Asheville residents and visitors alike can enjoy activities ranging from zipline tours and hot air balloon rides to fishing and rafting in what Outside Magazine calls one of the best towns in America for outdoor recreation.

Outdoor Recreation
Asheville and its surrounding areas provide many opportunities for outdoor adventurers looking to take advantage of the prime location in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Water sports are popular in Asheville – especially whitewater rafting, kayaking or canoeing – and the area includes four Class V rapids along with hundreds of Class II-IV stretches on multiple rivers in the area.

Those looking for lighter water fare can fish in the many rivers and lakes in the area or visit Sliding Rock, a natural water slide on a 60-foot slab of well-worn rock.

The Appalachian peaks in the area give hikers and mountain bikers hundreds of miles of trails to explore. Rock climbers also come to the region for its many mountain rock faces, most notably Looking Glass Rock, the most popular climbing spot in North Carolina. Beginners or those who prefer indoor climbing can also visit downtown Asheville's ClimbMax Climbing Center, a full service indoor climbing facility.

In winter months, skiing is readily available to residents of Asheville, and Cataloochee Ski Area is just half an hour away. The famous Blue Ridge Parkway runs right by Asheville. Stretching 469 miles, "America's Favorite Drive" showcases the stunning beauty of the area and gives easy access to many state parks and recreation areas, some of which cover more than 6,000 acres.

Adventurers looking for something unique can look into the Adventure America Zipline Canopy Tours, a three-hour tour that includes 11 ziplines and five sky bridges over 22 areas of scenic vistas reaching up to 80 feet in elevation. Hot air balloon rides are also a fun and unique way to see the regions natural beauty from a birds-eye view, and tours are provided by Asheville Hot Air Balloons, LLC and the R.O. Franks Aviation Company.

Spectator Sports
Asheville residents have had a home team to root for since 1915, when The Asheville Tourists, a Class A farm team for the Colorado Rockies, began playing baseball. Local fans have been filling McCormick Field since 1924. After going through a renovation in 1992, the ballpark now holds 4,000 people.

Golf
Golf plays a big part in the sports community of Asheville as well. With three public courses within the city limits and many more just a short drive away, there is no shortage of great places to play.

The Golf Course at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa was designed by Donald Ross, one of the most influential golf course designers in the sport, and is routinely named among the top 10 courses in North Carolina. Golf carts at the course are fully equipped with the Uplink GPS system.

Another Donald Ross design, the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, is a challenging and hilly course with narrow fairways that are perfect for the seasoned golfer. The Crowne Plaza Resort features a nine-hole golf course along with 20 indoor and outdoor tennis courts. But the private courses in Asheville are what truly set it apart.

The Biltmore Forest Country Club, founded by the Vanderbilt family in 1922, continues to be an invitation-only, member-owned private club, and is recognized as one of the top 10 percent of all private courses in America.

The Cliffs, a series of private golf courses and living facilities throughout the Carolinas, have one course in Asheville and another on the way.

Walnut Cove, opened in 2005, is a Jack Nicklaus signature course that highlights the natural beauty of the Pisgah Natural Forest. According to the PGA Tour, it is the only championship golf course to debut in tournament-ready conditions.

The High Carolina Golf Course, slated to open in 2012, will feature year-round playability at 4,000 feet, and is set to be known as the first American golf course created by Tiger Woods Design.

Parks
Asheville's park system is expansive, and so are the parks themselves.

Carrier Park holds much more than the average park. Here you'll find a velodrome, a roller hockey rink and a lawn bowling court, along with volleyball and basketball courts, playground equipment, paved trails and a soccer/baseball multi-use field.

Other unique features among Asheville parks include the shuffleboard court at Harvest House Center, the disc golf course at Richmond Hill Park, the climbing wall at the Montford Complex and the dog parks at the Azalea and French Broad River parks.

Mount Mitchell State Park is a great option for those who don't mind having to climb to get there. Sitting atop the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, more than a mile high, the 1,946-acre park provides spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With more than 50 parks and recreation centers within the area, it's easy to find a fun place to spend an afternoon in Asheville.

For more information, here is a list of Asheville parks.