Just Down the Road: 3 Local Parks Near Asheville, NC

August 04, 2023 · 3 min read

A park with a walkway and many large trees

Surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, NC provides many opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors. This includes its extensive park system, which offers a nearly unlimited number of things to see and do. Here's a look at a few of the community's amazing parks.

1. French Broad River Park

Located on 508 Riverview Drive, this picturesque park is definitely one of the best spots in the city for enjoying views of the French Broad River. Its trail that runs alongside the river connects with the 2.83-mile-long French Broad River Greenway and features a series of boardwalks and sitting areas. If you're taking advantage of your Ford Maverick's versatile truck bed to bring your bike, the park also provides biking paths for visitors.

Throughout French Broad River Park, you'll find picnicking areas with grills, a playground, and a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs. Whichever part of the park you're in, there's lush vegetation, including a lovely wildflower garden, and plenty of shade.

2. Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary

Whether you're a serious birdwatching enthusiast or just have a passing interest in the hobby, Beaver Lake on 1056 Merrimon Avenue is well worth a visit. This wildlife sanctuary park sits on the eastern side of Beaver Lake and features densely wooded areas, attracting a wide variety of bird species. Here, you may encounter several types of heron, vulture, osprey, hawk, and woodpecker. Waterfowl species include the Canada goose and bufflehead sea duck.

The 0.38-mile boardwalk at the sanctuary will take visitors over wetlands and close to the edge of Beaver Lake. Sitting areas along the way provide opportunities to relax and take in the sights and sounds. In addition to avian wildlife, the park is home to turtles, catfish, dragonflies, and lightning bugs.

3. Azalea Park

Azalea Park on 498 Azalea Road is one of Asheville's largest recreation areas at over 150 acres. That size lets it serve as a home to an impressive number of facilities and attractions, including four soccer fields, a large dog park, and covered picnic shelters. There's also a fishing pond and a swimming hole, complete with a beach area, that have become popular with locals.

Those interested in local literature and history will want to stop by at the Thomas Wolfe Cabin, a log cabin located in Azalea Park where the famed novelist spent his last summer in the city.

When you're living in Asheville, you'll never have to go far to experience outdoor fun with destinations like these nearby! After a day at the park, stop by at Asheville Ford and browse our huge selection of cars, trucks, and SUVs!

Image via Pixabay

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Three scoops of strawberry ice cream and some strawberries

Sep 01, 2023 in Asheville, NC

5 Great Ice Cream Places in Driving Distance of Asheville, NC

Asheville, NC is one of the most beautiful cities in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with plenty of things to do and see. You can also find incredible ice cream shops conveniently located in the city. Your 2023 Ford Escape Active is a spacious SUV with tons of great features, like the latch child safety system, and Fordpass Connect is an excellent option for getting the whole family to all of them. more 1. Sunshine Sammies Sunshine Sammies, at 99 S. Lexington Avenue, offers delicious scoops sandwiched between cookies. You can get tried-and-true flavor combinations like vanilla and chocolate chip cookies or more creative offerings like snickerdoodle, salted caramel, or tiramisu. The sandwiches are generously sized, and you'll find great service and a fun atmosphere at this Asheville hot spot. 2. The Freeze of Asheville Stop by The Freeze of Asheville at 1091 Patton Avenue for inventive flavors like pineapple upside-down cake and strawberry shortcake, towering sundaes and delicious thick milkshakes. Try the Freezy for a decadent blend of soft serve and tasty toppings, or get your soft serve fix with some rainbow sprinkles for a true summertime treat. 3. El Rio El Rio, at 441 N. Louisiana Avenue, Suite L, is a great place to treat your sweet tooth with fantastic tropical fruit flavors and delicious paletas. The vanilla raisin and coconut are both delicious, and you'll find friendly service and plenty of parking at this unique Asheville scoops spot. 4. Yolo Frozen Yogurt Stop by Yolo Frozen Yogurt at 505 Merrimon Avenue for both traditional and dairy-free frozen yogurt in plenty of different flavors. Although everything on the menu is fantastic, the pineapple sorbet in particular is very much worth the drive. Additionally, you'll find tons of toppings like sprinkles, cookies, and a vast variety of different syrups. With indoor and outdoor seating, this spot is an ideal and convenient option if you want to treat your family. 5. 10th Muse Comfort Food 10th Muse Comfort Food at 1475 Patton Avenue is a fantastic dessert cafe featuring plenty of different frozen treats. The sundaes are enormous and decadent, featuring toppings like s'mores, cereal, cookies, nuts, and pieces of waffle cones. You'll also find bubble waffle cones, cake cones, and waffle bowls. If you want something a little bit lighter, their soda floats with vanilla cream will surely hit the spot. Asheville is an excellent spot to indulge your sweet tooth and discover a new favorite frozen treat. These exceptional shops have both traditional scoops and unconventional and delightful flavor combinations, and you can find them all within the city's limits. Visit us at Asheville Ford and test drive a great vehicle to help you get around Asheville today. Image via Pixabay

