SUGGESTED DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
Warren Wilson College Farm: The farm does like to have visitors, but please remember that they are a working farm and cannot give tours without advanced notice and then they only give tours to school groups. If you would like for the Gathering staff to try to set up a farm tour for your particular week, please contact our office at 828-298-3434. If you just wish to visit on your own, you can park in any designated Gathering parking spot and walk down to the farm. Campus map. Please also remember that it is a real farm and not a petting zoo, the animals are dangerous and you are not allowed in any of their pens, fields, or pastures. Learn more about the Warren Wilson College Farm.
Warren Wilson College Garden: The WWC garden consists of about three acres of organically raised crops, including vegetables, fruits, cut flowers and herbs. There is also a one-acre apple orchard on Jones Mountain and the Garden Crew uses the apples to press apple cider in the fall. The garden’s produce is sold through the Warren Wilson College food service, a weekly campus market, and a small Community Supported Agriculture program. The garden also manages a small apiary, some chickens, and a compost operation. They strive to model sustainable agriculture practices and use the draft power of two Belgian work horses whenever possible. Like the farm, the Garden Crew is busy working in the summer and cannot give impromptu tours, but come to the Gathering office if you’d like one and we can see if someone is available to schedule one. Learn more about the Warren Wilson College Garden.
Warren Wilson College Trails: There are miles of trails surrounding the college campus. Enjoy a nature walk or go for a jog. Stay Safe and remember bear, snake, and hiking safety.
Birding on our Swannanoa River Walking Trail: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3795214?yr=cur
**Note: The Swannanoa River might seem like a nice way to cool off, but do so at your own risk, from a general safety perspective, but also from a water quality perspective.
https://www.theswimguide.org/beach/10574
And some good news….
Warren Wilson Board of Trustees Votes to Conserve 600 Acres of Land
Off Campus:
Historic & Cultural Sites:
Biltmore House: Discover the wonders of the Biltmore in Asheville. Begin with the breathtaking beauty of the 250-room Biltmore House – America’s largest home – and century-old gardens. Explore the 8,000-acre backyard through a variety of activities from horseback riding to rafting. Learn more about the Biltmore House.
Asheville Art Museum: Be inspired by world-class special exhibitions and the Asheville Art Museum’s outstanding collection, showcasing the very best of 20th and 21st century American art and the cultural heritage and contemporary art of Western North Carolina. Learn more about the Asheville Art Museum.
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center: The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) pays tribute to the spirit and history of Black Mountain College, acknowledging the College’s role as a forerunner in progressive, interdisciplinary education with a focus on the arts. Learn more about BMCM+AC.
Folk Art Center: Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild representing artists from Southern Appalachia. The Folk Art Center houses three fine galleries. It is also home to Allenstand, the nation’s first craft shop, and a Blue Ridge Parkway information desk and Eastern National bookstore. Learn more about the Folk Art Center.
Thomas Wolfe Historical Site: Novelist Thomas Wolfe spent a decade of his childhood growing up in his mother’s Asheville boarding house. Called “Old Kentucky Home” the house was patronized by summer tourists and health seekers during the early years of the 20th century. Learn more about the Thomas Wolfe House.
Basilica of St. Lawrence: Completed in 1909, the Basilica of St. Lawrence D.M. is one of Asheville’s architectural treasures and spiritual anchors. Designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects on the Biltmore House, this Catholic church has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in the country. Learn more about the Basilica.
Carl Sandburg Home: This National Park Service site honors the accomplishments of American poet Carl Sandburg. Take a guided tour of this historic home; visit the farm and trails. Learn more about the Carl Sandburg Home.
City Tours
Asheville Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Montford Walking Tour
Hiking
Montreat Wilderness: Montreat Conference Center is surrounded by approximately 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness that is permanently protected and will never be developed. Click here for more information about guided hikes and printable trail maps.
Mountains to Sea Trail: The Mountains to Sea Trail runs all through Asheville and has some wonderful views off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn more about the trail.
Grandfather Mountain: 5,946 feet up on a mountain, you enter a different world. Learn more about Grandfather Mountain.
Hikes from the Blue Ridge Parkway: There are endless hiking opportunities off the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can’t go wrong. Click here for a list of NC hikes and access to maps.
Shopping
Grove Arcade: One of the most interesting and inviting spots for downtown shopping, this renovated historic building is worth a visit to admire the architecture alone, but it’s also a wonderful place to wander, shop or visit galleries.
Woolworth Walk: a privately and locally owned gallery in the heart of downtown, located in a historic building and representing local artists almost exclusively, it is without a doubt “Worth the Walk”.
Other great shopping areas are Wall Street, Lexington Avenue, Haywood Street, Historic Biltmore Village and Black Mountain.