We snuck down to Asheville for an impromptu getaway this Fourth of July weekend.  I had only passed through previously and was intruiged enough to go back on whim. This small town nestled in the scenic beauty of North Carolina is really an ideal spot for a quick trip seeking to balance outdoor activities and the traditional hipster luxuries like craft beer and thoughtful food. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains

EXPERIENCE

It’s easy to see why Asheville has quickly become a tourist stop high on many American’s lists. It is a tremendously accessible city with lots to do. The city is full of great dining options, craft breweries, local artist studios and the entirety of it sits in a location surrounded by some of the region’s finest natural landscapes. 

While here we visited the Biltmore Estate. This was something I was intrigued by but ended up being disappointed with. While the Vanderbilt property and residential opulence are impressive, it is overpriced and a little too structured to be fun (think a European castle sans historic value meets Disney World). I think this attraction would be better enjoyed by others, but for us the gardens were the highlight. 

We did however enjoy our afternoon which comprised of brewery hopping in Asheville’s main city center. We hit Wicked Weed, Green Man, Burial, and Catawba Breweries. Others on our list that we did not squeeze in this trip include Twin Leaf, French Broad, Hi Wire, Buffalo Nickel, Urban Orchard Cider, the Funkatorium (Wicked Weed’s sister brewery that focuses on sours), and Highland. This made for a really fun day since they are all within an easy walk from one another and serve a great variety of tasty beers at reasonable prices that should suit any palette. We also hit Thirsty Monk and Jack in the Wood beer bars to taste some of the local beers over live music. My favorite beers of the weekend were both from Wicked Weed: their 4th of July Watermelon Saison and their seasonal beer- Coolcumber. This cucumber and basil infused beer was one of my all time favorites and so popular we could only find a pint of it at the Aloft Hotel Bar, worth it!

Along our craft beer crawl we also stopped in a few great local shops and checked out the French Broad Chocolate Factory and Tasting Room. This is a tasty and quick little stop worth making if passing.

The next day we stopped by the River Arts District to see some local artists at work in a rehabbed industrial environment along the French Board River. Then we hit the Blue Ridge Parkway for a morning cruise along this spectacular drive through the rolling North Carolina mountain landscape. We stopped at Looking Glass Falls and Slippery Rock with a destination of Craggy Gardens Pinnacle Overlook. This drive took us through the Pisgah National Forest. While we didn’t have enough time to hit all of the natural destinations we had hoped, we have Chimney Rock, Fryingpan Mountain, Moore Cove Falls, Silver Run Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls, Log Hollow Falls and the Pink Beds Hike on the list for next time. There is also a 7 mile waterfall hike which hits Triple Falls, High Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in DuPont State Forest that I’d love to catch on our next trip if we have sunnier weather.

One last stop was at the Asheville Farmers Market before heading back to Cincinnati. We will certainly be back to this town, hopefully in the fall to catch the changing leaves.

STAY

I think there are two ideal options on a visit to Asheville- camp or bed and breakfast. On my first time through, I was coming off a several day hike through the Linville Gorge, but this time around we went for the more refined option.  This time, since we were last minute we ended up staying at a pretty hilarious place for us, the OM Sanctuary. This place did the trick. They offered free yoga and mediation on their beautiful grounds, yet were in a location just minutes from the city. Hopefully for our next visit, I can plan ahead and secure a spot at a little more charming B&B with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

EAT

Food has really come to the forefront in Asheville in recent years. We were there on a holiday weekend and didn’t get a chance to try every place on my list but managed to try several spots. Our favorite meal was at Curate, a trendy tapas spot. If you visit here be sure to catch the octopus and mushroom dishes. Another decent (but perhaps slightly over rated) meal was at Tupelo Honey Cafe. We only had sandwiches here with mac and cheese, and I’d be willing to give it another chance with a dinner entree. Other spots on my list that we did not hit on this visit are the Bull and Beggar for oysters, White Duck Taco Shop, Sunny Point Cafe, the Corner Kitchen, Market Place, 12 Bones Smokehouse and Posana Cafe. I also hear Nightbell is a great spot for a cocktail, but our brewery crawl left us a little to full for such a thing. 

Asheville Farmers Market

Looking Glass Falls, Pisgah National Forest