Hike a portion of the world famous 2,174-mile footpath that stretches in its entirety from Maine to Georgia. There are several day-hike options near Asheville including a section in Hot Springs, N.C. (40 minutes outside of the city), where the trail goes down Main Street. Hot Springs is located where the trail meets the French Broad River and is the only town that sits astride the footpath. Start from the center of downtown Hot Springs and enjoy a leisurely 1.6-mile hike to Lover’s Leap rock outcropping, which takes about an hour. The trail can be enjoyed with a hike on top of Max Patch Mountain, a 4,600-foot mountain that is part of Pisgah National Forest and offers views of Mount Mitchell and the Great Smoky Mountains.