OUR FALL SEASON

Visitors to Applewood Manor will discover that fall in Asheville explodes with color. We have over 100 species of deciduous trees. That, combined with our high mountain air, gives the Blue Ridge Mountains one of the most vibrant and long seasons of fall foliage. Our fall color season usually begins in late September at the highest elevations and continues into the first weeks of November in the lower elevations, with their peak yellows and oranges in mid-October.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic drive through fall’s colorful show of reds, yellows, and oranges. But Applewood Manor guests will find that the show is all around them. If you want to take to your car, there are ample nearby opportunities for hiking and panoramic views without venturing more than fifty miles away. Some must-see spots include Glassmine Falls, Craggy Gardens, Mt. Pisgah, the Folk Art Center, Chimney Rock, and the Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower. Each location offers trails for getting up close to nature with a walk amongst the falling leaves.

Don’t overlook the North Carolina Arboretum or the Biltmore Estate. The Arboretum has over 10 miles of trails traversing its 434 acres, while the Biltmore dazzles visitors with its gardens showcasing nature’s colors in spectacular fashion.

One of the best ways to explore Asheville’s fall landscapes is by bicycle. Applewood Manor offers all-road bicycles as a rental option for its guests. You can cycle around Asheville’s downtown area, the Manor’s historic Montford neighborhood, or venture to one of Asheville’s many bike trails. For the more adventurous, consider the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway. This 60-mile route features continuous elevation gain but rewards riders with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once you reach the Blue Ridge Parkway, you might even continue on to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.

For the ultimate fall foliage viewing experience, consider a hot air balloon trip. Though it isn’t inexpensive, it’s a bucket-list adventure worth considering. Contact Asheville Balloon Company at (828) 707-2992 or book a flight (from $300 to $400) on their website at ashevilleballooncompany.com.

It isn’t just foliage that brings people to Asheville in the fall. There’s an electric feeling in the air, as the change of season creates an explosion of energy that fuels festival after festival in Asheville and the surrounding towns. Even with COVID still around, the website romanticasheville.com lists 40 festivals and events scheduled for September and October alone.

Then there’s Halloween. Asheville abounds with Halloween events—some hauntingly frightening, like those organized by Ghost Hunters of Asheville (ghosthuntersofasheville.com) and Joshua P. Warren’s Grove House Ghost Hunt, and others focused on pure fun with food, crafts, and music. Never forget that Asheville is considered one of the most haunted places on earth, allegedly fueled by its quartz-laden mountains and the paranormal energy vortexes in the valleys and slopes. Locals will tell you that of all the places in Asheville, none are more haunted than the Montford Historic District—the home of Applewood Manor. It’s the perfect place to be on Halloween.