Explore the many fun things to do in WNC! Here you can find the full list of fun. Click the other subcategories above to see things to do for free/budget, for kids, etc.
White Horse Black Mountain Community Hub: Free Events and Classes
Last month, I started seeing social media posts about a White Horse Community Hub, and I thought to myself, “I thought that was a music venue?” To find out more, I invited the new Community Hub Director, Allie, to come to my Black Mountain Community Field Trip.
She shared that the Community Hub was born out of Hurricane Helene, when White Horse Black Mountain contributed to disaster relief. Now, the WHBM venue has pivoted to hosting pay-what-you-can performances, and the Community Hub is offering events and classes to benefit the broader community. Their website mission states:
The White Horse Community Hub is a dynamic community crossroads where arts, wellness, and human connection meet. The Hub is dedicated to being a neighborhood destination that actively fosters belonging, uplifts underserved neighbors, and cultivates a proactive community response to hardship. We envision a resilient community where everyone — regardless of economic means — has access to physical and mental wellbeing, social connection, and critical support.
It is amazing to see how the Swannanoa Valley is transforming on the other side of Hurricane Helene, and I’m so proud of my neighbors for their resilience, grit, and creativity in making sure that community care continues long after disaster hits.
I’ve got my eyes on memoir writing, poetry writing, board game day, and so many other cool offerings! Follow the White Horse Community Hub on Instagram here and the full calendar at https://whitehorsecommunityhub.org/.
Summer Field Trips Recap (and what do you want to see this fall?)
It’s hard to believe that we’re rounding the corner on summer and moving towards back-to-school and fall. Just a few months ago, I was wondering whether it might be possible to convince my social media followers to meet up in person for “field trips”. And here we are, four amazing field trips behind us (Swannanoa, Canton, Black Mountain, and Old Fort) and two to go!
Swannanoa, NC
For the first community field trip, we started at my home base – Swannanoa. A rainstorm blew through early morning, and most of downtown had no electricity until just before we started the trip. A group of folks from as far as South Carolina and Blowing Rock met me under the awning of the funeral home as rain poured down. Lucky for us, it didn’t last long. We filed into the warmth of Roots and Branches to sample their homemade crackers and local cheese and then over next door to Ovenbird for incredible scones and cookies and other baked goods.
Swannanoa doesn’t have many sidewalks (yet) so we carefully walked behind the building to a very cool spot that I didn’t discover for years – Cherry Tree Beads. Floor-to-ceiling beads of every shape and color greeted the group. I’ve got a North Carolina charm and marbled pink and black beads still in my closet ready for when I finally make a bracelet. Next was a quick coffee from Short Sleeves and one of our participants had a bag of quarters that she passed out so that we could get a temporary tattoo or mini-art from her vending machine in the store (check out VESSELS).
The last stop before lunch was the Swannanoa Market. This is the second year the market has been going, and it’s even bigger with live music and a variety of food, art, and craft vendors. The initial plan was to meet up at Good Company Pizza for lunch but their oven was out, then we moved to La Bamba but they were closed for unexpected maintenance, and we finally landed at Okie Dokie’s BBQ. All great options and despite every little challenge, the field trip was a wonderful success. The trip ended at Grovemont Park where the field trip kids burned off the last of their energy while us adults kept chatting like old friends.
This field trip taught me that this idea of gathering folks together with a loose and flexible agenda wasn’t dumb. Not only would folks show up, but they were all the way in – sharing what they hoped to get out of the field trip, talking to each other, laughing together, sharing phone numbers, taking pictures, making memories, and feeling joy.
Canton, NC
I chose Canton as the location for the next field trip because a few months prior, I had a rare day where I was off from work but the kids had school. I decided to spend the day in Canton and had such a wonderful day walking along the Pigeon River and popping into shops on Main Street. Why not do it again with my neighbors?
The group started our day at Canton Rec Park where I had to interrupt the pre-conversations to get us started. This has been my favorite part about the trips so far, folks arriving early and jumping right into getting to know each other. It’s beautiful to witness. I gave folks a little time to explore the park and then we met up in front of Papertown Coffee. The conversations continued and different groups formed and then switched up throughout the day. On this trip, we had a visitor from Georgia whose friend had been on the Swannanoa trip. It was the first time someone joined by word of mouth and the first time having a repeat field-tripper!
