Planning a stay in one of our Asheville vacation rentals this fall? Check out some of these awesome fall activities while you’re in town!
Leaf Looking
Leaf looking is the practice of driving or hiking through scenic areas to look at the leaves. Also known as “leaf peeping,” it is a huge tourist attraction in New England, which features some of America’s most beautiful fall foliage. The leaves in Asheville, NC, are just as stunning, thanks to the Smoky Mountains on the NC/VA border. It’s best to plan your fall trip to Asheville around leaf season, running from late September to mid-October. That is when the leaves are at their peak; wait until November, and they will have already peaked and begun dying.
Generally speaking, the leaves turn first at a higher elevation and then slowly make their way down into the valleys. Good hikes include Mount Mitchell and Craggy Gardens. As a general rule of thumb, mid-late October is the best time to see the foliage anywhere.
Corn Mazes and Haunted Houses
Corn mazes are also great activities. They’re challenging and safe! Also, haunted farms are a great way to have an outdoor Halloween with the beautiful Asheville weather. The Haunted Farm is one of the best spooky attractions in Asheville, with a display of gore and horror to rival the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Additionally, there’s live music from local legends Billy Tate and Missy-May-Lively. Who wouldn’t love that? Haunted houses are a staple of Halloween and an American pastime.
Pinhead’s Graveyard is another great haunted Halloween attraction. Situated in a field and constructed to look like a graveyard, Pinheads is an ideal outdoor horror attraction. You’ll also like Elida Corn Maze, which features challenging twists and turns and a craft brewery van on site. That way, there’s no shortage of libations while attempting to decipher a maze.
Plan Your Visit to Asheville, NC
A vacation in Asheville is like something from a Thoreau novel, a lovely vacation home in the woods, just a short drive from town and its perks. Book with Pete Key Properties today!
Apple Festival in Hendersonville
The Apple Festival in Hendersonville is an excellent showcase of all things apple. It is a weekend devoted entirely to apples, cooked and prepared in all their permutations. You’ll want to take special care to sample the various ciders, hard and otherwise. Apple pies are, of course, served in abundance and should be sampled liberally for optimum enjoyment. If you vacation around Labor Day, don’t miss the Apple Parade, a parade dedicated entirely to apples. Multiple giant apple parade floats can be found bumbling down Main Street in all their red glory.
The Apple Festival is held over four days, from September 2 to September 5 in 2022. Entry is free, and there is free entertainment at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street in Hendersonville. It is worth a visit to see how apples factor into the overall culture of Hendersonville and North Carolina.
Mountain State Fair
The Mountain State Fair is the official fair of Western North Carolina. Over 180,000 people attend over ten days, to give an idea of the popularity. There are Ferris wheels, carnival rides, shooting galleries, and more. The ever-present cotton candy is abundant, and there’s no reason not to sample the corn dogs! The fairground is a vast area, and credit card use is limited. Bring comfortable shoes and plenty of cash; your wallet and feet will get a workout. However, it’s worth it, just for the experience of a traditional county fair.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children. That’s a bargain for the sheer number of attractions you’ll have access to. Come out to enjoy the beautiful Asheville weather and enjoy a good old-fashioned state fair.
Oktoberfest Asheville
There’s a massive variety of things to do in Asheville, NC. Oktoberfest is perhaps the most notable.
Oktoberfest is a German beer festival held in October every year. It is essentially a showcase of craft beer and food, all accompanied by live music. You’ll have seen the pictures of the waitresses holding upwards of seven beer steins in one hand while music pounds in the background. Oktoberfest in Asheville puts a uniquely American twist on the iconic German festival. German delicacies such as bratwursts and pretzels are on tap, and over 20 breweries showcase their creations at the Asheville Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest is also a highly esteemed event in North Carolina. Beer and great food; what’s not to love? Tickets are cheap and sell out extremely quickly, so get yours early. The festival is also restricted to individuals 21 and over. Over 20 local breweries have stalls at Oktoberfest, so there’s no shortage of new beers to try. Tickets start at $40 per person, although designated drivers can enter for just $10 to compensate for the disappointment of not being able to sample the finest beer in the NC area.
Book Your Asheville Vacation Rental with Pete Key Properties
Asheville, NC is an excellent destination for peace, quiet, and bonding with your family. Stay in the city in our pet-friendly rentals in Asheville, NC, or getaway to one of our nearby Brevard, NC, vacation rentals. Book your vacation today!
