Your perfect mix-and-match guide to the “Land of the Sky.”

We have been in Asheville for 25 days now, and we couldn’t say better things. The crisp summer air, mountain vistas around every turn, and lively city vibe are all keeping us on our toes. We love the Southern flair to this hyper-liberal enclave of North Carolina.

So what is Asheville like? I spent months researching the area before we set foot here, and honestly when I arrived I threw all my preconceptions out the window.

Asheville is a hilly city.

It has terrain but it’s nothing too difficult to brave if you’re just walking around. It generally requires a car to get around.

Bicycling is unfortunately too difficult as a regular mode of transportation, though you can drive to flatter areas to ride leisurely.

You’ll see a lot of brick buildings, some murals, and a lot of Bavarian-esque architecture in both residential and commercial buildings. It has several commercial “hubs.” We are in the Kenilworth neighborhood, which sits in between Downtown and the Biltmore Village.

Here is an overview of the hubs that we’ve explored:

Top 5 Areas to Check Out in Asheville

1. Downtown was larger and more established than I had expected. It is full of gift shops, art shops, boutiques, and restaurants. It is a clean downtown and you’ll generally feel very safe here. There are some homeless/beggars, but they’re generally friendly. Just be aware we’ve noticed the beggars can sneak up on you right when you’re getting change out to add to your parking meter. The downtown is generally densely connected, but there are some areas that feel a bit fringe. This usually just happens when you’re on the outer edge, but there are often cool businesses hiding out wherever you are! The main shopping streets here are Broadway Ave (check out the Mast General Store, founded in Asheville), N Lexington Ave (for grungier vintage boutiques and record shops), Haywood St (check out Woolworth Walk and Malaprops Bookstore), and the Grove Arcade (super nice, make sure to check it out from the inside!) Enjoy live music or performances by street performers whenever you go!
2. What’s called the “South Slope Brewing District” is, well, on the south slope of Downtown. This is a good area to park your car and spend an afternoon-evening brewery hopping. Green Man Brewing, Catawba Brewing, Urban Orchard Cider Co., Burial Beer, and Wicked Weed’s “Funkatorium” are all contenders here.
3. West Asheville is where you might go for a highly rated restaurant in a more low key artsy setting. This place has all the brunch spots — Sunny Point Café, Early Girl Eatery, Biscuit Head, etc. It also has some cool coffee shops (re: Odd’s Café) and some interesting looking shops.
4. River Arts District is great if you prefer things a bit more…spread out. You can find some really great food here — White Duck Taco Shop, 12 Bones Smokehouse (highly recommend), Ultra Coffeebar — but what they’re really known for is…you guessed it…art! There are so many artists studios and galleries around here. We’ve only scratched the surface, but apparently there are more than 240 working artists in 23 different buildings here. It’s also a great place to go biking, since a portion of the river has a nice paved trail along it. Also great for rollerblading/skating!
5. Historic Biltmore Village is the small shopping area across the street from the Biltmore Estate entrance. When you’re driving and suddenly wonder, “huh are we in the countryside of The Hague?” that means you’ve arrived. Even the McDonalds and gas station is themed. A small selection of upscale stores (think Lululemon, J. Jill, Chico’s…basically your mom’s wildest dream) can keep you occupied for a little while here.

Mix & Match Day Itineraries

Okay so let me try something out. Instead of a one-size-fits-all I’m going to generalize and make some personality-specific day itineraries for you to take or leave:

First Thing’s First:

I didn’t even know cities had visitors centers, but I actually recommend you take the time to check out the Asheville Visitor Center. You could stop reading this article here and find out all you need to know and more about things to do there. If you’re anything like me you’ll walk out with wayyy too many brochures and a big smile on your face. They also have a super cute gift shop that will fulfill all your souvenir shopping needs.

