D
Excellent Tour in the RAD.
The day my group of friends and I had touring the River Arts District was fascinating and enjoyable. Our tour guide was kind, patient and full of great information and history about the area.
RAD Rising: From Flood to Flourish – A tip-based RAD walking tour
+16 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2h–2h 30min
- Price from
- $5 / person
- Location
- Asheville, United States
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 40 reviews
- Languages
- EN, FR, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Asheville Free Walking Tours
- Meeting point
- Outside of the studio is where we will meet. I recommend parking at the free parking lot right beside the studio.Also if you want to park at the end, you can park at the visitor center in the river arts district at 3 River Arts Place.
Description
Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart of the River Arts District, where history, artistry, and resilience come to life. This community has weathered immense challenges—including a historic flood in 1916 and the most recent flood of 2024, which is considered the thousand year flood. This vibrant community of artists has risen from the wreckage, more passionate than ever to share their stories and creations with you. On this pay-as-you-wish tour, you’ll explore the district’s rich history, meet incredible artists who lost everything yet refused to give up, and hear firsthand accounts of survival and rebirth. Along the way, enjoy a delicious tasting, witness a mesmerizing glass-blowing demonstration, and experience the indomitable spirit that makes this artistic hub so special. Come support, celebrate, and be inspired. The River Arts District is back—and ready to welcome you! About 1.5 a mile walk
Tour Options
Itinerary
Trackside Studios
We will start here with a demonstration from the artist of how their artwork is paired with videography to create a unique multimedia experience
The Grey Eagle
Guests will get a private tour of this historical music venue including stories about different musicians who have performed here as well as the history behind the murals and paintings that line the walls.
362 Depot
We will meet some local artist and explore their galleries
Lexington Glassworks
We will watch a live glass blowing experience. Depending on which artists are available, we may even get to interact with one of the glass blowers and have them explain the process to us!
What's included
Included
Entrance to venues, tastings, and live demonstrations
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
4.7
40 reviews
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
RAD Rising: From Flood to Flourish – A tip-based RAD walking tour lasts about 2h–2h 30min. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $5 per person for this Asheville experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Outside of the studio is where we will meet. I recommend parking at the free parking lot right beside the studio. Also if you want to park at the end, you can park at the visitor center in the river arts district at 3 River Arts Place. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(40)
L
Great way to spend a few hours and explore the the arts district
We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with David our tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and extremely proud of his home town. Would recommend this to anyone interested in the Arts (and some other history of the area).
4
Uninformed guide for uninteresting tour
Came here on a Wednesday afternoon. Our guide said he hadn’t given the tour much since hurricane Helena and it showed. Told us a bit about the artists and about his experience during the hurricane. But overall it was not very informative or interesting. How about some of the history of the area besides just the artists? And then he took us to the end of the tour where the building had been completely washed away and said “oh. We used to come here and get gelato to end the tour but I guess that is gone now.” Really? He didn’t check out the area beforehand? He couldn’t even tell us details about the extent of the hurricane damage or other obvious details. Would not recommend this - waste of time.
Operator response
I apologize for the experience you had on our tour. It does appear your guide did not show up prepared to give you the tour we offer and that will be handled on our side. We would love the opportunity to show you the wonderful tours we can provide. Please reach out at 828 419 0295 to allow us to make this right. I ensure you will love the tour with one of our best guides!
P
Very Informative
Joe was very informative and knew many of the local artists. He was able to tell us about them as well as the 2024 flood and how it affected them. They have all pulled together and are supporting one another. I’m so glad we chose to do this tour, it was different than the normal “town” tour, kind of like a peak under the curtain!
1 people found this helpful
B
A great experience!
Our guide, Mike, was knowledgeable, friendly, and very accommodating to what we wanted to see and learn about. A wonderful introduction to the arts scene in the RAD- past, present, and future.
C
Learned a lot, bought a lot!
David was extremely knowledgeable about the RAD history and musical history in Ashville. Loved seeing artists at work and talk with them. Bring your credit card because you’ll want to purchase some of the art you see in the studios.
M
Even better than we expected!
We have been coming to Asheville for 30 years and never really explored the RAD. Our guide David was amazing, sharing a thorough history in an entertaining way. Highly recommend!
E
Great gift!
I bought this for my parents as a Christmas present. They loved it. It was just the 2 of them on a private tour with David. Even though they live near Asheville, they still learned so much about the history and the art industry. They were very appreciative!
A
Fantastic experienxe
Dave was an excellent guide. He explained us the history of Asheville and guided us through the district with nice stories and introductions to artists Beautiful area Highly recommend the tour and Dave as a guide Thank you
1 people found this helpful
S
Great guide and history
We especially loved the history of the area. The guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. Recommended
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from$5
4.7(40) Free cancellation