It’s play time

30+ kid-friendly activities in and around Asheville

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Photo courtesy of Asheville Museum of Science

We’re not kiddin’ around. From major attractions like the Asheville Museum of Science to hidden gems like the KOLO Bike Park, there’s something in Asheville for children of all ages. You’ll have no trouble entertaining the youngsters with this list of 30 kid-friendly activities around the 828.

🧠 Educational activities

Asheville Museum of Science, 43 Patton Ave. | $10
This small-but-mighty museum offers kids opportunities to explore astronomy, climate, ecology, and geology. Kids will remember a hands-on paleontology display that lets kids uncover fossils.

Catawba Science Center, 243 3rd Ave. NE, Hickory | $10-$12 | 🎟️ Family memberships available
Enjoy hands-on exhibits, fresh and saltwater aquarium galleries, a naturalist center, a digital planetarium theater with laser shows, and a greenhouse. Kids will remember laughing at their experiments in the Gross Labs.

Hands On! Children’s Museum, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville | $10 | 🎟️ Family memberships available
Kids can learn emotional and social development skills, as well as practice cognitive, fine, and gross motor skill development through educational and interactive exhibits that feature art, STEM, and beyond. Kids will remember coming here for birthday parties.

🌳 Great outdoors

Explore the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Various locations | Free
The GSMNP offers junior ranger programs all throughout the summer for kids to enjoy. Kids will remember earning their badge.

Bike at Carrier Park + French Broad Greenway, 220 Amboy Rd. | Free
This easy 2.5-mile trail runs along the French Broad River. Kids will remember duck and dog spotting.

NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way | $16 per vehicle
Go for garden exhibits — plus kids’ activities like geocaching, discovery backpacks, the Rocky Cove Railroad, the nature discovery room, and the TRACK trail. Kids will remember observing live animals.

Tubing with Zen Tubing, 608 Riverside Dr. | $30 per person
Float down the French Broad and relax in the sun. Kids will remember eating snacks and splashing around.

WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd. | $9.95+
With 42 acres of exhibits, you and your kids will be able to get up close and personal with all kinds of wildlife from southern Appalachia. Kids will remember seeing their favorite animal.

☀️ Playgrounds

Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd. | Free
The park’s playground, located within the Velodrome, is fully fenced and offers swings, slides, and bridges. For the bigger kids, there’s also a soccer field, a basketball court, and a roller-hockey rink. Kids will remember conquering the monkeybars.

Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd., Arden | Free
Here, you’ll find not one but two playgrounds with swings, a climber, slides, and more. The park also offers docks for private fishing boats, disc golf, and paddleboat rentals, which are a great way to beat the heat. Kids will remember taking a picnic.

Lake Louise Park, Lake Louise Dr., Weaverville | Free
Situated on 15.5 acres with a five-acre lake, this park boasts monkey bars, a climbing wall, six slides, exercise equipment, and way more. Kids will remember the old red water wheel (said to be the remains of the area’s oldest gristmill site).

Murphy-Oakley Park, 715 Fairview Rd. | Free
This park packs a lot in its 7.7 acres, including bouncy animals, a swingset, three slides and more. Kids will remember stopping by the Oakley Library for story time.

Roy Pope Memorial Park, 45 Jonestown Rd., Woodfin | Free
Go for the huge dragon that’s situated between two climbable castles. Kids will remember large pyramid-shaped rope climbing web.

MORE WAYS TO PLAY

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Friday, March 3

Sandy Mush Herb Nursery Open Hours | Friday, March 3 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Sandy Mush Herb Nursery, 316 Surrett Cv Rd., Leicester, Leicester | Free | Visit the otherworldly Sandy Mush Herb Nursery to check out the herbs, perennials, wildflowers, and more.
Wine with Divine | Friday, March 3 | 5-6:30 p.m. | plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St., Asheville | Free | Raise money for Healing Solutions Counseling while enjoying an hour of wine and fun antics with local drag queen legend, Divine The Bearded Lady.
Opening Reception for Autumn Nelson’s Sologomy | Friday, March 3 | 5-7 p.m. | Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St. Ste. #144, Asheville | Free | Meet artist Autumn Nelson — an emerging figurative artist whose work explores notions of desire, romance, and self-love — at this reception.*

Saturday, March 4

Bowl For Kids’ Sake | Saturday, March 4 | 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Tarheel Lanes, 3275 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville | $50-$250 | Go bowling in various locations throughout Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC.
Pioneering Women of Craft | Saturday, March 4 | 1-2 p.m. | Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville | Free | Explore the history of the women who began the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Cellarest Dog Adoption Event | Saturday, March 4 | Times vary | Cellarest Beer Project, 395 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Meet a crew of adoptable dogs at this monthly event.
Donna The Buffalo | Saturday, March 4 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville | $25-$28 | These roots rockers are legendary in the jam band world, having played with everyone from The Grateful Dead and Rusted Root to Los Lobos.

