Frame-Worthy Experiences in Asheville and Black Mountain

Gaze at an original Monet at Biltmore or laugh until you cry on a comedic bus tour of the Montford Area Historic District. For a more hands-on experience, sign up for a creative course at Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

Asheville

The heartbeat of the Blue Ridge Mountains thrives off creativity, inspiration and beer.

1 Asheville Art Museum

photo credit: Explore Asheville

1 Asheville Art Museum

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Two connected buildings – a 1926 library and an ultramodern glass edifice with a rooftop sculpture terrace – hold more than 7,500 works of 20th- and 21st-century American art. Join a basket-weaving or drawing class or attend a music performance.

Website(828) 253-3227Directions

2 Biltmore

2 Biltmore

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The 250-room Biltmore House was built in the late 1800s and was the vision of George Vanderbilt, grandson of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. You can’t visit all 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms during audio-guided tours, but you will see a wealth of intricate architectural flourishes, 16th-century Flemish tapestries, and world-class paintings by the likes of Monet and Renoir.

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3 Grove Arcade

photo credit: Explore Asheville

3 Grove Arcade

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Embellished with winged lions and grinning gargoyles, this Tudor Revival structure contains a public market with 30 boutiques and eateries, including a mash-up of a champagne bar and used book shop. Outside the building, artisans sell jewelry, paintings and locally made honey. 

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4 LaZoom

4 LaZoom

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Live comedy clashes with local history in the best way on wacky bus tours through downtown and the Montford Area Historic District. Get your rubber chicken “ticket” at check-in, order a beverage to go and prepare for hilarity to unfold on the bus as well as outside your window.

Website(828) 225-6932Directions

5 The S&W Market 

5 The S&W Market 

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This gilded Art Deco food hall houses a sampler of Asheville’s diverse food and beverage scene, with a handful of vendors, including mezzanine-level Highland Brewing. A couple of must-try highlights: crispy sandwich perfection from Buxton Chicken Palace and silky salted caramel ice cream from The Hop.

Website(828) 575-5236Directions

BLACK MOUNTAIN

Artistic mavericks like John Cage, Buckminster Fuller and Robert Rauschenberg pushed 20th-century boundaries at Black Mountain College. The experimental school closed in 1957, but its creative energy thrives in this hill-encircled hamlet 15 miles east of Asheville. Park on Cherry Street, then explore Black Mountain on foot. 

6 Black Mountain Center for the Arts

6 Black Mountain Center for the Arts

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Check out the class schedule for pottery, visual arts and dance experiences. But if you'd rather observe instead of participate, you can also find public gallery exhibits, concerts and special events.

Website(828) 669-0930Directions

7 Foothills Grange

7 Foothills Grange

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Do you dream of simply relaxing with a cold beverage while snacking on smash burgers sourced with ethical meat, all while surrounded by mountain views? Meet Foothills Grange, a neighborhood space in the heart of Black Mountain. Grab a seat indoors or outdoors, let the little ones play in the "dirt place" and take it all in.

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8 Mountain Nest

8 Mountain Nest

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Numerous shops brim with local and regional art in Black Mountain, such as the metal character sculptures and painted gourds at Mountain Nest, which showcases more than 100 area artists.

Website(828) 669-0314Directions

Continue planning your mountain adventures with The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide.