Christa’s guidebook
Asheville for Kids
We have a five year old and these are some of the places we enjoy taking him.
Good in most weather, shady place to walk and watch the native wildlife. Great animal rehabilitation center. Bears, cougars, red panda, wolves, owls, snakes etc. Kids can even "pan for gold" here.
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WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek RdGood in most weather, shady place to walk and watch the native wildlife. Great animal rehabilitation center. Bears, cougars, red panda, wolves, owls, snakes etc. Kids can even "pan for gold" here.
Typical trampoline park for kids of all ages. Across the street from Tupelo Honey & FarmBurger (both great restaurants originally located in downtown Asheville but those locations are always packed).
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Sky Zone Trampoline Park
1836 Hendersonville RdTypical trampoline park for kids of all ages. Across the street from Tupelo Honey & FarmBurger (both great restaurants originally located in downtown Asheville but those locations are always packed).
Nice small science center for kids. Spend an hour + here and get a break from the summer heat.
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Asheville Museum of Science
43 Patton AveNice small science center for kids. Spend an hour + here and get a break from the summer heat.
Each weekend evening, bring a picnic and watch Shakespeare in the park for free. New playground next to this if kids need a break. In the beautiful Montford neighborhood.
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The Montford Park Players
92 Gay StEach weekend evening, bring a picnic and watch Shakespeare in the park for free. New playground next to this if kids need a break. In the beautiful Montford neighborhood.
Easy walking paths, plenty of parking, access to a shallow creek that kids love to splash in.
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Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver BoulevardEasy walking paths, plenty of parking, access to a shallow creek that kids love to splash in.
Sport fishing and paddle boats, new playground and shady picnic spots
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Lake Julian Park
37 LAKE JULIAN RDSport fishing and paddle boats, new playground and shady picnic spots
There are a few places to access the BRP from Asheville. Easy to drive from Asheville to the Craggy Gardens overlook. Easy hike to some spectacular views and pick blueberries!
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Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge ParkwayThere are a few places to access the BRP from Asheville. Easy to drive from Asheville to the Craggy Gardens overlook. Easy hike to some spectacular views and pick blueberries!
Playground, bike/skate/running baths, dog park is near, all next to the French Broad River. Tube rentals here!
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Carrier Park
220 Amboy RdPlayground, bike/skate/running baths, dog park is near, all next to the French Broad River. Tube rentals here!
A beautiful home to visit any time of year, gorgeous grounds and gardens.
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Biltmore
1 Lodge StA beautiful home to visit any time of year, gorgeous grounds and gardens.
This is where Splasheville, water pad is. It's open everyday sun up to sun down and is a fun place for kids and pets to cool off during the hot summer days. Often there will be a festival or event happening here too. Usually free and fun for families.
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Pack Square
80 Court PlazaThis is where Splasheville, water pad is. It's open everyday sun up to sun down and is a fun place for kids and pets to cool off during the hot summer days. Often there will be a festival or event happening here too. Usually free and fun for families.
EAT ALL THE FOOD
Asheville has some great restaurants. Here are some of our favorites (and why)
Great cheap eats in an old school diner! Boozy milkshakes! Korean Omelet! $1 ice cream cones!
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Tastee Diner
575 Haywood RdGreat cheap eats in an old school diner! Boozy milkshakes! Korean Omelet! $1 ice cream cones!
There are two locations for White Duck and they're both going to be busy. But they're good and worth the wait (which usually isn't that long. They're fast) The Riverside location is a 5 min drive from the house and we'll call in orders to go if it's peak hours (anytime around lunch on the weekends). Favorite dishes: salsa trio & the Bangkok Shrimp tacos.
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White Duck Taco Shop
388 Riverside DrThere are two locations for White Duck and they're both going to be busy. But they're good and worth the wait (which usually isn't that long. They're fast) The Riverside location is a 5 min drive from the house and we'll call in orders to go if it's peak hours (anytime around lunch on the weekends). Favorite dishes: salsa trio & the Bangkok Shrimp tacos.
Delicious empanadas and crepes. If you see their food truck, GO TO IT!
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Cecilia’s Kitchen
870 Merrimon AveDelicious empanadas and crepes. If you see their food truck, GO TO IT!
One of the best pizza places in town. Feels like a traditional, Italian family restaurant, dark and cool inside, comfy booths and friendly service.
