We went last simmer with 10 and 12 year olds. Had a great time. Hiked in Pesugah forest, slippery rock, Biltmore..don;t miss the iron works demo or the gardens. Just know that most stores in downtown Asheville close at 5pm every night. We were very surprised about that!

DH went to Sliding Rock as a child and took his children there. Walking up Lookout in Montreat was great fun. Rafting on the Nantahala, gem mining and storytellings were great. Not sure if the barbeque where you go clogging is still there but it was great fun. Might have been Bill Stanleys. We also went to Cherokee for Unto These Hills. It has been quite a few years but those things have been done for several generations. Don't forget to go rock hopping and listen to Carl Sandburgs Poems for Children as you watch the fog roll in.

The downtown art walks are amazing, if your kids could take it.

Asheville is on my list of places to go. Thanks for starting this OP and thanks to everyone to gave suggestions, I'm bookmarking this thread!

Anonymous wrote:NC Arboreteum!

Agreed! This was actually a lot of fun for my 6yo and 8yo: http://www.ncarboretum.org/plan-a-visit-or-event/geocaching/