Gift Differently: 12 Local Asheville Experiences

If the past two years have taught us anything, it is that experiences are everything! Making memories with the ones we love heavily outway any material gift. While we were working on what businesses to highlight this holiday season, we decided to take the opportunity to share with you our 12 favorite experiences in Asheville that make the perfect holiday gift for whoever is on your list! 

Hummingbird Candle Company

Anyone 7+ can indulge in their curiosity and senses at this black woman-owned downtown business, Hummingbird Candle Co. Your adventure begins by exploring more than 30 scents in their candle library! But, you don’t explore them by seeing their names. Instead, they are numbered and you use just your senses! How cool?? Walk-ins are always welcome but if you can, they highly recommend reserving your spot, especially for groups of 5 or more.

Located downtown on Lexington Ave.

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 also got candle-making kits that you can have shipped to your favorite person. They’ve even got a scent quiz if you can’t narrow down your decision! 

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

Batton Clayworks

This one is on many people’s bucket lists! This is not paint-your-own, but instead, MAKE YOUR OWN!

Batton Clayworks offers an absolutely zen, one-of-a-kind professional pottery experience! Their 2-hour workshop will leave you incredibly relaxed, full of new skills and (after they’ve been in the kiln and glazed) 4 pieces of pottery made by you! 

Designed to be fun, no matter your experience level, students receive hands-on instruction while exploring several different pottery techniques, including wheel throwing!

Navitat Tree Adventures

We give 5-stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  to the 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! 

Asheville Wine Tours

Over the past decade, the transformation of the mountain vineyards here in North Carolina has reached another level. That’s where Van in Black and Asheville Wine Tours steps in.

Van in Black is Western North Carolina’s premier transportation service that combines luxurious travel with touring our region. Their company slogan says it all… “Let Us Do the Driving!” 

All their tours are customized to each group and include everything you want! What they truly want is for you to enjoy every moment of your excursion, stress-free! 

Learn where they took us on our very own curated tour from this fall. 

Asheville Hot Air Balloons

Taking a ride in a hot air balloon is on nearly everyone’s bucket list right? We sure haven’t met anyone that wasn’t interested. 

Imagine what it would be like to float over the peaks and get a 360-degree view of the Appalachian mountains from the sky, in a basket! It’s an experience unlike any other.  An expected blessing while on a ride is you’ve truly got nowhere else to be so you have ample time to take it all in from your company to the views and the incredible memories you are making. Not to mention this is absolutely one of the most insta-worthy photo opportunities out there! 

Asheville Hot Air Balloons is the ultimate adventure + they pair take off with the sunrise! Like what?? Check out our blog all about our adventure and then book your own to share with your number one! 

Asheville Wellness Tours

Asheville Wellness Tours are the expert experience curators! Take it from us, whether you’re a local or a soon-to-be visitor of Asheville, Wellness Tours will have you swooning for days and days. If you haven’t visited their site for a while, be sure you do because their offers have vastly expanded! 

They offer everything from adventures right at home, including massages, cooking classes and private chef events to forest bathing, yoga hikes, tarot card readings and so much more! A gift card to Asheville Wellness Tours is perfect for anyone on your list who is welcoming more wellness + connection into their lives

Visions of Creation Gallery and Studio

This ‘hands-on experience’ not only provides an amazing, unforgettable day but also leaves participants with ‘something’ to remember their new skills – which happens to take up very little space, is easily accessible, lasts a lifetime and just might become an heirloom – and it is 100% customized. 

Visions of Creation Jewelry Class is a full 8 hour day (or two 4 hour days) where one’s creation starts from a vision and goes all the way to completion. Read about our experience here! 

Grail Moviehouse

Do movies differently by visiting Grail Moviehouse, our very own locally owned, an indie cinema showing first run, art, independent, foreign, classic, and documentary titles. 

They’ve also got incredible concessions to go so 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 Plëb 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!

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! Liminal Equus is the type of adventure everyone should have on their bucket list and you may not even know about it! Experiences include: 

Trail Riding –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 🧘‍♀️ – Who knew this even existed? Seriously! 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. 

Axeville Throwing Company

Know someone that has some stress 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.

Whether you give a gift card to one of their two locations or rent their mobile unit for an extra special treat, we promise the receiver will feel rejuvenated. 

So wrap this gift in a flannel get ready for an epically fun healthy competition and emotional release! 

Down Dog AVL Yoga and Dog Bar

Down Dog AVL brought together an off-leash dog park + social bar with a yoga studio! No matter the weather, this place has you covered, literally! Whether you grab a gift card for your favorite yogi or dog parent, they can use it to: 

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

The Track at Asheville

Did you know there is a place right in Asheville where you can race your heart out risk-free? 

Well, put on your driving gloves because The Track at Asheville offers immersive SIM racing that requires zero experience but will give you all the feels of being in a real race car. 

Gift this experience to fulfill someone’s dream of being a NASCAR driver or for some friendly competition as you race each other!

Now, if you’re not convinced these experiences make great gifts, then, you’ll just have to go experience them yourself. Take it from us, Asheville has some of the best-coupled adventures, especially when you get to gift a person with whom you love spending time.  Memory-making gifts are always the best way to share the love during the holidays.


One Response to “Gift Differently: 12 Local Asheville Experiences”

  1. Terri

    Thank you for the feature of Asheville Wine Tours and Van In Black. We love hosting locals and tourists alike! We think experiences and memories made make the greatest gift! Thanks again! Cheers! 🍷

    Reply

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