Skiers, on the other hand, can take advantage of affordable hotel rates and abundant snowfall. Some tourists avoid Asheville in the winter months because the narrow mountain roads can be hard to navigate in snow or ice. View from Sugar Mt, North Carolina © Shutterstock / Simply Photos Festival entertainment includes oral storytelling, clogging, and bluegrass music.
Among its biggest events is the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.
Summer is also concert season in Asheville. April is the best time for trout, and you’ll spot anglers during this period. The water in the French Broad River remains cool for much of the summer and is a local favorite for swimming. Now, it’s covered in flowers that both pollinators and humans can appreciate.ĭuring July and August, beat the heat with kayaking or fishing. In 2013, community members upcycled a historic bridge into a planned garden. Visitors who want to see the seasonal bloom can check out the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. In summer, rhododendrons, azaleas, and mountain laurel pop up in the mountains. In spring, cherry and pear trees begin to bloom. The spring and summer months are some of the most beautiful that Asheville has to offer. The famous chair arch at the Silver River Center for Chair Caning in Asheville's hip River Arts District © Meghan O'Dea / Lonely Planet Shoulder season: March to April, July to Augustīest time to admire flowers, kayak, and attend concerts The trees at Looking Glass Rock or Lookout Mountain, for example, may be at their peak a week before the trees change in Asheville’s city limits.įor less strenuous viewing, you can always enjoy the trees in Asheville’s municipal parks and trails, too, not to mention historic Riverside Cemetery. Keep in mind, though, that they change color more quickly in these conditions and timing your trip to see them can be tricky. If you’re up for a hike, the leaves are especially vivid at higher elevations. During foliage season, the red and orange leaves contrast against this phenomenon, creating the perfect conditions for photo-snappers. The mountains’ oak trees release a chemical, isoprene, which creates the illusion that the peaks and hillsides are blue. Leaf seekers can find the best colors when they drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, which provides incredible views of the eponymous mountains all year long. For those who travel to Asheville each October, the stunning natural views and temperate weather are often worth the expense. Plan ahead for a visit during this period, as hotel rooms tend to book up early, and rates can be double what you’d expect to pay in quieter periods. Leaves are typically at their brightest in the last half of the month. October is the peak for autumn’s changing leaves, so it’s also Asheville’s peak tourism season. Long exposure of Looking Glass Waterfall and river in the Appalachians of North Carolina © makasana / Getty Images Get local insight on destinations all over the world with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. We've got the the low-down on this high-up town – whether you're seeking autumn foliage, winter skiing, or eclectic culture any time of year. If you're wondering when to visit Asheville, the answer is going to be different for each traveler depending on that person’s preferences about weather, budget, and their list of “must-see” activities. But perched 2,134 feet up in the Appalachian mountains, it's important to find the best time to visit – whether you're hoping to take advantage of outdoor activities like the Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest, or more indoorsy fare like the Biltmore Estate and River Arts District. Between Asheville's splendid natural setting in the southern Appalachians and its funky, artsy culture rich in both hand-thrown pottery and hand-crafted beers, it's no wonder that Asheville is visited by eleven million travelers each year.