Experience wildlife up close with a family-friendly adventure to the WNC Nature Center, located just 10 minutes from downtown Asheville! Among the animals you’ll see are otters, black bears, wolves and a cougar! The 42-acre wildlife park … read more
If you’re looking for things to do in Asheville, then consider this list your primer to the many activities available in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you’re a first-time visitor, or perhaps well acquainted with the flair of this … read more
Has there ever been a creature so fearsome yet so adorable than the bear? If you spend enough time hiking or picnicking in the mountains near Asheville, you might see a bear. Fortunately, the black bear tends to be friendly and will not attack humans … read more
Shortly before fall in Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains, thousands of Monarch butterflies pass through the Asheville area as they migrate south to Mexico. The butterflies travel more than 2,000 miles on their journey, and we're fortunate … read more
Bring your binoculars to these birding havens Whether you’re a casual bird watcher or you’re collecting sightings for your Life List, this is a birder’s paradise. Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Great Blue Herons, and Pileated … read more
Honey Bees Make Life Sweeter in the Mountains Asheville goes by many names, including Land of the Sky, Paris of the South, Beer City USA and also Bee City USA. That's right—Bee City, as in honey bees. Honeybee (apis mellifera) by Eran … read more
Pack a Picnic for Cataloochee Valley A quick trip to the gorgeous Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains offers big rewards. The biggest is getting a close-up view of the majestic elk that weigh up to 900 pounds, making them the largest … read more
