Asheville, NC in December/January

[Anonymous]

We are going to Atlanta over Christmas break and thought we might drive back via Asheville, NC. I have it in my head as a place I’ve been wanting to visit but would we be going at totally the wrong time of year? What could a family of four (kids 10 and 12) do there for a couple days? Any input and suggestions are welcome. Alternatively, we could spend some extra time in Atlanta (spending three full days there with our current plan) or maybe stop somewheee else on the way back to DC.

[Anonymous]

Best time to go is in the spring

[Anonymous]

Definitely do the Biltmore decorated for Christmas. Get tickets early! If you want to splurge, stay on the Biltmore property in one of the fancy hotels. I love the food at Tupelo Honey Cafe and there are 2 locations in Asheville. I think it would be too cold for most outdoor activities but if not, visit the waterfalls in Dupont State Park.

[Anonymous]

It's beautiful in the winter. But you'll need to watch the weather. Driving on mountain roads is not fun in snow and ice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely do the Biltmore decorated for Christmas. Get tickets early! If you want to splurge, stay on the Biltmore property in one of the fancy hotels. I love the food at Tupelo Honey Cafe and there are 2 locations in Asheville. I think it would be too cold for most outdoor activities but if not, visit the waterfalls in Dupont State Park.

OP here - yes, I heard Biltmore was beautiful at Christmas. Any thoughts on whether to do the day or night visit? Also will my kids be bored out of their skulls?

Also is Tupelo Honey cafe the same as the one in Arlington? We had a terrible experience there recently. Is it a chain?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's a chain but the original location is in Asheville. I didn't like the one in Arlington either. I took my son to the Biltmore when he was 6 or 7 and he liked it. I would do the night tour myself.

[Anonymous]

You don't want to drive through Asheville in the snow but it's really variable around Christmas. The decorations at Biltmore and Grove Park Inn are beautiful. Tupelo Honey has great food but it's really LOUD.

[Anonymous]

Check out the Pinball Museum. Restored pinball machines and restored games from the 80s and 90s. One flat fee ($10 I think) and you can play all day! My kids love it!

[Anonymous]

Asheville is lovely and that time of year will still be pretty without too much crowds (except the Biltmore). Either stay or visit the Grove Park Inn, it's a huge historic hotel and they may even have the gingerbread competition going on then which is really cool to see for all ages. Regardless, plan to have a drink on the back deck or inside by the enormous fireplaces.

Tupelo Honey is good but there are lots of other great restaurants. Curate is amazing, and there are some fun breweries that are walkable from downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's beautiful in the winter. But you'll need to watch the weather. Driving on mountain roads is not fun in snow and ice.

+1 And the back roads and mountain roads likely won't be cleared.

[Anonymous]

OP again - thanks for all this information. Do they really get a lot of snow at Christmas time? Sounds like it would be pretty but used to the warmer temps around DC that time of year. What else is there to do besides the Biltmore of the weather is too cold/wet for outtdkoe activities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - thanks for all this information. Do they really get a lot of snow at Christmas time? Sounds like it would be pretty but used to the warmer temps around DC that time of year. What else is there to do besides the Biltmore of the weather is too cold/wet for outtdkoe activities?

My son goes to summer camp in the area and in the last 5 years, I think it snowed once over Christmas.