11 Festive Asheville Winter Things To Do From Locals
Are you hoping to experience a gorgeous Asheville winter with those mild temperatures and occasional snow flurries? From locals, uncover the best things to do in Asheville in December into the spring. Explore terrific winter hiking trails, and see where to eat, drink, stay, and play. Holiday events and festivals included!
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Table of Contents
11 Best Asheville Winter Things To Do
Please check all websites and/or call establishments as times, rules, and procedures are subject to change. Read more about spending Christmas in Asheville.
1. Stroll Winter Lights At The NC Arboretum
Winter Lights 2023 Dates: November 17th to December 31st, 2023 from 6:00 to 10:30 PM
Just like picking pumpkins at Grace Episcopal Church is one of our top fall traditions, attending Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum is one of the best things to do in Asheville in December. In fact, Winter Lights is also our favorite place to see holiday lights across the city, and the event promises to put you in the Christmas spirit. We go every year.
Walk through the decorated gardens at night while sipping on peppermint hot chocolate, local beer, and wine. Munch on cookies and treats. Light displays dance to music as you pass through caterpillar and rainbow tunnels. Spy garden gnomes, unicorns, and trees colored like the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Search for mother nature-themed light fixtures and shadow boxes. The NC Arboretum even decorates the bonsai, and kids will love that toy train exhibit. Make s’mores by the fire (weather dependent) as their famously huge lit holiday tree glows in front of the quilted garden. Pull up a funky chair in front of a firepit.
Then, shop in the pop-up holiday store for ornaments and holiday decor. Everyone needs an owl Christmas tree ornament.
Every Asheville winter, The NC Arboretum changes it up a little too – so regulars won’t be bored – adding new light displays, storybook walks, and magical forest creatures.
Tickets are per vehicle and not per person. We highly recommend purchasing advanced tickets online in case they sell out. Know that pets are not allowed, but of course, service animals are.
You’ll also love The North Carolina Arboretum because there is so much to do here. Every year, we renew our membership for those terrific hiking and biking trails, beautiful gardens, and seasonal exhibits and events. It’s a great picnic spot on a warm winter day. Not to mention that exploring The NC Arboretum is one of our top recommended activities for families.
Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum | 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
If Asheville’s Winter Lights is your jam, be sure to check out our events calendar for even more great festivals, shows, and concerts across WNC throughout the year.
2. Enjoy Christmas At Biltmore
Christmas at Biltmore 2023 Dates: November 3rd, 2023 to January 6/7th, 2024
Whether you are in town for the weekend or just for 24-36 hours, every Asheville winter itinerary should include a visit to Biltmore Estate, at least once. Even as locals, we are annual passholders, especially for the plethora of hiking and biking trails, which are easy to access regardless of winter weather conditions.
Biltmore Estate is America’s largest home and Asheville’s most popular tourist attraction, formerly owned by George and Edith Vanderbilt. Touring the home and walking the gardens is one of the best things to do in Asheville all year long.
However, Biltmore at Christmas is just plain magical, especially with the gorgeous and extravagant holiday decorations. And although Biltmore House is always breathtaking (and a little creepy), those Christmas trees, ribbons, and harps add such a cozy feel. It’s as if Martha Stewart descended upon the estate, and this is an Asheville winter event you won’t soon forget.
Visitors can experience Christmas at Biltmore in two ways:
One, visit the home during the day and tour all of the trees, lights, and holiday decor. Biltmore’s Daytime Celebration runs from November 3, 2023 to January 7, 2024.
Or, experience the magic of Candlelight Christmas Evenings when the house’s fireplaces, candles, and lights shimmer throughout the rooms. Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore run from Nov. 3, 2023 to January 6, 2024. Attending Candlelight Christmas Evenings is one of the most romantic things to do in Asheville in winter, perfect for couples.
In addition to these two special events, consider buying a ticket for a Biltmore guided tour. Red wine and chocolate, anyone?
Shop & Dine At Biltmore
Along with Biltmore House, the property also decorates Antler Hill Village, including the former dairy tunnel to the wine tasting room.
Shop, dine, wine taste, devour charcuterie at the wine bar, and rent bikes. If you are visiting Biltmore with the entire family, pet the farm animals and play on the wooden playground.
Be sure to make all on-property dining reservations as soon as possible too. Stable Cafe is a kid-friendly restaurant, and we just love Cedric’s Tavern. Pay homage to that gorgeous Saint Bernard over seasonal cocktails, fish and chips, and burgers.
Biltmore Special Events
Lastly, one of our top recommended things to do in Asheville in December 2023 includes checking out Italian Renaissance Alive.
This is a special exhibit running through January 7, 2024, and you will have to pay an additional fee to attend. It’s worth it! We went in the early fall, and this is a fantastic immersive art experience similar to Van Gogh Alive.
First, explore side galleries filled with timelines and enlarged paintings. Become a part of a famous painting too. Then, head into an immersive video experience as famous paintings from Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Caravaggio come to life all around you.
Feast your eyes on inspirational quotes as beautiful classic music transitions featured pieces. We also attended previous exhibits, Van Gogh Alive, Monet and Friends, and Legends of Art and Innovation (da Vinci).
Italian Renaissance Alive is located in Amherst at Deerpark; you will have to drive there or take the shuttle. Across the street, say hi to the horses. Many people horseback ride here too.
Biltmore Estate | 1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803
3. Spy Gingerbread Houses At The Grove Park Inn
The Annual National Gingerbread House Competition 2023 Dates: November 27th, 2023 to January 2, 2024
Another Asheville winter tradition for us, we love walking around and picking out our favorite creations at The Omni Grove Park Inn’s Annual National Gingerbread House Competition.
Every year, creative gingerbread houses flank Grove’s historic (and very haunted) halls. Entry forms for the gingerbread houses go in as early as the summer. A judging panel votes on the best gingerbread houses per a set of categories, and the public gets to view the entries but does not vote. While walking around, grab a hot chocolate at a pop-up stand, and sip cocktails in front of the floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, rocking chairs included.
We love making dinner reservations at Edison – one of Asheville’s most unforgettable restaurants – or Sunset Terrace, a top fine dining restaurant. Both will provide gorgeous mountain sunsets over Downtown Asheville and Mount Pisgah.
In fact, they are two of the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville, serving up American fare including meat and seafood dishes. Edison is slightly lighter and more budget-friendly. If you missed out on making dinner reservations, don’t fret. Grab charcuterie and seasonal cocktails at Grove’s Great Hall Bar. Sip drinks inside, or head to the second-level terrace past the restaurant.
In the winter, expect a hefty parking fee for the holidays – both self-parking and valet. It’s worth it, though. Just be sure to check The Omni Grove Park Inn website for days and times for guests versus non-guests to tour the gingerbread houses. This is a newer practice in recent years.
While out this way, read more about all that you can do in North Asheville, including this area’s best restaurants like Taco Temple (tacos) and The Madness (sushi).
This also includes exploring Grovewood Village, which is directly across from The Omni Grove Park Inn. Enjoy shops, museums, and a newer restaurant, ELDR.
And, Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum is a fantastic free museum. See a 1922 American LaFrance fire truck and a rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. While the museum is typically closed from January through March, checking out the antique cars is still one of the best things to do in Asheville in December.
The Omni Grove Park Inn | 290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
4. Hit The Trails
Some of the best Asheville winter activities are outdoors, and you know the Western North Carolina mountains are perfect for hiking. We enjoy hiking year-round, and we don’t let the testy WNC winter weather stop us – most of the time.
If you are visiting Asheville at the end of October into November, start with these fall hikes first, including Black Balsam, Fryingpan Mountain, and Graveyard Fields. Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle are also fantastic around this time of the year, and fall in love with the views at Mount Mitchell and Little Butt/Big Butt.
However, keep in mind that much of the Blue Ridge Parkway and its hikes will become largely inaccessible in Asheville in December (sometimes starting as early as November and potentially going into March). We always recommend checking with the NPS for gate and park closures before heading out on the parkway. Ice, snow, and fog affect gate openings. Some people will park near a gate closure – in a designated and legal spot – and walk parts of the closed parkway.
When the parkway shuts down, though, one of the better things to do in Asheville in winter is to explore the Pisgah National Forest and more local trails.
What are a few winter hikes around Asheville that you’ll enjoy? We recommend adding a few of these to any Asheville winter itinerary:
- Daniel Ridge Falls – Hike the longer loop or the out-and-back to a gorgeous waterfall. Hardcore mountain bikers also covet these trails. Afterward, enjoy a local brew at the nearby Brevard breweries.
- Grandfather Mountain – Purchase online tickets to access this nature reserve filled with trails, animals, and the mile-high “swinging” bridge.
- Moore Cove Falls – Located in the Pisgah National Forest, this is a short and moderately easy waterfall hike. We’ll talk even more about chasing waterfalls below.
- Bent Creek Experimental Forest Trails – Bent Creek is a local spot and sits next to The North Carolina Arboretum. There are a plethora of trails varying in length and difficulty. If you are catching this area on the cusp of winter, be sure to check our fall foliage report. You might just spy some gorgeous leaves.
- Bearwallow Mountain – A great picnic spot in the spring and an easy-to-moderate Asheville winter hike, take one of two trails to the top with the cows. One trail leads you through the forest while the other is a gravel road.
- Trombatore – Directly across from Bearwallow, this is a much longer and harder trail, ending at beautiful but slightly limited views of the mountains.
- Max Patch – The road up to Max Patch is pretty terrible in bad weather; we don’t recommend it. However, if it’s dry and safe, this is a gorgeous mountain bald hike with sprawling views that connects to the Appalachian Trail.
- The NC Arboretum – Along with Winter Lights, The NC Arboretum is perfect for nature, hiking, and biking trails. Find short and kid-friendly hikes here too. Pay for parking unless you have a membership.
- Lover’s Leap – When the ground is dry and safe, head to Hot Springs for this incredibly steep and terrifying incline. Those views are worth it! Lover’s Leap also connects to the Appalachian Trail. Plus, Hot Springs is a great mountain town near Asheville to visit. Grab food and visit the brewery.
- Wildcat Rock – Located in Gerton before Chimney Rock, this trail is managed by Conserving Carolina, and they have well-maintained and well-labeled trails. Hike to Little Bearwallow Falls or keep going as far as you like.
- Chimney Rock – An Asheville winter itinerary must, this is the best time to visit this popular state park. You’ll bypass the crowds to see this 535-million-year-old monolith that sits 2,200 feet above sea level. Find hiking trails, a waterfall, and picnic areas. There is a fee to enter Chimney Rock State Park. Afterward, explore Chimney Rock Village along with its cheesy shops and mom-and-pop restaurants.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park – One of America’s most popular parks, everyone knows of the Smokies. If this is your first time here, start with the Oconaluftee River Trail and Visitor Center, which has an outdoor museum, welcome center, shop, trails, and facilities. Nothing makes an Asheville winter more special than catching the elk rutting season, which runs from September to early November.
Please exert extreme caution on all Asheville winter hiking trails:
While hiking is one of the best things to do in Asheville in winter, please exert extreme caution. The trails and roads become icy and much more dangerous.
Pack layers, and we suggest getting to a site early in the morning to ensure that you have plenty of time before winter’s earlier nightfall. We also suggest telling someone where you are hiking and when you expect to return, notifying them when you arrive safely back at home base. You won’t always have cell reception in the mountains.
It’s also important to respect the mountains and go prepared, including having offline trail maps. We will not hike without our Garmin and GAIA maps. We download and screenshot directions too.
Lastly, we backpack with emergency supplies, including extra food, layers, a headlamp, and ways to start a campfire. People have gotten lost and sometimes require emergency help. There have been tragic deaths.
Beware of (and leave alone) wildlife, including black bears. Make sure to properly store food, take your trash with you, and keep dogs on their leash. Keeping the mountains and wildlife safe is important. Leave no trace. Before heading out, peruse all of our Asheville hiking guides – with more information by trail.
5. Chase Those Frozen Waterfalls
Another reason visitors love an Asheville winter: frozen waterfalls! If you are not vacationing somewhere warm and tropical, why not head to the land of waterfalls?
DuPont State Forest is home to The Hunger Games waterfalls. Trek to 4 waterfalls in a 7-mile loop or just hike the three – Triple, High, and Hooker Falls – in a 3-mile out and back.
Triple and Bridal Veil Falls are two of The Hunger Games’ filming locations. Bridal Viel Falls (DuPont) may also look familiar from The Last of the Mohicans.
If you are looking for easier-to-see waterfalls for the entire family, drive right up to Looking Glass Falls. Sometimes, they freeze in the winter – hence their namesake.
Along with the hikes mentioned above, Linville Falls & Gorge is stunning (the Visitor Center access point/parking might be closed along the BRP).
Afterward, if you enjoy wineries, head to nearby Linville Falls Winery, which also transforms into a Christmas tree farm in the winter.
Although some roads around the Smokies will close, Mingo Falls is equally gorgeous and extremely short. Just don’t attempt those steps in the ice and snow.
Rainbow Falls toward Sapphire is also worthy, and if you are lucky, you might just catch a rainbow.
6. Participate In All Of The Winter Sports
A few of the best things to do in Asheville in December if you love winter sports involve hitting the slopes, mountain biking, and snow tubing – weather dependent, of course.
Beech Mountain and the Cataloochee Ski Area – in Maggie Valley – are the most popular ski resorts and sit on most people’s Asheville winter itineraries and bucket lists.
Buy passes for the day or season, take skiing and snowboarding lessons, and snow tube. Plan ahead as these areas get wildly busy in the winter. The ski resorts have equipment rentals, and in the off-season, Beech Mountain offers mountain biking options and lessons.
We are more low-key winter mountain bikers than skiers (even though we grew up in New England), and before it gets too icy, we love hitting the aforementioned Bent Creek Experimental Forest Trails. Here, you’ll also find families teaching their littles how to mountain bike.
After a morning or afternoon of hitting their numerous trails, stop at Apollo Flame Bistro for a budget-friendly lunch, including subs and pizza. It’s a dive that we are pretty obsessed with. If you are looking for more things to do in Asheville in winter, the Asheville Outlets are across the street.
Although not considered solely winter sports, we also enjoy rollerblading and roller skating all year long. Carrier Park not only has a roller skating rink, but skaters can hop on the Mellowdrome.
If it’s icy and snowy, though, head to the Smoky Mountain Sk8way in Waynesville. Rent skates or bring your own. Thursday nights are adult-only, and public skate time has ridiculously trendy music. It’s one of the most fun ways to enjoy Asheville in December – and to bring out the kid in you.
For ice skating around Asheville, you might have to drive a bit further. We’ve skated in Knoxville’s gorgeous square, and Greenville has a rink.
7. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Around Asheville
Is Asheville decorated for Christmas? You bet! Downtown Asheville in winter is filled with sparkly lights and holiday window displays. Biltmore Village will be lovely, too.
Not to mention that Downtown Asheville in December is the best, especially for food, drinks, urban art, and shopping. In fact, exploring Asheville is one of the best things to do in Asheville in winter.
The city stays a tad quieter when it isn’t the holidays, and you won’t need reservations for all of the restaurants; however, we still recommend making them.
Downtown can be overwhelming, though, especially to newcomers, and we recommend parking in one of the central garages like Biltmore Ave., Rankin, the Civic Center, or Wall Street.
Start with the terrific Downtown Asheville restaurants. For breakfast in Asheville, everyone loves Tupelo Honey and Early Girl Eatery. If it’s weekend brunch, we enjoy Social Lounge, Isa’s, and Jerusalem Garden Cafe. For coffee, drop into Rowan, Bebettes, or IG-worthy Double D’s.
On the outskirts of Asheville’s best neighborhoods, White Duck Taco, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Haywood Common, Thai Pearl, 12 Bones, All Day Darling, and Sunny Point Cafe are lunch favorites.
