Hood Huggers International (Hood Tours)
The past, present, and future of African Americans in Asheville is a story of resilience and ingenuity. Learn about this powerful story on Hood Huggers International Walking and Driving Tours. We highly recommend including one or more of these tours in your visit to Asheville.
Hood Tours are an intimate, interactive experience guaranteed to leave you looking at this mountain town with new eyes.
Visit the Peace Gardens & Market, home to Hood Huggers. Peace Gardens & Market is an urban micro-farm and art garden in West Asheville. The garden hosts community events and garden work days. They provide CSA boxes for neighboorhood elders and have a weekly Pay-What-You-Can honor system market with freshly harvested produce. Learn more about Peace Gardens & Market.
Explore the Burton Street Neighborhood in West Asheville
Hood Tours include a walking tour exploring the Burton Street community in West Asheville. This area is one of Asheville’s oldest African American neighborhoods, founded by E.W. Pearson in 1912. The tour includes visiting the Burton Street Community Peace Garden and Burton Street Community Center – former segregated African American elementary school. Tours are 90 minutes. Book on their website.
Hood Huggers Downtown Walking Tour
Walking tours explore Downtown Asheville, home to shops and galleries featuring merchandise and art from African American artisans and artists, YMI Cultural Center, Stephens Lee Community Center, The Block, and significant African American architecture. See their website for additional details and to book your tour.
Downtown Driving Tour
Learn more as you explore Asheville’s historically Black neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, art, and vibrant community spaces on a powerful driving tour rooted in The CAP Playbook. This experience gives you a deeper view of the city and its communities, educating you on the Past, Present, and Future of Black Asheville. You’ll see murals, historic corridors, and cultural sites also featured in our walking tours, along with additional locations that expand the story and broaden your perspective.
Note: Each tour is unique and may not include all neighborhoods. See their website for details and to book your spot.
Hood Tours on Flying Bikes The Healing Journey
This collaborative experience from Hood Tours and The Flying Bike offers a thoughtfully crafted day of movement, storytelling, and connection. Beginning in Asheville aboard a Hood Tours bus, the journey weaves powerful, often overlooked stories of Black history rooted in the mountains, creating space for reflection. Please see their website for more details.
