There’s plenty to do for the whole crew, indoors or out
Avoid the crowds that come with fall, spring and summer, and enjoy Asheville with your family at the coolest time of the year.
After Hurricane Helene, almost all of downtown Asheville is open and ready for business, its infrastructure having remained largely untouched by the storm. Downtown shops, restaurants, galleries, artist studios and restaurants are open—alongside our neighbors in the towns of Weaverville and Black Mountain. South Asheville and the Asheville Regional Airport are open. Biltmore Estate has reopened and is welcoming guests for a holiday season of hope and reconnection.
Our community is making progress every day, surely and safely. There are areas that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas—including parts of the River Arts District, Biltmore Village and Swannanoa—have a longer road ahead, so checking status online, calling ahead and making sure roads are open is advised before traveling to these areas. We are here for our neighbors throughout western North Carolina.
Planning is key. As you support local businesses, please visit respectfully, with heart and patience.
Games and Interactive Museums
With more than 30 pinball machines and over a dozen classic video games in the “Arcave,” there’s enough nostalgic button pushing at the Asheville Pinball Museum to entertain the whole family for hours… and to keep them from pushing your buttons.
Little ones can channel their inner Isaac Newtons at the Asheville Museum of Science. Be a geologist in the Colburn Hall of Minerals or dig for fossils and see the Teratophoneus dinosaur skeleton.
Gamers of all ages and skill levels can take a turn at Well Played, an indoor gaming oasis that features more than 700 table top games along with food, beer, coffee and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Not sure where to begin? Roll the dice with one of their expert Gamemasters who will help you choose the right adventure for your experience level and group size.
Outdoor Adventure
Don’t be fooled by the mountainous locale -- Asheville has its share of mild winter weather with plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun sans snow. Check out this list of favorite winter hikes, or for something closer to town with a little more of an adrenaline rush, the Adventure Center of Asheville is open all winter on weekends, so you can climb, bike and zip all year long.
All aboard certainly won’t be bored on Asheville’s historic Gray Line Trolley Tours. Even locals learn a thing or two about their hometown on this fun and informative tour of the city. The Jingle Bell Trolley returns for its 13th year, offering a 25-minute, two-mile round-trip up and down Craggy Mountain in an open-air trolley that ends wish a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!
From mid-November through early January, the North Carolina Arboretum gardens sparkle and twinkle with the “Winter Lights” exhibit, which has become a favorite local holiday tradition. Families can stretch their legs while enjoying the holiday sparkle of the Blue Ridge Mountains by taking a self-guided walking experience through the Arboretum's gardens dressed in nearly one million lights.
Eats and Treats
When it comes to kid-friendly restaurants and breweries, Asheville serves up plenty of options. Warm up and refuel at one of these winter hot spots. The hot cocoa at French Broad Chocolates was named one of the best hot chocolates by Travel + Leisure magazine.
From late-November to early January, kids ages nine to 99 will delight in a slight change to the normal National Gingerbread House Competition at The Omni Grove Park Inn. This year, over 45 competitors will bring their gingerbread creations to be displayed for visitors and locals to view at the resort and local businesses. While the pieces will not be professionally judged, this change in format will allow them to share the beauty and magic of our competitors’ work with a community still overcoming the obstacles after Hurricane Helene. Gingerbread entries will go on display starting Saturday, November 23 through Sunday, January 5.
If you’re ready to take a load off, but the kids are still bouncing off the walls, enjoy the many outdoor games at Whistle Hop Brewing in nearby Fairview. Families can explore the brewery's famed caboose or boxcar, play a round of mini golf, go mini bowling or try their hand at Disc Golf Connect 4. Then round out your evening with pizza and a movie at Asheville Pizza & Brewing in North Asheville.
