Asheville, North Carolina, tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a haven for hippies, creatives and nature-lovers. It was all of this that called to me when I visited on a road trip in early 2014. A few months later, I found myself living just outside of downtown Asheville. I lived there in between travels for the better part of 2 years. It’s where I met my now-husband and we return at least once a year to visit favorite spots, find new favorites and, of course, see our amazing friends. After living there and so many visits, I thought I should let my readers know what you should know before you visit Asheville, North Carolina.
When traveling during Covid-19, be sure to adhere to all local mandates, wear a mask, practice social distancing and only travel if you can do so responsibly. This post has been updated and researched to be sure the businesses mentioned have survived the pandemic. These local businesses rely on our patronage to stay afloat. Do your best to eat, drink and shop local. Remember, some places may only be open for curbside or take out and their hours may vary from their norm.
Its Mountain Location is Perfection
It’s no secret that the beautiful mountain backdrop is one of the draws of Asheville. Not only is it impossible to not see the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains during your urban explorations, but there are so many amazing hiking trails a short drive from the city. Additionally, the Blue Ridge Parkway cuts right through the city, which means, that you can easily hop up and take a scenic drive amongst the mountains. If you plan to do a lot of hiking, you should consider travel insurance. Accidents happen, trust me, I broke my arm hiking in Thailand.
Downtown is Very Walkable
Parking on the street in downtown Asheville is a bitch, to put it frankly. You might get lucky and snag a stellar spot, but don’t forget to bring your change with you for their old-school meters. That said, what I recommend is parking in one of the multiple parking garages downtown and take it in on foot. The garages have much more reasonable rates than the meters anyway and parking there is way less of a hassle. So, wear comfy shoes and save the headache of driving from one place to another.
But Don’t Only Go Downtown
Asheville is made up of multiple sections/neighborhoods. Don’t make the mistake of only going downtown. West Asheville is the funky part of town. South Slope holds amazing restaurants + breweries. River Arts District is full of art studios. Montford is a historic area. Haw Creek is laid back and homey. Basically, what I’m saying, is get out and explore the different areas of the city.
Asheville Has Been Named Beer City, USA Several Times
Next to the mountains surrounding the city itself, the thing Asheville is most famous for is its craft breweries! With over 30 breweries in Asheville proper, you won’t be able to miss it! This makes Asheville an insanely popular beer-cation destination. Even if you’re just a casual craft beer drinker, don’t miss out on hitting up at least a couple of the local breweries. If you love a good brewery tour, you can check out the larger facility New Belgium opened in West Asheville or pop over to one the nearby towns to see the Oskar Blues’ or Sierra Nevada’s breweries. That said, I recommend hitting up the smaller, local brewery taprooms for a more local experience. My favorites are Wedge, Green Man, Burial and Highland.
Come Hungry When You Visit Asheville
In addition to being a haven for beer-lovers, foodies will also feel right at home. From fine-dining to brunch locations to donut shops and casual (some super-casual) eateries you’ll find something you love with ease. My absolute favorites are (in alphabetical order because I can’t rank them): Biscuit Head – Breakfast or Brunch, Chai Pani – Indian Street Food, Creekside – Sandwiches, Early Girl – Breakfast or Brunch, Hole – Donuts, Luella’s – BBQ, Papa’s and Beer – Mexican Food, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack – Chicken, and White Duck Taco – Funky Tacos.
Speaking of Food, It’s Vegan + Vegetarian Friendly Here
Even in BBQ restaurants, there are vegetarian options galore. I have vegetarian friends and they never have a hard time finding options when we go out to eat! It’s wonderful!
There Are About As Many Local Coffee Shops As There Are Breweries
I’m a coffee lover. In fact, the very first thing I did in Asheville was grab a late-night cup of coffee at Izzy’s Coffee Den. What I love is each one has its own quirk and feel to it. If you’re anything like me, you need your morning (and afternoon… and sometimes evening) pick-me-up but luckily there’s always a local coffee shop nearby to pop into. Some of my absolutely favorites are: Double D’s – the double decker bus turned coffee shop Downtown – it’s cash only, by the way. BattleCat – funky vibes and amazing coffee in West Asheville. Odd’s Cafe – Also in West Asheville, this is one of my favorite work spots!
Don’t Forget to Grow Your Art Collection
Artists have flocked to Asheville from all over the country to create their works of art. It’s an absolutely wonderful place to grow your own art collection. You can find works of art in any price range. We’ve found amazing prints at Horse + Hero downtown, I have an entire pysanky collection by the amazing Andrea Kulish Wilhelm, whose studio is located in the River Arts District. It’s easy to spend an entire day popping in and out of studios across the city.
You Can Spend An Entire Day at Biltmore Estate
When you buy your ticket to Biltmore Estate, you might balk at the price, but that’s because a lot of people don’t realize it’s so much more than a tour of a really big house. Yes, the house itself is beautiful, interesting and massive, but you’ll be truly missing out if that’s all you see. The grounds around the house were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted – the same man who designed Central Park. So don’t miss out on exploring at least part of this 8,000 acre estate. There are hiking trails, biking trails, gardens and a beautiful greenhouse filled with tropical plants to venture through. Also, included in your ticket price is a wine tasting! Biltmore has a vineyard and winery on the property, so if you’re over 21, do not miss this tasting. It’s a lot of fun and the servers we’ve had are always so much fun!