A Day For Art Lovers:

• Grab your morning coffee and pastries at Pennycup Coffee. Admire their amazing mural and the local photography wall.
• Check out the Asheville Art Museum, in the center of Downtown. On your way there check out some of the historic architecture. These maps of the Asheville Urban Trail and Architectural Trail (both all in Downtown) will help you out on the history.
• There are so many small art boutiques in Downtown. Our favorite so far is Horse and Hero for fantastic art with a little quirk. Have fun perusing any local shop along the way that catches your eye.
• Walk over to Woolworth Walk — nearly 20,000 square feet of air conditioned gallery space in a historic building. They only represent local artists and — bonus — they have an old fashioned Soda Fountain.
• It couldn’t be an Art Lovers’ Day without a trip to the River Arts District.
• Love music? Check out the lineup at The Orange Peel, a beloved local venue. Love theatre? Check out the FREE Shakespeare in the Park live performances. Free parking is offered onsite! Donations at your discretion help keep the shows going.

A Day (or Two) for Bougie History Lovers

• I’ll cut to the chase and start with the Biltmore. It’s basically Disney World for adults, guys. If you decide to pay the pricey admission (~$70 per person) for the Biltmore during your stay, I strongly suggest you make a whole day out of it. They have so many dining, shopping, tour options that are only available to people who have paid admission, so make sure to take full advantage!
• Enjoy the beautifully landscaped grounds and the 250+ rooms of the Biltmore Estate. Make sure to book your desired tour timeslots in advance! The free wine tasting at the Antler Hill Village and Winery is a popular experience to add to your checklist here.
• But good news! There is another great option that is TOTALLY free and still has amazing bougie vibes. It’s called the Grove Park Inn — a luxurious historic Inn that is still functioning today. The original building architecture is extremely unique and definitely worth a visit.
• The Grove Park Inn offers 3 hours of FREE parking in their convenient visitors garage. Don’t believe me? Just pull into the main hotel arrival and an attendant can guide you from there.
• You are free to explore the hotel lobby and main floor. There are bits of history everywhere. The interior architecture is lovely and the views are breathtaking. Have fun exploring the gift shop and historic exhibits.
• I highly recommend dining here on the Sunset Terrace. Unfortunately they only serve Lunch and Dinner here, because I think it would be a fabulous place to eat Breakfast. Still — definitely the best place to dine with a view in Asheville!
• Don’t miss the Historic Grovewood Village adjacent to the property. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property serves as an arts and crafts destination as well as a glimpse into a part of Asheville’s history.

A Day for Nature Lovers

With the Blue Ridge Parkway practically giving Asheville a hug, I’ve been loving how easy it is to try out new hikes on a weekly basis. Here’s a good itinerary close by:

• Start off your day with a lovely drive along the BRP leading to the (easy to miss) Craggy Pinnacle parking lot. I recommend doing this one first since it can get busy at the summit! It’s an easy trail, only 1.4 mi round trip, that leads to 360 degree views.
• Next backtrack to the Craggy Gardens parking lot by the Visitors Center. This hike is really fun as well, only 1.9 mi round trip. Stop by the Craggy Flats meadow on your way.
• If you have the energy, I recommend checking out a (currently unmarked, the sign is gone!) trail beginning at Graybeard Overlook. Just walk as much of it as you can handle. It’s a very quiet trail but has a totally different feel within. Silent, dense, moist, spruce-pine forest.
• Mount Mitchell is just 5 miles further if you want to reach the highest point on the Eastern USA for an entrance fee and short hike.
• On your return drive to Asheville, make a stop at the Folk Art Center, a lovely building full of arts and crafts by Appalachian creators.

Mask on or Off?

It’s August 2021 now and we’re all wondering about traveling with breakthrough COVID cases becoming more prevalent each day. How does Asheville handle this? Here is what we’ve noticed from our observations:

• ~90% of stores/cafes/galleries require masks regardless of vaccination status. As of this week I think it may now even be a city mandate that masks are required indoors for all patrons…
• Large outdoor gatherings such as festivals are requiring masks.
• Indoor dining is typically offered, but some places like breweries are only allowing indoor seating upon special request.

Things have changed quite rapidly in the past few weeks. For now it is assumed that you should be taking your mask everywhere you go in the city.