Top 10 in Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina is a destination that immediately stole my heart. Not only is it a destination that I really wanted to return, I actually moved to Asheville and it’s now one of the places we call “home”. People often ask me what they should do in Asheville. So, I decided to make For the Love of Wanderlust’s Top 10 in Asheville. These are my broad top 10 activities of things not to miss in Asheville, and they can all be completed over a long weekend.

DRINK CRAFT BEER

Wedge Brewing

The number one of the my Top 10 in Asheville is checking out their wildly popular beer scene. Asheville was aptly voted Beer City, USA multiple times and has the prestige of having more craft breweries per capita than any other city. You can’t go there without trying at least one beer and the best thing is they’re spread all over town! Although, you could try many beers in restaurants all around town, I like to try them right from the source. Beer is best when it’s freshest.

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Left: Green Man Brewery // Right: Wedge

The Wedge in the River Arts District is perfect for summer nights, their new location is great for winter and rainy days as it has more indoor seating. Their Iron Rail IPA is so popular it has it’s own window at the original location. Both locations have food trucks daily – my favorite it El Kimchi. Burial Beer Co. is in the South Slope (the up and coming area just south of downtown). They have an extremely flavorful rotating menu. My favorite of their standbys are their Skillet Donut Stout (served with a Vortex donut hole) and their Surf Wax IPA. It’s a really cool vibe with a great outdoor space. Green Man Brewery holds a very special place in my heart. This is where my husband and I had our very first date. It’s grown a lot in the last few years, and isn’t quite the hole-in-the-wall spot that it was almost 3 years ago. But they’re still serving up delicious, well-crafted brews. Their Wayfarer IPA and Sunseeker Pils are my two favorites here.

GET INTO THE MOUNTAINS

The only reason that this isn’t the first on my Top 10 in Asheville list is because it does require getting in a car and driving out of the city just a bit. While you can enjoy the mountains in many ways (including taking in the view at the Grove Park Inn) I think the best way to explore them is by getting on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you drive an hour in either direction from Asheville you’ll get to catch some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the area. If you go further, you can see plenty more, but two of my favorite hikes are only an hour away and you get to see stunning views on overlooks all along the way. Don’t forget to look at Travel Insurance policies for any potential accidents.

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Left: Devil’s Courthouse / Right:  View from top of Devil’s Courthouse

Devil’s Courthouse  – Great views and only a mile roundtrip. Deep Gap Trail – This trail is a 9 mile (round trip/ out + back) hike across multiple peaks into a grassy open area, which is a great place for a picnic. I’ve only done 7 miles of it which took me over six peaks in seven miles. It’s absolutely stunning and one of my favorite hikes in North Carolina. Plus, you get to stand on the two highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower – This hike is only 1.5 miles and ends at the top of a lookout tower, which is unique and the path is lined with wildflowers.

Left: Linn Cove Viaduct // Right: Crabtree Falls

If you’re looking to drive a little farther I would recommend Crabtree Falls, Linn Cove Viaduct + Waterrock Knob. All of these trailheads can be found right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

EXPLORE DOWNTOWN

Asheville’s downtown has so much to offer. There are funky coffee shops, stunning architecture, galleries, breweries and historical sites to check out at every turn. Parking in downtown Asheville is ridiculously cheap. I mean ridiculously cheap! Three garages all in different parts downtown Asheville, as of now, are free for the first hour and then only $1 per hour, with a $10 maximum. Parking for $1 an hour in a popular downtown destination is unheard of in the U.S.! Wear your walking shoes this day because there is a lot to see. I think a downtown exploration is a great way to spend a morning or an evening because you can grab a meal, a coffee or a beer down here. Looking to soak up more info on the downtown area? Now you can take an electric bike tour!

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

 

Left: Basilica of St. Lawrence / Right: Grove Arcade

Stores: L.O.F.T. is a boutique store with loads of funky items that would make a great gift or souvenir from funky AVL. Malaprop’s is the perfect bookstore with an awesome cafe. My favorite thing to get there is a “Blind Date with a Book.” It’s a book wrapped in brown paper with a vague description of the book and the genre on the cover. You really do take a blind date with that book.

Eats: Early Girl for a delicious breakfast or lunch. Farm Burger for amazing gourmet burgers (with delicious veggie options as well) and Barley’s has good pub food! If you’re looking for an awesome date night location The Market Place is a fantastic spot with amazing quality foods.

Coffee: Malaprop’s Cafe – This is located in the aforementioned bookstore. Izzy’s – Izzy’s was actually the very first place I ever went in Asheville. I love their chai lattes. Double D’s – The funky double-decker-bus that serves delicious coffee and smoothies.