We walked on and explored Blue Moon Books, Bumble Holler, and Geek Mountain before making our way to the Grateful Table for lunch. I’ve been structuring my field trip in a way that there are “parts” to make it more accessible to various schedules. It has been working – sometimes people leave at midday or arrive at midday. This field trip had a special guest – Zeb Smathers, the Mayor of Canton, joined us for a few minutes during lunchtime to share about Canton and why he loves his town.
Finally, those of us with little kids finished out the day with some vegan ice cream from Papertown Scoops (inside Papertown Records) and playtime at the splash pad until the kids were totally wiped out. There were great car naps on the way home!
Black Mountain, NC
For the Black Mountain field trip, I experimented with having a midday field trip rather than a Saturday. It was harder to turn out folks but our small and mighty group still had a great day. We met up at Peri Social House, a boutique hotel and coffee shop, and I brought biscuits and jam from one of my favorite WNC restaurants and markets – Beradu. For the morning connection time, I invited Allie from White Horse Black Mountain to visit and share about their new hub and the free community events they are hosting.
Next, we drove down the road and parked in downtown to start our day with a quick look at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts Gallery and then a guided tour of the Swannanoa Valley Museum. The museum has been on my list for a long time and it was a new experience for me and everybody else in our group. I didn’t realize how big the museum was – two floors! We learned a lot about the history of the Swannanoa Valley and I can’t wait to go back again for a solo tour and time reading all of the placards.
For this tour, the original plan was for folks to explore on their own (rather than the usual walking tour – too many options!) and then to close out at Lake Tomahawk. Due to heat, we axed the lake meet up and split into three groups to walk around Black Mountain and have lunch. My kids and I checked out nutmeg., a new bakery, and then had lunch at My Father’s Pizza. Two other folks headed over to Trailhead to get to know each other better over lunch and then did some shopping. And the last group went to a guitar shop, Sassafrass on Sutton, and had their lunch at Veranda.
This field trip was in some ways more structured than the others (guided museum tour) and also less structured (no walking tour), but it was perfect for the size of the group and met the interests of all of the participants. I’m still hoping to do a future brunch bunch over at Beradu, it’s that good!
Old Fort, NC
Last week, I did my first field trip in collaboration with another group – Artemis Rising Collective. We structured the day so that I would lead the morning exploration of downtown, we’d meet up for lunch, and then they would take over to lead the Catawba Falls Hike. We had a lot of fun planning together, making videos, and pulling in folks from our different social media audiences. Brittany and Meredith at Artemis Rising, “create retreats that invite adventure and ease—blending fitness, yoga, time in nature, creative play, and meaningful connection.”
This was the biggest group yet, about 26 people altogether from all over Western North Carolina. The morning group met up at Seeker Coffee for connection time and then walked over to the McDowell Visitor Center. We had intended to go over to Arrowhead Gallery but they weren’t quite open yet. Instead, we walked across downtown and checked out the new (and bigger) location of b side books and bakery and then The Common Pine. Before lunch, we also managed to check out the booths at Davis Country Store and The Roxy. It was my first time at both of these spots – they’re packed with vintage, eclectic wares, art, clothes, and more!
We chose Foothills Watershed as the lunch meet before the hike. This spot is a massive bike park with a food trailer. There’s plenty of space indoors and out for a crowd. One of the participants opted out of the hike, but had a whole list of places I had recommended in my videos that she planned to visit on her way back home to Hendersonville. Just as we were finishing lunch thunder started to rumble but we figured we’d get to the trailhead before making any final calls.
Catawba Falls Trailhead parking is often busy, but this day was particularly bad. We all did manage to park on the road, but it meant a bit of a pre-hike before the hike. Everybody was in good spirits and down to try the hike and to turn around if it felt dangerous. Meredith gave us a great safety training before we got started. And again, the rain held off and we had a beautiful hike! At the bottom of the falls, the field trip kids swam in their clothes and had a blast. When we all got back to our cars the field trip but officially over, but a few of us headed over to The Thirsty Peanuts shack for fresh lemonade and back into downtown Old Fort for an ice cream cone at The Scream. It was a big, fun day and more affirmation that sometimes folks just need to be invited and the agenda can be simple: walk, talk, and eat.