If you are hunkering down in Downtown Asheville, though, grab Indian food from famous Chai Pani, delicious Asian cuisine from Shanghai Dumpling House, Red Ginger, or Itto, BBQ from Buxton or Bear’s, and Thai dishes from Little Bee Thai.
For a more romantic dinner out, we recommend Plant (all vegan food in North AVL), Bouchon, La Bodega by Curate, Limones, and Nine Mile’s Montford location.
If you find yourself in the River Arts District or West Asheville, Baby Bull makes the best burgers and RosaBees serves up stellar Polynesian.
French Broad Chocolate and Old Europe Cafe are a must for dessert (with gluten-free and vegan options), and Asheville Chocolate is our favorite chocolate shop around. Order donuts from Vortex, and ice cream sandwiches from Sunshine Sammies.
For the best Asheville breweries in and around Downtown, you cannot go wrong with Hillman Beer, Asheville Pizza and Brewing, Eurisko, Wedge at Foundation, Zillicoah, Catawba, Green Man, or Wicked Weed.
Bold Rock, Urband Orchard, and Botanist and Barrel are terrific cideries. Stop by Cultivated Cocktails, one of Asheville’s top distilleries, for cocktails, and spend an afternoon at Battery Park Book Exchange – a champagne bar and used bookstore.
Downtown Asheville’s best bars include The Times Bar & Coffee Shop and Asheville Club. For rooftop bars, head to The Montford, Pillar, and Capella on 9.
Of course, wander the galleries of the Asheville Art Museum, and play pinball and vintage arcade games at the Asheville Pinball Museum.
Bibliotourists will love the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, a fantastic homage to this famous Asheville writer. Get the town’s dirty gossip. For shopping, our favorite Downtown stores include Moonlight Makers, L.O.F.T. of Asheville, and Rocket Fizz.
And let’s be real, this section could go on forever. We could fill up your Asheville winter itinerary for days and weeks.
Just use the search bar on our site to find any topic you desire to better plan your trip, and sign up for our newsletter with local events and tips.
8. Take A Holiday Trolley Or Bus Tour
As you can tell from above, the Asheville winter activities are endless. It’s hard to choose – we know, and we live here.
One of the best ways to get to know the city is to take a guided tour. We enjoy the Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville. They have a hop-on hop-off trolley tour, ghost tours, and a special Christmas tour with caroling and live music.
For Asheville winter things to do, their Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley Tour is about 75 minutes long, drives you through the best parts of Asheville, and shares wonderful stories. The tour is family-friendly and is a great way to see all of the city’s holiday decorations.
On our last trolley tour (for ghosts), we noted a few places we still needed to check out too. It’s nice seeing your home from others’ viewpoints while they drive you around. We always learn something new. The colder month tours are also on heated trolleys with enclosed windows.
Know that Gray Line Trolley Tours also has a pretty forgiving cancellation policy – life happens – and you can usually cancel 24 hours in advance. Just double-check their website in case this changes.
If you are craving more adult things to do in Asheville in December, though, try LaZoom’s Comedy Bus Tours. We’ve all seen that purple bus with eyelashes tearing through the streets. While LaZoom offers kid-friendly tours, also find boozy ones for adults.
We’ve enjoyed LaZoom’s Ghosted Tour, which is all about haunted Asheville. There’s also a brewery hopping tour. Just keep in mind that LaZoom offers cheesy comedy – and drinks help. You might meet a nun or ladybug running down the street. Zelda Fitzgerald might hump a bush. You board with a rubber chicken… We warned you!
Read more about Asheville’s top indoor and covered things to do all year round.
Gray Line Trolley Tours Of Asheville | 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
9. Wine Taste Around WNC
No Asheville winter is complete without wine. We are the owners of Uncorked Asheville & The Uncorked Librarian after all… Plus, if beer isn’t for you, Asheville has fabulous wineries.
Along with Biltmore, if you head to the River Arts District (RAD), don’t miss pleb urban winery’s unique blends. They create sustainable, clean, and small-batch wines.
