There are many great destinations for family fun in the Asheville area of North Carolina. From historic estates to children’s museums, to nature centers, to farms, Asheville is full of unique experiences for families with kids of all ages. If you’re in the area, check out these four things to do in Asheville with kids for adventures they will cherish forever.
One Lodge Street
Asheville, NC 28803
Biltmore is a place where families can come to play for a day. This century-old estate is the perfect destination to create lifelong family memories. Visitors can enjoy the grounds for the day, purchase an Annual Pass, or stay at one of the estate’s overnight properties.
There are many activities for children. Pisgah Playground features activities that reflect the estate’s historical past while sparking a child’s imagination through fun, safe play. Kids can enjoy a 50-minute audio tour as they wander through amazing rooms at the Biltmore House and learn about livestock, crops, and working at Biltmore Dairy. The Barn in Antler Village features live demonstrations by blacksmiths, turn-of-the-century games, crafts, and shopping.
75 Gashes Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28805
The Western North Carolina Nature Center helps connect people with the wildlife of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region. This center inspires appreciation, nurtures understanding, and advances conservation so that they can conserve the region’s rich biodiversity.
This nature center houses 60 species of wildlife from the region. Kids can learn about the natural history of each species. Many of the animals are injured or lack the skills to survive in the wild. Animals include the American black bear, American pygmy goat, American red wolf, American river otter, Angora goat, barn owl, corn snake, cougar, coyote, gray wolf, great horned owl, musk turtle, red panda, and many more.
1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road
Zirconia, NC 28731
Sky Top Orchard is a family-owned and operated farm since 1967 when father-son team Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on the property nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. This farm was built with love and hard work and now has many fun activities for the whole family.
Activities at Sky Top Orchard include a hayride, bee train, apple cannon, apple cider donuts, tractor rides through the orchard, gem mining, walking the nature trail through a bamboo forest, and playing on the playground. Kids can also interact with the barnyard animals, including goats, sheep, chickens, peacocks, ducks, and geese.
318 North Main Street
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Located in historic downtown Hendersonville near Asheville, Hands On Children’s Museum offers fun, interactive exhibits that captivate the imagination of young kids and ignite their sense of creativity and wonder. All exhibits are kid-powered, meaning kids can explore, discover, and learn by doing. This safe, inclusive, welcoming museum features 13,000 square feet of learning activities and experiences for families.
The People’s Museum and Walk of Fame exhibit celebrates the history and culture of black, indigenous, and people of color. This free exhibit was designed for kids and adults in the community to learn about the area’s rich culture.
These four destinations in the Asheville area provide endless family fun for kids of all ages. From animal interactions to museum exhibits to tractor rides to estate audio walking tours, these things to do in Asheville with kids enrich families’ experiences. Kids can enjoy learning through hands-on, interactive experiences while they create memories they’ll cherish forever.
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