Christmas in Asheville, North Carolina

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Last year, we spent the Christmas holiday in Asheville, North Carolina. While the area was still recovering from Hurricane Helene and some of the attractions were closed for rebuilding and renovations, we still had a wonderful time exploring some popular sites. Asheville is located in Western North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains and has a thriving art community, several historical homes and museums, beautiful hiking and biking trails, and an abundance of dining and shopping options. 

Staying in town: We wanted the feel and space of a home with the amenities of a hotel in a central location, so we chose to stay at the Residence at Biltmore. Located less than a mile from the entrance to the Biltmore Estate and a five minute drive to lots of shopping and dining options, the Residence at Biltmore offers a variety of one and two bedroom condos, with full kitchens, large bathrooms, balconies, and living rooms with fireplaces. The property has an outdoor pool, hot tub, and fire pit area, fitness center on property and The Welcome Center (where guests check in) is staffed all day. See other lodging options here.

Eating locally: There are tons of popular options for every cuisine preference. See good indexes of restaurant options here, here, and here. Some of our favorite meals included breakfast at Old Europe Pastries and OWL Bakery, lunch in Antler Hill Village at the Biltmore,  Christmas Eve dinner at Posana, and dessert at French Bread Chocolate Lounge. 

Popular Holiday Activities in Asheville:

  1. Stroll through Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum. We were SO impressed by the beautiful exhibits spread across several acres of the arboretum, including an interactive story at Woodland Cove, a massive train village at Rocky Cove, synchronized music and light shows at the Quilt Garden, a 50 foot decorated tree in the center,  and over a dozen themed displays. New for 2025: Nine foot tall Trolls made from twigs and wood.
    Travel Tips: Winter Lights runs from mid November through early January; admission is by car; plenty of dining and shopping options on site; most of the exhibits are outdoors so dress accordingly; bring the stroller for the toddler crew; check the calendar for special events and performances; plan on 90 minutes to walk the full exhibits.
    See our full feature here.
  • inside the sleigh at Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC
  • our family at Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC
  1. Tour the Biltmore Estate, fully decorated for the holiday season. Seeing Biltmore was our main reason for choosing Asheville for our Christmas destination. The largest privately owned home in America (there are 43 working bathrooms!) Biltmore is open 365 days a year. The 250 room mansion is decorated for the holidays with dozens of trees and period decorations, many of which are from the collection of George and Edith Vanderbilt. Tours are self guides with hand held devices that narrate the history of the space and provide fun trivia about the family. Highlights include the Winter Garden, Banquet Hall, Bowling Alley, Swimming Pool, and Kitchen.  Make sure kids grab Cedric’s Sniff and Seek Treasure Hunt to complete while touring the mansion (paw print symbols are a good hint!)
    Travel Tips: Make reservations ahead of time online- most ticket packages include opportunities to explore other parts of the estate; leave time for driving through the estate, parking, and walking (or taking the trolley) to the entrance of the mansion; restrooms are available in buildings adjacent to the mansion, but not inside the mansion; plenty of dining and shopping options adjacent to the mansion and throughout the estate; plan on at least two hours for the full tour of the mansion plus additional time to explore the surrounding gardens and exhibits.
    See our full feature here.
inside Winter Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

outside view of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC
  1. Explore Antler Hill Village on the Biltmore Estate. Opened in 2010, the Village is a short drive from the main mansion parking areas and features two hotels (Inn on Biltmore Estate and Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate), several dining and shopping options, and beautiful outdoor spaces to relax that are festively decorated for the holidays. Be sure to stop at the museum exhibit entitled Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad which includes many of the Vanderbilts’ personal possessions, video clips and pictures from their travels. Walk through the barns to see farming equipment used on the estate and watch live blacksmith and woodworking demonstrations. Children will surely want to see the farm animals and play on the Farmer playground.
    Travel Tips: Admission to Antler Hill Village is included with any tickets for the estate; plenty of free parking in front of the Village; plenty of restrooms throughout the Village; plan on 2 hours to explore the experiences we’ve mentioned- more time for meals and shopping.
    See our full feature here.
  1. Smell the flowers in the gardens and conservatory of the Biltmore Estate. Biltmore has over 75 acres of gardens, including the Italian Garden, Shrub Garden, Spring Garden, Walled garden, and Azalea Garden. Not all gardens thrive in winter climates, but guests are still welcome to walk the property and learn about flowers and plants in the area and when and how they bloom. The Library and South Terraces of the main mansion offer great views of the property. Warm up inside the Conservatory, which is festively decorated each season, and has orchids, ferns, palms, and, for the holiday season, poinsettias and amaryllis around every corner.
    Travel Tips: The gardens, grounds, and conservatory are open to all guests with a pass to the Biltmore; limited parking near the Conservatory but plenty of trolley stops around the property and it’s an easy walk with marked paths around many of the gardens leading to the Conservatory; restrooms available in the Conservatory and gift shop; plan on 2-3 hours to explore many of the gardens and the Conservatory; see the full garden map here.
    See our full feature here. 
photo of the inside of the Conservatory at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
  1. See the National Gingerbread House Competition exhibition at the Omni Grove Park Inn. The annual competition, started in 1992, awards over $40,000 in prize money for four categories: adult, teen, youth, and child. In 2025, there were over 230 entries from 25 states, with a variety of themed houses. The competition rules require that every entry must be edible and at least 75% of the structure must be made of gingerbread. The exhibit is spread throughout several spaces at the Omni Park Grove Hotel, which is also decorated for the holidays and includes two massive stone fireplaces. Be sure to walk on the heated veranda for views of the golf course and the Blue Mountain Ridge in the background.
    Travel Tips: The contest displays are open to non hotel guests during certain dates- check here for up to date information; paid parking available at the hotel; plan on at least one hour to explore the exhibit and the festive lobby of the resort. We strongly recommend booking a dining reservation, which also guarantees visitors access to the Gingerbread House displays, parking, and the opportunity to explore the main resort areas. 
posing in front of the back side of the Omni Park Grove hotel in Asheville, NC

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backside of the Omni Park Grove hotel in Asheville, NC

For other suggestions, check out Explore Asheville’s comprehensive list of everything from light displays to where to see Santa to historical celebrations. 

Looking for other holiday celebrations around the East Coast? See our feature of the Gingerbread displays at Walt Disney World; our holiday visit to Newport, Rhode Island; our feature of the Gaylord National Resort in Maryland; our feature of Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts; and our list of holiday activities in New York City. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. 

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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