, trails and, in many instances, concessionaire-operated lodges, restaurants, and other facilities. The Parkway intersects Asheville at US 25, US 70 and US 74, and NC 191. The Linn Cove Viaduct (MP 304) is an engineering marvel that wraps around Grandfather Mountain. Check out the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center, the NC Arboretum, and the Folk Art Center.

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This 10-acre nonprofit nature preserve (next to UNCA) is dedicated to preserving and displaying the native flora of the Southern Appalachians. Garden-themed gift shop. Donations welcome.

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Buncombe County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services (BCPG&R) operates 4 recreation parks, 5 river parks, 1 indoor and 5 outdoor pools. Lake Julian Park - fishing, boat rental and a boat launch, sand volleyball and horseshoes. The Sports Park - 7 soccer fields, 6 hole disc golf course, bocce ball courts, a walking trail and a sand volleyball court. Charles D. Owen Park - baseball fields, basketball courts, two fishing lakes and an official North Carolina Birding Trail. Hominy Valley Park - baseball fields,basketball courts, sand volleyball, a pool and tennis courts. In addition, parks have picnic tables, grills, playgrounds and restrooms. BCPG&R sponsors special community events throughout the year and provides high-quality programming for all ages. The river parks - picnic tables, grills and boat launches for small watercraft. No restrooms at the river parks. Our newsletter is available at http://intranet.buncombecounty.org/news_detail.asp?newsID=7708

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This National Park Service site honors the accomplishments of American poet Carl Sandburg. Take a guided tour of the historic home; visit the farm and trails. Free for farm and trails. Fee for house tour; cash and check only.

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Great skiing only 35 miles west of Asheville! 100% snowmaking, 14 lighted slopes, 5 lifts with 3 moving carpet lifts; six lanes of snowtubing fun. Over 2,000 sets of shaped ski and snowboard rentals. PSIA school instruction.

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Make your first stop in Cherokee at our new welcome center. Get assistance with your questions, directions, tickets for shows and attractions. You can also pick up other local information and brochures.

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One of NC's newest state parks, Chimney Rock brings the best of the mountains together in one place. An elevator inside the mountain or a network of stairs and boardwalks takes you to 315 ft Chimney Rock and amazing 75-mile views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and the Carolina Piedmont. With five unique hiking trails, the Park has something for everyone from the family-friendly Great Woodland Adventure trail with 12 discovery stations along the way to the more adventurous Four Seasons trail which climbs more than 400 ft. Be sure to hike the Hickory Nut Falls trail - the reward is the 404 ft falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the East. Chimney Rock also offers guided rock climbing lessons for beginner to advanced climbers. The Old Rock Cafe and Sky Lounge Deli offer tasty sandwiches and snacks to get you fueled up for your hike. Souvenirs of your trip can be picked up at Cliff Dwellers or the Sky Lounge Gift Shop. The Park offers discounts for groups, and is pet friendly.

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ROCK CLIMBING IS FUN! Looking for an activity for the entire family? Try your hand at rock climbing. ClimbMax Climbing Center, in downtown Asheville, is a full service indoor climbing facility with guided outdoor tours available. ClimbMax has activities for groups of all ages and sizes, from birthday parties to corporate programs and is great fun for kids.

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An interactive earth science museum for all ages with a special focus on the unique geology of WNC. Exhibits include the history of local mining and meteorology and the permanent collection in the Hall of Gems and Minerals.

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Home of the first forestry school in America, this historic site offers guided walks, historic buildings, living history interpreters, outdoor fun, antique equipment, an old logging train, and the Forest Discovery Center.

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The Fiddlin' Pig features local, award-winning bluegrass and mountain music artists. Don't miss the pickin', grinnin' and dancin' LIVE at The Fiddlin' Pig!

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The entire family can become artists at this paint-your-own-pottery studio on Wall Street in downtown Asheville. You can also shop our art boutique where you can find a unique hand-crafted gift to take home.

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Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild representing craft artists from Southern Appalachia. Houses three fine art galleries and offers daily craft demonstrations.

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Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting on Asheville's own French Broad River. Just 30 miles from Asheville. A guide in every raft guaranteed! Five-mile & nine-mile whitewater trips or calm water rentals available.

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Step back into the Wild West at Ghost Town in the Sky. Surrounded with breathtaking views in a beautiful mountain setting, Ghost Town is a timeless, family theme park located in the heart of Western North Carolina.

