13 Weeks of Summer Bucket List

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Whether the sun is shining, the heat is high or the skies have opened, we have gathered 13 different Asheville activities you absolutely want on your summer bucket list! For locals and visitors alike, this list can be packed into a few days or spread out to last the entire summer! 

Here is a little guide for you:

🌧 = inside

🌞 = outside

1. Hummingbird Candle Co 🌧

This black woman-owned business not only creates incredible jobs for all womxn but also has an epic candle-making experience in both Fayetteville and downtown Asheville. 

Anyone 7+ can indulge in their curiosity and senses as they explore the more than 30 scents in their candle library! Walk-ins are always welcome but if you can, they highly recommend reserving your spot, especially for groups of 5 or more.

Becoming a Chandler (professional candle maker 😉) includes:

  • Step by step instruction on how to pick your signature fragrance
  • Hand pour luxurious coconut oil-based 9 oz. candle
  • Insta-worthy selfies 
  • 10% off any shopping done during your class.

Ready to take over the shop? Gather 10+ wanna-be candle makers for a private event on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Candle making just not your thing? No worries! Visit the shop in person or online to purchase your new favorite candle. They’ve even got a quiz if you can’t narrow down your decision! 

Remember: Hummingbird is BYOB! Now go and reserve your experience! 

2. Grail Moviehouse 🌧

Grail Moviehouse is our very own locally owned, an indie cinema showing first run, art, independent, foreign, classic, and documentary titles. It is also the perfect place for a break from the elements! 

Their upcoming schedule:

  • IN THE HEIGHTS – 6/10 for at least 2+ weeks 
  • SUMMER OF SOUL – 7/2 for at least 2+ weeks 
  • THE GREEN KNIGHT – Opens 7/30

We also love their Concessions To Go – you can place your snack order before or during your show. Our personal favorites are their local snacks like Sunshine Sammies Ice Cream Sandwiches, Munki nut mix and Pleb wine!

See what is showing now and upcoming easily right on their website or just pop into 17 Foundy Street in the River Arts District!

3. Liminal Equus 🌞

Ready to enter into a new, magical experience? Then, get your yoga pants on and grab your cowboy hat, you’re doing equine yoga! This next bucket list recommendation is all about connecting with yourself, nature and, of course, your horse. Whether you’re a first-time rider or you have years of riding and yoga experience, Liminal Equus is the type of adventure everyone should have on their bucket list. Their goal is to offer an immersive experience that combines horseback riding, the great outdoors, and complete mindfulness. Here’s what they offer:

Trail Riding – Book a farm and mountain trail riding for parties of 6!

Get back in the saddle on this beautiful farm and mountain riding adventure. Book a trail ride with your friends or family to ride horses in a calm, harmonious, and relaxing environment that leaves you wanting more. 

Equine Yoga 🧘‍♀️ – Book a unique equine yoga experience!

Who knew this even existed? Stretch, breathe and find balance all while on a bareback horse with Liminal Equus, certified Equine Yoga Instructors. Bareback equine yoga is a guided yoga session allowing you to strengthen your core, legs and arms while moving through your usual yoga routine. Not only will you deepen your connection with yourself, but also with something extraordinarily beautiful. Your horse.

Located in Barnardsville, NC, book this incredible experience through their website here.

4. The Never Ending Flower Farm 🌞

Who doesn’t love flower farms? We do!!! Grab your best gals, life partner or even the kiddos and head North 20 minutes out of Asheville to the enchanting Never Ending Flower Farm where the flowers are abundant and extremely colorful! This farm’s flowers are perfection and are available for u-pick, wholesale, weddings, or any other occasion needing revitalizing.

Or, if you’re feeling a little crafty, check out their Flower Pounding Workshop held on June 25th at 10:00 am & 2:00 pm. To sign up, go to The Never Ending Flower Farm.

Have an event you still need a location for? The new Covered Shed is available to rent for special events such as birthday parties, baby/bridal showers or small gatherings. Imagine the backdrop!

5. Axeville 🌧🌞

Have you got some energy? Something to release? We highly recommend Axeville for any + all of that! Axeville isn’t a bar with axes. 🪓 It is an ax-throwing venue that serves amazing local + imported beers, ciders and wines.

Ax-throwing is a sport with Olympic aspirations! Whether you visit one of their two locations or rent their mobile unit for your summer party, we promise you will leave feeling more alive than when you arrived! 

Book your spot at:

Note: due to the nature of this sport, all locations at 18+

So get out your flannel and get ready for an epic fun of healthy competition and emotional release! 

6. The Conundrum “I Spy” 🌞

Are you ready to piece together an unsolved mystery here in Asheville, NC? The Conundrum Escape Rooms has a whole new spin on the popular escape room scene. Now an outdoor, immersive, escape experience named “I Spy,” Conundrum invites you to come get involved in a serious story where you will help unravel a mystery.

The Unsolved Secret is ideal for large groups, families, friends or even a date night! We recommend adding this adventure to your summer bucket list to get you out of the house while using your brain. Go help CindyLou piece together the clues found all over town while meeting thought-provoking characters along the way. You’ll thank us for it later.

