Your guide to escaping the bubble (while staying in a bubble)
Since moving here in 2020, I've found the day trips worth taking.
These are the day trips worth taking on a second (or third, or tenth) visit, when you've done downtown to death and want to see what else these mountains have to offer. Updated for 2026: two years after Helene, nearly everything below is open again, with a few trails still under repair (noted where it matters).
The Reality Check
These are the day trips I take visiting friends on, picked for scenery, food and how easy they are to do in a day. One legal note: Asheville's nondiscrimination ordinance stops at the city limits.
Brevard: Waterfalls and a Walkable Downtown
45 minutes south, worth the drive
Nobody expects Brevard to be this lively, but it is. College town energy (Brevard College), outdoor adventure capital, and a busy little downtown.
The Agenda:
- Morning: Coffee at Cup & Saucer - cozy downtown cafe
- Hikes: DuPont State Recreational Forest - Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls (yes, really). The Triple Falls trail reopened in 2025 after Helene repairs; check the Forest Service closures page for the few spots still roped off
- Lunch: Downtown Brevard - walk Main Street and pick what looks good
- Afternoon: Downtown browsing - DD Bullwinkel's outdoor gear
- Before leaving: Brevard Brewing - relaxed downtown taproom
Don't Miss: The waterfalls at DuPont. Instagram gold, easy trails, and everyone's too focused on not slipping on rocks to care about your sexuality.
Black Mountain: Asheville's Cooler Little Sibling
20-25 minutes east, no excuse not to go
Smaller and quieter than Asheville, with a walkable downtown and Lake Tomahawk a few blocks away. Helene hit the Swannanoa Valley hard (Swannanoa, next door, was one of the worst-hit communities in WNC), but downtown Black Mountain is open and very much worth the drive.
The Perfect Day:
- Coffee: Dripolator - better than anything in Asheville, fight me
- Morning: Walk the entire downtown (takes 20 minutes)
- Shopping: Seven Sisters Gallery - local art, very gay energy
- Lunch: Veranda Cafe - farm-to-table perfection
- Afternoon: Lake Tomahawk - easy loop, dog-friendly
- If you drink: Pisgah Brewing - outdoor stage, good vibes
Pro Tip: Check the Black Mountain Center for the Arts calendar for openings and events.
Weaverville: The Artsy Escape
20 minutes north, perfect half-day
Weaverville is what people think Asheville is - small, artsy, walkable, actually affordable (sort of).
Quick Hit Itinerary:
- Breakfast: Well-Bred Bakery - Main Street bakery-cafe (their Biltmore Village location closed after Helene; Weaverville carries on)
- Activity: Reems Creek Golf Course - even if you don't golf, the restaurant has views
- Pizza: Blue Mountain Pizza & Brew Pub - easy, local, reliable
- Vibe: Walk Main Street, pop into galleries, pet all the dogs
The Waterfall Circuit: Nature Doesn't Judge
Various locations, 30-60 minutes
When in doubt, chase waterfalls. Nobody at a waterfall cares that you're gay. They care that you're not falling off the rocks.
Easy Access (Minimal Hiking):
- Looking Glass Falls: Roadside viewing, about an hour from Asheville via Brevard
- Sliding Rock: Natural waterslide, very gay energy somehow (summer only)
- Cedar Rock Falls: Lesser known, never crowded, easy trail
Moderate Effort:
- Catawba Falls: Popular but worth it, 1.5 hours round trip. Helene washed out parts of the trail; the river trail to the upper falls is open, but check USFS status since repairs continued into 2026
- Cove Creek Falls: Hidden gem near Brevard, maybe 5 people there
- Avery Creek Falls: An easy hike
The DuPont Triple Threat:
- Triple Falls: Three waterfalls, one trail
- High Falls: 150-foot drop, worth the stairs
- Hooker Falls: Swimming hole, very gay summer energy
Gay Pro Tips:
- Go early (before 9am) or late (after 4pm) to avoid crowds
- Weekdays are always gayer (we work remote, remember?)
