Asheville's Historic Streets: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville boasts the second-largest collection of Art Deco architecture in America. On this walking tour, you’ll discover the city’s remarkable history, from its Cherokee origins to its Roaring Twenties boom. You’ll also hear about the unexpected preservation of its architectural treasures due to the Great Depression. (Don’t worry, it will make sense later.) This tour starts at the Visitor’s Center and takes you through downtown Asheville’s most iconic landmarks. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about the visionaries who shaped its distinctive character. You’ll learn how wealthy entrepreneurs like E.W. Grove and George Willis Pack transformed the city’s skyline and see how the arts have flourished here, from traditional Appalachian folk music to contemporary crafts. You’ll discover the city’s literary connections to Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry while passing bustling music venues and artisan markets.

From: $0.00

Location: Asheville

What's Included

Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
App for Android and iOS
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Community Discussion

Q&A

Q: Can you go on this tour if you're not a great walker? What's the difficulty level?

A: Absolutely! The self-guided tour is designed to suit all walking abilities. You can go at your own pace, so if you need to take breaks or stop to enjoy the sites, it's totally fine. Just wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be on your feet for a while, but there aren't any steep inclines or challenging areas.

Q: Is there a recommended time of year to do this tour in Asheville?

A: The fall is definitely a great time to do the tour. The foliage is stunning, and the weather is usually mild. Spring is also beautiful with blooming flowers, but it can be a bit rainy. Just check the forecast before you go and maybe bring an umbrella!

Q: How does the offline access work? Can you really use it without data?

A: Yes, totally! Once you download the app and the tour content, you can access everything offline. This is super handy when you're wandering around downtown since some areas can have spotty service. Just make sure to download it all before you head out.

Discussions

Just did the self-guided walking tour in Asheville – so cool!

I went on Asheville's Historic Streets tour last week, and it was a blast! I loved learning about the Art Deco buildings and the history behind them. The stories about E.W. Grove were fascinating. I took my time and ended up stopping at a couple of local coffee shops along the way. Pro tip: wear comfy shoes because you’ll definitely be doing a lot of walking. Highly recommend this as a gift for anyone who enjoys history!

Considering gifting this walking tour – any tips?

I want to buy this walking tour for my parents who love history and architecture. Do you think they’ll enjoy it? I’m curious if there’s anything I should know before gifting it, like if it’s easy to navigate or if parking is a hassle.