While in RAD, tour the gorgeous street murals and drop into one of the best Asheville wine bars, Bottle Riot. In West Asheville, Leo’s House Of Thirst will fill your stomach with wine and tapas.
If you don’t mind driving a little further, the Hendersonville wineries are home to our personal favorites like Marked Tree (Flat Rock) and Stone Ashe Vineyards.
Point Lookout – also serving mead – and Saint Paul offer blazing fireplaces to warm you up.
While in Hendersonville – a fabulous Asheville day-tripping option after hiking DuPont – grab lunch or dinner at one of their stellar restaurants like Pita Express, Haus Heidelberg, or Umi Sushi.
Similar to Asheville, Hendersonville will be decorated for Christmas and the holidays.
Downtown Hendersonville has plenty of things to do. Find museums, coffee shops, shopping, and even more HVL breweries like Oklawaha.
10. Read By The Fire
You may recognize Christine’s Italian nose from her other gig, The Uncorked Librarian, and she’s even hosted a few book clubs around town.
The Uncorked Librarian is a website dedicated to books and movies that inspire travel both locally and around the world. It’s also home to the tipsy Uncorked Reading Challenge.
So, of course, Christine – who is writing about herself in the third person right now – is a little biased when she suggests that reading by the fire is one of the best things to do in Asheville in winter.
Who can resist a cozy blanket, those mountain views, and a glass of red wine (or boozy hot chocolate) with a book?
And, since you are in Asheville, why not start with a novel set in Asheville or a book about North Carolina to teach you more? There are even books about Biltmore for adults and kids.
Or, peruse famous NC authors and their most popular books, junk foodie ones as well as more historical novels. Think Nicholas Sparks and Sarah Addison Allen versus Thomas Wolfe and Denise Kiernan.
If you are more of a movie buff, watch some of the most famous movies filmed in Wilmington, NC – which is home to a massive production facility.
11. Stroll Around The Parks, Lakes, & Gardens
If the Asheville winter trails seem a bit intimidating, why not head to one of Asheville’s sprawling gardens and parks?
Located directly in Asheville, Carrier Park is one of our absolute favorite public parks because of the roller skating rink, Mellowdrome, and flat walking and biking trails.
Children will enjoy the playground as adults play basketball, volleyball, and lawn bowling (weather permitting).
Carrier Park connects to French Broad River Park, which has a dog park and more trails. And, close to French Broad River Park, we love the newly renovated RAD Riverwalk. Find bike lanes and a paved trail along the French Broad River. Dip into breweries and artists’ studios on the other side of Riverside Drive.
Another gorgeous park near Asheville, head to Flat Rock (40 minutes away) for The Park at Flat Rock. Find a large wooden playground, picnic areas, and dog-friendly nature trails.
For lakes in and around AVL, we love Beaver Lake, which boasts a 2.1-mile perimeter trail that also passes by the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Outside of Asheville, find easy walking trails at Lake Lure near Chimney Rock and Lake Junaluska in Waynesville.
For gardens, check out the Botanical Gardens near UNC in North Asheville, and catch Biltmore’s fall into winter colors.
Spending more time at the parks, lakes, and gardens is one of our favorite things to do in Asheville in December to get outside without the hassle.
Asheville, NC Winter Weather
As a former New Englander and Floridian, Asheville winters are pretty mild – just like all of the Asheville seasons.
For Asheville in December into February, you can expect daytime highs averaging around 50 to 60 degrees and evening lows around the 30s. We will see a few evenings drop into the 20s, too.
While we don’t usually have feet upon feet of snow, we will receive light dustings, frequent ice, and the occasional heavier snowstorm. January is the coldest month in Asheville.
To us, Asheville’s snow is really nothing. We love it. One of the biggest questions we get:
When was the last time it snowed on Christmas in Asheville? While this is rare, it snowed in Asheville in 2020. 2020 was also one of the years that we needed to shovel. Mind you, we don’t own snowblowers.
If you are hiking, know that temperatures in the higher elevations are about 10 to 25 degrees cooler. There will be more fog. Sunset for Asheville in December (and November) is around 5 PM and by February, the sun will set around 6:30 to 7 PM.
