Asheville North Carolina

[Minnie116]

My parents offered to take me and my 2 kids (DD6 & DS3), to Asheville, NC next week for the week. Has anyone been there? Is there much to do there for the kids. I was trying to google it, and it seems as though there is horse back riding, and rafting which the kids are too young for. Am I going to be dealing with 2 bored children?

 

[summerrluvv]

The Biltmore Estate is neat. We also visited some kind of hiking area...I can't remember what it was called. Rock something maybe? Chimney Rock? They had waterfalls and stuff. I thought it was neat. Of course DS wasn't born when we went (was in my belly though!), so I'm not sure if children would be bored or not.

 

[casndan]

Its a beautiful place, unless your kids don't like the outdoors...there are plenty of things to do, enjoy nature...get a book and take the opportunity to learn about different trees, plants and animals, it's a great opportunity for some family time

 

[tammy1210]

There's a nice zoo there - actually, I think it may be called a "wildlife retreat" or something, but it's really great for kids and adults. Lake Lure is nearby - we often rent a pontoon boat for a 1/2 day and take around the lake. Chimney Rock is nice, too - lots of walking. Biltmore was always boring to me as a child and dh and I have been once - we did the four hour tour in about an hour - I'm just not into stuff like that, though. Cherokee is about an hour away - Santa's Land, lots of touristy stuff in Cherokee, Unto These Hills outdoor play, a funpark, etc... Tammy

 

[dawnball]

I have family in Asheville, and we head out there fairly regularly. There's a lot of hiking and outdoorsy-stuff, but at 2, DD is just too young to really enjoy it for more than an hour or so.

I'd recommend:
Health Adventure (downtown at Pack Place) - dorky name, but a really nice kid's museum. It's in the same building as the art museum, which I wouldn't recommend for kids that age.
Western North Carolina Nature Center - sort of a mini-zoo with locally indigious animals. The exhibits are close to each other, and you get a good view of the animals generally. They have some hands-on, play with the turtle shells/fur/etc displays too.

http://www.ashevilleparks.org/parks/parks&play_areas.htm has a listing of parks in Asheville, and some of them are very nice.

Bel Chere is loads of fun (and has lots of kid's activities) but that's the week after next.

They might like shindig on the green, if they like music. My kid would happily bop away for quite awhile.

Fun Depot is nothing really exciting, but a good way for little ones to run off some steam in an indoor play area. Your daughter could do go-carts with an adult driving, if she were so inclined.

I've been tempted to do the great smoky mountain railroad, but my kid isn't a train fan, and it's a 4 hour trip. For train lovers it would be loads of fun though.


Rent a boat on Lake Lure? Or just go on a guided cruise? There's a beach at Lake Lure that rents innertubes and has bumper boats, or just a chance to feel the sand in your toes.

Tweetsie Railroad could be fun, but it's kind of a long drive. That's a western/railroad-themed amusement park aimed at little ones.

 

[disneyfan551]

I go to Asheville every weekend! However, I drag my 4yo shopping, so she's usually bored in Asheville too! There's always Chuck E. Cheese to handle that problem... There is lots of shopping (malls!) in Asheville to keep you busy too. The Nature Center only costs about $5, so it's a good deal. It isn't a huge zoo, but it's good for 1/2 a day's entertainment.

As another poster said, Cherokee (Indian Reservation) is only an hours drive, and has Santa's Land a small amusement park for kids. You'll also find Unto These Hills, an outdoor drama, a fun park, and Harrah's Cherokee Casino in Cherokee. If you were to think of the train ride, take the one from Bryson City going to the Nantahala Gorge (Good Morning America did a 15 min. segment on this area a few weeks ago!). Oh, I even believe Thomas the Train will be in Bryson City sometime this month! If you head that way into Bryson City, you MUST go to Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mtns. National Park. Hiking, waterfalls, cheap tubing, lots of fun for all ages! I highly recommend dinner at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City too!

Have fun whatever you decide!! This is a GREAT area!

 

[sorul82?]

If it's possible to fit into your plans, Tweetsie Railroad is about 2 hours from there. And stop by Grandfather Mtn. and walk across the mile high swinging bridge!

http://www.tweetsie.com/

http://www.grandfather.com/