“Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” And it just got even easier to plan the perfect summer in Asheville. We’ve rounded up 15 bucket list activities to help you make the most of the season. Bonus points for those who print out this list and check off activities as they go.
Events + festivals
☐ Jam out to old-time and bluegrass beats at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 5.
☐ Grab tickets to the inaugural AVLFest from Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 6.
☐ Have a laugh at the Asheville Comedy Festival from Tuesday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Aug. 12.
☐ Enjoy live music with a local beverage in hand at Downtown After 5, taking place the third Friday of each month through September.
Outdoor fun
☐ Explore the biodiversity of our region at the WNC Nature Center.
☐ Pack a picnic and hit a local trail for a day of hiking.
☐ Cool off by taking a dip in one of Asheville’s public pools or local swimming holes.
☐ Indulge in America’s favorite pastime by catching a Tourists game at McCormick Field.
☐ Grab your blankets and chairs to screen a flick at Movies in the Park.
☐ Experience the underwater world of streams and rivers of WNC on the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail.
Hike through Craggy Gardens to see the twisty rhododendrons.
Photo by @jared_kay
More must do activities
☐ Pick up a summer read from an independent bookstore like Malaprop’s Bookstore or Chapters Bookstop.
☐ Hitch a ride on the ArtsAVL Connect Trolley to explore Asheville’s art scene, with loops covering downtown and the River Arts District.
☐ Spend a rainy day exploring a museum, like AMOS, Asheville Art Museum, or the Asheville Pinball Museum.
☐ Make a meal with fresh summer produce from one of our local farmers markets.
☐ Embark on an ice cream crawl of Asheville to find your favorite frozen treat.
