Hi ya’ll how has your week been going? I am missing Asheville and the cooler weather, but was excited to come back to see James and Oliver. My mom and I went to Asheville, North Carolina a couple weekends ago for our 5th mother/daughter trip. We have been all over the country on these trips and decided Asheville would make a great addition. Neither of us had been there before and we had always wanted to go to the Biltmore. Asheville reminded me of Austin with Charleston like historic buildings and then with the Blue Ridge mountains behind it. It was beautiful, so fun, and a great long weekend adventure. See below for all of my recommendations of things to do, places to eat and drink, and where to stay.

To Stay

When we went to Asheville we were able to get a really cheap flight that actually flew into the Asheville regional airport. This airport is really small with only about 10 gates. Most planes fly into towns right outside of Asheville and then people get rental cars. We opted out of a rental car and instead used Uber or the shuttle from our hotel to get around. There was also a big concert the weekend we went and the hotel prices were very high.

• Foundry Hotel $$$: This hotel is all about location. It is located right downtown and walking distance to many of the places we checked out during the weekend. It has that modern mixed with classic feel to it. The hotel has several restaurants on site and offers a Tesla shuttle and free bikes. I am in love with the décor as well.
• Crowne Plaza $: We ended up staying here as we went on Priceline and had them pick our hotel based on the number of stars we wanted. This hotel is spread out on a lot of land which has the Racquet Club and golf course as well as zip lining all on the property. There is a fire pit outside where the restaurant is which has great views at sunset. The overall property, lobby, and restaurant are really nice. The rooms are updated with new furniture, but you can tell the walls and ceiling are very outdated and paper thin.
• Omni Grove Park Inn $$: If you want to stay more in the mountains and around nature, then this hotel is for you. I had heard great things about this hotel not only for its rooms but also for the spa amenities and the restaurant as well. The rooms are all just traditional looking rooms, but the lobby and numerous restaurants all look beautiful. If you want a great game of golf, I hear the golf course is incredible.

To Eat

Asheville has a really great food scene. They also have a lot of options for different types of cuisines. When we were exploring downtown we saw Indian food, Noodle House, Mexican food and everything in between. 2 of the meals my mom and I ate at our hotel restaurant the Overlook because it was convenient, had great views, and was really good. We also always make it a tradition to have an ice cream whenever we go on our mother/daughter trips.

• Tupelo Honey: This was the first restaurant we went to when we got in on Friday. I had heard a lot of great things from people on this place, and it sure lived up to it’s standards. We got here at 3:30 and it was still pretty packed which already gave me great feelings that it was going to be good. The food is that Southern feel good food. Think pimiento cheese, fried chicken and great cocktails and desserts. I started out with their margarita which had honey in it which was refreshingly different. My mom and I then split a fried chicken dish complete with grits and green beans. We ate every bit of it, and would have come back here for another meal 🙂
• Double D’s: If you are looking for a quick coffee and donut in a cute setting, then this is the place for you. The restaurant is actually located in a red double decker bus that is parked in the corner of downtown in a little courtyard area. They have tables all around and you order and get to people watch all while being in a unique setting.
• White Duck Taco Shop: Some of our friends had recommended this place, and there always seemed to be a line which seemed like it was popular. The menu looks very innovative for a taco selection. We did not go here, but next time we for sure will. I did end up getting tacos as soon as I got back to Houston as well since I always crave Tex-Mex when I am out on vacation.
• Kilwin’s: My mom and I always like to try a new ice cream place whenever we go on our mother/daughter trips. This place not only serves ice cream but has a great chocolate selection as well. I personally loved the butter pecan flavor myself!
• Overlook Restaurant: This restaurant was located at our hotel and had great views. We ate here for both breakfast and dinner during our stay. The menu consisted of mainly American, but had a touch of Mexican/Seafood flair as well. When we came for dinner we had shrimp tacos and started out with a cheese board which were both yummy. If you go sit outside by the fire pit for the great views.
• The Market Place: If you want a good fresh farm to table restaurant, this is the place to go to. We went here on Sunday for brunch and sat at the bar. They can get pretty busy on the weekend, and I can tell why because the food is just oh so good. I ordered the banana bread French toast and my mom got the cornbread eggs Benedict. This was a nice alternative to the usual brunch food.
• Manicomio Pizza: A slice of pizza is always a good idea on vacation! This fun pizza shop is located right downtown. If you want pizza by the slice or a whole pizza with all of the fun toppings, this place is for you. On our last night after we had spent a day of walking all over downtown, a pizza and a soda sounded amazing. This place has a cute patio that is great for people watching as well.
• Curate: We weren’t able to go here as they didn’t have reservations for about a week out, but heard great things about this place. Our shuttle driver had said it was a great place to have tapas, and the inside looked really cute when we walked by. If you want authentic Spanish food with some great wine, this is the place they say to go to.

To Do

Asheville is such a beautiful town that only has about 90,000 people, but several million tourists each year. Since it is a mountain town there is a lot to do outdoors and just exploring. A lot of people flock here because of the Biltmore Estate, but there is so much more about this great town too!