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One Ticket, Over 30 Attractions, One Low Price! Go Blue Ridge Card is an all-access pass that includes admission to 30 of Western North Carolina's most popular attractions. Pay just ONE LOW PRICE for the pass and visit as many attractions as you want, while saving up to 35% or more compared to the cost of buying individual tickets at each location. Enjoy such top attractions as Biltmore; Chimney Rock Park; Grandfather Mountain; Whitewater Rafting; Cherokee sites; Linville Caverns; and Tweetsie Railroad – these and 20 other attractions are all included in the single cost of your Go Blue Ridge Card. With everything you need already loaded onto your Card, you can focus your trip on collecting memories instead of credit card receipts. Available online at www.SmartDestinations.com/blueridge. Or purchase locally in Asheville at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce at 37 Mortford Avenue and the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center at Milepost 384 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Offering visitors easy access to its towering peaks, Grandfather Mountain is one of the most biologically diverse mountains and in the world designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve. Feel the rush when you cross the Swinging Bridge; marvel at 360-degree views from one mile above sea level; photograph bears, otters, cougars, eagles and deer in natural habitats; hike rugged back-country trails or stroll gentle nature paths; eat in our restaurant or take your order out to one of many scenic picnic areas; chat with our entertaining, knowledgeable staff and let us help you find your own perfect mountain adventure.

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Asheville's Most Popular Tour! Hop aboard one of Gray Line's nostalgic RED trolleys for a fully narrated journey, highlighting the history, homes and hot-spots of this "City of Surprises." The Gray Line Trolley Tour includes all major points of interest including the diverse Montford Historic District, legendary Grove Park, Art Deco-rich downtown Asheville, the artsy and edgy River Arts District and the quaint and historic Biltmore Village. Remain onboard for a comprehensive 1.5 to 1.75 hour tour, or hop-off at any of Gray Line's 8 trolley stops along the route to shop dine and explore, then re-board the next trolley to continue your tour. The tour also includes FREE admission into the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Historic Site. Join the tour at the Asheville Visitor Center or any tour stop and enjoy old-fashioned fun for everyone!

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This year the nation's most popular park celebrates 75 years as the 'people's park'. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park extends 70 miles along the North Carolina/Tennessee border and contains over 500,000 acres of protected forest. The Mountain Farm Museum is a display of historic farm buildings on US 441 North.

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Travel through fertile valleys and down into moutain gorges. Offering 4 to 4.5 hour round-trip and Dinner Train excursions in beautiful Western North Carolina. Depot is in Bryson City, NC.

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Located 9 miles west of Brevard on the pristine headwaters of the French Broad we offer a varity of outdoor adventures. Trips include self-guided canoeing, canoe-camping, kayaking, tubing trips and guided fly fishing trips.

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This 1880s brick farmhouse is listed on National Register. Former summer boarding house and farm. Museum, guided tours, miniature horses and antique farm equipment displays.

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Definitely not your mamma's typical tour bus experience, LaZoom is Asheville's only rolling comedy tour bus. One of WNC's most unique things to do, LaZoom's 90-minute odyssey through Asheville spells quirky fun for both first-time visitors and long-time residents. Each tour takes you to Asheville's favorite neighborhoods and landmarks and features a knowledgeable and witty tour guide, a heavy dose of corny jokes, and slapstick characters all along the way. So, prepare to laugh your socks off and Get on the Bus! Voted Asheville's #1 attraction by previous LaZoom bus riders on TripAdvisor.com.

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McCormick Field is home to the Asheville Tourists professional baseball club. This single A team is an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies organization. ESPN.com has named Asheville's McCormick Field as part of the website's "10 quintessential road tours that capture the best of the majors and minors."

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The Museum of the Cherokee Indian tells the story of Cherokee history and features the esteemed "Emissaries of Peace," exhibit chronicling a peaceful 1762 encounter between the British and the Cherokee. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, "Emissaries of Peace" received a presidential designation as a "We the People" exhibit. "Emissaries" was viewed by over 3.9 million visitors' while at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in the summer of 2007. It is the only traveling exhibition produced by members of an American Indian tribe. The Museum has designed an award-winning, interactive space that celebrates the tribe's longevity through interactive displays, images, artifacts and other materials that offer a thought provoking glimpse at a culture more than 10,000 years old.

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Home to 15 USA Canoe/Kayak Olympians and rated the "#1 Vacation with a Splash" by Good Morning America and National Geographic Adventure, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is both a legend and a leader in the outdoor industry. NOC rafts nine of the East's best whitewater rivers including four rivers near Asheville, the French Broad, the Nantahala, the Nolichucky and the Pigeon. Full of splashy waves and expansive Blue Ridge vistas, these rivers are the best way to experience Western North Carolina's mountain beauty with your family or group! Interested in picking up exciting new skills on your vacation? NOC's Paddling School, named "the nation's premier paddling school" by The New York Times, can gently introduce whitewater paddling to anyone in as little as one day. Also offering fly-fishing, bike rentals, lake tours, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, three restaurants and the famous NOC Outfitter's Store, NOC has been Western North Carolina's adventure headquarters since

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434-acre public garden in south Asheville with 65-acres of cultivated gardens including the Bonsai Exhibition Garden, 10 miles of forested trails, Garden tours, Segway® Tours, Art Walk, Nature Activities for kids, rotating science, art and cultural history exhibits, a Cafe and gift shops.

