North Carolina: Asheville Hiking & Beer Adventure

Day 1

We will meet you in Asheville right after lunch in the lobby of our hotel. We start with some quick introductions before heading directly to our first activity – hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian Mountain Range, (and perhaps a special beer tasting at the pinnacle!). Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife including deer, wild turkey, turtles, shrews, and potentially even a black bear!  After our hike, we'll head back to the hotel to wash up and change before walking to our first craft food experience with a tour and tasting at an artisan chocolate confectioner. After a sweet treat, we’ll head to dinner for a farm-to-table Sunday Supper. Hiking Distance: 2 miles

Day 2

This morning we'll walk over to a fun and funky local coffee shop to pick up whatever your morning drink of choice may be (coffee? tea? kombucha?), grab some tasty breakfast sandwiches from a local bakery and head back to the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway for another terrific hike. We'll be rewarded for our efforts with a majestic 70-foot waterfall. After our hike, we'll be good and hungry for our walking food tour where we'll get a taste of the many different flavors Asheville has to offer. Once we've eaten our fill, you have the option of heading back to the hotel or out on a brewery crawl hitting up several of Asheville's finest beer joints. Hiking Distances: 1.1 or 3 miles

Day 3

Today, we'll start by walking to a local breakfast cafe to fuel up for another fun day of hiking and beer tasting. We'll explore yet another one of the Blue Ridge Parkway's incredible trails and stop for lovely picnic lunch at a scenic overlook, taking in the beautiful views. On our drive back into town, we'll stop at the grandfather of Asheville breweries, Highland Brewing, to tour, taste, and relax at their hilltop location. You can choose to sit and sip inside their tap room, up on their rooftop deck, or out on their expansive lawn. Dinner tonight will be at a local brewpub. Hiking Distances: 3.2 or 5 miles

Day 4

Before breakfast, we'll climb into the van and head south to the DuPont State Forest, known for its myriad of cascading waterfalls. We'll stop for a light picnic breakfast once we get there and head out on a trail that will take us to not one, not two, but three different waterfalls. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, you can choose to take trail extensions that lead you right up to the base of the rushing waters, and even dip your feet in the refreshingly cold pools. After our hike, we head to the adorably quaint town of Brevard (keep your eyes peeled for the legendary white squirrel!) where we'll stop for lunch on your own. There are many cafes and restaurants to choose from, including a local brewery that allows you to bring in your own food. We then head back to the hotel for some free time on your own before meeting up for another brewery tour and tasting at Green Man Brewery. A delicious farewell dinner to follow. Hiking Distances: 2 or 3.5 miles

Day 5

On our final day of the tour, we'll have leisurely breakfast at the hotel and head out for a combo hike/beer tasting at Sierra Nevada's awe-inspiring, eco-friendly brewery located just outside of town. We'll hike a few miles on their beautiful estate and taste a number of their well-known and experimental brews. We'll finish by grabbing lunch on your own in their impressive brewpub before we shuttle you to your flight home or back to the hotel to extend your stay. Hiking Distance: 2 miles