Most of 2020 and into 2021 has been the year of road trips and dog friendly AirBnBs for us. Getting to know our corner of the world better has been a fun adventure and exploring Asheville tops the list. At around 3.5 hours from Atlanta, we pack the pups in the car and use the beautiful drive and many stops along the way to enjoy the journey. We typically stay outside the city to save money since we have a car and tend to get out and about quiet a bit. Both small towns of Arden in the south and Candler to the west have served us well for this.
Located in the Pisgah region along the Blue Ridge Parkway which runs from Cherokee, NC to Afton, VA, Asheville has much to offer. From the funky vibe, numerous breweries, popular eateries, and rooftop bars of the city to the hikes, wineries, mountain views, and waterfalls close by, there is an Asheville for everyone. Known for the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home at almost 179,000 square feet built in the late 1800s, a tour of the home and gardens shouldn’t be missed as long as you don’t mind the hefty price of admission. There are many additional tours and add-ons, and we greatly enjoyed the chocolate and wine pairing at the Biltmore Winery in Antler Hill Village.
If you’re still feeling fancy, take in the views or enjoy a spa day at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn. This unique resort offers many dining options from the high end Sunset Terrace to the gastropub Edison patio with the same spectacular views. We also snuck off to explore the hotel including the miniature reconstruction and underground tunnels leading to the spa.
The best part of Asheville though is all the free stuff to do. From a free walking tour to the Friday night drum circle, downtown has much to see. Heading west to the River Arts Districts along the French Broad River and into the hip West Asheville area along Haywood Rd, taking in the numerous galleries and street art can fill an afternoon. With a car, the best free activity in the area is simply driving the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the viewpoints just off the road or hike up to the tops of the mountains. Using the Asheville Trails website or Blue Ridge Parkway App, you can map your route from Mount Mitchell an hour northeast of the city (MM 355), the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6684 ft, down to Richland Balsam an hour and a half southwest of the city (MM 431), the highest point on the parkway at 6047 ft. There are many excellent hikes along the way that are short enough in distance to pack into one day such as Craggy Gardens, Mt Pisgah, Frying Pan Mountain, Looking Glass & Skinny Dip Falls, Graveyard Fields, and Devil’s Courthouse.
We’ve had some of our best hiking days on the way into and out of Asheville as well. An hour south of Asheville, Dupont State Forest’s most popular trail passes 3 waterfalls in 4.5 miles, though I would advise using the Hooker Falls parking which appeared more plentiful than the Buck Forest Road entrance. An hour and 15 min southwest of the city, Gorges State Park also packs in 3 waterfalls on the 4 mile Rainbow Falls Trail, plus 2 short walks to Bearwallow Falls and Bearwallow Valley Observation Deck depart the Grassy Ridge picnic area. Nearby, the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies at 411 ft, Whitewater Falls, is viewable from a short paved walkway with stairs or longer upper and lower falls hike using the Foothills Trail.
If all that hiking got you hungry, Asheville is known for it’s food scene, but be sure to get reservations in advance, many of which will require a credit card to hold. Highly recommended Curate Tapas Bar with its Spanish inspired menu and wine list brings Barcelona to the mountains of North Carolina. Reservations here are hard to get and open up at midnight 30 days prior, with the most popular dinner times snatched up right away. If you can’t get a spot, try their Bodega and take a picnic basket on your scenic drive. The flower filled patio at Rhubarb is a popular brunch spot, and The Rhu around back has grab and go bites and baskets as well. Limones takes a spin on Mexican cuisine with their unique menu items like the ceviche sampler and lobster nachos which pair well with their extensive handmade margarita list. Not a planner, no problem, there are many great restaurants that you won’t need a reservation for like White Duck Taco (I recommend the River Arts location where you can eat in a repurposed silo or outside on their expanded patio) with a huge list of creative tacos or downtown at Shanghai Dumpling House for the best dumplings outside of China Town. Biscuit Head, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, and The Admiral have your breakfast, lunch, and dinner covered in West Asheville.
When all that eating makes you thirsty, head to one of the many breweries in town such as New Belgium, Wicked Weed, Sierra Nevada, Asheville Brewing Co, Twin Leaf, and many more. There are a number of rooftops bars with views of the city including Capella on 9, Hemingways, The Montford, and Skybar. To the south of the city, there are also many beautiful vineyard wineries like Stone Ashe, Marked Tree, and Overmountain.
With so much to do and see in and around Asheville from the pricey to the free, this trendy spot has something for everyone. This does include a large homeless population, so please be aware of your surroundings. And don’t buy the “CBD” off the street, you’ve been warned!
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