• Tour the Biltmore Estate: If you are going to Asheville this is a must do at least once. George Vanderbilt was one of those men who built America, and this largest residential house here in America is one of my favorite attributes of him. This is a self led tour that costs around $75 per person depending on what time of year you go, but is for sure worth it. When our Uber pulled us to the front we were in awe of this 250 room “house”. You have to plan a specific time for your tour of the inside of the house, but can walk around the grounds before or after. I loved walking around the gardens and getting some inspiration of what they plant each year. They also had a little green room with a train and a replica of the Biltmore House that was so cute. The tour inside the house takes about 1-1/2 hours and is remarkable. I was amazed by the architecture and all of the intricate details that went into every detail. Afterwards your ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting at the winery which FYI is not on the same grounds. It is located in Antler Village which is another cute area owned by the vineyard.
• Do Some Wine Tasting in Antler Village: As I mentioned above your ticket into the Biltmore includes a little wine tasting. I personally liked the rose and the Malbec. Afterwards they have a big shop where you can explore and buy some wine bottles. A little tidbit is if you are flying and going for a short weekend and only packed a carry on, they do have some wine varieties at the airport past security that are the same price. This saves you from having to ship them or check your bag. Antler Village is a cute little area that has a couple of restaurants, boutiques, and more information about the Vanderbilt family including all about the animals they used to raise. When we were there there was a live band playing music, and we just relaxed on the benches with the gorgeous mountains behind us.
• Explore Downtown: Downtown Asheville is a funky little area. It gives some of those Austin vibes as I mentioned earlier. Their downtown is not too big, but you for sure get a workout with some of their hilly roads. Downtown is filled with the normal boutiques, restaurants, and some bars as well. My favorite part about downtown was the great music that the locals put on. We were there on a Friday night which the square for a couple of hours has a drum show where people show up and perform. That was pretty neat to experience. Also there are typically several people performing on the sidewalk and you could end up performing with them too! I ended up singing with this guitarist for about 5 songs, it was so much fun.
• Hike Some Trails: This works the best if you do have a rental car on your trip. Since we did not and ended up getting a lot of walking exploring the Biltmore and downtown, we did not get to go out and explore the trails. Depending on the trails they are roughly 30 minutes-1 hr. outside of Asheville. Since Asheville has the Blue Ridge Mountains backing up to it, you can imagine the great views you would get hiking. The ones that several people recommended were Pisgah National Forest, Cawtaba Falls, and Craggy Pinnacle. Next time I for sure would love to do this.
• Explore River Arts District: Asheville has a great arts scene and it is depicted through this area that is right on the river. Between murals on buildings and pottery being sold, there is a lot to look at in this area. It reminded me of an eclectic Wynwood Walls in Miami. There are also craft breweries and some restaurants in this area as well.

To Drink

Asheville is known for the most breweries per capita, and is indeed the brewery capital of America. If you don’t like beer they have cute wine bars, a champagne bar, and some great cocktail bars. There is a lot of great places to go in Asheville if you want to kick back and relax with an adult beverage.

• Wicked Weed Funkatorium: This was the second brewery that we explored on our last day in Asheville. It is located just South of downtown in what is considered the South Slope of Asheville. It has an amazing patio area, and for sure is a popping hang out. My mom and I got a flight of their beer and it did take us a while to drink it. They are the first sour beer dedicated taproom in the area. Once you have a sour beer, I am pretty sure you can drink any other kind. Some of the beers had notes of basil and others had strawberries. We had a great time here.
• Sovereign Remedies: If you want a great cocktail bar, this is the place to go to. It is in the outskirts of downtown and one of those places with great light because there is floor to ceiling windows. Mixologists rule here and it also gives an apothecary vibe.
• Asheville Club: This was a place that was right downtown that had not only wine and beer but coffee as well. It was always lively when we walked by and they have live music almost every day. It seemed to be a local place that both tourists and locals flock to on a regular basis. Mom and I had a glass of rose here. They also have high top tables outside which are on the street which make a great atmosphere where you can people watch.
• Battery Park Book Exchange: If you want a neat place to have a drink, this place is for you. I had to go here after I had several people reach out to me on checking this place out. Not only is it a great bookstore that has originals and anything from history books to new fiction with great décor, but it is a champagne bar as well. Yep that is correct you can have a glass of champagne in a vintage crystal glass in the middle of the bookstore. They also have an outdoor patio as well that typically has live music and you can order food. This is for sure my vibe and was my favorite place.
• Hi-Wire Brewery: This was 1 of the 2 breweries that we went to on Sunday and I enjoyed their beers the most. My mom and I tried one of their lagers as well as a pale ale. The atmosphere was typical for a brewery with high top tables that focused on what matters most, the beer.

Overall Asheville is a great city that has a lot to do, great food, and an even better location and atmosphere. I like the small town vibe of downtown and how it is spaced out and how gorgeous it is. There is plenty to do and you will love the city and the fresh mountain air. Let me know if you have any questions about anything related to Asheville 🙂