Mountain Recreation Guide - Willow Winds Woodland Gardens

Offsite Activities

Asheville Visitors Center
Open weekdays, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Weekends 9 am to 5 pm.
151 Haywood Street -828-258-6100

Hiking Trails

Dupont State Forest
828-877-6527
10,000 acres of forest, trails, and wonderful waterfalls. Less than an hours drive from Willow Winds. Direction cards are in the office.

Botanical Gardens
151 Weaver Blvd
828-252-5190
This ten acre area features native flora of NC in a natural setting. Gardens open daylight hours. Visitors Center open 9:30 am to 4 pm.

North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
828-665-2492
Series of magnificent gardens reflecting the heritage & culture of the mountains. Miles of woodland trails open daily from 8 am to 9 pm. Visitors Center open Monday - Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sundays noon to 5 pm.

Asheville Urban Trail
828-257-5498 ext. 4000
This 1.7 mile walking tour of Asheville tells the story of the city's past. There are 30 "stations" highlighted on the trail, each with its own story & many with original artwork. Walkers can start anywhere they see an Urban Trail marker or an engraved pink granite marker but Station #1 is at Pack Square. Audio cassettes are available fro rent from the Asheville Art Museum shop. Guided tours are offered, usually at 4 pm on the second Friday and 3 pm on the third Sunday of the month. Call for information.

Pisgah National Forest
828-257-4200
Much of Western North Carolina is covered by national forest, making it a hiker's paradise. Looking Glass Falls, The Cradle of Forestry, and SlidingRock-a 60 ft natural waterslide are located along 276 in the forest. For maps or information on great places to hike, call the National Forest Service.

Chimney Rock Park
Highway 64/74A
1-800-277-9611

Boating

Lake Julian District Park
South of Asheville on NC Hwy 280
828-684-0376
This park offers fishing, boating, & recreational facilities. Sailboats welcome NO power boats allowed.

Lake Lure
Guided boat tours, canoe or pontoon boat rentals. Water Park and Beach.

Rafting

Wildwater Ltd. Rafting -- Nantahala Rafting Center 10345 Highway 19 West Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone: 828-488-2384 Toll Free: 800-451-9972

Train

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, these train excursions travel through the scenic mountains and colorful countryside. Excursions range from half to full day, gourmet dinner, mystery theatre dinner, and raft/train combos. Departs from Dillsboro (near Sylva, 50 miles west) and Bryson City (70 miles west of downtown).

Culture & Museums

Asheville Art Museum
2 South Pack Square
828-253-3227
Located in Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center. Accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Asheville Area Arts Council
11 Biltmore Avenue
828-258-0710
Information on Arts & Cultural organizations and activities in Asheville.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
This National Park Service site honors the accomplishments of Carl Sandburg. Explore the historic home, and visit the farm and trails. Open daily 9-5. 29 miles south of downtown Asheville in Flat Rock, near Hendersonville.
828-693-4178

Colburn Earth Science Museum
2 South Pack Square
828-254-7162
Fax: 828-251-5652
E-mail: info@colburnmuseum.org
This museum, called a"mini-Smithsonian of gems: is located in the Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. (Sundays 1 to 5 pm June- October.)

Estes-Winn Auto Museum
If you are a car buff, this collection of 20 classics will delight you. Open April - December Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Located by Grovewood Gallery behind the Grove Park Inn. Open April-December. Free admission.
828-253-7651

Folk Art Center-Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 382
828-298-7928
Center for one-of-a-kind handmade crafts that are a part of the mountains. Home of three separate Parkway partners who share the building. The Southern Highland Craft Guild. National Park Service. Eastern National. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. January- March 9 am to 5 pm. April - December 9 am to 6 pm.

Smith-McDowell House Museum
Relive the romantic Victorian era in Asheville's oldest house (circa 1840). Explore opulent period rooms, history exhibits and grounds designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers. (828) 253-9231, or e-mail us at info@wnchistory.org
Open year round, 1st floor is wheelchair-accessible, 1.5 miles from downtown Asheville.

Southern Highland Handicraft Guild
828-298-7928
Nonprofit, educational organization of more than 800 craftspeople living and working in the mountains. Headquarters at the Folk Art Center.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial
This is the novelist's boyhood home and setting for "Look Homeward, Angel." The home is currently closed as repairs are made to fire damage. The visitor's center remains open with exhibits. Open daily April-October. Closed Mondays November-March. Located downtown at 52 North Market Street.

YMI Cultural Center
39 South Market Street
828-252-4614
The Center houses numerous exhibits, many dealing with the history of African Americans in WNC. Events: Goombay Festival, Kwanzaa Celebration and Martin Luther King Jr birthday celebration. Gallery hours Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Theater

Asheville Community Theater
35 East Walnut Street
828-254-1320
The longest running community theater group in Asheville with productions of comedies, dramas & musicals.

