The Asheville area and the Blue Ridge Mountains offer a treasure trove of kid-friendly activities, including many wonderful ones that don’t cost a dime. This city blends natural beauty with cultural richness, guaranteeing that young adventurers have plenty to explore and learn without breaking the bank. 

From cool urban parks and animal sanctuaries to exciting hiking trails and historical landmarks, Asheville boasts many engaging experiences. Families with kids can enjoy scenic views, splash in creeks and waterfalls, or dig into the area’s artistic heritage through art installations, community events, and public libraries. 

Whether you’re a local looking for weekend fun or a visitor seeking budget-friendly attractions, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best free things to do in Asheville with kids of all ages. Have fun!

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12 Fun (and Totally Free!) Activities for Kids in Asheville

1. Visit the Local Libraries

As a single mom traveling while homeschooling my two kids, the local libraries were my go-to places for kid-related resources and activities. They were also awesome places to meet local families. Albert Einstein said, “The only thing you have to know is the library’s location.”

Libraries are some of the few places where we can go and spend hours without spending a cent and leave feeling happier and brighter. Buncombe County Public Libraries offer intergenerational Lego clubs, all types of story times for different age groups and bilingual families, and even the opportunity to read to Gracie, a therapy dog!

Pack Memorial downtown has a fun kid’s area with a puppet theater, many games, and super friendly and engaged staff. It’s the perfect free thing to do with kids on a rainy day. You can even buy books at the downstairs used bookstore, which features an excellent collection at great prices. Check the programs for kids here. Or read this page if you have teens. 

2. Pick up a Zoom Pass

Buncombe County Public Libraries’ Zoom passes give local library cardholders free admission to top-notch attractions, including the Asheville Museum of Science, the North Carolina Arboretum, Well Played Board Game Café, Hands On Children’s Museum, public pools, paddleboats at Lake Julian, and more! You must make reservations. 

Some places you can access for free through your Zoom pass are the Western North Carolina Nature Center and the Cats at Play Cat Café – two of the best places to interact with animals in Asheville. Your kids will love seeing the cougar cubs, raccoons, bears, and other 60 wild and domestic species, hosting mostly animals that have been permanently injured, can’t survive in the wild, or are endangered. 

The Cat Café is an excellent plan for cat lovers or families looking to adopt a kitty. Your family will have almost two hours to interact with the kitties, play (cat-themed) board games, or get a snack and yummy drink.

3. Explore the Trails

The Kids in Parks (KIP) initiative started in 2008 as a joint effort of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the National Park Service, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation to make trails more welcoming and engaging for families new to hiking. Today, it is a national program with more than 190 TRACK Trails in twelve states!

By searching on the website, you can find lots of local, self-guided TRACK Trails packed with exciting adventures for the entire family. There are activities along the way, and the prizes you’ll earn for participation will be mailed to your home. Every hiking trail earns a collectible sticker (available in Spanish) and your kids will love adding them to their Trail TRACK passport!

This is a super fun way to introduce your family to the outdoors while keeping the kids entertained and wanting to come back for more!

4. Visit the North Carolina Arboretum

The NC Arboretum is among the five most loved places for local families. It has beautiful gardens, exhibitions, fun kids activities, and a 10-mile network of short, well-maintained trails, making it one of the most popular kid-friendly hiking areas in Asheville. 

Admission is free, but there is a parking fee per standard vehicle. However, locals can use a Library Zoom Pass and park for gratis or take advantage of the 50% discount on the first Tuesday of the month.

Whether you explore the formal gardens and exhibitions or take an easy hike and spread the picnic blanket, there won’t be a dull moment at the Arboretum. The Rocky Cove Railroad, a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that runs during the weekends, will be the highlight of your visit!

There’s a bistro, but you should plan to bring snacks if you are on a budget. There are so many places to have a picnic! 

5. Watch the Montford Park Players

This is an Asheville summer staple and a true gem. So if you want to do what locals do, this is it. The  Montford Park Players are the longest-running Shakespeare theatre company in North Carolina, and their outdoor performances in the woods and under the stars are free!

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings during the summer, you’ll see families walking from their cars or homes in the Montford neighborhood to the outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheater. They carry chairs, blankets, pillows, snacks, and everything to make themselves comfortable. Dogs are welcome too!

The fun, light-hearted performances include Shakespeare and other classics. This is a great experience, even for little kids. Since there is no formal entrance and the amphitheater is accessible from many places, you can leave whenever you need without making a fuss.

If you don’t feel like carrying anything, don’t worry. There is seating, and you can buy snacks, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks at the local concession stands.

6. Visit Rescues at Animal Haven of Asheville

Animal Haven of Asheville is a ten-acre sanctuary where lost and abandoned farm animals, dogs, and cats can enjoy long lives full of love, joy, and care. Animals are available for adoption, so who knows? You might leave with a new family member.

This is an excellent chance for your kids to be exposed to domestic animals and learn how to be responsible towards them. While there is no entrance fee, you can donate or buy something from the 1500-square-foot thrift store. 

