Kid Central Splasheville! Photo courtesy of City of Asheville
Congratulations, you’ve made it to Asheville — with the kids! With these tips below, you’ll have a bevy of ideas up your sleeve to keep everyone engaged and entertained for your entire stay. THE GREAT OUTDOORS There are plenty of opportunities to get the kids outside and have some fun — whether they’re the adventurous sort or take a more mellow approach to outdoor activities. The intrepid may be intrigued by our nearby zip line courses: In town, Adventure Center of Asheville offers fun for younger kids (ages 4-10) through adults, while Navitat Canopy Adventures in nearby Barnardsville offers tours that are likely more appropriate for older kids and teens (along with adults) who meet the weight requirements. Asheville boasts three climbing gyms with indoor and outdoor options: Climbmax in downtown, the Smoky Mountain Adventure Center in West Asheville and Riveter in Fletcher. If you have a skateboarder in tow, you may want to check out the Food Lion Skatepark, a public outdoor skate park near downtown, or the privately owned RAD Skatepark, an indoor spot in the River Arts District. Every part of town has playgrounds, though some spots offer more elaborate structures than others: • North Asheville’s Jones Park • West Asheville’s Carrier Park • Arden’s Jake Rusher Park • In the Black Mountain area, Montreat’s Robert Lake Park If the kids are hankering for a round of mini-golf, the Asheville area has you covered, too, with three outdoor venues to choose from: Lakeview Putt and Play, Play Staytion and Tropical Gardens Mini Golf. In the warmer months, water fun can include dashing through the fountains at Splasheville downtown or a dip in the area’s public pools. (More info on playgrounds and pools can be found on the Asheville Parks and Recreation and Buncombe County Recreation Services websites.)
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For some in-town and nearby hikes, check out: • The N.C. Arboretum • the Botanical Gardens at Asheville • the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary • the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Asheville Visitor Center TRACK Trail (milepost 384) FIELD GUIDE TO ASHEVILLE
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