July is a perfect time to visit Asheville. Whether you’re looking to escape the heat or just want a little change of scenery, we’re pretty sure you’ll find some fun things to do in Asheville. But, where to begin? We’ve rounded up some of the best tours in Asheville from sightseeing and food tours to bike, brewery and helicopter tours – and so many more.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
It’s no secret that Asheville’s beer scene is just bubbling over. This tour operator offers choices on whether to walk or drive – just leave the driving to them 😉.
Who doesn’t love a good food tour? Asheville Food Tours is the original walking food tour in Asheville and takes guests to some of the best spots in town. So, take a bite out of Asheville. It’s delicious!
No Taste Like Home Foraging Tours
If you prefer to work, rather than walk for your food, this foraging tour is so much fun. And after the tour, you can take your haul to any of their restaurant partners – some of Asheville’s top restaurants – to prepare it all for you. So, are you ready to go wild?
Wander around Asheville in style in the van in black. Just tell them what you’d like to see and do and your wish is their command. For example, if you’d like to visit a winery and brewery, check out the River Arts District with lunch at 12 Bones, take a spin on the Blue Ridge Parkway and have a final stop at the Grove Park Inn – the van in black will get you to all those places and back. They also have Asheville wine tours – some are even multi-day and they’re also available for things like airport pickups, wedding transportation, bachelorette parties, corporate events and more.
HISTORICAL / ART
Whether you want to make art or see art, Asheville Art Experience has a tour for you. Tour goers will have a chance to mix and mingle with local artists in the River Arts District – one of the most diverse districts in the nation.
Ride the rooftops where history and cocktails collide! If you love history, long range views and sipping libations, then Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours is your ideal experience. Offering group and private tours in their VIP luxury van.
These purple buses have practically become synonymous with Asheville. They offer four public tours: the city comedy tour, haunted comedy tour, band and beer bus and Lil Boogers (designed for kids, but fun for the whole family). These tours are chock-filled with fun surprises at every turn.
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville
This is Asheville’s number one sightseeing tour. You can hop on and hop off whenever you like. They also have a ghost and Christmas tour.
SCENIC / ACTIVE
This mountain adventure company is all about getting you outside! From hiking to waterfalls and bird-watching off the Blue Ridge Parkway to meeting wild mountain Elk, Asheville Hiking Tours will give you a good workout in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
Asheville is a cycling destination and this is one of the best ways to discover the beautiful hills and valleys of the Blue Ridge. This group offers six different tours ranging from 7, 5 and 3 nights to single-day trips.
These photo tours take you to some of the most breathtaking vistas around – and teach you how to capture the best images possible. You’ll visit those off the beaten path locales that only the locals know about!
If you’re looking for a real birds-eye view, hop on board a heli for unique vistas of the Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Mountains, and more. They offer night flights and wine tasting tours too!
Step back – or wheel back – in time. Enjoy a ride-a-long around Asheville in a 1923 For Model T and experience Asheville back in its heyday.
One thing is for sure, book your ticket ahead of schedule! Ready to take a tour (or 3) of Asheville? I mean really – why just choose one? Then book your stay here.
STAY WITH US
And, if you’re looking for a great place to start and end your day, these rental properties are ideal because they’re close to everything this vibrant city has to offer:
King of the Hill (up to 9 guests)
Adoring Asheville Luxury Bungalow (up to 4 guests)
Hilltop Splendor (up to 10 guests)
There are many reasons to love Asheville. From easy access to the great outdoors to its award-winning food scene, Asheville delivers on many levels and art is no exception. If you’re an art lover, you’re sure to be dazzled by the number of amazing art galleries and studios that open their doors and welcome you in like friends. And, if you’re interested in trying your hand at making some art of your own, you’re in luck there too. Asheville has numerous classes – from pottery to glass, jewelry making and more. The city’s eclectic vibe is just waiting to surprise and captivate you from the moment you set foot on its streets to the moment you pack up and go.
Artsy things to do in Asheville
Take an art class
The River Arts District is home to several different types of art classes. Learn how to make a mandala, fuse glass, hammer out a silver stacking ring or create a collage that represents your soul. These are only a few ideas to light your fire. View the complete schedule.
If pottery and ceramics are more your thing, Odyssey ClayWorks is a large ceramics school, gallery and studio that has a variety of classes for adults and kids, alike. They even offer a summer camp. And finally, how about a marbling class at Majik Studios? You’ll learn how to create a marbled work on fabric or paper and it’s guaranteed to help you relax and de-stress. Sounds pretty good to us!
Take an Asheville art tour
While you’re more than welcome to grab a map and explore the River Arts District on your own, some folks prefer to leave the planning to others with an intimate art tour focused on specific art interests. You may even get some cool behind-the-scenes intel that you may have missed otherwise. However, most working artists are happy to answer your questions as you stroll the studios and take in all the wonderful art that just seems to be – everywhere!
Self-guided art tours for the Downtown Asheville Art District (DAAD) are also a fun way to navigate the city streets. Download a map. It highlights more than 21 galleries and museums within a half-mile radius. You’re sure to work up an appetite and thirst while navigating your way around so make sure to stop into one of Asheville’s enticing eateries or cool cocktail lounges for something to eat or drink – or both!
Visit Asheville art museums
The Asheville Art Museum is located right in the center of downtown Asheville. Its collection provides an overview of significant movements and trends in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries and art of significance to the Southeast. Special exhibitions are always an added plus. The Center for Crafts, also in downtown Asheville, offers free exhibitions, hands on learning for all ages and indoor and outdoor art installations by national craft icons and top emerging Asheville artists.
Visit art galleries in downtown Asheville
Many will agree that several of Asheville’s downtown art galleries are almost like visiting a museum. According to online reviews, art lovers and visitors say the following spots top their list. Blue Spiral 1 showcases three glorious floors of art from more than 100 artists. Momentum Gallery offers a contemporary and modern program with an emphasis on emerging and mid-career artists. The spacious, two-level gallery occupies 15,000 square feet. Ariel Craft Gallery is Asheville’s premier art gallery and focuses on fine craft. It’s co-owned and operated by the artists. Lexington Glassworks displays a dizzying array of glass works and lighting pieces. Enjoy a glass-blowing demo while you’re there too. For a complete listing of Asheville art galleries and studios, visit: Explore Asheville.
Get folksy
The Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must-stop destination for art lovers. It’s located at milepost 382 – about 8 miles from downtown Asheville. Most months, the center showcases daily craft demos and there’s even a short hike adjacent to the center to stretch your legs before heading back into town. American Folk is another fun place to explore. This downtown Asheville art gallery represents more than 30 makers with one goal in mind: To expose the world to the creative powers and originality of its artists.
Take to the streets
The South Slope Mural Trail is a great way to get a little exercise while taking in some living, breathing public art. If you walk the whole route, expect to do about two miles. These outdoor works are meant to engage, inspire, provoke and enliven.
The River Arts District also showcases the works of talented graffiti artists, outdoor sculpture gardens, recycled fences and facades and there’s even a giant dinosaur that sits atop Wedge Studios. As luck would have it, Wedge Brewing is right next door where you’ll find locals drinking some of Asheville’s best. If you prefer a glass of wine after all of your art intake, Bottle Riot sits on the other side of Wedge Studios and boasts the “best wine list in town.”
So, if you love art and discovering new places, make sure to visit Asheville. It’s truly an art lover’s dream. You never know what you’ll find around the next bend.
Maximize Your Vacation with our Seasonal Promotions
Do you have extra time in your vacation itinerary? Explore our seasonal partnerships to enhance your experience with food and drink tours, cooking classes, local provisions, and more.