Beautiful! Stopped here on our drive to Asheville…read more It's a nice walk to the waterfall, and next time I'd love to plan to spend a little more time at the falls.

Wow! What a great falls and impressive set of stairs and tower that were rebuilt since the…read morehurricane. We hiked up the stairs and then back the long trail down. I think that is the best way to see it. There was a TikTok couple hogging the best picture spot of the falls and a large group making a lot of noise at the upper falls. Would have been a bit nicer but we were at the time of day when the afternoon folks are out hiking, so a bit of our fault. But this is a don't miss falls hike near Asheville!

Easy and beautiful, I hate that it's a little drive for us…read more The leaves are amazing this time of year

On a not-quite-hot day that was a bit humid, this was a bit of a workout for someone like me who…read moredoesn't hike much. A level parking lot with restrooms, I left the van there and followed a family carting a cooler, a baby stroller and a bunch of towels. I figured that if they could do it then I sure could. And then they peeled off at the level part and I started up the hill. There's a sign with a warning that it's steep. I ignored the sign at my own peril and climbed up to the view point. Totally worth it. It's quiet other than the sound of crashing water and a few birds in the distance. The view of Triple Falls is amazing. Not an easy climb - I would say this is "moderate plus" because of the incline. It is somewhat smooth but not wheelchair capable and there's a definite risk of slipping on the climb back down. [Review 20013 overall - 3454 in North Carolina - 988 of 2023.]

I absolutely LOVE this park. Hands down one of the best hidden gems in the area. Don't let the…read morespooky warehouse scare you away, you'll see gravel parking on the left, keep going to the paved lot. There is a beautiful gravel walking trail that goes along the Swannanoa River + the two lakes. There are some walking trails around but you'll have to look for those. They have basketball courts, a playground, BBQ grills, picnic tables, covered areas, baseball fields... you can also fish in the lake but swimming is not permitted. I have seen people swim in the river/creek I would just advice you to be pretty careful because sometimes it's moving pretty fast + has deep areas with currents. I'm pretty sure you also need a fishing license or permit. There are signs posted all over with the rules. There are also some signs with nature information to make it fun for the kiddos! Plenty of poop bags + places to drop them off so please clean up after your doggo! Everyone walking the trail is pretty nice, they mostly stick to themselves since COVID. But there is plenty of space for everyone and most do wear mask. Beware of the geese! They are feisty and not afraid of anything. They have gone after my dog Lucy several times, now she goes after them. Really love having this place in our back yard!

This hidden park is not a bad area for a early morning or afternoon walk. There are two lakes in…read morethis park with a river that borders the far side. The out side walking trail is 0.83 miles. And if you look closely for the hidden hiking trails you could have a good afternoon adventure. This park has plenty of tables for summer day cookouts. It also has a basket ball court which could use some work. Is really hard to replace the netting on the hoop? Also this park has a baseball field. The park is lacking in the playground department. It looks like they made the playground for a toddler, which is ok but I'm sure older kids wouldn't think to much of it. Which is a shame. A park should have something to do for all ages. The park is maintained decently well. And even the on site bathrooms where clean. 4 stars for the crappy playground and the Basketball court.

Blue Ridge Parkway is such an incredibly beautiful drive and well worth taking a few minutes out of…read morethe way to enjoy this lovely detour. It should be a crime that the government wants to privatize all national parks and it's a shame that we may not be able to enjoy this stunning area of the United States much longer. Take the long way during your roadtrip and drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway with the windows down, you will not be disappointed! The fresh air and calming scenery is healing to the soul! There are plenty of overlooks, as well. Take your time, enjoy the ride!

