North Carolina Arboretum

The basics

At the North Carolina Arboretum, wander among a well-maintained maze of fabulous plants. There’s a bonsai garden, an azalea garden, a wildflower garden, and acres more, each with its own distinct vibe. Visitors can walk or bike along miles of trails, catch rotating art, science, and educational exhibits, peruse the gift shop and EcoLab—where the reptiles live—and explore the Nature Discovery Room and Education Center. Come with your binoculars to catch birds and butterflies, too.

Things to know before you go

• While the arboretum is technically free to visit, there are parking fees.
• The trails range from easy to difficult—get a map before embarking on your adventure.
• There’s a bistro on-site, or you can pack a picnic.
• Leashed dogs and pets are welcome on the property, except during events.
• Thursday and Friday nights in summer mean live music on the main lawn.

How to get there

The North Carolina Arboretum is about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of downtown Asheville. To reach it, you’ll probably want a car—take I-26 or, even better, the Blue Ridge Parkway, for a scenic drive through the mountains. If you’re using a GPS, enter the arboretum at 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, not Wesley Branch Road, which is the service entrance.

When to get there

The North Carolina Arboretum is open daily (except for Christmas Day), with reduced hours in the winter. The gate closes 1 hour before closing time (but you’ll want at least 2 hours to explore). Visiting in the morning or late afternoon—ideally in the spring or summer—offers cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.

Winter wonderland

Don’t write off a visit when the weather gets chillier. From November 15 to the end of December, the arboretum becomes a spectacular open-air, walk-through light show known as Winter Lights. More than 1 million lights twinkle and shine amongst the gardens, from light-up figures to massive glowing trees. It’s one of the best holiday displays in Asheville.