Free Museums in Asheville

"The Chemist (Distillery) | Address: 151 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA For an unforgettable sunset view, head to Black Balsam Knob trail in Pisgah National Forest. It’s only about a 1-1.5 hour drive from Asheville, then a 10-15 minute easy hike to the summit, which boasts amazing views into the surrounding ridges and valleys below. In the summer, you can set out a picnic blanket and enjoy the last few rays of golden light to end your trip in the most beautiful way."

"If the weather isn’t cooperating, other Asheville-area activities that could fill an afternoon include a trip to the Asheville Museum of Science (43 Patton Avenue), or a tour of Asheville’s 50 breweries. The Wicked Weed Brewpub (91 Biltmore Avenue) offers free tours."

"The Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) is Western North Carolina?. s home for experiential science learning, discovery, and exploration. AMOS strives to spark the imagination and foster lifelong curiosity."

"A standout amongst the most prevalent spots off the Blue Ridge Parkway, inviting a quarter million guests yearly, here you’ll find presentations customary and contemporary artworks in three exhibitions, and is home to a book shop, an expressway data work area, a library, and the Allanstand Craft Shop – the most established of its kind in the country. From March to December, the Folk Arts includes regular workshops and shows, and has unique occasions that highlight common crafting materials, (for example, glass, fiber, and mud) utilized as a part of Southern Appalachia culture. Address: Milepost 382, Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC 28805"

"The Folk Art Center in east Asheville showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary crafts of the Southern Appalachians. Guests may browse the Eastern National bookstore, Blue Ridge Parkway information desk, three art galleries, a library, and a craft shop. Don’t miss the fascinating live craft demonstrations offered daily in the lobby!"

"The Black Mountain College was once a central artists’ hub in Asheville, where thinkers and creatives – many of them famous – would go to learn, experiment, and make. It was created thanks to John Andrew Rice, who had been dismissed from his Florida teaching spot in an allegedly unjust manner. This drove him to want to create his own school."

"Josef and Anni Albers didn’t know a word of English when they fled Hitler’s Germany and crossed the Atlantic Ocean for North Carolina in 1933. Their destination: Black Mountain College, an experimental school with a short life and a long legacy. Josef became the first art teacher, while Anni taught a new generation of textile weavers."

"See historic and contemporary art exhibits at the two-floor Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center in downtown Asheville. Rotating exhibitions are on display for about four months at a time. The museum serves to preserve and continue the legacy of the innovative Black Mountain College."

"The new, modernized Asheville Art Museum serves as an anchor for creativity in this corner of our state, poised to bring far-reaching attention to western North Carolina’s past, present, and future artistic achievements. It’s a boon for the city that would not have been possible without enormous community support and visionary direction."

"The Asheville Art Museum is open following a $24 million renovation and expansion. The 68,000-square-foot museum features 20th and 21st century American art. The museum’s collection of 5,000 objects and art pieces are displayed in beautiful galleries through the three-floor building."

"The museum is located in the heart of downtown on the corner of Pack Square and Biltmore Avenue. (The Vance Memorial is just across the street.). Asheville Art Museum Address:2 South Pack SquareAsheville, NC 28801"

"Sitting atop downtown with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains is famed Grove Park Inn, a luxury mountain resort built soon after the completion of the Biltmore Estate. Behind the resort, the Vanderbilts founded an arts and crafts hub that now features an antique car museum, working artists studios, and restaurant. Grovewood Village, 111 Grovewood Road, Adjacent to The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC, USA, +1 828 253 7651"

"This historic site is home to the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum, and the nationally-recognized Grovewood Gallery. Grovewood Village has something for everyone. Your visit could include a leisurely stroll through the sculpture gardens, a lesson on vintage automobiles, or a meal at the contemporary Golden Fleece restaurant."

"Another downtown gallery to consider is Blue Spiral 1, who prides itself on filling the 15,000-square-foot space with a diverse collection. The gallery also has a section dedicated to the works of modernist Will Henry Stevens, with pieces rotated in from his estate regularly. Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC, USA, +1 828 251 0202"

"Blue Spiral 1 is a large three-floor gallery located in the heart of downtown Asheville. It presents over 15 shows annually and features contemporary works by over 100 Southeastern artists. Blue Spiral also represents the estate of Will Henry Stevens, an early 20th-century modernist inspired by spirituality in nature."

"Just a few miles from Biltmore is this very different kind of mansion. James McConnell Smith commissioned the house in the 1840s, having it built out of brick. Building with brick was almost unheard of at the time, a signified of his wealth."

"The Asheville location of this regional hand-mixed ice cream chain is conveniently located on Biltmore Ave. (The main drag through downtown Asheville.). Here, Marble Slab Creamery makes small-batch, carnivalesque ice cream with mix-ins, before your very eyes. (It’s like Cold Stone in concept, but it has a much more small-town personality.) This is a good ice cream shop for families with kids."

"L’eau de Vie is French for the water of life, and this spa will make you feel like a new person. It is located at 23 Hamilton Street and is open Monday through Saturday. They have salon and spa services for men and women, and prices range from $25 to $125."

"Experience the therapeutic qualities of rock salt at the Asheville Salt Cave on Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville. Meditate among the negative ions in a cave constructed of twenty tons of pink salt blocks to recharge your spiritual and physical batteries, take a detoxifying hot salt stone massage or an aromatherapeutic salt glow treatment. Sound healing concerts, Yoga Nidra sessions and new moon meditation are also practiced at the Asheville Salt Cave."

"For something entirely different, book a session at the Asheville Salt Cave. This underground relaxation destination promises that sitting in their quiet salt cave can restore balance to the body thanks to the nearly 100 elements and minerals floating through the air. Couples and individual massages also available, and groups of up to 10 people can reserve the entire space."

"If your nat to experience a unique experience while providing relaxation and peace to your entire body, Asheville Salt Cave is the most recommended place. Asheville Salt Cave is one of the best for exploring spas in salt caves that are underground. This place would be great to try something new as their concept is completely different."

"The Salt Spa of Asheville offers couples massage in their state of the art Himalayan Salt Therapy Cave for an extraordinary salt therapy massage experience. The Salt Spa of Asheville 473 Hendersonville Road Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 505-1838"

"Home of Asheville’s famous “Shindig on the Green” summer bluegrass concert series, Pack Square is a great park right in the heart of downtown Asheville. Even when the concerts are taking place (they start “along about sundown” on Saturday nights), there is still plenty of green space for kids to run around and play. One of my family’s favorite summer weekend activities is to walk around downtown, eat dinner, grab some ice cream, then set up our camp chairs and listen to some good bluegrass music at Pack Square."

"Pack Square Park is named for the person who donated the land that it was built upon. It’s got bronze pigs and turkeys, a ceramic-tiled stage setting, and hosts special events throughout the year to keep this place on your list of things to do in Asheville. Asheville’s first food festival, Chow Chow, held many of its events in Pack Square!"

"This interactive water feature delights children with its 21 jets of water that run in 12 combinations. You never know where it’s going to splash you next!"