River Arts District — Attraction in Asheville

The River Arts District (RAD) in Asheville, NC is a must-visit for anyone who loves art, culture, and creativity. This vibrant district is home to over 200 working artists, as well as a wide variety of galleries, studios, shops, restaurants, and breweries.

One of the best things about the RAD is its walkability. The entire district is easily accessible on foot, and there are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way. If you're feeling energetic, you can also rent a bike and explore the area that way.

There are many different ways to enjoy the RAD. You can wander through the galleries, admiring the work of local artists. You can visit the studios and watch artists at work. You can shop for unique gifts and souvenirs. You can enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants. Or, you can simply relax along the river and soak up the atmosphere.

No matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find it in the River Arts District. This is a place where creativity and imagination thrive, and it's a great place to spend a day exploring.

Here are some specific recommendations for things to do in the RAD:

Visit the River Arts District Gallery Hop, which takes place every second Saturday of the month. This is a great opportunity to meet local artists and see their work.

Take a bike ride along the French Broad River. There are several bike paths in the area, and it's a great way to see the district from a different perspective.

Visit the YMI Cultural Center. This historic building is now home to a variety of art galleries, studios, and shops.

Have a meal at one of the many restaurants in the RAD. There are something for everyone, from casual eateries to fine dining establishments.

Enjoy a drink at one of the many breweries in the RAD. There are several breweries in the area, and they all offer unique and delicious beers.

The River Arts District is a vibrant and exciting place to visit. Whether you're interested in art, culture, food, or simply a leisurely stroll along the river, you're sure to find something to enjoy in the RAD.

Here are some additional tips for visiting the River Arts District:

The RAD is a popular destination, so it's best to visit during the week if you want to avoid crowds.

If you're planning on doing any shopping, be sure to bring cash. Many of the businesses in the RAD don't accept credit cards.

If you're planning on taking a bike ride, be sure to wear comfortable shoes. There are some hills in the area, and you'll want to be prepared.

The RAD is a great place to people-watch. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the creativity of the people around you.

I...

Large area be sure to pick up a map before you go to keep your bearings. Went on a weekday afternoon, seems to be two sections separated by the tracks. I started on the upper side away from the river. Found it was easier to move the car to see everything. There is a lot of walking and was plenty of free parking. Many of the building have multiple floors with multiple studios on each floor. Some spaces are shared. Don't expect spotless clean well maintained areas, that is not what this art district is about.

I read reviews where people said the studios we closed or artists rude. On the upper section most all were open and most all artists welcomed me and encouraged questions. I had conversations with many artists and found none rude. Most of the art is painting/drawing followed by ceramics then wood and glass. Took a couple hours at least to see the upper section. Then moved down to the Riverview station on Foundry street. There I did find a number of the studios closed but it was after four in the afternoon.

I have posted just a few pics of the many studios I went in so not sure where the reviewers went that said there was no art. To see everything at a quick pace would take about a day hours. As to prices they vary, there are small items in small studios in $20-30 range. In larger studios a small giclee may start at a few hundred dollars. This isn't Pier One.

One thing that struck me is that while good art is in the eye of the beholder I didn't run across any studio where I though they need to find a new profession. While I may not have liked everything I saw I could appreciate the skill taken...

It looks colorful and artsy because of the pictures online..but keep in mind the artsy stuff and sculptures are few and far between..but when put side by side online it seems bigger and nicer than it actually is..

I'll be nice and give it 2 stars. We were in town and online the river arch district looked like a pretty big deal. We eventually found a map which I've posted a picture of. We walked all the areas in the Mao. Most were closed despite saying they opened at 11. We found a few that were open after walking veeyr direction for an hour. The ones we found were little hippie painting shops. A few paintings hanging on the wall. One place we found lady was making figurines but thata about it. It definitely seems like like was played up more online, unless we missed something. There is a park by the river id you like to ride run or tak your kids down there to hang out. But other thank that there was not much to see. I would be back to this area, honestly feel like we wasted a good portion of our day here when we could have been exploring some of the mountain areas nearby.

As for parking, there is free parking everywhere and designated lots for the arts district so no issue there. Some areas seemed sketchy. If you'd like to rent a bike to go around there is a guy who sets up a stand and rents them...when we saw him he was sitting there brushing his teeth at his rental booth...maybe he sleeps there? :D

I hope this images and maps are helpful. We also saw one resteraunt down there that seems pretty popular..vivans..looks like they had a...