Jul 14, 2023 in Asheville, NC

4 Fun Summer Activities You Can Drive to Near Asheville, NC

Get in a Ford Escape, Bronco, or Maverick to join the summer activities around Asheville, NC, and immerse yourself in the area's rich cultural heritage. Listen to bluegrass and folk music and admire the area's traditional and contemporary arts and crafts at festivals that have bought the community together for decades. more 1. Shindig on the Green The yearly Shindig on the Green is a free festival celebrating the traditional mountain music and dance of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in Pack Square Park at 1 Court Plaza in the heart of downtown Asheville. The festival starts on July 1 at 7 p.m. and continues most Saturdays through the summer until early September. Bring your picnic basket, blanket, and lawn chair and settle in front of the stage to watch mountain clog dancing, bluegrass, and old-time string band performances. Stroll through the park to listen to informal performances and jam sessions, and bring your musical instrument to join the festivities. 2. The Carolina Mountain Club Centennial Attend the 100th birthday party of the Carolina Mountain Club on July 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the North Carolina Arboretum at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way in Asheville. The party is free and perfect for the whole family, with plenty of fun stuff to do for everyone. Browse the many booths, go on guided hikes through the beautiful surroundings, watch the kids have a blast with all the games and fun activities, listen to live music, and enjoy delicious food from the food trucks. 3. The 76th Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands The annual four-day Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, showcasing the works of 200 local artists and crafters, kicks off on July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Harrah's Cherokee Center at 87 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Admire traditional and contemporary artworks and crafts in every medium imaginable, from clay, wood, and glass to metal, leather, and silver. Watch artists and crafters plying their trade, attend demonstrations, and buy beautiful works to support the area's artists and crafters. 4. The 96th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival Head to Lipnsky Hall at 300 Library Lane in Asheville on August 3, 4, and 5 at 7:00 p.m. to attend the nation's longest-running annual folk festival, the 96th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. Hundreds of bluegrass singers, banjo players, cloggers, and storytellers gather on the stage to celebrate the Southern Appalachian Mountain culture and perseverance. Experience the toe-tapping rhythms of bluegrass and immerse yourself in the stories of timeless ballads. Watch the electrifying energy of clogging and the graceful movements of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance. Join the summer festivities in Asheville and experience the region's warm hospitality and unique local culture through music, dance, arts, and crafts. While you're in town, swing by Asheville Ford and take a closer look at the new 2023 Ford models on the showroom floor. Image via Pixabay

Jun 09, 2023 in Asheville, NC

On the Road: 4 Amazing Day Trips to Take Near Asheville, NC

Explore the area around Asheville, NC, on exciting day trips in a Ford Escape, Bronco, or Maverick. Drive down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, discover the breathtaking rhododendron tunnels, hike up to the highest point east of the Mississippi, and pull over at quaint roadside attractions along the way. more 1. Craggy Gardens Head down the curvy and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, a breathtaking stretch of road that winds high up into the Blue Ridge Mountains, and pull over at the Visitor Center at milepost 364. Follow the Craggy Pinnacle Trail to admire a spectacular floral display when these high slopes are carpeted with wildflowers in summer, and the may-apples, violets, and blackberries burst into color. In the spring, you'll be surrounded by pink and purple blossoms when hundreds of indigenous Catawba rhododendron blossom. Walk through the gnarled tickets of tall rhododendron, creating winding tunnels up to the mountain's summit, offering far-flung views over the Southern Appalachians. 2. Mount Mitchell Travel 30 miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway to milepost 355 to stand atop the highest point east of the Mississippi in Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina's first state park, where Mount Mitchell's summit towers an impressive 6,684 feet above sea level. Hike up the Mount Mitchell Summit Trail through the spruce-fir forest, an ecosystem found only in a handful of locations around the world. Once you reach the observation deck, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views that will take your breath away. 3. The American Museum of the House Cat Take a 47-mile drive to Sylva to learn more about the long and fascinating history of human and cat interactions at the American Museum of the House Cat at 5063 US Highway 441 South. The unique museum was created by Dr. Harold W. Sims, a retired professor of biology, and is one of only two of its kind in the country and nine worldwide. The museum's exhibits showcase over ten thousand items centered around the housecat as a domestic pet. The vast collection includes a hand-carved kitty carousel, antique cat toys, a mummified cat from 31 B.C. Egypt, and a rare book library. 4. Grimshaw's Post Office The smallest U.S. post office in its day, Grimshaw's Post Office, perched on Whiteside Cove Road in Cashiers, 62 miles from Asheville. The tiny five-by-six-foot wooden structure next to an American flag proudly displays its name in bright yellow letters. Despite its small size, the post office, named after one of its postmasters, dutifully took care of the town's mail from 1878 to 1953. Go on an adventure down the road behind the wheel of a Ford and enjoy every moment behind the wheel. Before you hit the road to go on a trip, call Asheville Ford today to schedule a maintenance appointment and ensure you get to your destination safely. Image via Pixabay

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