Plan Your Experience: Asheville and Black Mountain area Activities, North Carolina

No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied - it speaks in silence to the very core of your being.

~ Ansel Adams

A stay in western North Carolina has a certain calming effect on the soul, whether you're taking in a leisurely day at the Biltmore Estate or hiking and biking in the mountains and through the forests.

Planning a day or two in our area? Or maybe you have several days to spend with us. You can take your time or pack in some memorable outings either way. You'll find so many things to do that time will fly by, regardless of how long you're here, but it's sure to be time well spent.

See upcoming events for Asheville, Black Mountain, and McDowell County.

When you stay at the Inn on Mill Creek, you may just want to hang out on the deck by our lake or explore the national forest surrounding our grounds (see if you can find the three railroad tunnels nearby), or you might want to venture out to the many great cities and areas near the Inn, including:

Asheville, Black Mountain and the Blue Ridge Parkway to the west
Old Fort, the Linville Caverns and Hickory to the east
Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain and Sugar Mountain to the north
Chimney Rock, Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure to the south

Or...let us help you plan your great experience by sharing the specific activities in our neck of the woods for:

Nature lovers, mountain bikers and hikers

Those of you who love the outdoors have come to the right place! Western North Carolina and especially the area around the Inn on Mill Creek has a wealth of forests, hiking trails, waterfalls and outdoor activities that are perfect for nature lovers.

Birding

Wezil Walraven Bird Tours

Forests and State Parks

Chimney Rock Park

Lake James State Park

Dupont State Forest

Mount Mitchell State Park

Pisgah National Forest

Hiking, Mountain Biking and Waterfalls

Blue Ridge Parkway Trails

Hike WNC: Crabtree Falls Loop

Hike WNC: Craggy Gardens Self-Guiding Nature Trail

Hike WNC: Dupont State Forest Waterfalls Hike

Hike WNC: Linville Falls

Hike WNC: Mount Mitchell Trail

Hike WNC: Mount Pisgah

Hike WNC: Toms Creek Falls

Kitsuma Biking Trail (near the Inn!)

Linville Gorge

Local Hikes: Asheville

McDowell County Waterfall Guide

Mountain Biking in Western North Carolina

Mountains-To-Sea Trail

Horseback Riding

A-Patchy Stables (Nebo) - no website - dial 828.652.7977

Sandy Bottom Trail Rides (Asheville)

White Water Rafting

Carolina Outfitters

Endless River Adventures

French Broad Rafting Expeditions

High Mountain Expeditions

Golfers

It's easy to find a course you'll like in this area because there are so many to choose from:

Asheville Golf Course Directory

Black Mountain Golf Club (home to a 747-yard, par 6 17th hole)

McDowell County Golf

Mount Mitchell Golf Club

Lake Lure: Rumbling Bald Resort

Future residents

Many people who visit western North Carolina decide to come back...permanently! We're in that group ourselves, having relocated from Ohio. If you need some assistance relocating to the area, below are some links to get you started:

Greybeard Realty

The Creston Community in Black Mountain

The Settings of Black Mountain

Coldwell Banker Kasey serving Western North Carolina

For those of you who are interested in becoming innkeepers, we highly recommend Bland Holland with North Carolina Inn Brokers, who will provide outstanding service and guidance.

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Asheville, Black Mountain and surrounding areas to the west, plus the Blue Ridge Parkway

The scenery, the shops, the simply wonderful sights, sounds and smells...you'll find so many places you'll want to go during your trip, including:

The Biltmore Estate	The Town of Black Mountain	North Carolina Arboretum	Blue Ridge Parkway

More great places to the west of us:

Asheville Art Museum

Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Cradle of Forestry

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Historic Biltmore Village

Smith-McDowell House Museum

Thomas Wolfe Memorial

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Old Fort, the Linville Caverns and Hickory to the east

Traveling east, you'll come to Old Fort, home of the geyser powered by our lake and dam. Further east are the Linville Caverns and the furniture shopper's oasis that is Hickory, NC.

Andrews Geyser	The Town of Old Fort	Linville Caverns	South Creek Winery

Other features to the east of us:

Hickory, NC (Furniture shopping)

Historic Carson House

Lake James State Park

Linville Gorge

Mountain Gateway Museum and Old Fort Railroad Museum

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Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and other locations to the north

Venture north and you'll find the high country of western North Carolina, great for skiing and sight-seeing. Mt. Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi) and Grandfather Mountain (with a mile-high swing bridge) are just two of the many places offering spectacular views!