Things to Do in & Around Black Mountain & Asheville
Some of our favorite things to do in the Black Mountain, Asheville, and Surrounding Areas:
LAKE TOMAHAWK PARK
A short 10-minute walk or a 4 minute drive from the house, Lake Tomahawk is a sublime location where mountains surround the glistening lake on all sides. You'll want to see if you can spot the "Seven Sisters" mountains also. Hint: There is a sign on one side of the lake that will identify them for you. You can enjoy walking around the paved path, children can play on the playground, fishing, hitting the tennis courts, or simply relaxing. If you'd like to fish, you'll want to make sure you have a valid NC fishing license. Kids under 14 don't need one, but do need to be accompanied by an adult who has a license. You can obtain a license here if you need one: https://license.gooutdoorsnort...
https://www.townofblackmountai...
Distance from the house: 1 mile (4 minute drive or 10 minute walk)
THE HISTORIC BILTMORE ESTATE IN ASHEVILLE, NC
Ranked #1 in "Things to Do in Asheville" by Trip Advisor, a visit to the Biltmore Estate is a MUST-DO if you've never been and you're coming to the Black Mountain / Asheville, NC area. "Angi" named the Biltmore the "Most Beautiful Building in the US." The home sits as the largest single family residence in America. Guided audio tours are available throughout the day. If you have small children, they will enjoy the child's version of the audio tour hosted by "Cedric," the Vanderbilt's family dog. In all transparency, I (Brian) prefer this version myself. :)
You can also visit the several wonderful gift shops and restaurants on the property. They regularly host various exhibits, most recently the "Tutankhamun: His Tomb & His Treasures" Egyptian exhibit running from March 21, 2025 - October 31, 2025. And even if you've visited the home before but never around Christmas time, this is THE BEST time to visit in our opinion! You won't believe how many Christmas trees and lights adorn the house throughout! And if you go near evening time, you will likely be treated to choirs singing Christmas songs. It is a truly magical experience!
Distance from the house: 16 miles (21 minutes)
ROBERT LAKE PARK
Our family has affectionately named this park "Rivendell Park," a shameless reference to the beautiful home of the Elves in Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings stories. It is our kids' favorite park, and it's especially beautiful in the fall. A babbling stream runs through the park, and there are playgrounds and swings for kids to enjoy. Once here, you're just a couple of minutes away from Montreat College, which is definitely a campus worth visiting, if for no other reason than the beauty of the campus.
https://montreat.org/recreatio...
Distance from the house: 3.4 miles (10 minutes)
VARIOUS SHOPS OF DOWNTOWN BLACK MOUNTAIN
Downtown Black Mountain is full of various shops you can walk to as you also enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mountains, visible from nearly every angle of town. If you happen to see signs that refer to Black Mountain as "The Little Town that Rocks," that slogan refers to the many rocking chairs that residents decorate with art work and sell each year.
You'll find a number of antique stores, souvenir shops, art shops, jewelry, clothing, bike and outdoors, handmade gems, mountain decor, books & toys, furniture stores, fly fishing sales & tours, and the centrally located Town Hardware & General Store. There is something for EVERYONE to enjoy when you walk through downtown.
Some of our favorites include:
- Sassafras on Sutton: An independent 2-story bookstore & toy store w/ a coffee shop inside. This is probably our favorite store in all of Black Mountain. It is magical and kids especially love it!
- Town Hardware & General Store: You'll feel like you've taken a trip back in time both from the atmosphere, the workers' uniforms, and the oldies music that plays. The history of this store is worth reading about also! They have a large toy section and souvenirs section as well. The owners and workers as also some of the kindest human beings on planet earth!
- C W Moose Trading Co: Souvenirs, many of which are themed for Black Mountain. If you love black bears, you've come to the right place. In fact, if you happen to spot "Wilbur" the Black Bear hanging from our living room ceiling, we "adopted" him from this store!
There are MANY more shops to visit, but these would be our personal top 3.
https://visitblackmountainnc.o...
Distance from the house (to the Town Hardware & General Store, which is central to the downtown area; All shops are in walking distance of this store): 1.5 miles (6 minutes)
MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK
The peak of Mount Mitchell remains the highest peak east of the Mississippi River with an elevation of 6,684 feet. You can take a long hike, or drive up half way and enjoy a short 1-mile hike to the visitor center, or drive the entire way up to the top - whatever suits you and those visiting with you. The smell of the balsam pine trees is delightful, and we would encourage you purchase a little sack of balsam pine needles that you can hang on your Christmas tree. You'll find maps, toys, and memorable souvenirs at the visitor center shop.
The views from the very top are truly breathtaking as you can see for miles! You'll find some maps at the top stone tower that tell you what you're looking at. We'd recommend you plan for the top of the mountain to be several degrees colder than the areas below.
https://www.ncparks.gov/state-...
Note: The park is currently closed for an unforeseeable time due to repairs being made to the roads.