Earthshine Lodge is located on 76 acres of mountaintop property with some of the best views in Transylvania County. Take a guided hike on Earthshine’s trails and learn all sorts of wild and wacky nature facts. When we’re done with hiking, we’ll head to a “secret spot” to create fun art projects out of natural objects, like fairy and gnome houses and rhododendron crowns! This is a family program; all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains with our friendly llamas! Hikers will learn about our famous llamas’ interesting histories and how to safely handle the animals before heading out on a hike with gorgeous mountaintop views on our private trails.

Each family/group gets 1 to 3 lovable llamas to share and there’s plenty of time for llama cuddles and, of course, llama selfies! This moderate hike is around 1 mile long and does require requires walking uphill on rocky and sometimes slippery terrain. This experience lasts approximately an hour and a half.

Reservations required to reserve your spot on the hike. We need a minimum of 4 hikers to book and may contact you about rescheduling if we do not have enough bookings. We welcome all ages on our llama hikes, and children 5 and under are free. When you make your reservation, please let us know if you have anyone under that age.

This insider excursion provides you with tips and local secrets about the best way to do Asheville on a budget! You will have a better understanding of how Asheville became the unique, quirky city you see now and learn everything we are doing to “Keep Asheville Weird.” This is the only walking tour provided that allows you to choose how much you think a walking tour is worth and pay whatever you like. We will follow the urban trail, stop along the way for some free honey tastings and finish the tour with some special beer tastings at one of the best local breweries in South Slope! At the brewery, you will also be able to participate in a free raffle where you receive gifts donated from local businesses like free salsa classes, local theatre performances, books and more! I want you to know and love my city as much as I do and I am excited to share this experience with you!

Pay what you want at the end!

Learn to create your own foam stamps to print designs inspired by nature. Create gorgeous dish towel designs that you can use at home or give as a gift!

Experience the basics of shaping hot steel with a hammer and anvil in our unforgettable Blacksmithing & Brews workshop. No experience is necessary as our instructor will guide you every step of the way in this basics of blacksmithing program, helping you work a piece of rough steel into a one of a kind, hand crafted knife form you can take home. After the workshop, you can enjoy a local brew on the front deck of our main lodge overlooking Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can take it easy, soaking up the mountain views while you sip, or work on refining your knife to transform its rugged, fresh-out-of-the-fire look to a smoother, cleaner finish. (We’ll provide the tools!)

Ages 13+ are welcome, but you must be at least 21 to be served beer. If you’re under 21, we’ll provide root beer or sparkling water. Each person participating will take home their own wrought iron crude knife form that can be used as a letter opener or simple spreading utensil.

Reservations are required to reserve your spot for the Blacksmithing & Brews experience.

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains with our friendly llamas! Hikers will learn about our famous llamas’ interesting histories and how to safely handle the animals before heading out on a hike with gorgeous mountaintop views on our private trails.

Each family/group gets 1 to 3 lovable llamas to share and there’s plenty of time for llama cuddles and, of course, llama selfies! This moderate hike is around 1 mile long and does require requires walking uphill on rocky and sometimes slippery terrain. This experience lasts approximately an hour and a half.

Reservations required to reserve your spot on the hike. We need a minimum of 4 hikers to book and may contact you about rescheduling if we do not have enough bookings. We welcome all ages on our llama hikes, and children 5 and under are free. When you make your reservation, please let us know if you have anyone under that age.

Enjoy an outdoor yoga class with gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge mountains on our 76-acre mountaintop property. All levels welcome; bring a mat if you have one. Donations accepted.

Sicard Hollow is a four-piece progressive bluegrass band who formed with a mutual passion for pushing the boundaries of genre. Heavily influenced by the Grateful Dead and New Grass Revival, these young pickers bring new energy to a timeless style with a combination of fearless improvisation and instrumental prowess.

Having toured extensively around the southeast for the last year, this group of players continues to grow their sound with every performance. Having always thought of themselves as a live band, producer, Dan Davis, had his work cut out for him while producing their debut album, Secret of the Breeze, at Zac Brown and Oliver Wood’s Southern Ground Nashville. The result was a perfect encapsulation of the band’s genre-kicking tenacity. There is no slowing down for Sicard Hollow.

RiverLink is partnering with the City of Asheville and local volunteers to protect water quality through an Adopt-A-Storm Drain Program. Pollution from stormwater runoff is the biggest threat to clean water in our urban streams. Stormwater is rain that flows across the landscape—rather than soaking into the ground—where it picks up pollutants before flowing into a storm drain and emptying into the nearest stream.

With funding from the Pigeon River Fund, a grant administered by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, this pilot program will pair volunteers with a storm drain in the Central Asheville Watershed.

The goal is to get 100 storm drains adopted in 2021. Volunteers will be awarded with fun prizes for their commitment and enthusiasm, and  if successful, the Adopt A Storm Drain program will expand to include other areas in the City of Asheville.

How does it work?

Select a storm drain in a convenient location of the Central Asheville Watershed. It could be in front of your home, business, or where you exercise regularly. By adopting a storm drain, you commit to checking the drain in between rain events and keeping it clear of litter and debris. All it takes are gloves and a trash bag. Then with a smartphone or computer, you can report debris cleaned/cleared, and conditions such as illegal dumping or flooding. In a matter of minutes, you help protect water quality and prevent street flooding from clogged drains!

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

DESCRIPTION

2021 West Fork, Tuckasegee River scheduled releases are brought to you by our friends at American Whitewater. Nantahala Outdoor Center is a proud sponsor of American Whitewater’s work to protect and restore river’s across the country- Learn more about becoming an American Whitewater member here.

The West Fork of the Tuck is 5.5 miles of class III- IV+ whitewater, from Thorpe Dam to Thorpe Powerhouse. From slides to boulder gardens, this section of the Tuckasegee River offers a wide variety of fun challenges for advanced paddlers.

Summer Is So Close We Can Taste It! Highland Brewing Company is hosting a Rooftop brunch to celebrate the release of their latest seasonal beer, Peachful Fruited Ale! Enjoy Smash Catering’s peach-inspired waffle bar alongside sweet musical jams from Highland’s own Taylor Pierson. In addition to brunch, two complimentary beer tokens are included in the ticket price. So get your friends together for a day that is sure to be PEACH-TASTIC!

This insider excursion provides you with tips and local secrets about the best way to do Asheville on a budget! You will have a better understanding of how Asheville became the unique, quirky city you see now and learn everything we are doing to “Keep Asheville Weird.” This is the only walking tour provided that allows you to choose how much you think a walking tour is worth and pay whatever you like. We will follow the urban trail, stop along the way for some free honey tastings and finish the tour with some special beer tastings at one of the best local breweries in South Slope! At the brewery, you will also be able to participate in a free raffle where you receive gifts donated from local businesses like free salsa classes, local theatre performances, books and more! I want you to know and love my city as much as I do and I am excited to share this experience with you!

Pay what you want at the end!

BUNCOMBE PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD PRESENTS

In conjunction with Sunday Sessions Live (and virtual) music: Food Truck Sundays will bring a new or rotating “staff favorite” cuisine each week to the Beechams Curve offerings.
Gan Shan West, our main culinary provider 6 days a week, is closed on Sundays. Enjoy the convenience, delicious variety and the music – all in one Sunday Funday stop!