Arts and Culture Mountain 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. With a hip downtown area filled with coffee shops, award-winning restaurants, museums, and over 30 craft breweries—and surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains and rivers in the Southeast—it’s no surprise it was named one of the Best Small Cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.

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

During your stay, we’ve arranged for you to take a fun, four-hour “Bites & Bikes” electric bike tour of the city. This easy 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, listen to a demonstration of handmade Appalachian stringed instruments, stop for lunch and snacks, and tour the historic Grove Park Inn that includes a spectacular view of the mountains from their Sunset Terrace. 

In the 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 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 US. Set on 8,000 acres, with its own gardens, winery, farm, and village, today Biltmore is open for tours and events and is one of Asheville’s main attractions. 

On day three of your vacation, you’ll visit Biltmore and enjoy a guided tour of the house along with a wine tasting at Antler Hill and admission to one of Biltmore’s incredible art and culture exhibits. If there’s time, you can also explore more of the estate, strolling through their famous gardens, taking a tour of the winery, visiting the gift shops, or walking the paved paths around the village.

The next day you will head out of Asheville for a leisurely drive in the mountains along a stretch of the famed Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping for a luxury picnic lunch along the way. Billed as “America’s favorite scenic drive,” this winding highway is part of the National Park Service, connecting the Blue Ridge Mountains to Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your day trip will take you through some of the most beautiful spots in western North Carolina and can be customized to your preferences to include hiking, viewing waterfalls, visiting the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s Folk-Art Center, and more. 

In between this getaway’s included activities, you’ll have plenty of 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 acclaimed restaurants, including Cúrate and Rhubarb—both with James Beard nominated chefs—before heading home.