Upcoming Summer Field Trips – August 1 to Marion, August 9 to Asheville Salt Cave/Botanical Gardens
Don’t miss out on the last two trips of the summer! On August 1st, we are spending the day in downtown Marion – think sidewalk sale, books, markets, art, and more. On August 9th, spend a relaxing session at the Asheville Salt Cave, followed by a walk in the Asheville Botanical Gardens. Find the full itineraries and register here.
What should we do this fall together? I’ve had some requests for the Earth to Sky Park! Share your thoughts below:
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Summer in WNC: Festivals and Events I’ve Loved
Summer 2026 in Western North Carolina feels like it is flying by. I had great plans for keeping this blog updated but if you follow me on social media, you know that I’ve been steady on the move. I attended several events over the last few months, including:
Trails and Trains Festival | Old Fort, nc
Earlier this spring, I visited the Destination McDowell Visitor Center in Old Fort, NC to grab a map and look around. I met two of the sweetest employees who clearly love McDowell County. They gave me so much good advice on what to see and do and then let me know that it was a must for me to come back to attend the annual Old Fort Trails and Trains Festival. I put it on my calendar!
On festival day, the weather was blazing hot, but game for an adventure, the kids and I got our sunscreen on and headed down the mountain. First, we walked through the vendor booths that were set up on a big lawn in downtown. We saw familiar favorites like Mackey Creek Mud (psst…Jess is hosting a Harvest Festival in this same space on October 24 – deets here) and Bigfoot Books and Brews, and learned about upcoming spots like Parlor Car in Marion. We also learned about the G5 Trail Collective, a non-profit partnership that has been collaborating with the US Forest Service to work on re-opening trails post-Hurricane Helene and other projects too!
Next, we headed over to the train tracks. Train enthusiasts were on hand to tell us about some model trains, the kids were allowed to climb into an antique railcar, and there was a table of festival merch. The kids had a blast with this hands-on experience. Then, we walked over to Black Beary’s for lunch and quickly popped into The Common Pine to say Happy 2nd Birthday to the shop.
Everyone full and content, the next stop was to the public library for the festival kid zone. Each kid got a bag filled with goodies, they played train-themed games, customized walking sticks, and so much more. Although we didn’t participate, the visitor center also had a scavenger hunt for kids throughout the festival area. Everyone was tired, but I squeezed in a stop at The Thirsty Peanuts on the way home for a blackberry lemonade before hopping back on I-40 for home!
All of this fun was just during the day on the Saturday of the festival. The week preceding was full of events, with Saturday evening including live music. Find out more about the annual festival at https://www.oldfortfest.com/.
Big Barn Bash at Hickory Nut Gap Farm | Fairview, nc
It’s fairly unusual to see Sunday vendor events, and so when one Saturday night I saw an Instagram post from the Appalachian Makers Collective advertising a Big Barn Bash at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, I filed it away in my head. The next day was rainy and the kids and I were itching to get out of the house. Barn implies covered, so we jumped in the car! The rain did not ruin our parade. Hickory Nut Gap Farm has a giant covered barn and even steady rain didn’t interfere with the event.
Although the barn is massive and covered, the sides are open air which gives the perfect balance of still feeling like you are outdoors. String lights ran the course of the barn, live music was playing on stage, and a gaggle of little kids were zooming around on tricycles in front of the stage. This immediately caught the attention of the Alamour girls and before doing anything else, I posted up on a bench to let them cycle their hearts out.
A little energy expended, we then walked through all of the makers and tables including some book-themed fun like Read Me Unconditionally and Thistle Owl Studio. We snagged a giant cookie and coffee from the Roam Coffee & Bakery truck. The Asheville Museum of Science was also set up with some fun educational activities – matching games, stamps, and even some live creatures.
I heard my name being called from across the barn and it was Anne Marie Brown, a local artist who paints and creates incredible fiber art. We used to work together at A.C. Moore a long time ago in what is now Hopey on Fairview Road. It was fun to catch up and introduce her to the kids.