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Since 1952, visitors have been traveling back in time to experience the Cherokee way of life, circa 1750, at the Oconaluftee Indian Village - a live working Indian village. While on tour, visitors will see residents in native dress involved in numerous activities - many still practiced today - such as canoe hulling, preparing cornbread, arrowhead knapping, mask making, pottery, storytelling, basket weaving, beading, and other native skills. While at the Village Square, don't miss the outdoor mini-drama "A Time of War," a conflict between white militant settlers and the Cherokee. The Village also offers "Hands-on Cherokee" pottery, basket weaving, and beading classes, where Cherokee craftsman teach techniques thousands of years old. Call to register for classes. Limit 20 people.

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We've got the fun and the fish! Tour our exhibits! Walk our trails! Feed the fish! Operated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education offers visitors an opportunity to explore the natural world of a mountain cove forest. Located at the states largest trout hatchery, feed brook, brown, and rainbow trout which are raised from eggs and then released in local streams and rivers. Enjoy our wildlife garden, our award winning film, and the NC WILD store. Wildlife education programs are also available for the public and groups. Located 10 minutes from Brevard in the Pisgah National Forest.

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Two championsip minature golf courses with natural landscaping and water features. Snack bar, arcade, party rooms - great for families.

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Relive the Victorian era at Asheville's oldest house (circa 1840). Explore opulent period rooms, history exhibits and grounds designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers.

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Founded in 1968, The Health Adventure's mission is to serve as a health & science museum for children & today's families, dedicated to improving health awareness, promoting wellness lifestyles & increasing science & environmental literacy through programs & exhibits. The Health Adventure currently serves 130,000 people annually, mostly children, from 27 counties across NC and additional visitors from neighboring states through combined museum visits, school field trips & outreach classes. The Health Adventure explores the wonders of the human body & the world around us, encouraging curiosity, creativity & capacity for human discovery. Health, biological & physical science, technology & the scientific process are emphasized in our interactive exhibits & curricula. Our goal is to ensure students and families leave The Health Adventure & our programs more knowledgeable about health & science so they develop lifelong patterns of good health & independent learning and discovery.

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The Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. is the nation's oldest and leading arts and crafts cooperative; created in 1946 to secure fair prices and provide a year-round market for talented Eastern Band Cherokee Indian Artists. Approximately 300 Qualla Mutual artists create baskets, pottery, wood and stone carved sculpture, beadwork, fine art paintings, and more for display and purchase at the co-op. It's the largest collection of its kind in the nation. Many of the artists work with age-old materials and techniques; others experiment with new methods and abstract forms. Entry to the Qualla Mutual is a juried process and restricted to enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which grew from Cherokees who avoided removal west in the 1830s. Qualla Mutual members have won competitions at the Santa Fe Indian Market and demonstrated their skills at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. The purity and simplicity of the Cherokee work attracts many collectors.

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As North Carolina's original family theme park, Tweetsie Railroad is a unique attraction that allows children and families to explore their imaginations and a whole lot more. Be a cowboy, cowgirl, Indian or an engineer. Shop along Main Street, pan for gold or visit the Deer Park. Tweetsie has amusement rides for all ages and live entertainment throughout the park. And of course, hop aboard our historic steam-powered train for a fun-filled three-mile Wild West journey through the scenic mountains. Located in Blowing Rock, NC.

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It's the greatest story never told, at least not as we are telling it this year. With a new script, new direction, new score, new choreography it is a story as old as time, and as fresh as the next performance. "Unto These Hills…a retelling" is a poignant drama that tells the story of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, from the arrival of the Europeans and the forced exile along the Trail of Tears in 1838–39, to the ultimate revival of tribal life and tradition that survives today. The third longest running outdoor drama in the nation features live music, ritual dance, and authentic Cherokee costumes, set onstage in a 2,800-seat mountainside amphitheater. Since its inaugural debut in 1950, over 5 million visitors have attended the memorable drama.

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Thirty-seven years of rafting experience offering family, group, high adventure trips and team building on five Southeastern rivers - the Chatooga, the Nantahala, the Ocoee, the Pigeon and the Cheoah. Wildwater Rafting offers the best whitewater fun in the Asheville area with unparalleled attention to detail both on and off the water. Quality Service Guarantee!

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The WNC Nature Center is 40 acres of animals in their native habitats. It provides an opportunity to learn, to touch and to know our rich natural heritage through educational and interactive exhibits.

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This 1830s reconstructed mountain farmstead is where North Carolina's Civil War Governor, Zebulon B. Vance, was born.

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