Notable Things to See: The Friday Night Drum Circle takes place every Friday evening from April to October. It’s great for locals and tourists alike. It typically takes place from 6-10 pm, but it can sometimes run longer or start earlier. Dozens of people gather in Pritchett Park and play drums together. Feel free to bring your drum, dance or enjoy! The Basilica of St. Lawrence (built in 1905) is a beautiful piece of architecture and definitely worth popping in. The Grove Arcade is a beautiful building filled with shops including my favorite Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar for a morning cocktail or coffee and loads of books.

FIND THE PERFECT PIECE OF ART

Andrea Kulish-Wilhelm giving a pysanky demonstration in her studio

There are loads of art galleries all over town, however, in my opinion, the place to buy art is the River Arts District. I mean, art is in the name! The thing I love about the galleries in the River Arts District (RAD) is that they’re not simply full of art on display, they’re also working studios! I love to park my car and walk all down the street popping into all the studios. There is also a lot of street art to be seen in the areal. Also, don’t forget food trucks. However, my favorite RAD lunch spot is White Duck Taco. Plus, there are multiple breweries in the area.

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Left: White Duck Taco / Right: Finished Pysanky

My favorite artist in the River Arts District is Andrea Kulish Wilhem. She’s a very talented artist who specializes in the Ukrainian art of pysanky. Her eggs are detailed, beautiful and make a perfect souvenir or the great start to a unique collection. My favorite place to see street art in the River Arts District is by the Wedge at Foundation. There are other studios there, loads of street art and even a volunteer skate park. It’s a really unique area.

ENJOY BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH

The jam bar at Biscuit Head

It’s no secret that I love breakfast foods; especially in the south. Asheville has no shortage of places to grab breakfast any day of the week and many restaurants (and even breweries) that aren’t typically open for breakfast throughout the week have superb brunches on the weekends. No matter what part of Asheville you find yourself in, you can find a delicious meal to start off a day of adventures.

For the Love of Wanderlust’s Favorites:

Left: Cathead biscuit, jams and vegetarian chorizo from Biscuit Head / Right: Donut and coffee from Hole

Downtown: Early Girl (Breakfast served daily / hours on website)  – In my opinion, no brunch or breakfast I’ve had downtown is better. Their home fries are my favorite in town and I’ve never had something from here I didn’t enjoy.

West Asheville: Biscuit Head (breakfast served daily / hours on website) – This is my favorite place to eat in all of Asheville. I love their sides, their eggs are always perfectly served and massive biscuits are buttery and fluffy. Plus, the best part is their jam bar full of unique jams, butters and honey to adorn your biscuit with. There are multiple locations the Haywood Rd. location is my favorite. Sunny Point Cafe (breakfast served daily / hours on website) – Their breakfast is super tasty and there’s almost always a line, so they have bottomless coffee available for you to serve yourself while you wait.  W.A.L.K (West Asheville Lounge + Kitchen) – WALK has a really delicious brunch on Sundays. Looking for something quick? Grab a donut at Hole. Their coffee and donuts are a perfect, easy way to start a day of adventures!

CATCH SOME LIVE MUSIC

My favorite local musician, Chris Wilhelm, performing at the Guitar Bar

Whether you’re looking to catch big name artists, up-and-comers in a more intimate setting, or looking to check out local Asheville artists, Asheville has it all. Asheville is very much an artist community and that includes some extremely talented local musicians. There’s plenty to see, and hear all around town.

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Exterior and interior of Asheville Guitar Bar

My favorite place to catch a bigger-name band is The Orange Peel. It draws bigger artists, but is still a smaller setting and it’s in a great location downtown. The Grey Eagle is my favorite venue in West Asheville to see a wide variety of shows and artists. Many more popular indie artists stop here, but it has a much more intimate feel. Plus, locals play here as well! My favorite bar with live, local music is, hands down, Asheville Guitar Bar. The whole bar is music themed, and many pieces of furniture were made from musical instruments. If you play music, they even have a weekly jam session!

DIVE INTO THE HISTORY

Thomas Wolfe Angel Sculpture in Downtown Asheville

Asheville is full of history. There’s Native American history (Asheville was initially part of the Cherokee Nation), there’s Civil War History, literary history and all of it is in the area to explore. I really loved diving into the literary history here. F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in the Grove Park Inn for two years while his wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, was in a local insane asylum. In fact, Zelda actually tragically died in Asheville. Thomas Wolfe was from Asheville and his book Look Homeward, Angel which inspired Jack Kerouac. You can take many historical tours, take the tram ride or make your own historical tour of Asheville.