Sunday, March 5

Weekly Sunday Scrabble Club | Sunday, March 5-Sunday, Dec. 1 | Times vary | Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | Free | Come by to play your favorite word game — it’s okay to come late or leave early.
Musique Ménage: An Intimate Musical Affair (2nd Performance) | Sunday, March 5 | 3-4:45 p.m. | Lipinsky Auditorium at UNC Asheville, 300 Library Lane, Asheville | $5-$20 | Franz Schubert and Fancy and the Gentlemen will perform original orchestral music, along with classic compositions from Beethoven.
Asheville Pizza Slice Comedy & Open Mic | Sunday, March 5 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, 675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | $14 | Enjoy craft beer, hot pies, and fresh comics.

Monday, March 6

Totally Rad Trivia at Highland Brewing | Monday, March 6 | Times vary | Taproom At Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Ste. 200, Asheville | Free | Impress your friends with your pop culture knowledge for the chance to win Highland Brewing gift cards.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

66º | Thunderstorms | 84% chance of rain

Community

Local nonprofit Just Economics has announced that the 2023 Buncombe County Living Wage Rate is now $20.10/hr. Up from $18/hr, the updated rate is calculated as that which would allow a single person working full-time to qualify for a 1BR apartment locally. Get more info. 💸

Cause

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency benefits that began during the pandemic will come to an end this month. Wondering where to turn for help? Check out this list from BPR News, which includes resources for food, rent, health care + more. 🍅
Local photographer David Huff has launched the George Masa Foundation. The organization, named for famed area photographer George Masa, will “offer grant funding and technical support for conservation and climate action projects.” Well done, David.

DYK

Well Played Board Game Café has launched a monthly membership service. The Gamers Guild offers members a variety of benefits, including free games around the clock, food discounts, free drink refills, and more. Interested parties can choose from three different membership options. Get more info. 🎲

Arts

Do you just wanna have some kicks? Nab tickets for Grail Moviehouse’s Music Movie Mondays. Taking place Monday, March 27 at 7 p.m., the evening features the cult classic film “Rock ‘N’ Roll High School” starring The Ramones and includes an intro + moderated discussion by local music journalist Bill Kopp. 🎥

Learn

The Railroad and Incarcerated Laborer Memorial Project will present the RAIL Symposium on Thursday, March 30-Saturday, April 1. The event memorializes incarcerated laborers who created the Mountain Division of the WNC Railroad, and will include a keynote speech by Dr. Darin Waters, several guest speakers, and four field outings. (The Valley Echo)

Job

Do you eat, breathe, and dream about editorial content? We’re hiring a Managing Editor to support the strategic growth and development of 6AM City’s editorial team, specifically as it relates to content management, creation, and strategy. See details + apply.

Celebrate

We want to wish a happy birthday (on Sunday) to our teammate Helen, 6AM City Sales Executive. Happy birthday, Helen!

Development

YMCA of Western North Carolina and First Baptist Church of Asheville are teaming up to develop their neighboring properties into a walkable urban village that will include affordable housing, a new YMCA, green spaces + more. See how the project will transform the 10-acre block in downtown Asheville. 🌳 *

Travel

Did you know? Going, the travel membership that saves you money on flights, offers veterans, teachers, and healthcare professionals special discounts. Get 25% off a premium membership and take that well-earned vacation with discounted flights to Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and more.*

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Correction

In yesterday’s email, we shared an incorrect date for the CSA Fair. The event will take place on Friday, March 10 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the YWCA of Asheville. Learn more about local CSA shares.

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Get bowled over 🥣

Asheville Mountain Kitchen’s recipe for chestnut soup

This silky, plant-based soup is as lovely as it is tasty. | Photo provided

Today — Friday, March 3 — is an apt time to enjoy soup, as it’s National Soup It Forward Day. Get bowled over by this luscious chestnut soup, courtesy of Asheville Mountain Kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 onion or leek, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and chopped into large pieces
2 stalks of celery, chopped into large pieces
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 butternut squash, peeled and chopped
1 jar (5 oz. or greater) of cooked chestnuts (available at retailers including Ingles, Whole Foods, and Wal-Mart)

Directions:
Heat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add a bit of cooking oil to the pan. Add the vegetables and sauté for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are reduced.

Add chestnuts to the reduced vegetables. Add enough water or vegetable broth to cover them. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to blend mixture until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with sliced almonds.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: Are there any kid-friendly activities we missed? Please let us know. Parents (like me!) thank you in advance.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get the scoop on signing up for a local CSA.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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