For what to pack and wear, we recommend layers, a winter coat, scarves, gloves, and boots. We don’t have a lot of slush and grossness, but you’ll crunch on ice and walk through mud.
All-wheel drive is not 100% essential for rental cars but might be necessary if you are staying high up in a hilly mountain area. The city will plow major streets first, and it might take a day or two before they do the secondary roads.
Where To Stay In Asheville
Explore the best places to stay in Asheville. A few of our top suggestions:
- Aloft – Downtown Asheville – Centrally located and recently renovated, enjoy a rooftop pool, a gorgeous bar, and trendy rooms.
- The Omni Grove Park Inn – Treat yourself to a luxury resort in North Asheville, complete with breathtaking sunsets, terrace bars and dining, and loads of Asheville history.
- Hampton Inn And Suites Asheville Biltmore Area – A budget-friendly but renovated hotel on busier Brevard Road that’s perfect if you wish to stay between Biltmore Estate, Downtown Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Asheville Cottages – Gorgeous 1 to 3-bedroom cottages with a private deck, housing a grill and hot tub. Find luxurious heated-floor bathrooms with rain showers, a well-stocked kitchen, and the cleanest rooms in town.
- Foundry Hotel – An oasis in Downtown Asheville, Foundry Hotel is a nod to AVL’s industrial history. Find famous restaurant Benne on Eagle while sleeping ensconced in charm and elegance.
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville Westgate, NC – Located off of the highway as you enter AVL, find a sleek and clean hotel at a great price.
- Black Walnut B&B Inn – Designed by Biltmore’s supervising architect, Richard Sharp-Smith, this 1899 inn is close to Downtown AVL and serves afternoon tea. Two rooms are pet-friendly.
Don’t miss out on these Asheville properties on Booking.com, too.
What are your favorite things to do in Asheville in winter?
If you are wondering what to do in Asheville in December and are short on time, our top picks would be:
The NC Arboretum’s Winter Light Festival, Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore, and The Omni Grove Park Inn’s Gingerbread House Competition.
However, if you want to skip the crowds and get outdoors, we’d suggest hiking and biking around The NC Arboretum, DuPont State Forest, and the Pisgah National Forest.
Enjoy the ski resorts, if that’s your jam, and don’t skip out on the Asheville foodie and brewery scene. Wineries are a must for tipsy travelers, and of course, there’s Christmas shopping in Downtown’s quirky shops.
What are your favorite things to do in Asheville in December? And, what Asheville winter events and festivals have you attended? What is on your Asheville, NC winter bucket list? Let us know in the comments.
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (pronouns: she/her) is the owner and lead writer of Uncorked Asheville. After falling in love with those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Christine and her husband Tom decided to call Asheville, North Carolina home. When her pointy Italian nose isn’t stuck in a book, Christine is adopting all of the kitties, getting lost in the forest, and drinking an ESB. She has a BA in English and History from Smith College, her MLIS from USF-Tampa, and is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar - Indonesia. Christine also owns The Uncorked Librarian LLC with books and movies to inspire travel.
Headed to Asheville next weekend due to having to continue to postpone international travel. Honestly I was a little worried but this guide gave me lots of comfort. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much, Nina. I hope that you have a wonderful trip to Asheville. Besides the mostly closed Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking will be great if the weather holds out. Many of the restaurants are open for takeout, delivery, and some indoor and outdoor dining, too. Nothing beats catching a frozen waterfall, either. Chimney Rock is a fantastic area to visit in the winter without the crowds.
I feel like Asheville is great all seasons! A Christmas there sounds perfectly cozy. I’d love to do everything you’ve written about! We once did a snowy hike one Christmas in NH. It was fun! Wish I could transport myself back to that time.
Looking glass Falls sounds so cool. I’d love to go there and then can we go to a spot with a fireplace and some wine or seasonal cocktails? Or gluhwein!! Perfection!
You seriously make me love Asheville.
It really is! We had a gorgeous fall this year, too. I think my favorite Asheville winter activity is going to the Grove Park Inn for cocktails and sitting in front of their giant fireplaces.