Hey y’all! I’m Miranda, an Asheville area local who has celebrated many of my own birthdays here. I can confirm there are so many fun & unique birthday activities in Asheville, NC for adults of all ages to enjoy.

In this post, I’ll share more than enough ideas here to fill up a day or a weekend of Asheville birthday festivities:

Outdoor Asheville Birthday Party Ideas for Adults
• The Most Unique Outdoor Adult Birthday Experience near Asheville
• Asheville Adult Birthday Hike and Picnic Ideas
• Best Picnic Spots Asheville, NC
• Hikes & picnics near Asheville with the Best Mountain Views
• Hikes & picnics near Asheville with the Best Waterfalls
• Picnics in Asheville (Greenways & Parks)
• Asheville Luxury Picnics & Packages
• Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours

Cheap Asheville Birthday Party Ideas Adults (Under $50 per person)
• Asheville Drum Circle
• Free Walking Tours
• Private Yoga Class
• Massages, Facials & Foot Soaks
• LaZoom Comedy Tours
• Asheville Retrocade
• Top 10 Cheap Places To Eat in Asheville, NC

Download my free Asheville travel + retreat guide for more dining, lodging, shopping recommendations and advice for small groups!

Outdoor Asheville Birthday Party Ideas for Adults

The Most Unique Outdoor Adult Birthday Experience | Asheville, NC

The easiest way to guarantee a unique outdoor birthday experience while visiting the mountains near Asheville, NC is to join a group hiking tour with a small, local business. You’ll stress and worry less by going hiking with a knowledgeable guide who will help:
• keep you from getting lost (while driving or hiking)
• keep you up informed of current information and weather conditions
• guarantees help if you or someone in your group gets injured while hiking

My business Namaste in Nature helps you get the most out of your time in the mountains with our unique 2-3 hour micro retreat™ experiences that combine yoga, hiking and meditation with the best mountain views, waterfalls and vortex near Asheville, North Carolina.

We’ve gotten great reviews from other adult birthday groups like yours!

⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “This is the second vortex yoga hike and also for a friend’s birthday. We came from Atlanta each time and I absolutely love Asheville, NC - it is so beautiful, peaceful, and the air is so refreshing. The first hike was last year and it was a sunset hike which was an amazing picturesque time; this second hike, a year later, was the morning hike which was also amazing with the morning air so fresh and crisp and also equally beautiful. You will enjoy this experience and the folks at Namaste In Nature are all so kind and helpful!” ~Linh D. September 2023

Book A Morning Mountaintop Vortex Micro Retreat™

⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ “Miranda was such a great guide. We had a wonderful morning. The weather was lovely and the waterfalls and nature were refreshing. Well worth it!” Tabby D. September 2023

Book a Waterfall Micro Retreat™

⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐ “Great experience! The views were beautiful, and the instructor was very friendly!” ~Aunikka B. May 2023

book a sunset mountaintop vortex micro retreat™

Asheville Adult Birthday Hiking and Picnic Ideas

Best Picnic Spots Asheville, NC

What no one tells you about “hiking Asheville”

There aren’t a ton of trails within the actual borders of Asheville, North Carolina. All the best waterfalls and mountain sunset views you see in tourism ads and on social media… you’re gonna have to drive a bit to get to those. So I highly recommend renting or having your own car for transportation. This also gives you the most freedom and flexibility to explore.

I’ve spent thousands of hours over the past several years exploring the mountains throughout Western North Carolina and put together this free hiking guide with more info about the 75+ best mountain and waterfall trails near Asheville, NC.

Here are some of my recommendations for group hikes that include picnic areas near Asheville, NC.

Hikes & Picnics near Asheville with the Best Mountain Views

There is a great picnic area located where we do our mountaintop vortex meditation + hiking + yoga micro retreats™ which is one of the closest hikes to Asheville (about 20 miles) with an amazing view. Pack a picnic to eat after the morning experience or before the sunset experience. 😉

[Click the links to see short videos with more info about each suggested hike.]

▶️ Devil’s Courthouse / Moderate 0.8 miles with a great summit view

There is a picnic area in the parking lot at this trailhead located on the Blue Ridge Parkway about 44 miles SW of Asheville. The trail is mostly paved and short but steep.

▶️ Mount Pisgah / Moderate 4.5 miles with a great summit view

Most picnic areas are pretty small but there is an unusually large picnic area located near the Mount Pisgah trailhead on the Blue Ridge Parkway about 25 miles SW of Asheville.

Many more mountain view hiking trail suggestions in my free Asheville area hiking guide here.

Hikes & Picnics near Asheville with the Best Waterfalls

There are several picnic areas located throughout Dupont State Recreational Forest in the Visitors Center area and also along the trail for the High Falls/Triple Falls loop. It’s a really popular area though so get there early (like before 10 AM) to guarantee parking. Hike before you eat and you’ll be super hungry for that picnic you packed by time you are done.