We snacked on some popcorn, did another round of tricycles, and waited for a puppet show to begin. This was no ordinary puppet show – a group of Cherokee Second Language Learners put on a show to teach the kids some basic words and phrases in Cherokee and to tell stories. It was sweet and fun! You can find them on TikTok here. The show was timely too because I’ve been talking to the kids a lot about the importance of learning Arabic and the keeping of our family traditions and languages. The show was a beautiful display of what caring for and preserving tradition and language looks like.
Before we left, we checked out the old silo that is filled with musical instruments and did a quick stop at the Hickory Nut Gap Farm Store. It’s both a farm butcher shop and a market filled with dozens of local brands from across Western North Carolina.
Rootle Roadster Tour by PBS Kids | Swannanoa, NC
This summer, the Swannanoa Resilience Hub and other partners teamed up with PBS Kids to bring their Rootle Roadster Tour to Swannanoa! This was probably the best kid-centered event that I have ever been to and they managed to set up the event without canceling the Swannanoa Market. The market is open in the same space every Saturday from 10 AM-1 PM.
The Rootle Roadster Tour event was packed with families, but because there was so much to do, there were no long lines or wait times for any games or activities. I invited my next-door neighbor who also has three kids – we started by picking up a free book, bag, and snack for each kid. PBS also handed out a meal ticket and a dessert ticket for the food trucks to every single kid.
The next four hours were a blur – face paint, food, games, a STEM experiment with lab coats, golf simulation, walking around the market booths, and more! You can bet the kiddos passed out on the couch the moment we got home.
Groovin’ on Grovemont | Swannanoa, nc
A few months ago, I got together with a couple of members of the Swannanoa Community Council for coffee and to learn more about our community-owned Grovemont and Fox Creek parks. Throughout the course of the conversation, I also learned about Groovin’ on Grovemont, a summer concert series at Grovemont that raises money to maintain the properties. I had heard about the event, but had never been.
The first event was on July 14th with Datrian and the Family Tree on stage (so talented!). We packed up our blankets and headed over at 6 PM. By the time we got there, hundreds of people were already set up with their chairs and the event was in full motion. We bought dinner plates and sat down, but I say “sat down” lightly as the kids did very little sitting and a whole lot of running and playing.
In addition to music and food, local organizations had tables, the Swannanoa Library set up a craft, and The Hop was selling ice cream. There are two more events this summer and I’m excited to be a sponsor of the event series. I hope you can make it on July 28 (Ska City) and August 11th (Kellin Watson and the Feelgood) – attending is free!
Upcoming Field Trips:
Old Fort Field Trip – Explore Downtown Old Fort and Hike Catawba Falls (w/Artemis Rising Collective) on July 18
Marion Field Trip on August 1
Asheville Salt Cave & Botanical Gardens Field Trip (w/Artemis Rising Collective) on August 9
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Sign Up: Field Trip to Marion – August 1, 2026
I’ve had this idea percolating for a while…what if I invited my social media followers to meet up in person for a field trip? We could do the what we do best: connect with each other, build community, support local businesses, find free ways to spend time outside our homes, and spread joy.
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, I’m hosting a field trip in Marion, NC and you’re invited! All ages are welcome and although there is a schedule, dropping in and out is okay – we’d rather have ya some of the time rather than none of the time.
Here’s an agenda and what to expect. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up – I’ll use this information to communicate and bring enough materials.
What to Expect
We’ll meet up as a group to get to know each other, put on name tags, and pass out maps, and Field Trip Guides. You get to choose to follow me or explore on your own. We’ll have a lunch meet-up spot and then post-lunch close.
Field Trip Agenda (will update as we get closer)
- There is a sidewalk sale happening in downtown from 7:30 AM-12 PM. Strongly encourage coming early and seeing it before the trip starts!
- 9:45 AM-10 AM Arrivals at Main Season Market (39 State St, Marion, NC)
- 10 AM-10:30 AM Introductions/Welcome
- 10:30 AM-12 PM Explore Downtown Marion
- 12 PM-1 PM Lunch at Reese’s Delectables (82 S Main St)
- 1 PM-2 PM Taste Test at Marion Parlor Car (120 E Court St) and then Coffee and Book Browse at Bigfoot Books (124 E Court St)
One response to “Sign Up: Field Trip to Marion – August 1, 2026”
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This sounds great! I actually own a store in Marion, NC called Appalachian Remedies at 93 W Court St, Marion, NC. You can see me on Facebook. I’d love to meet ya’ll. I have free samples at my store.