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans several hundred miles long and a good chunk of it was unfortunately…read moreclosed when we came through due to hurricane damage but we were able to do a few hours on the road from the edge of the Smoky Mountains NP all the way to Asheville and it was GORGEOUS. The open stretch was in higher elevations (hence not impacted by the hurricane) which meant we had some really spectacular views of the mountains and terrain. It really was wonderful. There are a ton of scenic overlooks and a few maintained spots where you can pull over and enjoy a picnic or use the facilities (they're barebones restrooms but they have them) but aside from that amenities are few and far between so be sure to pack some food, drinks, and make sure your tank is full of gas so you can enjoy the views and explore stress free! The only trouble was there wasn't a lot of information available on what we'd find on the parkway (meaning what stretch was closed, what was open, must see overlooks, hiking trails, etc) as the visitors centers were closed and the Smoky Mountain NP visitor center we stopped into didn't have any brochures or maps or anything. Luckily once we got onto the parkway we were able to find a scenic overview with some signage that had a map so we took a picture of that and was helpful. The good news is is that I believe right after our trip they reopened another large stretch of the Parkway northeast for Asheville (which I believe has has all the amazing waterfalls) so we'll have to come back another time to enjoy all those views!

Nice walking path between UNCA and downtown. Very safe during the day but could be a bit dark at…read morenight.

Perfect little path for a walk. It's all paved so perfect for running or biking. They have several…read morespots with doggie bags and trash cans and little benches along the way. Check out some of the signage covering the history of the area, too. Beautiful area!

It's been years since my first visit here and it was something I needed during my reset vacay to…read moreenjoy the outdoors and relive the beautiful memories here. The gardens are absolutely stunning, well maintained, and well marked. The buildings are beautiful and host wonderful events and classes. The gift shop is well stocked and perfect for buying something for your home, yourself, or for those you love. The trails are wonderful and can give you lots of options for the length and level of exercise you want for you and your pups. The Bent Creek one is our favorite (which runs along Bent Creek)! Of course, the Dambo Trolls were a lovely addition these past few months and have drawn so many people that they had to close the gate at least once because they were so packed! I'm glad I decided to make the drive to enjoy a solo date outdoors with my book.

The Thomas Dambo Troll Exhibit brought me back to NC for the first time in decades. And the team at…read morethe Arboretum, and the grounds as well as the exhibit did not disappoint. Made it there on New Year's Day. Bright and early. Did get lost trying to follow GPS so map it as it reads on the website. Siri thinks she knows better and I ended up in the boonies without service. Backtracked and when I had cell service again, followed instructions and got there without a hitch. The staff, mainly in the Welcome Center was great. So friendly. Knowledgeable. Genuinely pleasant. Not only providing instructions on the exhibit but shared a few stories about the process. It was cold but the walk and sun, when it came out, helped me to not freeze. In fact, by the halfway point, I had removed my outer layer. I mentioned this because it wasn't all paved paths - eventually after you pass through the garden directly outside the Welcome Center - you wander onto the packed trail. Glad I got there early as by the time I left, the parking lot was filled up fast and cars were lining up at the entrance to the park. I didn't check out anything else at the Arboretum but judging from what I did see, it's a beautiful area and exhibit. If I happen to make a return visit, it'll definitely be when it's warmer weather.

Beaver Lake offers mostly beautiful views and makes for an easy, relaxing walk. One side of the…read moretrail can get sunny, so it's a good idea to bring sunscreen. It may not be a must-see destination, but if you're looking for a walk around Asheville, it's worth a stop.

Operated by the Blue Ridge Audubon society,this 8 acre sanctuary is located in the heart of…read moreAsheville. Open daily, no admission fee,there is a wooden boardwalk that allows you to observe various birds and other wildlife in a natural setting. The boardwalk makes a complete loop so easy to navigate. Dogs are not allowed. Small parking area at the entrance.

Gorgeous place, easy parking on the side of the roads with multiple stopping areas. Dog friendly…read moreand people friendly. Able to swim and to walk around (very cautiously) on rocks. Relaxing to just lay on a massive rock and listen to the waterfall.

5-Stars for simply being a beautiful waterfall relatively close to town and located just a few…read moreshort steps from the road, no hiking required. There are 3 viewpoints: road level, mid-level down a short set of stairs, and at the base down a second set of stairs. This is a great option for people with little kids, people with limited mobility, or those just short on time. There is limited roadside parking. Free to visit. No restroom. Easy peasy.