- Pack a proper picnic, make it an event
Blue Ridge Parkway: The Greatest Hits
America's Favorite Drive, but make it gay
The Parkway doesn't care about your sexuality. The mountains are having their own moment.
Can't Miss Stops:
- Craggy Gardens: June for rhododendrons, otherwise for views (reopened September 2025 after Helene repairs)
- Graveyard Fields: Moderate hike, waterfalls, mountain balds
- Mt. Mitchell: Highest peak east of the Mississippi (drive to top; reopened September 2025, but the Parkway north of the park is still closed for Helene repairs)
- Folk Art Center: Regional crafts and demos, worth an hour
The Gay Agenda:
- Pack wine and cheese (illegal but everyone does it)
- Sunset at any overlook > any bar in town
- October is insane with leaf tourists, avoid or embrace
- Download offline maps, no cell service
Reality Check: Overlook lots fill fast on fall weekends. Go early or on a weekday.
Hot Springs: The Complicated Favorite
45 minutes north, worth the asterisks
Tiny mountain town, and the springs are the reason to go.
The Plan:
- Book ahead: Private hot tub rentals by the hour. Helene took out most of the resort's mineral baths and lodging; it has been rebuilding and reopening in stages, so capacity is limited
- Best time: Sunset slot, bring champagne
- After soak: Iron Horse Station for pizza
- Skip: Trying to make this more than a hot springs trip
Day Trips to Plan Differently
Cherokee: Worth its own day, not a rushed add-on. Give the Museum of the Cherokee People the time it deserves. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Heavy tourist traffic and too far for an easy day Boone: Too far for a day trip, make it an overnight Hendersonville: Just... why? Nothing wrong, nothing special
The Seasonal Considerations
Spring (March-May):
- Wildflowers everywhere
- Waterfalls are fullest
- Perfect temperatures
- This is when you should visit everything
Summer (June-August):
- Swimming holes are the move
- Start everything before 9am
- Brevard and waterfalls, skip towns
Fall (September-November):
- Everywhere is packed October
- November is actually better
- Black Mountain is perfect
- Book everything ahead
Winter (December-February):
- Many Parkway sections closed (plus the Helene-damaged stretch north of Mount Mitchell, which NPS is aiming to reopen by late 2026)
- Focus on towns not trails
- Hot Springs is actually perfect
- Black Mountain is cozy as hell
The Budget Breakdown
Gas: $20-40 round trip anywhere Food: $15-30 per person Activities: Most hikes free, Hot Springs tub rentals by the hour (check current rates) Reality: Budget $100/person for a full day trip
Day Trip Planning
Easiest from Asheville: DuPont, Brevard, Black Mountain, Weaverville Plan ahead: Hot Springs (book the tubs), the Parkway (check closures), anywhere with no cell service (download maps)
My Actual Advice
- First visit to Asheville? Stay in town, maybe do Parkway
- Second visit? Brevard and waterfalls
- Third visit? Black Mountain and Weaverville
- Living here? All of it, repeatedly, seasonally
The truth is, the beautiful spots are worth the drive, in every season.
Just remember: you're visiting someone's hometown. Be respectful, tip well, and shop local.
The Ultimate Day Trip
If I had one perfect day to show you beyond Asheville:
Morning: Dripolator coffee in Black Mountain Late Morning: DuPont waterfalls Lunch: Brevard downtown Afternoon: Blue Ridge Parkway drive back Sunset: Craggy Pinnacle Dinner: Back in Asheville because we're tired
That's the real gay day trip energy - trying to do everything, succeeding at 75%, and having stories forever.
Dylan Lennon is a gay REALTOR® who has lived in Asheville since 2020. He runs marathons, lifts, and plays rec volleyball at Highland Brewing. Find him at GayAsheville.com.