Father's Day - Asheville Style

This Father's Day is a great time to explore with dad all of the natural beauty for which Asheville is famous. The Blue Ridge Mountains offer a stunning backdrop to the plethora of outdoor activities this city has to offer. From hiking, biking, and rafting, to strolling through gardens or simply sitting and observing, the Land of the Sky is always open. The Residences at Biltmore is open, too, and offers accommodations and suites big enough to bring the whole family - including pets. Read on for a list of places to go, things to see, and food to eat when you bring dad for a visit.  

Biltmore

Biltmore - The largest private home in America is now open, with a few changes and adjustments to its admissions procedures. The capacity of the house is now reduced, as well as the hours of operation. Guests and employees will be required to wear face masks inside all buildings (including the house itself), and cleaning procedures throughout the estate will be even more stringent than in the past. Another change is that there will be no cash accepted anywhere on the estate - only credit,debit cards, and Biltmore gift cards may be used to pay. 

A bright spot in Biltmore’s abbreviated hours and capacity is that through June 30, the cost of an annual pass has been reduced $50, plus passholders enjoy three free additional months of admission and perks. 

Dads Who Golf

Asheville Municipal Golf Course is now open with tee times for everyone. Visit the website to sign up and see hours of operation. For details about new safety procedures, call (828) 298-1867.

Reems Creek Golf Course is semi-private, and just a short drive from downtown Asheville in Weaverville. The clubhouse is newly remodeled, and a mask is required inside the building. Also note that at the time of this writing, only one person will be allowed per cart, and staff is not allowed to assist with bags; however, golfers are permitted to drop off their bags at the bag drop and load them. You’ll have to bring your own pencil, too. 

Black Mountain Golf Course is another short drive from Asheville in the town of Black Mountain. Golfers can choose from several options for daily play, and they offer an annual pass. Visit the website to sign up for tee times, or call the course for more information at (828) 699-2710.

Dads Who Are Active

Riveter in Mills River is the perfect spot to take the active dad who likes to do more than hike or golf. Billed as “The Nation’s Premiere Indoor Climbing Gym, Bike Park, and Wellness Arena,” Riveter offers exciting opportunities for adventure in a safe atmosphere. The bike park is all outdoors, and as of this writing is the only activity open, but would make for a day of fun if you pair biking with curbside pickup of food and drinks from Sierra Nevada Taproom, which is just across the street.   

The Adventure Center of Asheville offers numerous trails, from the Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures, the KOLO Bike Park, Asheville Treetops Adventure Park elevated obstacle course, and KidZip, a zipline adventure just for kids under 10. The Adventure Center is open with many new safety protocols in place, including scheduled trip times, and maximum guest capacities. All participants need to bring their own face covering and gloves, sunscreen, and water bottles. For complete rules, visit the website. Not ready to take dad just yet? Gift certificates are also available. 

Is dad more of a water-lover? French Broad Adventures is also open and taking reservations for white water rafting and calm water float trips down the river, as well as canyoneering, ziplining, and climbing. Package deals are available for dads who want to do it all, and they also offer gift certificates if he wants to wait until later in the summer.  

Asheville Detours offer scavenger hunt experiences for tourists (and locals) that show off many of the great places and activities known to natives. With several “Detours” from which to choose, each scavenger hunt begins with a personal tour coordinator who gives clues for the team to figure out, each leading to the next adventure. Each tour takes around 3 hours, and includes special touches like food and drinks or gifts along the way. Book your family tour with dad here. 

Dads Who Just Want to Stay Home

Give the dad who deserves a trip to Asheville but just can’t make it here yet a taste of our beautiful city with a “Stay Safe, Stay Sane” box from Asheville Detours. Depending on the size of the box you choose, each box includes items from local small businesses, such as tea from Asheville Tea Company, honey from Asheville Bee Charmer, chocolate from Chocolate Fetish, and more. Each also includes a scavenger hunt activity for everyone in the family. 

Grail Moviehouse is a local alternative movie theatre that shows independent and arthouse films. In the process of moving their location, Grail is also providing at-home opportunities to watch some of the movies that otherwise wouldn’t be seen by the general movie-going public through its Sofa Cinema streaming service. If dad is a big fan of foreign or artsy flicks, a giftcard for the moviehouse - in person or streaming - is a perfect gift.

Treat dad to some of Asheville’s best eats. If he’s local, there are plenty of award-winning restaurants open for carryout and delivery by ordering online at this link; if he’s not in town, entice him to visit with a gift certificate to one of our best-loved eateries for when he does visit. 

For a father who cooks, let him whip up some Asheville love on his own. The Asheville Strong Asheville At Home cookbook has just been released and features more than 35 recipes from local chefs and restaurants in digital form. The book’s net proceeds will go to NCRLA's Restaurant Workers Relief Fund to help North Carolina restaurant workers in need. 

However you choose to celebrate dad this year, we hope you’ll keep us in mind when planning your next Asheville trip. We can’t wait to show you our new Executive Suites and our new restaurant, Azalea Bar + Kitchen. 

Call for more information: 1-888-786-3648