We just moved here and are still in the exploration mode.....
Of course there is the Biltmore Estate. They have opened more rooms and now do a seperate tour of the roof as well. There is also the Winery on the property to tour and samples to be had.
We love the NC Arboretum. There are lots of trails to explore, beautiful gardens, a visitor center and the greenhouse which houses one of the best Bonsai Exhibits I have ever seen.
There is always lots of shopping to be done in downtown Asheville as well as Hendersonville which is 20 minutes away. In Asheville there are some wonderful restaurants in all price ranges. Some of our favorites are the Early Girl Eatery, Barleys Taproom, Doc Cheys and the Lobster Trap. If you like tapas, try Zambra. In Hendersonville you will find a quaint old fashioned main street with lots of wonderful shops. A great place to eat here is Mikes, which is a great little ice cream parlor and sandwich shop....very reasonable as well. In both towns you can find the Mast General Store which is just that....a great old fashioned General Store with everything from clothes and gifts to shoes and camping supplies. You will also find a great selection of old fashioned penny candy which is perhaps my favorite part of the store.
You can explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Folk Art Center which is part art gallery and shop featuring traditional mountain crafts. The center is sponsored by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the pieces displayed are truly magnificent. There are lots of scenic overlooks and picnic areas along the parkway.
About 30 minutes south of Asheville you will find Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. We are visiting this weekend, so I can give you a report later on these sites.
If you feel like venturing farther west you can find the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad, which will take you on a very pleasant ride from Dillsboro to Bryson City, or Bryson City to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. This is great fun, especially if you have small boys who are train crazy. Even further west is Cherokee and the Harrah's Casino. We spent a fun rainy Saturday here and had a blast.
For more adult pampering....the Grove Park Inn now has a world class spa. I don't know much about it but I am sure the Grove Park Inn website would help there.
I know there is much much more, but as I said we are still exploring ourselves. Let me know if you need more help and I will find out what I can. Good luck planning your trip.
Linda