Early Summer Adventure Getaway in Beautiful Asheville, North Carolina

Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville is a small Southern city with a cool, big-city vibe. It’s home to an established wellness scene (dating back to the 1800s)—complete with yoga studios, salt caves, mountaintop meditation classes, and luxury spas—as well as an ultra-hip downtown area filled with coffee shops, award-winning restaurants, and dozens of unique craft breweries and tasting rooms. 

There are, in fact, more craft breweries per capita in Asheville than any other U.S. city (producing over 100 local beers—from IPAs to dark stouts and nearly everything in between) as well as nearly 50 well-known and up-and-coming wineries and vineyards in and around the Asheville region.

With all of that, combined with some of the most beautiful mountains and rivers in the Southeast just a short drive away, it’s no surprise it’s been named one of the Best Small Cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.

For this early summer getaway, you’ll have deluxe accommodations at one of Asheville’s best luxury hotels, with on-site spa and dining options, spacious rooms, high-end amenities, and plush bedding to help you get a good night’s sleep—all centrally located for easy access to the wonders of the city.

We’ve also arranged for you to enjoy a few unforgettable activities during your stay. 

The first is a heavenly day of hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains with your own private expert naturalist guide. Learn more about the stunning flora and fauna of the region and enjoy spectacular views as you walk along winding mountain trails, through lush forests and green hills, passing crystal-clear streams, rushing waterfalls, and just-bloomed wildflowers in one of the most scenic areas in North America. June is one of the best months for outdoor adventure in Asheville—with the worst of pollen season over and before the high humidity of deep summer sets in—perfect for a day in the mountains.

Your next scheduled excursion is a fun, four-hour “Bites & Bikes” electric bike tour of the city. This private ride through downtown and surrounding neighborhoods with your experienced guide will take you to the heart of what makes Asheville special. You’ll see the sights (including the former home of famed author, Thomas Wolfe), listen to a demonstration of handmade Appalachian stringed instruments, stop for lunch and snacks, and take a fascinating tour of the historic Grove Park Inn. 

There you’ll walk through the classic Arts and Crafts style buildings, take a peek at the inn’s legendary underground spa, explore the grounds, and hear interesting stories about some of the famous guests who’ve stayed at the hotel (F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harry Houdini, and several former presidents are just a few), wrapping up the experience with a particularly lovely view of the mountains from their Sunset Terrace. 

That afternoon, you can relax and rest at the hotel or continue exploring the city on your own. We recommend a trip to the North Carolina Arboretum or the nearby River Arts District, located next to the French Broad River just outside of downtown. With converted warehouses and mills, colorful street murals, and over 250 working artists showcasing everything from textiles to furniture, pottery to metalworking, jewelry, paintings, and more, RAD is the vibrant, creative hub of the city and totally worth visiting while you’re here.

In addition to the arts, Asheville is also home to a wonderfully eclectic mix of architecture styles, including Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Gothic, and Romanesque, with buildings and monuments designed by famed architects such as Richard Sharp Smith, Rafael Guastavino, and Douglas D. Ellington.

The most famous of these buildings is the iconic Biltmore Estate—the Vanderbilt family’s 130-year-old Châteauesque Revivalist mansion and the largest private home in the United States. Set on 8,000 acres, with its own gardens, winery, farm, village, and two hotels, today Biltmore is open for tours and special events and is one of Asheville’s main attractions. 

On day four of your vacation, you’ll visit the estate and enjoy a guided tour of the house along with a wine tasting at Antler Hill and a rare opportunity to see and experience Biltmore’s working farm. Walk through the home’s large, multi-roomed downstairs kitchen and servant’s quarters before taking in the opulent main floor and upstairs rooms, imagining the days when the Vanderbilt family hosted political figures, authors, and industrialists here. Outdoors, take a guided tour the farm and learn how it has evolved over the years, from its start in the 1800s to its modern, sustainable practices of today. If there’s time, you can also explore more of Biltmore, strolling through their famous gardens, taking a short tour of the winery, visiting the gift shops, or walking the paved paths around the village.

On your last full day in Asheville, you’ll be picked up by your driver in the hotel lobby and will head out to the mountains again, this time for a short, one-mile hike to a scenic overlook with stunning 360-degree views of the mountains and valley around you. Here, you’ll have a relaxing, one-hour mountain-top yoga session with a private instructor followed by a delicious mid-morning luxury picnic before hiking back down for the leisurely drive back to your hotel.

In between all of the included activities, you’ll have free time to get out and experience more of this lovely city on your own. Visit the champagne bar at the unique Battery Park Book Exchange. Take a walking tour of the historic Block neighborhood, celebrating the art and history of Asheville’s African American culture. Or have dinner at some of Asheville’s most acclaimed restaurants, including Cúrate and Rhubarb—both with James Beard nominated chefs—before heading home.