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Sign Up: Downtown Old Fort and Hike Catawba Falls – July 18, 2026
I’ve had this idea percolating for a while…what if I invited my social media followers to meet up in person for a field trip? We could do the what we do best: connect with each other, build community, support local businesses, find free ways to spend time outside our homes, and spread joy.
On Saturday, July 18th, 2026, I’m hosting a field trip in Old Fort, NC in collaboration with Artemis Rising Collective and you’re invited! All ages are welcome.
Here’s an agenda and what to expect. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up – I’ll use this information to communicate and bring enough materials.
What to Expect
We’ll meet up as a group in the morning to get to know each other and prepare for the day. For this field trip, you can choose to participate in the whole day or just parts of the day.
Field Trip Agenda
- 10 AM-10:30 AM Gather at Seeker Coffee – led by Runda
- Come early and meet fellow field trip participants. We’ll learn more about each other before the field trip experience.
- 10:30 AM-12:00 PM Explore Downtown Old Fort – led by Runda
- 12:30 PM Lunch at Foothills Watershed – Co-Led by Runda and Artemis Rising Collective
- 2 PM Start Hike @ Catawba Falls Trailhead – led by Artemis Rising Collective
- Group Photo @ bottom of the falls and then split group (folks who are down for the staircase and a more intermediate hike will continue on the loop, others can hike back the way we came).
- Meet back @ Foothills post-hike to hang and close out the day (optional)
Register at the form below.
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Asheville Wellness Day – Sunday, August 9th
I’ve had this idea percolating for a while…what if I invited my social media followers to meet up in person for a field trip? We could do the what we do best: connect with each other, build community, support local businesses, find free ways to spend time outside our homes, and spread joy.
On Sunday, August 9th, 2026, I’m hosting a field trip in Asheville, NC in collaboration with Artemis Rising Collective and you’re invited!
Here’s an agenda and what to expect. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up – I’ll use this information to communicate and bring enough materials.
What to Expect
We’ll meet up as a group to get to know each other and prepare for the afternoon. For this field trip, you can choose to participate in the whole day or just parts of the day. Note: Participation in the Asheville Salt Cave is $22/person.
Field Trip Agenda
- 3:30-3:45 PM Arrivals at Asheville Salt Cave
- 3:45-4 PM Gathering at Asheville Salt Cave – led by Runda
- Come early and meet fellow field trip participants. We’ll learn more about each other and the space before the field trip experience.
- 4 PM-5 PM Asheville Salt Cave Experience – guided experience led by Asheville Salt Cave Staff
- Spaces are limited, register below!
- 5:30 PM Medicinal flora/fauna walk led by Artemis Rising Collective at Asheville Botanical Gardens
SALT CAVE IS FULLY BOOKED. EMAIL RUNDA@RUNDAINWNC.COM WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
5 responses to “Asheville Wellness Day – Sunday, August 9th”
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[…] North Asheville. I’ve got free seats available and am offering them first to my blog readers! Register here to snag a […]
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Yes! Just register using the form!
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Sign Up: Field Trip to Black Mountain – July 1, 2026
I’ve had this idea percolating for a while…what if I invited my social media followers to meet up in person for a field trip? We could do the what we do best: connect with each other, build community, support local businesses, find free ways to spend time outside our homes, and spread joy.
On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, I’m hosting a field trip in Black Mountain, NC and you’re invited! All ages are welcome and although there is a schedule, dropping in and out is okay – we’d rather have ya some of the time rather than none of the time.
Here’s an agenda and what to expect. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up – I’ll use this information to communicate and bring enough materials.
What to Expect
We’ll meet up as a group to get to know each other, put on name tags, and pass out maps, Field Trip Guides, and collectible buttons (get excited!!!). You get to choose to follow me or explore on your own. We’ll have a lunch meet-up spot, explore some more, and then meet up once more to close out the day.
Field Trip Agenda (will update as we get closer)
- 9:45 AM-10 AM Arrivals at Peri Social House
- Peri has a coffee shop, I highly recommend grabbing a delicious drink before circling up with us at 10 AM!
