It always feels like you hit a slump at the end of summer where you don’t want to do much of anything. The heat feels nearly escapable, and from the time you get into your car until the time you arrive home, you’re constantly praying for a cool breeze. Thankfully, summer is finally coming to an end, and you can feel safe leaving your home once more! If you’re ready to break out after this hot summer, I’d love to tell you about some of my favorite places to make memories! With these Asheville fall activities, you’ll have the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer!
Seven Safe and Exciting Asheville Fall Activities
Navitat of Asheville
Navitat of Asheville is the ideal fall activity to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather! This adventure center takes you up into the trees so you can have a one-of-a-kind view of the state. The Moody Cove center is full of zip lines that let you fly across mountains. You can choose your own adventure, whether you’d like to climb up to a tree top or are just there for the zipline. Over the course of several hours, you’ll scale, race, and explore. Navitat gets that heights might not be for everybody. They give you a chance to explore the cove from the ground, thanks to their RTV tours. You can book day or nighttime tours. Navitat is located at 242 Poverty Branch Rd in Barnardsville.
Grandfather Mountain
While Grandfather Mountain delivers plenty of gorgeous views all year long, the mountain is transformed throughout the fall. The trees surrounding the base change their leaves, turning the mountain into a brilliant autumn display. The fall season at Grandfather Mountain happens throughout September and October with some fun Asheville activities. You can plan a hike to have an exceptional view of all the surrounding foliage. The mountain lets you book a reservation and uses timed entries, so the trail is never too full. On top of their hikes, the mountain provides guided tours with a naturalist or a wildlife specialist. Their Fall Color Ramble takes place over 30 minutes and gives you a beginner-friendly trek. The mountain’s GPS location is 2050 Blowing Rock Highway in Linville.
Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours
Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours let you view the transforming trees from the top of a paddleboard. The center is perfect for all levels and will make sure you feel ready for your adventure. Experts can rent a paddleboard and head out by themselves, while beginners can sign up for lessons so they can learn from a professional. The tours take you down the French Broad River and give you the ability to choose how long you want to float. You’ll choose between a 4-mile course that ends near restaurants and breweries or a 7-mile course that takes you past the Biltmore Estate. You can also select a self-guided 11-mile course. The main center is located at 192 Riverdale Dr. in Asheville.
Asheville Terrors Fall Activity
If you’re looking for the ideal way to get into the Halloween spirit, Asheville Terrors has you covered! The fall ghost tour activity takes you through a few of the most haunted places in Asheville for their history, combined with some genuine frights. You’ll get to choose between an 8- and 12-stop walking tour. Over the course of several hours, you’ll learn all about some of the darkest places from Asheville’s 200-year history. You’ll see the Grove Park Inn, Helen’s Bridge, and the building where Zelda Fitzgerald died. The tour features tales from the Civil War, the legends of the Prohibition, and the tragedies from the Great Depression. You’ll kick off the tour at 22 S. Park Square.
Jeter Mountain Farm
Jeter Mountain Farm is a family-owned farm run by 5th-generation farmers. The farm features hundreds of acres of premium fruit. Throughout the middle of September, you can stop by and pick your own apples at their orchards. Jeter Mountain Farm features over 25 varieties of apples, including Gala, Smokehouse, Daybreak Fuji, Melrose, and Mutsu. Because the apple season tends to be so short, they ask that you check the website or social media beforehand so you can see what’s currently being offered. The farm has a play area, a smokehouse, hard cider tastings, and a coffee shop. Over the weekends, they bring in live bluegrass music. You can check out all the fun at 1126 Jeter Mountain Road in Hendersonville.
Sky Top Orchard
Sky Top Orchard is another family-owned farm that gives you the ability to pick your own apples straight from the branches. The farm started out in 1982 to provide the community with the freshest apples. The orchards quickly grew until they became the attraction we all know and love today. In September and October, you can stop by and pick apple varieties such as Pink Lady, Rome, Arkansas Black, and Jonagold. While you’re there, you can eat some apple cider donuts, buy some treats from the farm stand, or hop on the hayride. Kids will adore the Asheville farm’s bee train, animal barn, playground, apple cannon, and other fall activities. You can find all this and more at 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road in Zirconia.
Justus Orchard
Justus Orchard provides tons of produce grown by 4th and 5th-generation farmers. At the orchards, you can pick your own apples while having a marvelous day around the farm. You can walk around while enjoying bakery fresh apple cider donuts and fried apple pies before washing them down with a cool apple slush. The cow train will take you to the orchards, where you can select apples, peaches, and pears. The adventure playground features swings, slides, and a climbing wall. Unwind with a picnic in the shade, or have the time of your life hanging out with some adorable animals. You can find the farm at 187 Garren Rd in Hendersonville.
Asheville Fall Activities
Now that summer is over, it’s time to get out and have some fun! With these Asheville fall activities, you’ll have endless ways to make this autumn completely unforgettable.
If you need another way to make memories this fall, I would love to chat! I’m a North Carolina family photographer, and I love working with parents to plan exciting photo shoots. I know that the early years of parenthood have an unfortunate tendency to fly by way too quickly. I’m here to give parents the chance to slow down and create gorgeous moments that they can cherish for a lifetime. If you’ve been considering booking a photo session for your family, I’d love to chat and tell you more about my unique photo process. Contact me today so we can get the conversation started!