Diane Wortham Theater at Pack Place
828-257-4530
Featuring the Highland Repertory Theater

Flat Rock Playhouse Box Office
828-693-0731
2661 Greenville Highway (Hwy 25) Flat Rock
Productions May thru December. Wide range of musicals, comedy & drama, appropriate for entire family.

Fine Arts Theater
36 Biltmore Avenue
828-232-1536

Montford Park Players-Montford Amphitheatre
828-254-5146
All volunteer presenting productions of Shakespeare in Asheville since 1973.

Nightshade Mystery Theater
340 Merrimon Avenue
828-255-9938 North Carolina Stage Company
33 Haywood Street
828-669-4367
Year round professional theater season with a focus on classical plays & development of future theatergoers through arts education programs.

Be Be Theater
79 Patton Avenue
828-254-26921

Dance

Asheville Ballet
4 Lynnwood Road
828-252-4761 or 828-258-1026
Affiliate with the Asheville Lyric Opera & the Asheville Symphony designed to give repertory, rehearsal & performance skills to gifted 9-18 yr olds working with professional & guest artists. Giving Asheville a professional level ballet company featuring traditional and original choreography in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap.

Asheville Dance Theater
802 Fairfield Road
828-298-0258

Contemporary Dance Theatre
20 Commerce Street
828-254-2621

Movies

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company
675 Merrimon Avenue
828-254-5339
($2 Dollar Movie-Family Friendly, Eat & Drink while you watch)

Beauchatcher Cinemas Movie Info Line
828-828-298-1234

United Artists Theater
321 New haw Creek Lane
828-298-1234

Carmike Ten theater
299 Swannona River Road
828-298-4452

Fine Arts Theater
36 Biltmore Avenue
828-232-1536

Movies at Biltmore Square
800 Brevard Road
828-665-7776

Regal's Hollywood Cinemas
1640 Hendersonville Road
828-294-9500

Music

Asheville Symphony
828-254-7046
Located in the Asheville Civic Center at 87 Haywood Street, Downtown.

Asheville Bravo concerts
828-299-0820
Brings world renowned performing artists to WNC.

Asheville Chamber Music Series
828-298-5085
All volunteer, not for profit organization that has brought musicians to Asheville since 1952.
All concerts on Friday evening at 8 pm.

Asheville Choral Society
828-299-9063

Asheville Lyric Opera
828-236-0670 or 828-257-4530
Performances at Diana Wortham Theater

Brevard Music Center
828-884-2019
1000 Probart Street, Brevard
Developing the talents of young musicians for over 60 years. Students play side0by0side with faculty and guest artists in the presentation of more than 80 public concerts, staged operas and musicals.

Folkmoot USA
112 Virginia Avenue, Waynesville
828-452-2997
The official International Festival of the State of North Carolina. Celebration of folk music and dance.

Downtown

Asheville Historic Trolley Tours
601 W. State St., Suite #9 Black Mountain, NC 28711
Phone: 828-669-8046 Toll Free: 888-667-3600

Asheville Urban Trail
Asheville Area Arts Council Pack Place Education Arts & Science Center - 2 Pack Square
Phone: 828-258-0710
E-mail: info@ashevillearts.com

Basilica of St. Lawrence
97 Haywood Street
828-252-6042

Grove Arcade Public Market
1 Page Avenue
828-252-7799

Historic Biltmore Village
7 All Souls Crescent
828-274-8788 Toll Free: 888-561-5437
The Village, founded in 1889, consists of restored English style homes that now house shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Horseback Riding

Sandy Bottom Trail Rides
1459 Caney Fork Road
828-649-3464
Toll Free: 800-959-3513
Hourly Rides, wagon rides, gem mines.

Biltmore Estate
Your one-hour ride begins at the Deerpark Carriage and Trail Ride Barns (located right across from Deerpark Restaurant). Call 800-624-1575 for more information or reservations.
Hours: Daily, 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Available year round.
Cost: $50.00 per person, per hour
Riders must be at least 6 years of age.

Tennis

Asheville Racquet Club
200 Racquet Club Road
828-274-3361
26 Indoor & Outdoor Courts-Lessons
Heated Pool & Group Fitness Classes

Cheshire Racquet Club
195 Dogwood Lane Blk Mt
828-669-9904

Blue Ridge Parkway
828-298-0398
This scenic parkway winds 470 miles along the highest ridges from the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Parkway intersects Asheville at US Highways 25, 70, 74, & NC 191.

Willow Winds, L.L.C.
39 Stockwood Road Ext.
Asheville, North Carolina 28803
Toll Free: 800-235-2474
(828) 277-3948
info@willowwinds.com