11 Ways to Enjoy Asheville, NC with a Toddler!
May 27, 2025
Look, I know traveling with a toddler is NOT easy!
In fact, there is not much about toddler life that I would describe as easy.
So let me at least make your life a little bit easier instead and help you plan your family vacation TRIP to AVL with 11 Ways to Explore Asheville and Hendersonville, NC with young kids!
Hello! My name is Rachel and I am a family photographer in Asheville and also a mom of TWO toddlers! Over the past couple of years, I have found many toddler-friendly places and activities around WNC!
As a family photographer, I meet so many young families who are visiting Asheville on vacation and they are always looking for family-friendly activities they can do with their toddlers! Of course there are tons of amazing restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and hiking trails in Asheville, NC but the toddler-friendly activities aren’t exactly as obvious or as well-known!
Whether it’s rainy, sunny, warm, or cold, I’m sharing and linking tons of ideas below will help you make this trip a very special one for your whole crew!
1. Hands On! Children’s Museum
Hendersonville, NC
I should probably save this for last, but I can’t resist. The Hands On! Children’s Museum is my FAVORITE place to recommend to our visiting friends with young kids! It is a bit pricey, $10/person and $4 for infants for full day admission, but totally worth it if you are desperate to entertain a toddler on a rainy day! It’s also across from McFarlan’s Bakery and right next door to Black Bear Coffee Co! There are other cute shops on Main St. as well like the Mast General Store and OP Taylors that kids love! If you are local, I highly recommend asking for a membership from the grandparents for your child’s birthday or Christmas present this year!
**BEWARE, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays!**
2. WNC Nature Center
Asheville, NC
It took us forever to check out the WNC Nature Center and I have no idea why because it is AWESOME! If you can’t make it down to the Greenville Zoo, this is the next best thing! I would say the Black Bears (if they’re not hibernating) and the otters were the coolest part! There were some other cool animals as well (wolves and farm animals) and also a lot of play areas! It’s not far from Downtown, Highland Brewing, and some really great places to eat like Taco Temple! Plus, kids 2 and under are free!
3. Antler Hill Village at the Biltmore Estate
Asheville, NC
If you have tickets to the Biltmore Grounds, or if you are an Annual Pass Holder OR if you are friends with Annual Pass Holders, Antler Hill Village is SO much fun with young kids! There is a petting zoo area with cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and goats! Next to that there is a fenced-in playground! And up the hill in the village area there are restaurants and even a creamery (perfect for bribing your kids to get off of the playground). In the summertime there is live music on the lawn and at Christmas there are lights everywhere! There are also trails you can walk/bike from here and seasonal Sunflower fields!
4. Visit Ecusta Market & Cafe
Hendersonville, NC
I can’t rave enough about this new coffee shop that just opened in Hendersonville in Spring 2025. It is AMAZING!!! And SO kid-friendly! I’m talking “real changing tables in both of the large family restrooms” kind of kid friendly! They brew Methodical Coffee, have fresh locally made pastries from Mini Batch Bakery, and just launched their full service kitchen too! There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and they are working on a fenced in outdoor play area for kids! This cafe also backs up to the Ecusta Trail where we let our kids run around and where families with older kids can walk or ride their bikes! There is even a bike rental business called Ventue Ecusta Bike Rental that is about to launch! The market is super cute (it has a drawing/play table for kids) and has a bunch of local treats and snacks to pick up something fun and unique to snack on.
5. Jackson Park
Hendersonville, NC
I LOVE THIS PARK! It is a newer, inclusively designed park with several features that are accessible by wheelchair! It even has adult exercise equipment! There are lots of options for spinning, sliding, swinging and playing musical instruments. I love that it is completely inclosed by a fence and has bathrooms right next to it! This is the only park I feel comfortable taking my two busy toddlers to while I’m solo parenting. It’s super bright and colorful and close to downtown Hendersonville! The rubber matting can make it feel hot so on Summer days I prefer to go in the early morning or late evening.
6. Apple Orchards
Hendersonville, NC
Are you planning a visit between August and October? You should definitely check out the beautiful Apple Orchards in Hendersonville! There are too many to select just one so here are a few of my favorites, all of which have play areas for kids: Sky Top Orchard (old school), Jeter Mountain (bougie), and Justus Orchard (classic). We also love Stepps Orchard too but there isn’t a play ground, but still has fun activities for kids. All of them have those amazing apple cider donuts and slushies! Also, if it’s July, check out Fruit of the Spirit Orchard because they have some seriously AMAZING blackberries!
7. Henderson County Library
Hendersonville, NC
Need something free to do on a really cold or rainy day? We really love the Children’s area at the Henderson County Public Library! There are tons of books to choose from, board books and paperback, but there are also lots of toys, puzzles and activity tables too. Each local library has Story Time on different days of the week and for different ages so make sure you check that out too! If you’d like to find a library with a playground, the Mills River library has a smaller selection but a really nice playground and walking trails!
8. The North Carolina Arboretum
Asheville, NC
The NC Arboretum might be a little boring for older kids, but if you’ve got a little one that just wants to roam and explore, this is the perfect place to let them do so while also enjoying the flowers! When my daughter had just learned to walk, I was always looking for safe, wide open spaces for her to explore and since I was a pass holder here it was the ideal location for it! Entry is $20/vehicle. Also, if you’re visiting at Christmas time, they have an incredible Winter Lights walk through exhibit too!
9. We Rock The Spectrum
(South) Asheville, NC
Disclaimer: I have never been here…yet! But I have heard amazing things on Facebook groups! Although it was created with children on the Autism Spectrum in mind, it is intended as an inclusive play space for all kids! It basically looks like an open gym with lots of activities to keep your kids moving! I’m storing this activity for a rainy Monday when the museum is closed! There’s a 3D tour on their website you can click through too! It’s pricey but doesn’t charge for adults: $15/1st kid, $13/additional.
10. Fletcher Park River
Fletcher, NC
If it’s summertime, the best way to cool off for free is in the rivers! There is a trail at Fletcher Park that goes along a river with several entrances to sandy beaches, perfect for playing and exploring! Some spots along the river are rocky so I’d recommend packing water shoes along with towels and a change of clothes! Lots of people bring their dogs to play too! If you’ve got a baby, I’d even recommend lugging a bumbo seat along to let baby safely enjoy the water and sand while giving your arms a break! Other recreational areas with river access are the Art Loeb Trail at the Davidson River in Brevard and there is also river access at the Botanical Gardens at UNC Asheville! I suggest bringing water shoes for the rocky areas!
11. Update Your Family Photos!!!
Asheville, NC
Would you like to document your family trip while you’re in the beautiful mountains of WNC so you’ll always remember this sweet time together? I know family photos with a toddler may sound terrifying to you, it’s a lot of work for us parents, but I promise to make it fun for everyone and capture beautiful memories that sleep deprivation and stress might otherwise cause you to forget! They don’t stay little for long, don’t let it fly by!
Bonus: I actually look like THE Ms. Rachel and can put on the overalls if it will help your child to feel more comfortable!
I hope you have the BEST trip!!!
With Joy, Rachel