For the Love of Wanderlust’s Favorites:

Left: Grove Park Inn Patio / Right: Gazing at the F. Scott Fitzgerald room within the Grove Park Inn

I love visiting the Grove Park Inn. You can find many historical markers and info on the walls and you can’t miss riding the vintage elevator. The elevator operators have always had some sort of interesting fun fact to share with me. Plus, you can even stay here! I have also enjoyed strolling around downtown and checking out the historical markers as I pass them.

TAKE A YOGA CLASS 

I know this might seem like a strange thing to make a top-10 list in the US. However, staying active while traveling is really important and Asheville is the perfect place to attend a yoga class for two big reasons. Asheville has many different yoga studios, so you can try out that new kind of yoga class. The even bigger reason is that there are several classes that are donation-based or less than $10. Their focus is on the well-being of the yogis, so you donate what you can. I know there have been days that I didn’t have as much to donate, but still being able to practice yoga was so good for me. If you want to take your yoga-game to the next level in Asheville, why not take a hiking/yoga class to do yoga in the mountains?

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Asheville Community Yoga is my favorite yoga studio. It’s donation-based and they just ask you to give what you can when you can. I really love their 8pm gentle yoga class as a great way to wind down after a long day of adventures. (Offered Mon-Thur). West Asheville Yoga Studio has my favorite Kundalini class. Their classes are $8-$15.

EXPLORE THE LOCAL WATERS

Dry Falls in Nantahala National Forest / Photo by Matt Wunder

The French Broad River runs right through Asheville and it’s a source of entertainment in itself. You can buy or rent a pool floaty or inner tube and float down the French Broad. This is perfect if you’re looking to really get in the water, but want a relaxing float. If you’re looking for a more adventurous adventure, you can drive down the road from Asheville and go white water rafting. Looking to just enjoy the river from land? There are parks alongside the river and even bars! In addition to the French Broad there are lots of waterfalls and lakes in the area to explore!

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

 

Left: A drink at The Bywater // Right: Whitewater Falls

While I have yet to get on the river, it’s on my list. However The Bywater is an awesome spot along the river to catch open mic nights, have some drinks and even grill out on their grills there. I also enjoy the French Broad River Park. It has walking trails along the river which includes small decks where you can get amazing views of the river. However, my absolute favorite water activity is to chase waterfalls all through Western North Carolina.

VISIT BILTMORE HOUSE

There’s a reason that Biltmore is at the bottom of this list. As someone who is typically a budget traveler, I don’t think that Biltmore House is worth visiting unless you have the time to spend an entire day there. Their grounds are absolutely stunning, they were designed by the same man who designed Central Park in NYC. They’re absolutely worth exploring. The house is an incredible feat for the time and is undeniably a fantastic example of architecture. Also, their greenhouses and winery are amazing. Don’t forget to take part in the free tasting! I have been extremely fortunate to get to visit the Biltmore for free a handful of times using free passes from friends and family and from strangers who didn’t make it there at a campground. I don’t want to discourage people from visiting, but the steep ticket prices keep it from topping my list. There are many special events during different seasons and each one is unique. So, if you’re a Biltmore-lover, you can visit at different times and have a completely different experience. My favorite times to go are late spring and early summer when you can really enjoy the grounds. Take a picnic and even your bike if you’re going for the day! If you’re really enjoying your time at the Biltmore, you can even enjoy a stay at their on-site hotel!

For the Love of Wanderlust Favorites:

Greenhouse views at Biltmore Estate

If it’s your first time and you love detailed history, spend the extra money on the audio tour. Plant lover? Definitely do not miss the gardens around the house and the greenhouses. 

WHERE TO STAY IN ASHEVILLE ON ANY BUDGET

LOOKING FOR LUXURY: The Omni Grove Park Inn is a stellar location if you’re looking for a luxurious spot. The rooms are beautiful, there’s fine dining on the patio, stunning views of Asheville and the surrounding mountains (see above) and their spa is absolutely amazing!
PERFECT DOWNTOWN LOCATION: Cambria Hotel has a 9.9 rating as far as location goes! It’s very reasonably priced for the stellar location and it’s close to anything you could possibly want to see downtown. Aloft also has an amazing downtown location, but on the opposite corner. So, depended on what’s higher on your list downtown, these would both be fantastic location.
ON A BUDGET: Bon Paul & Sharky’s Hostel gets amazing reviews at a 9.1 overall – that’s amazing! There are private rooms, mixed dorm bunks and a female dorm. So there are plenty of options with dorm rates as low as $35!

Asheville is truly a spectacular city! It’s so full of life and is rising in popularity every year. This Western North Carolina gem truly has something for everyone: foodies, craft beer lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs. It’s definitely worth a weekend getaway or, even better, a longer stay!

Have you been to Asheville? What would you put in your top 10 in Asheville?

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