I adore WNC’s quirky, Blue Ridge Mountain towns near Asheville, including Weaverville, North Carolina. From strolling Lake Louise to eating at Stoney Knob Cafe and shopping at beautiful art galleries, keep reading for the best things to do in Weaverville, from an Asheville local’s perspective. I’ll tell you where to eat, drink, shop, and play… and even pick gorgeous flowers. All photos are our own (with food model hubby, Tom).
Is Weaverville, NC worth a visit? Yes! Located immediately north of Asheville, Downtown Weaverville is under a 15-minute drive from Downtown AVL. This small Buncombe County town and Asheville suburb, with a population of 4,800, is a terrific place to live for older people. The city also promises a chill vibe for visitors.
Tom and I have lived in Asheville since 2019, and we often head to Weaverville for all the below Weaverville attractions. Let us know your favorite things to do in the comments. 💜 Christine
Weaverville, NC Highlights
Outdoor Things To Do In Weaverville
Spend a chill morning or afternoon enjoying these outdoor activities in Weaverville (WVL). Think lakes, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and even a flower farm. Then, I’ll talk about fueling up with food and beverages.
Stroll Lake Louise Park
Located immediately before entering Downtown Weaverville from Asheville, shimmering Lake Louise Park (120 Merrimon Ave) promises 15.5 acres of land and houses a five-acre, man-made lake. Here, walk to the historic Reems Creek dam, which once powered a water mill.
Pack or pick up lunch, and grab a picnic table or bench along the water. Then, walk Lake Louise’s easy, .61-mile perimeter loop trail, spying turtles, carp, ducks, and geese. Find a children’s playground, and work out on the outdoor fitness equipment. Lake Louise Park allows catch-and-release fishing with a valid North Carolina fishing license.
Along with Lake Louise, April through October, catch the Weaverville Tailgate Market, Wednesdays from 3 pm to 6 pm, at the Weaverville Community Center. Park at any of the free and paved parking lots around Lake Louise; there are facilities.
If you enjoy Weaverville’s Lake Louise, head over to North Asheville’s Beaver Lake, which is even prettier. Beaver Lake boasts a 2.1-mile perimeter trail and bird sanctuary. Similarly, stroll through the Asheville Botanical Garden at UNCA. Read more about all that you can do in Asheville.
Walk The Main Street Nature Park
Tom and I usually park at the Main Street Nature Park’s free lot located in the heart of Downtown Weaverville, marked by the cute Weaverville clock and a map of the area.
This public park promises 10 acres of winding, sleepy nature trails filled with flowers, sheltering a variety of Western North Carolina birds and critters. The dirt pathways are perfect for couples, families, and solo visitors. Leashed dogs are allowed on the walking trail. In the summer, attend their free concert series.
Sightsee Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) is one of the “must-see” Asheville and Weaverville attractions, just under 20 miles from Weaverville. Deemed “America’s favorite drive” and managed by the National Park Service (NPS), this free and breathtaking attraction runs from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. This is a 2-lane, typically 45-mph, scenic parkway filled with waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.
Our Top Area Hiking Posts
Pick Flowers At The Never Ending Flower Farm
For more unique things to do near Weaverville, The Never Ending Flower Farm is about 15 to 20 minutes in Barnardsville. Go with friends or on a romantic date, grab a container, and start picking. While they have supplies, it doesn’t hurt to bring your clippers, if you can.
The Never Ending Flower Farm accepts PayPal, Venmo, and uses a cash app. This is a very casual and on-the-honor-system activity (you may never see another person). They have an on-site bathroom. Picnics are welcome, but dogs are not. Some rent out their venue. We like picking flowers and heading to Downtown Weaverville for lunch.
Where To Shop In Weaverville
Just like in Asheville, one of the best things to do in Weaverville is to shop! Downtown Weaverville’s North Main Street and the surrounding areas are lined with local stores and galleries.
A few specialty shops in Weaverville include: Maggie B’s Wine and Specialty Store (10 C South Main St), Reems Creek Pottery (181 Reems Creek Rd #6), Mangum Pottery (16 North Main St), Miya Gallery (20 North Main St), and Crucible Glassworks (60 Clarks Chapel Rd). Drop by Honey and the Hive (23 Merrimon Ave) for local honey and beekeeping supplies.
We also love Reems Creek Nursery (76 Monticello Rd) and shop here every year for our garden supplies. If you follow our Facebook adventures, you know we get our hummingbird plants and roses here, along with some garden vegetable plants (we buy the other half at Old Fort’s Painters).
Where To Eat & Drink
Asheville isn’t the only foodie NC mountain town. Weaverville has some of our favorite restaurants, wine bars, breweries, cafes, and coffee shops. Below is just a small snapshot, but we have an entire article on delicious Weaverville restaurants with reviews, what to order, and even our reader favorites.
