There’s a reason the North Carolina Arboretum sits near the top of everything we recommend from our front porch. Whatever the season, the 434 acres just south of Asheville give you somewhere new to walk into — formal gardens, deep woodland trails, and mountain ridgelines in every direction. It’s an easy, beautiful drive from the farm, and the kind of place that reminds you why you came to the mountains in the first place.
What Is the North Carolina Arboretum?
Spanning 434 acres along the edge of Pisgah National Forest, the North Carolina Arboretum is one of the most botanically diverse destinations in the region. Its cultivated gardens showcase some of Appalachia’s most stunning native plants alongside carefully curated collections from around the world — all set against a backdrop of rolling mountain ridgelines and deep forest. It’s a place that rewards the devoted plant lover and the casual wanderer alike.
What You’ll Find — Whatever the Season
The Bonsai Exhibition Garden draws visitors from across the country. The Quilt Garden reinterprets Blue Ridge quilt patterns in living color. Miles of trails range from easy garden loops to deeper woodland paths, with free naturalist-led trail walks running from April through October. The Rocky Cove Railroad model-train exhibit runs weekends in the warmer months, and the gardens change their palette with every season — there’s genuinely never a wrong time to come.
This Season — Summer 2026
Summer is long days and late light at the Arboretum. The gardens are at their fullest, the grounds stay open later into the evening, and the calendar fills with live music, plant shows, and guided walks. For exactly what’s on while you’re with us, the Arboretum keeps an up-to-date calendar at ncarboretum.org/events — just ask Erica, and she’ll help you time your visit.
Summer Lodging Special | Now Through July 31, 2026
Book two or more nights now through July 31, 2026, and we’ll include a complimentary North Carolina Arboretum pass for your stay. It’s our way of sending you out into the best of the Blue Ridge — and welcoming you back each evening to the warmth of the farm.
Return each evening to your beautifully appointed guestroom, knowing Daniel’s farm-to-table breakfast is waiting in the morning, and the peaceful sounds of the countryside are just outside your window. Erica will make sure every detail of your stay is taken care of — all you have to do is show up and breathe it in.
→ Book by July 31, 2026, to claim your complimentary pass. Two-night minimum required. One pass per stay. Subject to availability.
Planning Your Visit
The North Carolina Arboretum is located at 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806 — about 30 minutes from our front door in Weaverville. The grounds are open daily, with extended evening hours through the summer; a standard parking fee applies for non-members, and we’ll provide all the details at check-in. For the full events calendar and trail maps, visit ncarboretum.org.
The Blue Ridge is worth every bit of the journey — in every season. We’d love to be your home base for it.
With warmth from the farm,
Erica & Daniel
Inn at Amaris Farms | Weaverville, NC
→ Book by July 31st, 2026, to claim your complimentary pass. Two-night minimum required. One pass per stay. Subject to availability.