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828 Family Pizzeria
946 Merrimon AveOne of the best pizza places in town. Feels like a traditional, Italian family restaurant, dark and cool inside, comfy booths and friendly service.
Nearly everyone may recommend you eating here, and it is really delicious (there's a JAM AND BUTTER BAR!) but it puzzles me that people would wait an hour in line just to get breakfast. Tip: if you see a line around the corner, drive down Brevard Rd and go to the Moose Cafe. Their biscuits are just as good, the ambiance just isn't as hip. Plan your visit here: go on a week day morning or just get there early.
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Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdNearly everyone may recommend you eating here, and it is really delicious (there's a JAM AND BUTTER BAR!) but it puzzles me that people would wait an hour in line just to get breakfast. Tip: if you see a line around the corner, drive down Brevard Rd and go to the Moose Cafe. Their biscuits are just as good, the ambiance just isn't as hip. Plan your visit here: go on a week day morning or just get there early.
Great food: comforting and inventive dishes. Usually crowded, but they serve you coffee as you wait. Gorgeous kitchen garden you can walk around while you wait for your table .
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Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood RdGreat food: comforting and inventive dishes. Usually crowded, but they serve you coffee as you wait. Gorgeous kitchen garden you can walk around while you wait for your table .
If you're downtown and want real tex-mex (more Mex than Tex: they make great chilaquiles) Mamacita's is a great dine in/take out option.
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Mamacita's Taqueria
77-A Biltmore AveIf you're downtown and want real tex-mex (more Mex than Tex: they make great chilaquiles) Mamacita's is a great dine in/take out option.
Zen Sushi
640 Merrimon Aveyummy food and centrally located
Great for everybody, any of their locations (or food truck) is worth to try. My favorite: Olive Oil and Honey ice cream!
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The Hop West
721 Haywood RdGreat for everybody, any of their locations (or food truck) is worth to try. My favorite: Olive Oil and Honey ice cream!
Big, southern restaurant serving church-pot-luck style foods. Best fried chicken! Easy to park and eat, no hipster crowd here!
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Moose Cafe Asheville
570 Brevard RdBig, southern restaurant serving church-pot-luck style foods. Best fried chicken! Easy to park and eat, no hipster crowd here!
Big restaurant and bar that has the best kid friendly play area: a playground, a creek and a sand volleyball court right next to the tables. Typical American fare, the location and setting is the best.
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Creekside Taphouse
8 Beverly RdBig restaurant and bar that has the best kid friendly play area: a playground, a creek and a sand volleyball court right next to the tables. Typical American fare, the location and setting is the best.
One of our favorite dishes in town: Beef barbacoa nachos. Hands down.
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Zia Taqueria Asheville
521 Haywood RdOne of our favorite dishes in town: Beef barbacoa nachos. Hands down.
This is old Asheville. Beer + Pizza (and nearly every local has worked here or dated someone who worked here).
Nice dark, cool interior. Pool tables upstairs, open late.
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Barley's Taproom
42 Biltmore AveThis is old Asheville. Beer + Pizza (and nearly every local has worked here or dated someone who worked here).
Nice dark, cool interior. Pool tables upstairs, open late.
Owned by a Greek woman who studied in France, their pastries are so dang good. They serve other food, but their pastries and coffee are what you should get. Favorite: hazelnut mocha with almond croissant <3
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Filo Pastries & Post 70 Indulgence Bar
1155 Tunnel RdOwned by a Greek woman who studied in France, their pastries are so dang good. They serve other food, but their pastries and coffee are what you should get. Favorite: hazelnut mocha with almond croissant <3
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway StBest upscale Italian. Favorite: tuscan figs!
This is a bar with the best secret menu! Go to the Vault to get a nice cocktail and then order their burgers to have your mind blown.
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Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
7 Rankin AveThis is a bar with the best secret menu! Go to the Vault to get a nice cocktail and then order their burgers to have your mind blown.
Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall StGreat breakfast place!
Our favorite local breakfast place (and the closest!) Old diner building, comfy booths and great music. The food is modern but still soulful.
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Sawhorse
101 New Leicester HwyOur favorite local breakfast place (and the closest!) Old diner building, comfy booths and great music. The food is modern but still soulful.