Free Museums in Blue Ridge Mountains

"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."

"The first women’s cultural museum in Southeast United States the ‘aSHEville Museum’ documents significant exhibits regarding the evolution and lifestyle of women. The exhibits comprises of diverse and rich stories, facts, narratives, and visual imagery of experiences of women and girls from throughout the world. There’s a section which shows the lifestyle of Appalachian ...Read more"

"Bring your family to this exploratory science museum and experience in downtown Asheville!. At the Asheville Museum of Science, you’ll find fully interactive exhibits. Be like a geologist in the Colburn Hall of Minerals, discover topography with the Terra Box elevation simulator, dig for fossils and splash in the French Broad River water table!"

"Once on the northbound Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll soon encounter the Folk Art Museum (milepost 382). Stop to see a variety of handicrafts created by mountain people—some from necessity for household jobs, and others for sheer beauty. Travelers who revel in such creations could spend half a day here, while others will be satisfied with a quick look. In either case, leave your camera locked in the car."

"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!"

"Part gallery, part store, and wholly dedicated to Southern craftsmanship, the superb Folk Art Center stands directly off the Blue Ridge Pkwy, 6 miles east of downtown Asheville. Handcrafted Appalachian chairs..."

"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."

"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 Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) preserves and continues the legacy of educational and artistic innovation of Black Mountain College (BMC)."

"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."

"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."

"The museum is home to several vintage automobiles that Harry and his dealership had come to own over time. Highlights to the collection include a rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and Asheville?. s own 1921 American LaFrance fire truck."

"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"

"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."

"Grab breakfast to go at Duck Donuts, a bakery known for its airy, indulgent pastries. The menu includes simple, kid-friendly breakfast sandwiches. Make your visit a dessert-only trip at the donut counter, where you can order house specialties, such as the pumpkin donut with marshmallow drizzle or the maple-frosted bacon-topped donut."

"If you are looking for made-to-order donuts in Asheville, Duck Donuts is where it is at. We love their blueberry glazed donut. Duck Donuts is a franchise, and we have a location in North Asheville."

"The staff were so helpful and gave us great recommendations on their freshly made donuts!. I would highly recommend that you tr..."

"Located right across from the two most popular busking corners in Asheville, this is one of our favorite spots to enjoy live street music while dining. Isa’s recently changed their concept to French cuisine, a point especially driven home when dining al fresco under their awning."

"Isa’s Bistro, located in the heart of downtown Asheville at One Battery Park Avenue, is a go-to spot for great cooking any time of the day. Sit in the gorgeous dining room or out o..."

"Isa’s Bistro entices diners with its bright, modern space and pet-friendly patio. But it’s the regularly changing lineup of French bistro-inspired cuisine that keeps them coming ba..."

"It’s the question that even the most intrepid beer lovers find themselves asking when confronted by the variety, prestige, and sheer volume of craft breweries that call Asheville home. This increasingly trendy mountain town in the Smokies has been a brewery hotbed for decades thanks to its pristine spring water, boundary-pushing brewers, and eco-conscious drinkers craving tasty beers made with quality ingredients. You’ll have a lot of options when mapping your taproom adventure in the Land of the Sky."

"I enjoy a good burger anytime, but but Fguys oooh goodness such a wonder, this is an excellent burger, thanks...H✌ More reviews"