SELF GUIDED TOURS
Asheville is an amazing city with so much to see and do, and while we have some amazing group tour guide companies, sometimes we want to venture out on our own to learn about the culture and history of our area … with our family, on our schedule and timetable, to explore our interests, on our own path. A great way to do that, and a great way to save a lot of money, is to take one of the many self-guided tours that have been created by our local experts at our tourism centers, and historic sites. We’ve compiled the list below of some our favorites for you, that we hope you will enjoy and much as we do.
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ASHEVILLE URBAN TRAIL … A walking tour of the city’s history. In a casual two-hour amble about town, a person interested in exploring the city’s quirky and magical past, along with getting to know many of its larger-than-life historical characters, can follow a string of 30 sculptural trail stations directly into Asheville lore. On the Urban Trail, every station calls to mind a historical moment and, for the most part, the achievements of remarkable individuals connected to our small city. Figuratively speaking, you will stumble headlong into George Vanderbilt, E.W. Grove, Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Douglas Ellington, and a short story writer calling himself O. Henry ~ just to name a few. A good place to start is in front of Pack Place on Asheville’s Pack Square where you can step up to Plaque #1, called “Walk Into History.” But any starting point is fine. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE made even better with an AUDIO TOUR OF EACH SPOT
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ASHEVILLE ARCHITECTURE TRAIL … A street guide to exquisite 1920’s buildings saved by the Depression. Many of the city’s bright light architectural achievements took place in the 1920’s when Asheville danced to the tune of flocking tourists and new growth, when the city vectored towards becoming a mountain version of Miami, and when a heritage of splendid work already existed thanks to Richard Morris Hunt, Frederick Law Olmsted, Richard Sharp Smith and Raphael Guastavino, grand masters associated with development of the Biltmore House. By the time the Depression went off like a bomb, in addition to a fresh outpouring of wonderful buildings, the city also inherited the highest per capita debt burden in the nation. Such terrible news offered a corollary that turned into a godsend. Since Asheville determined it would pay back every cent, it literally couldn’t afford to tear down any of its jewel-like building inventory. The twenties were sealed, as if captured in a snow globe. Now, forty years later, the dozen buildings you are about to encounter on this walking tour are as fresh-looking and as conceptually brilliant as they were when their doors opened for the first time. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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SOUTH SLOPE MURAL TRAIL … The South Slope Mural Trail was created in collaboration with the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation, Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the South Slope Neighborhood Association to highlight the creativity of Asheville’s growing mural scene in downtown’s South Slope. This hip, compact district of Asheville’s Southside, commonly referred to as the South Slope, has a rich and diverse history including a vibrant African American community, an automobile focused “motor mile,” and now a lively industrial area with a dynamic arts culture and thriving craft brewery scene. Characterized by its grit and its local charm, the area is popular with residents and tourists alike, offering a plethora of food and beverage options amidst a scattering of colorful murals. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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ASHEVILLE’S URBAN ART … Art is everywhere in Asheville. Peek around an alleyway to find murals depicting the city’s underground history or drive through the River Arts District to see wildly creative public art. If you know where to look, you’ll see murals everywhere as you meander through town. This handpicked guide to Asheville’s most celebrated and hard-to-find street art makes driving through town a visual delight. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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ASHEVILLE HISTORIC HAUNTS DRIVING TOUR … Tales of the haunted, the creepy, the eerie, and the outright macabre mark the landscape here with sites that locals love – or fear. This area, high ground near the confluence of two rivers, has a lengthy history of human occupation. It has seen skirmishes and wars, influxes of tourists and tuberculosis patients, booms and busts, and plenty of tragedy. Asheville and the surrounding mountains have also hosted numerous writers, musicians, and folklorists who have promoted (if not possibly created) some of these legends of hauntings. WNC Historical Association at the Smith-McDowell House created this 22.5 mile self guided tour for you to enjoy. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY HIKING TRAILS BY MILEPOST … A journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers spectacular views of Southern Appalachia’s diverse beauty for 469 uninterrupted miles. Blue-misted mountains, cascading waterfalls, rolling pasture, and gorges banked with wildflowers greet hikers of all skill levels among the more than 100 varied and intriguing trails in North Carolina and Virginia. Meandering alongside and crossing the scenic motor road, the trails provide a close-up look at some of the most beautiful wilderness in the country. Many trails wind their way through unique biological and geological environments. Others lead to historic sites with stories of how people have shaped our heritage. Once at the mural location, take a ‘selfie’ in front of these Asheville landmark murals, upload it to the mural trail website selfie page and receive a free tee shirt that says “I hiked the Appalachian Mural Trail.” GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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APPALACHIAN MURAL TRAIL … The Appalachian Mural Trail follows the Blue Ridge Parkway through N. Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and beyond to find already existing historical murals and also help communities create outdoor Appalachian historical murals to help increase the pride of the townsfolk by beautifying and showing respect for their community. Within driving distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway amazing murals dot the horizon and tell the story of the Appalachian Mountains. With this Parkway Milepost Guide you can follow the Parkway and view beautiful historical murals while exiting at the mile posts along the way! These murals shine a light on the rich heritage of our mountains using talented local artists to complete each mural. They believe this will enhance the visitor’s experience to the area through educating them about our rich heritage through art, while sharing the creativity of the mountains. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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AUDIO HISTORY TOUR OF THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN … The self-guided audio tour covers the history of E.W. Grove, the construction and early years of the resort, their Arts & Crafts style furniture collection and some of their most notable guests. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and consists of walking and long periods of standing. They recommend bringing your own earphones for the tour. Phone adapters and headphones are available for purchase at the Marketplace if needed. You can pick up the tour at the front desk. LEARN MORE HERE
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FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE: WALKING IN THOMAS WOLFE’S SHOES … Thomas Clayton Wolfe, one of North Carolina’s most famous authors, was known for writing from life experience. His friends called him Tom. He chronicled growing up in Asheville (fictionalized as “Altamont”) in his first novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe vividly described many places in the city. Some of these structures still exist today, while others are long gone. On this walking tour, you will discover parts of Asheville that Thomas Wolfe saw during his lifetime (1900 – 1938) and many that he remembered in his writing. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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HISTORIC JAMES VESTER MILLER TRAIL … A self-guided walking tour of buildings crafted by master brickmason, James Vester Miller, an African American who built many of Asheville’s most remarkable historic buildings during its Golden Age of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Though best known for his churches, James Vester Miller also built commercial buildings and residences. Family stories and local tradition credit him with many buildings for which there is little documentation. In fact, we will probably never know how many projects on which either he or his company worked as a brickmason or subcontractor. You can learn more by picking up a free printed brochure of the James Vester Miller Trail at the Asheville Visitor Center or the YMI, or GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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THE ART & ARCHITECTURE OF THE BASILICA OF SAINT LAWRENCE … What is a Basilica? The title dates back to the early Greek and Roman times and referred to a type of public building. In the 4th century, Basilicas began to be used as places of worship. It was during this time that construction of the greatest basilicas of Rome were started. Today, the term Basilica is a special designation given by the Holy Father to certain churches because of their antiquity, dignity, historical importance or significance as a place of worship. The Basilica of Saint Lawrence’s renowned architect, Raphael Guastavino, came to the area to work on the Biltmore House in the late 1800’s. It is the fascinating history of an old world artist bringing his talents to the United States. There are set visiting hours for taking a self guided tour. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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RIVERSIDE CEMETARY … Riverside Cemetery was founded in 1885 and was planned as a garden style cemetery which would serve well as both a burial ground and public park. Asheville has been called home by writers, artists, governors, senators, generals and many notable individuals, and Riverside Cemetery is not just a place where families come to visit a friend or a loved one. It is a place of beauty – a place where you can walk, take photographs, paint and visit the grave sites of prominent writers Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry. Walking Tours are available at the cemetery office and can offer a unique journey into Asheville’s past. Riverside Cemetery offers a unique look into the pas and give the opportunity to learn more about these individuals who shaped the city of Asheville, with more than 4,000 visitors tour the cemetery each year. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HENDERSONVILLE WALKING TOUR … Henderson County was formed from the southern section of vast Buncombe County in 1838. The need for a new county was based on the increased settlers and commerce traveling the Buncombe Turnpike. The town matured slowly during the middle decades of the nineteenth century attracting a small collection of merchants, lawyers, and other professionals as well as innkeepers whose clientele were travelers along the Buncombe Turnpike. With the arrival of the railroad in 1879, Hendersonville entered the modern era. In the ensuing decades, Hendersonville took shape as a center for shipping farm produce and a major destination for a thriving summer tourist industry. In response to the needs of the growing populace, commercial ventures multiplied on and around Main Street replacing the earlier wood framed residential structures of Main Street with brick Neo-classical buildings. Today Main Street sparkles with charm and vitality. Preservation, adaptive reuse and restoration of historic structures allow the City to weave together the best of yesterday and the excitement of tomorrow to make Hendersonville a place for every generation. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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WNC CHEESE TRAIL … The goal of the WNC Cheese Trail is to connect you with cheese makers and other WNC Cheese Trail members. They encourage you to hit the Trail, but before you do they also ask that you take a moment to see who is open for visitors on a regular basis, who needs you to make an appointment, and who only takes visitors during open houses or special tour days. Each cheese maker and farm stop listed below has unique options for visitors. Please be sure to make the appropriate arrangements and plan your day on the Trail accordingly. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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QUILT BLOCK TRAIL … Colorful quilt patterns painted on barns and buildings, have sprung up throughout most of our United States and have enhanced the love of country, heritage, art and family. In 2016, the Western NC Quilt Guild partnered with the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority in sponsoring a trail of graphic blocks placed on barns, historic buildings and private establishments. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE (They also recommend the trail guides HERE, and HERE)
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HENDERSONVILLE’S GIRL SCOUTS APPLE QUEST … Come test your inner sleuth and help Little Bear and his bear family find their apples! Apple Quest is a permanent scavenger hunt, part history lesson that was created by Girl Scout Troop 1886, Henderson County, NC, and is a great way to explore the wonders of downtown Hendersonville. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
SEASONAL SELF GUIDED TOURS
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FALL SCENIC DRIVES: EARLY COLOR … In the early fall, trees begin changing color at the highest elevations surrounding the Asheville area, and Visit Asheville, our Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, created these scenic driving routes for you, to help you enjoy it! SCENIC ROUTE 1 and SCENIC ROUTE 2 and SCENIC ROUTE 3
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FALL APPLE HARVEST TRAIL DRIVING TOUR … The apple harvest season runs from late August through October. Take a leisurely driving tour through Henderson County’s apple country, courtesy of the The Hendersonville Visitor Center! There are three routes to chose from. Stop at one of the many orchards along the way to pick up a bag of juicy apples, cider donuts, apple butter or a fresh baked apple pie. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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FALL FOLIAGE DRIVES … One of the best ways to see the changing leaves in Hendersonville is to take yourself for a drive through the area’s winding roads. Hendersonville Visitor Center put together a tried-and-true self-guided driving tour perfect for autumn. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY WINDOW WALKING TOUR … Enjoy the many beautifully decorated windows in Downtown Asheville with this self guided walking tour created every Christmas season by Asheville Downtown Association. GET YOUR GUIDE HERE
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SPRING APPLE BLOSSOM DRIVING TOUR … Apple blossom season runs mid April through early May, and many of the apple orchards in Henderson County are blooming! They will soon be at their peak, and you can go admire their delicate blooms for yourself on a drive through the countryside! GET YOUR GUIDE HERE