- 10 AM-10:45 AM Introductions/Welcome and Biscuits/Jam from Beradu
- Runda’s bringing biscuits and jam from Beradu for the group to try. We’ll have time to connect and think about how to spend the day.
- 11 AM-12 PM Swannanoa Valley Museum Tour
- 12 PM-2 PM Explore Downtown Black Mountain/Lunch
- 2:30 PM-3:00 PM Official Close at Lake Tomahawk
- 3:00 PM-whenever hangout at Lake Tomahawk
- Bringing kids? There’s a playground!
Cost – Suggested Donation of $15/adult (includes biscuits and SVM Tour). See form below.
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Let’s talk about memberships – WNC Nature Center, NC Arboretum, Asheville Museum of Science, & Asheville Art Museum
I think our big attractions in Asheville are underselling a major part of their membership programs – reciprocity. The WNC Nature Center, the North Carolina Arboretum, the Asheville Museum of Science, and the Asheville Art Museum all belong to different reciprocity programs, which means that if you’re a member of one, you can go to other gardens, museums, aquariums, etc. for half price or even free all through the country!
Let me break it down for you and share some of the cool places you can go, other membership benefits, and how many visits as a family of five = the cost of a membership.
Psst…if you don’t know about the ZOOM Buncombe Library passes, learn how to get into attractions in WNC for free here. If you utilize SNAP benefits, read about free admission to museums across the US in the Museums for All program here.
WNC Nature Center
The WNC Nature Center has seven membership tiers. Each of the tiers has a one-year or two-year membership fee (saves a little $). We are a family of five and are enrolled in the Family tier, but the Family Plus seems worth it if you have frequent out-of-town visitors because you can bring two guests.
Our membership costs $89/year for 2 adults and up to 4 children. One trip to the nature center for the five of us costs $57.75 pre-tax. Therefore, it only takes two visits a year to make this financially worthwhile, and we definitely go more than that.
Using the reciprocity program, I’ve saved over $40 taking our family to the Greensboro Science Center. A few years ago, I went on a work trip to Chicago and visited places like the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum at a discount. This year, we’re planning to take advantage of free admission to the NC Zoo!
Reciprocity Program
- *Read all of the rules of each program. Some reciprocity programs are not valid at locations within 90 miles of your home.
- AZA Zoos & Aquariums
- Ex. 100% off NC Zoo in Asheboro, 50% off Greensboro Science Center, 50% NC Aquariums at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, and Manteo.
- ASTC Science Centers
- Ex. Discovery Place in Charlotte, Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, Museum of Life and Science in Durham.
- Other Programs
- Ex. 50% off Asheville Museum of Science, 100% Catawba Science Center, $2 off/person at Chimney Rock.
All Benefits
- Free admission for a year
- Early admission at 9:30 AM
- Nature Center discounts
- Discounted admission to 450+ centers (reciprocity!!!!)
- Cub & Kits Kids Club – conservation content and birthday fun for kids
- Biltmore Estate – $10/off daytime admission (limit of 4)
- June 2026 – membership swap with the NC Arboretum
North Carolina Arboretum
This year we rejoined the North Carolina Arboretum after a many year hiatus. The main reason I rejoined is that I learned about the ecoEXPLORE Program for kids and that you can borrow backpacks full of activities at the front desk.
There are nine membership tiers. We are part of the household membership, which includes 2 adults and their children. It’s $90/year, but because access is by car, you can always bring guests with you. My husband and I each have a pass (and carload of people).
Parking on a regular day is $25/car; this means we are saving after four carloads a year. The individual membership is $60 and could definitely work for a family as well. Just know that you only get one vehicle pass.
Reciprocity Program
- American Horticultural Society
- Free admission to gardens to over 400 gardens in North America!
- Discounts at nurseries and garden retailers
- Ex. Full Moon Tea Company, Willow Creek Nursery, and more
All Benefits – Household Tier
- Free Parking
- Discounts to the gift shop and programming
- Discounts to some Asheville area garden and nursery retailers
- Reciprocal admissions through the American Horticultural Society
- Reciprocal admission to the NC Zoo (that would be $88 +tax for my family)
Asheville Museum of Science
The Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) has four membership tiers that are based on the number of people on the membership pass. My family would need the $200 tier which equals about four trips for us. I’m not a member simply because we have the WNC Nature Center membership and receive a discount. But, we LOVE AMOS!
