Just six months after Asheville was devastated by hurricane Helene, signature attractions are ready to receive visitors, historic sites are on the mend, spring events are lined up, businesses are reopening and elevating customer experiences.
You can help fuel the revitalization of this beloved city with a visit this spring or summer. More than 75 percent of hospitality businesses are now open and welcoming visitors. Plus more than 300 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including 11 miles through Asheville, have reopened.
Visit iconic attractions like Biltmore or the North Carolina Arboretum, which are open for the season and offer fresh experiences and new floral displays. Visitors can sign up for the Spring Forest Bathing Retreat where guests are guided in nature immersion, breathwork exercises, and a wild-foraged tea ceremony.
In town, more than 340 artists are exhibiting works in the Upper River Arts District, and LGBTQ+ businesses are swinging open their doors again. After enduring damage from flooding, queer-owned cocktail bar, Daytrip has since reopened with a revamped interior and a renewed focus on Asheville’s artistic and nightlife community.
The Moxy Asheville is also thriving after suffering losses from the hurricane just weeks after opening. The boutique hotel is now bustling and ready to accommodate guests in its vibrant public spaces, and at Wildwood Still, a rooftop bar with Blue Ridge views. Other honorable mentions making post-hurricane comebacks include Golden Hour at The Radical Hotel, helmed by James Beard Semifinalist Jacob Sessoms; and The Watch at The Restoration Asheville, offering a refreshed menu of Low Country-inspired dishes, craft cocktails and atmosphere.
Through April and May, Downtown Asheville will transform into a living floral and artistic showcase, with festivities kicking off on April 18. Live music, a live painter, and vibrant floral displays paint the town rainbow hues. And on April 26, Grove Arcade In Bloom brings botanical installations, a market of local growers, live performances, and an Aperol Spritz pop-up in the historic arcade.
More blooms await at Biltmore Estate’s floral showcase featuring 50,000 tulips, 14,000 daffodils, and 1,000 hyacinths in the Walled Garden.
Active travelers can enjoy more than 100 miles of trails through the Pisgah National Forest offering renewed access to the Appalachian wilderness, plus a full calendar of music and festivals featuring Vampire Weekend, Shakey Graves, Wilco and more.
After closing due to flooding the WNC Nature Center is open once more showcasing the region’s unparalleled biodiversity with brand new visitor pathways and upgraded facilities. Here guests can reconnect with more than 60 animal species, including red pandas, river otters, black bears, red wolves and bobcats.
Asheville is also offering Asheville Wellness Tours, which will guide visitors through the forest to see blue ghost fireflies to promote mindfulness and interconnectedness with nature between May and early July.
Also this May, SoHum Healing Resort opens spa services to the public for the first time. After your wellness tour and visit with fireflies, enjoy Ayurvedic treatments on this 100-acre wooded sanctuary adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway.Â
For more things to do, see, taste, and experience in Asheville visit exploreasheville.com