Weaverville Restaurants We Recommend
- Stoney Knob Cafe (337 Merrimon Ave) – This is a gem of a quirky and colorful Greek and European restaurant. We love their grilled octopus, tuna steaks, Thai lettuce wraps, burgers, sangria, and meat and seafood dishes.
- Glass Onion (18 N Main St) – We love Glass Onion for date night and special occasions. Eat elevated Italian cuisine, including pasta, seafood, and meat entrees. Tip: Order from the specials list.
- Twisted Laurel (10A South Main St) – For casual Mediterranean food, Twisted Laurel is a local hot spot for handhelds, pizza, drinks, pub grub, and more.
- Soba Sushi and Noodles (76 North Main St) – Soba features fresh sushi rolls, noodles, and delicious Asian-inspired appetizers. Get the ginger tea.
- Blue Mountain Pizza (55 North Main St) – Head here for thin-crust pizza, sandwiches, pasta, quesadillas, ice cream, and brews.
Breweries, Coffee Shops, & More
While there are plenty of blockbuster and gem breweries in Asheville, Weaverville (and the border) boast:
- Leveller Brewing Co. – My favorite, with farmhouse ales
- Zebulon Arisan Ales – Open Fridays to Sundays with a TARDIS
- Eluvium Brewing Company – Brewery with food and great outdoor seating
- Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. – Food, cocktails, beer, and mini-golf, perfect for the entire family
For coffee shops, wine bars, and cafes, we most enjoy:
- Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge (113 North Main St) – Head here for all-day breakfast, lunch, and coffee with pastries.
- Maggie B’s (10 C South Main Street) – Our go-to for simple sandwiches, soups, and salads paired with wine. Shop for wine and attend a wine tasting event.
- Allgood Coffee (10 S.Main Street) – One of my favorite area coffee shops in a historic building, selling local treats.
- Wagbar (320 Merrimon Ave.) – An off-leash dog park bar with food trucks.
Discover even more great coffee shops near Asheville, and for our wine lovers, don’t miss these Asheville-area vineyards and wineries.
Seasonal & Special Weaverville Events
Just a few special festivals and events in Weaverville to add to your calendar:
- Shamrock Festival (March)
- Weaverville’s Music on Main (June)
- Art in Autumn (September)
- Candlelight Stroll (December)
Easy Day Trips From Weaverville
Weaverville is a quieter and more budget-friendly home base than some of Western North Carolina’s other mountain towns. Just a few great area day trips besides Asheville include:
- Black Mountain – sweet Downtown filled with food, drinks, shopping, Lake Tomahawk, and breweries
- Brevard – loads of waterfalls & hiking and biking trails
- Tryon Foothills – horse events and gorgeous vineyards
- Maggie Valley – kitschy shops, festivals, and hiking
- Hendersonville – DuPont State Forest, free museums, excellent Downtown, apple orchards, and wine country
- Waynesville & Lake Junaluska – walk my favorite lake and enjoy a quaint Downtown
- Bryson City – a pretty Smoky Mountain town
- Marshall & Hot Springs – making Helene comebacks with nearby hiking, restaurants, and shops
Let us know what you love to do in Weaverville in the comments. We are always exploring and updating our lists.
Weaverville is slowly becoming worse. Sure for adults there are intimate things to do. But what about kids? Look around Weaverville, there is nothing! Want to bike at the lake, well you can’t because of all the old geezers yelling at you. There was also a recent meeting of a recreation center but instead of a basketball court or something for kids they decided they are going to add pickleball courts. There are already 2 schools close by you can do that on! Anyways Weaverville only supports old people and there is genuinely nothing to do.
Aw, we enjoy Weaverville and love the restaurants, breweries, bars, and lake. Pickleball must be trending here in WNC because Asheville also opened up many courts. We’ve never played or even seen pickleball until recent years.
You should include the Yellow Mug in your list of special eateries in Weaverville. The Yellow Mug has a delightfully eclectic menu.
Yes! Thank you for the feedback!
A must visit is Sanctuary of Stuff! Such an eclectic collection of things and some antiques. Unique finds every time we go! It’s our first stop when we get off the highway!!!
Thanks so much for the great suggestion! We love learning that certain places and shops are a part of our readers’ traditions.
@Christine, Baad sheep burritos is permanently closed.
Thank you so much for the update. That’s so incredibly sad. I had to go see for myself, and I just saw their end-of-October announcement. Thanks for letting me know so that I can properly update all articles, too. I appreciate it.
Pick your own flowers at The Never Ending Flower Farm in Barnardsville, just a short 15 minute drive north of Weaverville.
Yes!
Hop on the Parkway via Ox Creek Road. Drive north to Craggy Gardens and Mt Mitchell.
In the winter the Parkway is closed at that point and it is a fun place to take the kids to walk and climb rocks.
Yes; we just love Craggy Gardens (and Pinnacle), and Mount Mitchell has stunning views on a clear day. Those are great suggestions. Thank you for sharing your experiences and recs for our readers, too. Have a great week.
Don’t forget to grab your morning coffee or smoothie at Yellow Mug right on Main Street!