7. Down Dog Yoga AVL 🌧🌞

One of Asheville’s newest businesses is doing something quite epic! They have brought together an off-leash dog park + social bar with a hot yoga studio! 🐕 🧘‍♀️  No matter the weather, this place has you covered, literally! The dog park/ social bar has both covered and exposed areas, perfect for any day! 

As locals and visitors alike know, Asheville LOVES their fur babies and this spot proves that! You can: 

  • Enjoy a yoga class while your dog attends daycare in the dog park
  • Visit just the bar with your pup
  • Drink + socialize without your pup
  • Come hang out with other people and their pups
  • Take class without your pup

Check out their class schedule, hours and other FAQs here! 

8. The Track at Asheville 🌧

Open for just about 6 months, The Track at Asheville is another one-of-a-kind business! This immersive simulator race track offers experiences for beginners + experts alike and is perfectly tucked into the back of  Biltmore Village!

Whether you’d like to test your skills on world-class tracks in a variety of race cars or compete with your friends and family – the options here are endless! 

You are invited to:

  • Race
  • Socialize
  • Compete

What to expect:
They offer everything from a 2-hour beginner SIM racing experience to leagues, racing your friends or watching others at one of our special event races or league while sipping on one of the local brews they offer! 

Sign up for your experience, walk in or just come by for a drink while your family is shopping in the village!

9. Asheville Hot Air Balloons 🌞

In case you missed reading about our hot air balloon experience last month, we are thrilled to be highlighting Asheville Hot Air Balloons on Asheville Date Night again! We’re so in love with this adventure. It’s truly an extraordinary flight that will lift your heart and land it in your fondest memories forever.

Get swept away for a birthday celebration, anniversary or just to scratch it off your bucket list. From start to finish, you will love every minute of this mesmerizing adventure.

10. Batton Clayworks 🌧

Don’t let rainy days get you down. Take a pottery class! Batton Clayworks is a well-established pottery studio and gallery located in the historic Kenilworth neighborhood. Ann and Sandy Batton are a husband and wife team who instruct interactive clay building workshops and classes to anyone hoping to widen their arts and crafts skills. You’ll love learning and building in their brand new art studio where there is plenty of room to mold and design bowls, cups or even vases or statues.

We recommend these classes for the whole family, bring your friends or make it an out-of-the-ordinary date night with your sweetheart. Classes run for approximately 2 hours and you will learn 4 main clay techniques, building your own design to be fired then taken home once they are glazed and out of the kiln. All class, materials and tools are included so all you have to do is show up and start creating.

Contact Batton Clayworks directly for class schedules and follow them on social media to keep them top of mind.

11. Barn Door Ciderworks 🌧🌞

Whenever we think of sipping local cider, we think of Barn Door Ciderworks in Fairview, NC. Why? Because their heritage ciders are crafted from the truest and most traditional recipes. They pride themselves on barrel-aged, dry cider. Barn Door is the only cidery in the area that is fermenting their ciders in aged barrels. And, with no added sugars or fruits, their process allows for their apples to speak for themselves. For Barn Door Ciderworks, it begins with hand-picking the best apples around.

Is that all? Nope. We’re not finished. Do not leave this cidery without tasting one of their homemade dishes. Everything from local cheeses, olives, crispy paninis to your favorite desserts, Barn Door’s ciders pair nicely with their delicious menu.

Find them on the way home from a hike or if you’re driving back from Lake Lure. Also, watch for events, cider pairings, and other fun happenings by following them on social media.

12. Navitat 🌞

If you are ready for a thrill-filled day, we absolutely would recommend the 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ tree-based zipline adventures Navitat has to offer!

Not only is this an adrenaline-pumping experience, but it is also one of the coolest ways to experience the Blue Ridge mountains! Their entire team is passionate about their home in Moody Cove and its huge, majestic trees. Before you pick your adventure, be sure to explore all they have to offer:

  • Zipline from tree-to-tree, cross sky-bridges and descend ropes in true Appalachian forest on a one-of-a-kind eco-journey on the Tree Top Tour! 
  • Take in the most captivating scenery with the most jaw-dropping speeds and heights on the aerial Mountain Top Tour! This adventure also features side-by-side zips!
  • If you are ready to experience everything Navitat has to offer: both of our zipline adventures in one action-packed day, sign up for their Ultimate Adventure Tour!
  • If heights are your thing, don’t worry! They’ve got you covered! You can “shadow” the zip lining action while also exploring the beautiful sights of Moody Cove from the ground on a guided RTV excursion!

What are you waiting for? Book your adventure today! 

13. Botanist & Barrel 🌧

Botanist and Barrel Cidery & Winery has opened its new downtown Asheville location! Charming and inviting, this space has been reinvented for guests to come and enjoy sipping their fruitful, natural ciders + wines. Wild and native flavors take center stage in this tasting room.

This new location is focused on pushing the limits when it comes to food + drink pairings and collaborations. If you’re looking for something new and interesting, then Botanist and Barrel invites you to come taste their innovative small plate and drink menu filled with local cheeses, tiny bites of tinned seafood, and much, much more.

Vegan and gluten-free options are available as well. We recommend the Pride Rainbow Cider Flight and the Prodigal Farms “Fools Gold” local cheese plate. It’s B&B washed cheese served with Beecharmer honey, olives, and smashed apple butter. You’re welcome.

More Bucket List Ideas and Honorable Mentions:

 

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