Budget pro-tip: bring a cooler in your car and pack a delicious picnic to enjoy on the grounds. The restaurant here is cool, but quite expensive.
Asheville’s Roads Aren’t Laid Out in a Grid
My hometown is basically a complete grid and many cities I’ve visited are the same way. When I moved to Asheville it was a bit of a shock to my driving norms to navigate the winds and turns and roads that change names part way through. Just be prepared to use your Google Maps a decent amount, be patient with yourself and you’ll be fine.
Asheville is Quite Busy on Holiday Weekends
The last few years, we’ve had to make most of our visits to Asheville on Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends just because it fit best with Matt’s job so we can also go to new places during actual vacation time. However, that is what everyone else in surrounding areas do as well. So, if you’re planning to make the most of a long weekend, prepare for restaurants and breweries to be extra busy and know you won’t be alone on roads or hiking trails. It’s still well worth the visit, but just be prepared.
Guys, There Are Bears Here
I don’t know if you have a bear phobia like I do, but there are a healthy amount of bears in the mountains, including in Asheville itself. I think they politely sense my fear because I’ve never seen one – even on the hundreds of hiking miles we’ve done there. But trust me, they’re there. My in-laws see them around their home there all the time. Hi-Wire Brewing has shared at least one video of a bear running through their brewery, and before I moved into the house I lived in, my roommate saw one in our backyard. Seriously. They’re there. So be bear aware, especially on the trails, and know what to do.
Visit One of the Many Wonderful Nearby Towns
Asheville is pure magic on its own, but I wouldn’t want to advise you to miss out on the surrounding towns which have their own magic to them as well. Black Mountain is a quintessential cozy mountain town with its own brewery, one of my favorite coffee shops of all time (The Drioplator) and adorable shops. Marshall is a beautiful town that sits on either side of the French Broad River, it’s the perfect little getaway for lunch or breakfast. I love Zuma Coffee and Provisions for either. Hot Springs is the perfect place to recharge at a reasonable price. The resort and spa there is the perfect spot to privately soak in some mineral water. It sits right on the Appalachian Trail, so there places to hike, interesting people to meet and Smoky Mountain Diner has delicious comfort foods that you won’t want to miss. Woodfin, just outside of Asheville, has one of my very favorite breweries: Zillicoah Beer Company.
Make Your Own Plans to Visit Asheville, North Carolina
Where to Stay
SHOESTRING BUDGET OPTION – At less than $40/night for a dorm you can’t beat Bon Paul + Sharky’s Hostel if you’re traveling on the tightest of budgets.
BUDGET TRAVEL OPTION – Dorm isn’t your thing, but still on a budget? You can get a room at Glo Best Western Tunnel Road for right around $100/night
MIDRANGE OPTION – Hyatt Place Downtown Asheville is a stellar location, their rooms look amazing and include some mountain views. The median rate is $150/night and seems like a steal!
DOWNTOWN OPTION – Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville has the highest ranking of a downtown hotel on Booking.com (9.3/10) with a price-point not much higher than the Hyatt.
BEST VIEW IN TOWN – I think the absolute best mountain view, in town, is the Grove Park Inn. You can see not only the mountains, but the skyline of Asheville as well. This historic hotel is the epitome of rustic beauty, has multiple restaurants and the most stunning spa I’ve ever visited.
MULTI-ROOM SUITE – Planning a family trip or a girl’s trip where you need a place with a multi-room suite that won’t break your bank? The Residences at Biltmore are a fantastic option. Three-room suites are just over $200/night and this property has an 8.7/10 rating on Booking.com!
Best Time to Visit Asheville
To be honest, there isn’t a bad time to visit Asheville. I would say that it depends on what exactly you’re wanting to do while you’re there. So I’m going to break down the benefits and disadvantages to each season.
SPRING: Spring is beautiful and bright. Flowers (especially rhododendron) start blooming, greens seem brighter and all those spring rains bring out the lushness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The flip side to that is that you’re much more likely to catch a decent amount of rain, especially in the mountains. With the rain brings fog, which can obstruct mountain views as well.
SUMMER: Summer brings sunnier weather, outdoor seating is all open and any places with limited seasonal hours will be open later. Plus, if you have kids or are in school yourself, there’s more time open for you. However, the same can be said for everyone else. Expect trails to be more crowded until kids are back in school as locals and travelers are taking advantage of them more. In town, it can get toasty, but you can beat the heat by popping in a swimming hole.
FALL: Fall is quite a beautiful time to visit Asheville. The weather is moderate, Oktoberfest is a blast and the leaves… Seriously, fall is all about leaf season. Fall is absolutely the busiest time of year because of the leaf peepers wanting to soak up the stunning colors that spread across the mountains. Since the Blue Ridge Parkway cuts right through town, Asheville makes a great basecamp for those wanting to see some autumn color, but also crazy busy.
WINTER: Winter is absolutely the slowest time to visit Asheville. This means you’ll get a more local experience, crowds will be minimal and rates are also lower. The cons are that the Parkway has closures, the weather is quite chilly and sometimes snowy, and the mountains are bare. Still beautiful, but mostly bare.
Visit Asheville – More Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip
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I hope that our list of things to know before you visit Asheville helps you plan your own trip. We truly love this city and always want people to love and enjoy it the way we do! These tips should help you have a wonderful, well-rounded trip filled with all the different types of adventure in this gorgeous mountain city.
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