▶️ High Falls + Triple Falls loop / Moderate 3.3 mile loop / Dupont State Recreational Forest / Cedar Mountain, NC / 37 miles S of Asheville [Easily combine with Hooker Falls]

▶️ Hooker Falls / Easy 0.8 miles / Dupont State Recreational Forest / Cedar Mountain, NC / 37 miles S of Asheville [Easily combine with High Falls + Triple Falls loop]

▶️ Bridal Veil Falls Moderate 4.7 miles / Dupont State Recreational Forest / Cedar Mountain, NC / 37 miles S of Asheville

Many more waterfall hiking trail suggestions in my free Asheville area hiking guide here.

Picnics in Asheville (Greenways & Parks)

If you are short on time or transportation, here are some outdoor areas (greenways, parks, etc) within Asheville, NC where you can enjoy a picnic.

Note: If you want to use the covered pavilion picnic areas at Carrier Park and French Broad River Park (or in other parks), you have to pay & reserve them in advance. It’s free to bring your own blankets, chairs, etc and do an old school picnic within in the grassy areas.

• ▶️ Botanical Gardens Asheville
• Carrier Park
• ▶️ French Broad River Greenway

If you decide to go with a picnic in Carrier Park, you can pair it with a yoga in the park class on Saturdays & Sundays during the warmer months!

More great parks and greenway suggestions in my free Asheville area hiking guide here.

Asheville Luxury Picnics & Packages

If you want a more luxury picnic experience and/or picnic basket or package prepared for you, I recommend working with one of these other local businesses:
• Asheville Picnic Company
• Asheville Luxury Picnics
• Parkway Picnics

Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours

I recommend booking an Asheville Rooftop Bar Tour if you want an experience that is outdoors in downtown Asheville, NC (with indoor options if it rains). You’ll feel like a VIP as you are shuttled to three different rooftop bars and cocktails (or mocktails) are included. You’ll learn some interesting history about Asheville and there is enough time to order and enjoy some light bites at each location as well.

My husband and I really enjoyed this as an anniversary experience and I’m currently considering booking a bigger group tour for my 40th birthday celebration in the near future!

Cheap Asheville Birthday Party Ideas for Adults

Here are some of my favorite things to do in Asheville to celebrate a birthday on a budget (aka less than $50 per person).

Asheville Drum Circle

The Asheville Drum Circle is a free local tradition that has been happening for the past several years on Friday evenings (during the warmer months) in Pritchard Park in Downtown Asheville. Bring your own drums and participate or dance or just enjoy the show! $0 per person.

Asheville Free Walking Tours

It doesn’t get any cheaper than free! Asheville Free Walking Tours offers tours of downtown, the River Arts District, West Asheville and more! As low as $0 per person (Of course, you should tip your guide for a job well done, though.)

Asheville Retrocade

I’ve had so much fun here! Located in West Asheville, the the Asheville Retrocade has over 5,000 video games, pinball, skeeball and more that you can play all day for just ten bucks. They also have local beer on tap. You can show up with your crew or book a private party. As low as $10 per person.

Private Yoga Class At Your Place

Namaste in Nature offers private 60 minute yoga classes at your AirBNB, VRBO or other rental property. We’ll come to you with mats and an experienced yoga instructor who will customize the class to your group’s preference and experience level. As low as $25 per person.

book a private yoga class

Recline & Unwind Social Spa

I have enjoyed Recline & Unwind Social Spa services several times and even hosted my first baby shower here in the small, private room in the back. Treat yourself to massages, face masks and foot soaks; walk ins are welcome but I recommend making reservations in advance. As low as $30 per person.

LaZoom Comedy Tour

I actually did this for my birthday a few years ago and loved it! LaZoom offers fun & creative tours of Asheville on their big, purple buses including the Hey Asheville City Comedy Tour, the Ghosted: Comedy Bus Tour and Fender Bender: Band & Beer Bus. As low as $33 per person.

Top 10 Cheap (And Delicious) Places to Eat in Asheville

Here are my top 10 favorite fast, casual & affordable places to eat in Asheville, NC for breakfast, lunch or dinner that work for groups with varying tastes and dietary needs like vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and more.

• Biscuit Head | Multiple Locations: West Asheville, South Asheville, Biltmore Avenue
• BotiWalla Indian Street Food | West Asheville (NEW!)
• Chai Pani Indian Street Food | Downtown Asheville
• Farm Burger | Multiple Locations: Downtown Asheville, South Asheville
• Itto Japanese Tapas & Ramen | Multiple Locations: Downtown, West Asheville
• Melting Pot Social | Downtown Asheville
• Pizza Mind | West Asheville
• Red Ginger Dim Sum & Tapas | Downtown Asheville
• Taco Billy | West Asheville
• White Duck Taco | Multiple Locations: Downtown, River Arts District, South Asheville