Asheville is the perfect place to celebrate your anniversary. It offers something for everyone with its urban walking trails and fantastic views there is so much to admire. Whether you’re staying at one of the top-class hotels or romantic mountain cabins, there are so many things to see and do in downtown Asheville. Here are some celebration ideas:
Wining and Dining
Asheville has more breweries per capita than any US city, with beers served on draft and in bottles. You can visit 10 different breweries on a three-day guided tour or stick with the Burial Beer Co. that has a great atmosphere, wonderful craft beers and a large outdoor area which is a great place in summer. It also has a kitchen open at all the hours the taproom is open and on Sundays is open for brunch with a jazz band, weather permitting. The menu follows seasonal availability of produce, though staples like our grain-fed double cheeseburger and house fermented hot wings always remain. This place is also child-friendly if you are celebrating your anniversary with the kiddos in tow.
For an extensive list of Asheville’s wine bars, see how to Wine Down at One of Asheville’s Top Wine Bars
Gift of the Day
Whilst your trip to Asheville is an anniversary gift in itself, include a physical gift to present on the actual day of your anniversary. On your list of things to do for your anniversary in the city add a visit to the River Arts District, where you can scour artists’ studios for a piece of original art to take home. Another idea would be to frame a print from one of the artworks displayed at one of the galleries and museums in the Downtown Art District.
Biltmore
Take a tour of George W. Vanderbilt’s 250-room winter castle, America’s largest home and probably the major attraction in Asheville. The grounds cover 8,000 acres which makes a behind-the-scenes tour worthwhile. You can also explore the century-old gardens on horseback riding or go biking across the many trails. Also, Biltmore Winery offers free tastings, though an upgrade to paid tasting is well worth the price.
From November 2019 to 7 April 2020, a new Downton Abbey exhibition opens at Biltmore that will feature set recreations, costumes and exclusive multimedia from the show Downton Abbey.
Concerts
In July and August, enjoy Biltmore’s Summer Concerts which feature live performances on the South Terrace with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. The 2020 concert schedule will be announced in Spring 2020. The 2019 line-up included The Beach Boys, The B-52s, Charlie Daniels, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chicago, The O’Jays, Kool & the Gang, Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman.
Downtown After 5 concerts take place on the third Friday of May through to September. These free concerts at North Lexington Avenue run from 17:00 to 21:00 where you can also buy food and beer, with money going back into community projects.
Join the Brevard Music Center’s Summer Festival that has been running for more than 80 years. For twelve weeks each summer, gifted international musicians gather at the centre in the Blue Ridge Mountains to perform alongside major symphonies, universities, and conservatories. From classical superstars to pop legends to acclaimed composers, you will experience unforgettable performances under the stars.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scene drive maintained by the National Park Service. Near Asheville, the road offers breath-taking mountain vistas and access to the area’s best hiking trails from short, easy hikes to much more challenging treks. Trails start from the city, and you can choose your own trail length and level of difficult whether walking or cycling. There will be plenty of spots to stop for a romantic picnic.
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