Springtime in Asheville is the best time of the year! From the beautiful weather, to the colorful flowers, to the Blue Ridge Parkway opening up again, there are plenty of exciting things to see and do.
As a long time Asheville local, I have a few recommendations for how to spend the Springtime in Asheville (when I’m not hanging out at Grove Arcade, of course). Here are some of my top choices.
1) Go on an Adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches all along North Carolina and is home to one of Asheville’s many stunning hiking trails (my favorite is Craggy Gardens). Often the drive is even better than the destination, as you pass dozens of incredible mountain overlooks bright and colorful with spring foliage. You can also find dozens of breathtaking waterfalls, such as Rainbow Falls, Catawba Falls, Skinny Dip Falls, and many others.
2) Explore the River Arts District
Grab your bike, skateboard, friends, and dogs and spend an afternoon exploring Asheville’s historic River Arts District. You won’t regret it, trust me. I can just immerse myself for hours in Asheville’s rich art culture, which has become sort of a mecca for artists in the southeast. Murals are graffiti on buildings are common in the district, adding to the spirit of the area and telling its story in ways that words cannot. You’ll just have to see for yourself!
We also could not be more excited about the brand new Asheville Greenway, which connects the River Arts District with a paved trail. Breathing in the fresh spring air and feeling the sun on your skin while walking your dog on the Greenway trail sounds like the ideal day to me.
3) Walk Around Downtown Asheville
And of course, we can’t forget about downtown Asheville. Spring is the perfect time to explore downtown and discover hundreds of local boutique shops and restaurants. Grove Arcade, located right in the heart of downtown Asheville, is home to 32 of them!
Makers Market is Grove Arcade’s outdoor bazaar with a dozen stalls of local artisans selling their unique products directly to the public. Merchants and their products are constantly rotating, so there’s always something new to discover. On any given day you will find handmade jewelry, drawings, pottery, clothing, candles, musical instruments, local honey and farm products, perfume, and much more. Meet the artist up close. Ask them about their craft and where they draw their inspiration – they’ll be more than happy to tell you.
4) See What’s New at Grove Arcade
Once you’re done exploring Makers Market, head over to the newest addition to the Grove Arcade family, Summit Coffee. Located on Page Avenue, AKA “Restaurant Row,” Summit Coffee has plenty of outdoor seating, making it a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the spring weather along with spring-inspired drinks like their Juniper Orange Vanilla Latte. Too warm outside for a hot latte? A Summit Coffee slurpee is sure to cool you down.
Spring product collection have arrived, and boutiques throughout Grove Arcade are offering Spring Sales for a limited time. Local baby and infant apparel store, Bohemian Baby, is offering 25% off all Easter Dresses. For women, Caravans just added tons of new spring arrivals that feature bright, bold colors and styles. Roberto Coin has a whole new collection of zodiac sign necklaces that I am loving.
So much to see and so much to do this spring in Asheville, so come out, support your local small businesses, and see everything this wonderful city has to offer!
