10 Must Do Fall Activities

1. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and photograph the foliage. Peak color this year is October 15th. One of the most often photographed places is the Linn Cove Viaduct, a bridge that wraps around Grandfather Mountain and gives you a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

2. Corn mazes are a must do fall activity. The Eliada Home, a local nonprofit, boasts one of the largest corn mazes in the area. 12 acres of tall corn disorient and challange your senses as you work through the maze to find your way out. You not only have to find your way out of the maze, but to truly complete it you must stop and get a stamp at stations that have been strategically throughout the maze. If you prefer a bit of a scream, go to the maze at night – its haunted! Speaking of hauntings, one of my fall traditions is to take a group of friends to the Cold Mountain Corn Maze. Located in Canton, this smaller scale maze is a lot of fun and boasts a petting zoo, bonfire, and haunted tractor ride. If you like being scared, go to the Cold Mountain maze at night – be prepared to have men armed with chainsaws chase you down the dark and unfamiliar paths in the field.

3. Every hipster knows what fall means – flavored coffee. Do yourself a favor and go grab a pumpkin spice latte from Malaprops downtown. You won’t be sorry.

4. Beer enthusiasts agree, those limited time seasonal flavors are worth waiting all year for. Grab a fresh pumpkin ale brew from local brewery Wicked Weed to ring in the fall season. 

5. If you like being scared silly, hop aboard the Haunted LaZoom Tour. If you are familiar with the iconic Lazoom Tours, you will love the haunted tour. Taking you around historical Montford and downtown Asheville area, you will be regaled with tales of terror and hysteria. But watch out – you might die from laughter!

6. Asheville Oktoberfest – it’s not Autumn without Oktoberfest. Happening the second Saturday of October, the Oktoberfest is an annual tradition that happens on Coxe Street downtown. Local breweries and vendors line the road with tents offering tasting of their latest brews, live bands grace the stage, and of course there is food and dancing.  You can purchase tickets for Oktoberfest by clicking —> here

7. Fall means baggy sweatshirts, crackling leaves, crisp night air, and roaring fires. Head on over to the Grove Park Inn, purchase a cup of coffee or wine, and sit yourself in one of the many rocking chairs situated in front of the Grove Parks enormous fireplaces. These 8 foot tall, 10 foot wide stone fireplaces are kept roaring through the fall and winter season. Sit down, warm up, and celebrate the cool fall weather by keeping cozy in front of a roaring fire.

8. It’s pumpkin season! Go pick your own pumpkin at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a skip and a hop away in Fairview. Wander their pumpkin patches to select your own perfect pumpkin. There are other fun things available for families with children, including a small petting zoo and warm apple cider. 

9. One of the most unique ways to enjoy how the fall foliage transforms Western North Carolina is by getting an aerial view. Take a hot air balloon ride in Hominy Valley. You will float gracefully amidst the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, with Cold Mountain, Mt. Pisgah, and Mt. Mitchell looming in the background. Go to the Asheville Hot Air Balloon website for more information. 

10. The fall season here in Western North Carolina kicks off with the Apple Festival in Hendersonville. Hendersonville is known for its wide array of apple farms, and locals take pride in our Grown in NC apple varieties. If Autumn to you means apple cider, apple pie, apple strudel, and caramel apples, plan a day and go pick your own apples at one of the local apple farms.