Each week we will be sharing short pieces as a preview of the Fearless Father-Daughter Retreat, October 22-24. We hope you will consider joining us in Ridgecrest – to reserve your spot or find more information, please click here.

While we believe that it is crucial to carve out time to gather around Scripture, we also know that some of the most important relationship building and discipleship happens on the go. We hope to provide time for you and your daughters to think, learn, and worship together; we want to encourage you to go beyond sessions and out into the Asheville area. If you decide to extend your trip to the North Carolina mountains by a couple of hours or even a day or two, here are some fun excursions you can take together (all within an hour of the conference home base).

The Biltmore Estate
No field trip list is complete without Asheville’s signature mansion/museum. Tour the place the Vanderbilts called home, mazes of ornate rooms packed with art and stories and echoes from the gilded age. (20 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission to the house and grounds with audio tour: $76-$106.)

Dobrá Tea
Sample from an adventurous tea menu at Dobrá Tea. This tea house also offers baked treats and lunch items, as well as an occasional class on teas from different cultures. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest.)

Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center
Learn about the history, culture, and natural life of the region in a repurposed 1921 firehouse. This museum is at the edge of downtown Black Mountain (within easy walking distance to locally owned shops and restaurants), and also hosts guided hikes in the area. (8 minutes from Ridgecrest. Recommended donation: $5)

Linville Cavern
Step into unfamiliar surroundings and learn about the science, history, and wildlife (yes, wildlife!) inside a mountain. On your tour of the cavern, you will get to peer into deep subterranean water, see the sooty remains of a deserter’s bonfire, hear the harrowing story of two boys who got lost in the cavern for days, and experience a few seconds of true cavernous dark. (50 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for children.)

French Broad Chocolate
Venture in to downtown Asheville for world class chocolate, crafted with care “from bean to bar”. French Broad Chocolate has a wide menu of treats, from the classic chocolate bar to custards, cookies, and bonbons. They also offer 45 minute tours of the chocolate factory where visitors can learn about the art of chocolate making. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest. Tour tickets: $12 for adults, $8 for children.)

The Asheville Museum of Science
A good option for those with younger girls, the Asheville Science Museum has a broad array of exhibits on the natural world. From fossils to outer space, gemstones to hurricanes, there’s plenty to learn! (30 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission $8 for adults, $7 for children.)

Take A Hike
For those interested in a picnic or a relatively easy – just under a mile – walk and beautiful mountain views, we recommend Craggy Gardens (45 minutes from Ridgecrest, path open from 10-5).

For a little more of a challenge, try the Catawba Falls Trail (17 minutes away from Ridgecrest, 2.7 mile trail), or more experienced hikers can enjoy the Old Mitchell Trail (about an hour away from Ridgecrest, 2.2 miles to the summit, not recommended to first time or very young adventurers).

Bonus Suggestion: The Smith-McDowell House
Tour the oldest mansion in Asheville, and hear the stories of the generations who lived, worked, loved, fretted, gained wealth and lost it again, all within four walls. (25 minutes from Ridgecrest. Admission: $10 per adult, $5 per youth. Children 6 and under are admitted for free.)

Click here to reserve your spot at this year’s father-daughter retreat, hosted at Ridgecrest on October 22-24.