The sanctuary gets all the funding from private donations, so make sure you contribute at some point, either with money or by volunteering. 

7. Enjoy a Leisurely Day at Pack Square Park

Pack Square is in the heart of downtown and home to many festivals and events throughout the year. But in the summer, it’s filled with some of the easiest things to do in Asheville with kids for free. Your little ones will have a blast playing at Splashville, a fun splash pad with colorful lighting features open from May to October until 10:00 pm. 

If you’re there on a Friday, you can spread a blanket, lay out snacks, and enjoy an outdoor movie with the Asheville Parks and Recreation program Movies in the Park. Kids’ activities, inflatables, vendors, ice cream, and food trucks are usually part of the fun before the movie starts.

Also, every Saturday in July and August from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Pack Square hosts Shindig on the Green. During this 57-year-old free Southern Appalachian music festival, everyone can bring their instruments and join the onstage musicians and dancers. There are performers, vendors, and excellent local food!

8. Play at Carrier Park

Asheville Parks and Recreation offers some of the best free activities for kids in Asheville. From playgrounds for all ages, miles of greenways, swimming pools, community centers, and fun events, you’ll be able to find something for your family (fur babies included!)!

Don’t leave Asheville without checking out Carrier Park by the French Broad River, the oldest park in the city. This 50-acre park has been voted Asheville’s Best Playground many times by Mountain Xpress readers.

This land was home to the Asheville Motor Speedway in the ’60s, and now the track is a velodrome and one of the most popular features in the park. People of all ages love biking and roller skating, and there is even a Skate Night over the summer fueled by tunes from the glorious 90s.

In addition, there is a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, picnic areas, and many trails, including the French Broad River Greenway that connects the park with a dog park.

Check out all Asheville Park and Recreation parks and community centers. 

9. Hike Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail

When it comes to an easy, exciting, and short hike with spectacular views, nothing can beat Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Trail. This 1.2-mile trail in the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular kid-friendly hikes for a reason! It’s just a short drive outside of Asheville, and it only takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the spectacular 360˚ views.

The climb is super entertaining, with twisted trees and unique rock formations, tunnels of blooming rhododendrons and blueberries in the summer, and long-range views of the Parkway and the mountains. 

Whether you are carrying your baby in a carrier, have curious toddlers, or are with your moody teens who desperately need a break from their devices (even though they’d never admit it), this trail delivers!

10. Read to Goats at Carl Sandburg’s Home

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site or Connemara Farm in Flat Rock is one of the best places to take a day trip from Asheville. The 270-acre farm is home to five miles of kid-friendly trails, the rounded summit of Glassy Mountain, rare granitic domes, and award-winning goats! The best part? The entrance is free, and there are complimentary tours!

They also have the program Read to a Goat where, yes, you guessed it, you can read Sandburg’s poetic children’s books to baby goats. If you do during National Reading Month (March) and National Literacy Month (September), there will be special activities, including discounts on book purchases. 

This is the perfect opportunity for your kids to learn about the “Poet of the People!” 

11. Join the Asheville Drum Circle

Kids love the excitement of a lively downtown, and Asheville has a lot to offer, especially during the high season (summer and fall) and on weekends. From fun street festivals to street performers, entertainment is guaranteed. 

You can start by walking the self-guided Urban Trail and discovering our city’s historic landmarks. These landmarks are celebrated with bronze statues that make great photo ops and enchant kids. This is a fun and educational activity.

The Drum Circle at Pritchard Park is on Friday nights around 6:00 pm. You will see kids of all ages, including kids at heart, wearing tye-die t-shirts and flowy skirts while dancing to the drums. This is a great spot to interact with the many Downtown Asheville characters. Folks walking around with snakes, parrots, or poets on demand —we have them all!

In addition, Downtown After Five happens on the third Friday of each month from 5 pm – to 9 pm April through September. There are local bands and great food and beer. Kids are welcome, and there are activities for them. 

Are you looking for affordable yet great kid-friendly meals downtown? Check Mamacitas Taqueria, White Duck Tacos, Asheville Pizza Brewing, and Farm Burger!

12. Swim in the Swimming Holes

This land is so plentiful in rivers, creeks, waterfalls, and lakes, that there is no reason to be hot in the summer! I will suggest three places where kids of various age groups enjoy the water, but please know there are many more fantastic ones.

Robert Lake Park in Montreat has a great playground with a shallow creek. This is an all-time favorite place for families with toddlers to spend hot summer days. Dogs are not allowed.

Hooker Falls is the only waterfall area in DuPont State Recreational Forest that is safe for swimming. Also great for picnicking, you can hike to Triple Falls and High Falls and spend an entire day chasing waterfalls.

Finally, Sliding Rock in the Pisgah National Forest is a 60-foot natural water slide powered by 11,000 gallons of water per minute, ending in an 8-foot-deep pool! This is ideal for older kids but probably not the wee ones.

We hope you get to enjoy a few of these fun Asheville activities!

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