Looking for a fun and easy family adventure just over an hour from Greenville? A day trip to Asheville is calling! Kidding Around team member Crystal spent a full day exploring by trolley, tasting treats, and learning how chocolate gets made with her teens, and they came home with full bellies and had a blast exploring the downtown area. Learn how you can make a day trip to Asheville perfect, with tips for a day full of fun.
Visiting Asheville, NC? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Things to do in Asheville, NC!
A Downtown Asheville Day Trip
Hop-On Hop-Off Fun with Gray Line Trolley
We kicked things off with the Gray Line Trolley Tour, which starts at the Asheville Visitor Center, bonus: free parking! The narrated 15-mile loop includes 8 stops, and you can hop on and off at your own pace in between learning about western North Carolina and Asheville. We rode the loop and hopped off at Stop 6 at Grove Arcade to explore, but all 8 stops have some pretty great things for you to explore with your kids.
Overall, the trolley tour experience takes about 1.5 hours if you do not get off at any of the stops. You learn a lot about the city, the architecture, and it’s just fun to ride around sometimes. No matter what you choose to do during your stop, just be sure to plan out your time so that you can make it back to your car on time with the trolley if you have plans for other adventures like we did (We visited the French Broad Chocolate Factory as well).
Stops on the Gray Line Trolley Tour
- Asheville Visitor Center
Start your day with free parking, clean restrooms, and plenty of maps and advice to make your visit easy and fun. - Omni Grove Park Inn
Walk the grounds of this historic mountain resort and soak in the stunning views, perfect for a quick photo op or snack stop. - Renaissance & Four Points Hotels
A central jumping-off point for downtown walks, with nearby shops, restaurants, and spots to stretch little legs. - Pack Square
This open plaza is great for kids to run around while you enjoy public art, splash fountains (in season), and local street performers. The drum circles here are pretty electric, and their is regularly live music. - Haywood Park Hotel
Located in a lively shopping district with easy access to unique stores, coffee shops, and places to grab a family treat. - Grove Arcade
A gorgeous 1929 indoor mall filled with local shops, sweet treats, and beautiful details that make it fun for curious kids and adults alike. We highly recommend checking this place out. - River Arts District: North
Families can peek into artist studios, watch pottery or glassblowing, and enjoy murals and riverside strolls. - South Slope Brewing District
While known for craft breweries, this area also has laid-back pizza joints, murals, and a casual vibe that’s stroller-friendly for a quick bite.
I felt like sitting on the left side of the trolley allowed us to see things better, but if you get off and on, you can always switch sides to optimize the experience
When taking the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour of Asheville, you can get a free 2nd day during certain times of the year, so be sure to check with them if you plan on using the trolley for more than a 1-day visit.
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville
36 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Cost: Approximately $19/child and $41/adult
Grove Arcade + Lunch at Huli Sue’s
Inside the beautiful Grove Arcade, we took in the ornate architecture and charming small shops. Grove Arcade is over 100 years old and is a stunning historic building packed with local shops, restaurants, and artists. Plus, it has AC and is fully enclosed, so you can escape the heat or mountain showers. There is a stunning bookstore called Battery Park Book Exchange along with several other shops and restaurants, plus some really unique architecture to show your kids. It’s a perfect place to stop during your day trip, and also has restrooms!
Right outside the Grove Arcade, you can also grab lunch at Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill. We chose the Poke bowl, a pulled pork plate, and the creamy mac salad. Everything was absolutely delicious, super fresh, flavorful, and filling.
Grove Arcade
1 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC
Sweet Stops: Asheville Bee Charmer & French Broad Chocolate Lounge
After lunch, we popped into Asheville Bee Charmer just a short walk away—yes, free honey tastings are a thing and yes, they’re awesome. They have lots of honey-inspired products, from hot honey to soaps, which all make a fun gift idea.
Then we couldn’t resist stopping at the nearby French Broad Chocolate lounge, where we shared drinking chocolate, Chocolate crème brûlée, and ice cream. Let’s just say, it was my dessert dream come true. The lounge has a fun, relaxing vibe, and the staff are super friendly. The lounge has lots of teas and chocolate items to choose from, plus cakes, espresso, cheesecake, liquid truffle, and so much more!
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack Square, Asheville, NC
Factory Fun: French Broad “Bean to Bar” Tour
Just a 4-minute drive from downtown, we headed to the French Broad Chocolate Factory & Café for a scheduled “Bean to Bar” tour. We recommend booking at least a week in advance, these fill up fast! The tour was fascinating, our kids loved it, and it was full of everything chocolate. They also have other treats and ice cream in addition to chocolate. Check out our full review of the French Broad Chocolate Factory, and find out everything you need to know to plan a trip to this fantastic experience tour.
Here’s what we loved most during our tour:
- We got to taste three chocolates and a raw cacao bean
- Learned about ethical sourcing and the full chocolate-making process
- Walked through the amazing “aroma shower”
- Ended with a Wildflower Honey Caramel Bonbon
- Got a 10% discount in the shop (which you can use at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge later on if you choose to do the chocolate factory tour first).
French Broad Chocolate Factory
821 Riverside Drive, Asheville NC
Find out what it’s like to tour the French Broad Chocolate Factory tour in our full KA Review of the factory and cafe!
Been to Asheville with your family? Tell us your must-do stops in the comments below!
And if you’re looking for more adventures, check out our Day Trips From Greenville Guide!
An Asheville day trip is unique and fun, and something your entire family will love! We took a trolley tour that led us around the downtown area, where you can stop and explore! Plus, we visited a real-life chocolate factory, and so can you!