Reciprocity Program
- 50% Off Daily Admission at Regional Reciprocal Partners:
- Catawba Science Center (Hickory, NC)
- Hands On! Discover Center & Gray Fossil Site (Johnson City, TN)
- Western North Carolina Nature Center (Asheville, NC)
- Free or discounted admission to 250+ museums and science centers through the ASTC Reciprocal Passport Program
- Free museum admission
- 50% off guest admission at AMOS (based on your membership level)
- 10% Off Museum Shop Purchases
- $25 Off our Science Themed Birthday Parties
- Discounts or early access for STEAM camps & workshops throughout the year
Asheville Art Museum
I’ll admit that I’ve only been to the Asheville Art Museum a handful of times. I really need to visit more often! They have eight membership tiers, including one that’s for college students. The cost for my family would be $100 or the equivalent of two trips.
Reciprocal Program (only applies if you’re in the Patron level or above = $300)
- If you’re at the Patron level or above ($300)
- Free admission to nearly 200 museums through participation in the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership (SERM) Program.
- If you’re at the Benefactor level or above ($600)
- Also receive free admission to more than 1000 museums nationwide and in Canada through participation in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association.
All Benefits – Family/Dual Tier
- Subscription to the Museum’s Member publication, Profile
- Member discount on admission to select special exhibitions, ticketed events, programs, classes, and workshops
- Invitations to special events including Members-only exhibition previews
- 10% discount in the Museum Store and Perspective Café (excludes consignment items and alcoholic beverages)
Do you have a membership to any of these places (or others)? What do you like about it? How have you used reciprocity? Let me know in the comments!
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Field Trip to Canton – June 27, 2026
I’ve had this idea percolating for a while…what if I invited my social media followers to meet up in person for a field trip? We could do the what we do best: connect with each other, build community, support local businesses, find free ways to spend time outside our homes, and spread joy.
The next Runda in WNC Community Field Trip will be on Saturday, June 27th, 2026 in Canton, NC and you’re invited! All ages are welcome and although there is a schedule, dropping in and out is okay – we’d rather have ya some of the time rather than none of the time.
Here’s an agenda and what to expect. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to sign up – I’ll use this information to communicate and bring enough materials.
What to Expect
We’ll meet up as a group to get to know each other, put on name tags, and pass out maps, Field Trip Guides, and collectible buttons (get excited!!!). Then, we’ll explore downtown! You get to choose to follow Runda or explore on your own. We’ll have a lunch meet-up spot, explore some more, and then meet up once more to close out the day.
Field Trip Agenda (will update as we get closer)
- 9:45 AM-10 AM Arrivals at Canton Rec Park
- 10 AM-10:15 AM Introductions/Welcome
- 10:15 AM-10:45 AM Explore Canton Rec Park
- 10:45 AM-12:30 PM Explore Downtown Canton
- 12:30 PM-1:30 PM Lunch
- 1:30 PM-2:30 PM Explore Downtown Canton
- 2:30 PM-3:00 PM Official Close at Sorrells Street Park
- 3:00 PM-whenever Splash Pad @ Sorrells Street Park
Cost – Suggested Donation of $10/adult. See form below.
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Swannanoa Field Trip Guide – Download
The first-ever Runda in WNC Field Trip was a success! A group of strangers from all over WNC and beyond (someone drove 2.5 hours!) showed up to join me for a day of community and exploration in Swannanoa. We talked, we laughed, we shopped local, and we had a great time.
Did you miss the field trip? No worries, I’m working on an entire calendar of events! Subscribe to this blog to be the first to know about it. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit Swannanoa and bring your friends and family.
You can download a suggested Saturday agenda, my recommendations, and a field trip grid below. Please consider donating to future field trip creation and itineraries at Venmo @rundainwnc or buymeacoffee.com/rundainwnc.
The first five people to explore Swannanoa with my materials will receive a Field Trip pin by mail. Just take photos, tag me in them, and DM your address!
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