Asheville
Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for its vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence. The vast 19th-century Biltmore estate displays artwork by masters like Renoir. The Downtown Art District is filled with galleries and museums, and in the nearby River Arts District, former factory buildings house artists' studios. Here is our guide to Asheville, North Carolina.
STAY
GROVE PARK INN Worth staying if even just for the spa day pass! Relax at a stately and historic golf resort at The Omni Grove Park Inn, a beloved Southern retreat in Asheville, NC with an award-winning subterranean spa. Discover two retail promenades and elegant restaurants with outdoor terraces. There's also tennis courts, an indoor pool, and a Donald Ross-designed courses, plus panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 290 Macon Ave; omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park
THE INN ON BILTMORE ESTATE Alternatively, you can vacation like a Vanderbilt by booking a beautifully appointed room or private cottage at just southwest of the city center. The French Renaissance castle-home and 8,000-acre estate once belonged to George and Edith Vanderbilt. Within the gated getaway are meticulously kept gardens, wooded trails, dining and shopping experiences, and even the country's most-visited winery. 1 Antler Hill Rd; biltmore.com/stay
GRAND BOHEMIAN HOTEL This stately Tudor-style hotel with an annex across the street is 2 miles from shopping at Grove Arcade, a historic 1929 commercial building, and 10 miles from North Carolina Arboretum. Featuring velvet tufted headboards and antler decor accents as well as a spa, an art gallery and an ornate European restaurant/bar, plus a grand hunting lodge-inspired lounge with a stone fireplace. 11 Boston Way; marriott.com/en-us/hotels/avlak-grand-bohemian-hotel-
THE RADICAL Inspired by the culture and street art of Asheville, the hotel is in a renovated warehouse from the ‘20s. 95 Roberts St; theradicalavl.com
CHESTNUT INN A classic Bed and Breakfast but purchased fairly recently by the most magical couple, Emilie and Arturo, veterans of the natural wine world and classically trained French chefs. 176 E Chestnut St; chestnutstreetinn.com
AC HOTEL Located in the middle of downtown, new and modern with a rooftop bar. 10 Broadway St; marriott.com/en-us/hotels/avlac-ac-hotel-asheville
WINDSOR BOUTIQUE HOTEL Walking distance to just about every major city attraction—and its thoughtfully renovated suites are an added perk. 36 Broadway St; windsorasheville.com
ELEVATION LOFTS HOTEL A boutique experience in a historic setting, with amenities including gas fireplaces, full kitchens, in-room laundry, and dining areas. 52 Broadway St; elevationloftshotel.com
KIMPTON HOTEL ARRAS Those after a prime location with a bit of history will enjoy this bank-turned-boutique hotel conveniently located on Patton Avenue in the heart of downtown. 7 Patton Ave; hotelarras.com
ASHEVILLE RIVER CABINS Only 12 miles from downtown, but they feel a world away. You can rent a cabin or luxury trailer with modern amenities (and the French Broad River as your front yard!). If you prefer mountain views over forest scenes. 318 Wanderlust Rdg, Arden; ashevillerivercabins.com
AUTOCAMP It boasts incredible vistas from private cabins and decked out travel trailers, less than 20 minutes from the city center. 125 Amberglow Rd; autocamp.com/location/asheville
DINE | DRINK
THE EDISON The restaurant within the Omni Grove Park Inn, and the best place to watch the sunset with a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are few things better than a glass of wine on the Sunset Terrace. They also host the National Gingerbread Competition every winter, and the whole hotel is decked out in Christmas trees and gingerbread houses. 290 Macon Ave; omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park
THE BULL AND BEGGAR High-end New American fare & wine are offered in a bi-level venue with rustic, yet stylish, decor. Order oysters and steak. Baby Bull is an offshoot. 37 Paynes Way #007; thebullandbeggar.com
CUCINA 24 Locatd on a quaint, cobblestone street, James Beard-nominated chef Brian Canipelli’s seasonal Italian restaurant sources ingredients from local farms. The menu is ever-changing, but try to order their traditional Bolognese and house-made pasta. 24 Wall St; cucina24restaurant.com
TACO BILLY Cozy taco joint serving market-fresh bites in a bright, casual space with porch seating. Try the breakfast tacos. 201 Haywood Rd; tacobilly.com
HOLE A buzzy locale for fried-to-order donuts “fritters” made with local ingredients, plus coffee & orange juice. 168 Haywood Rd; hole-doughnuts.com
ALCHEMY An herbal apothecary and tearoom in the front and does acupuncture treatment in the back. Book a session with true genius Emmy Bethel and then stick around for a Turmeric Chai. 62 Clayton St; alchemyasheville.com
THE CRUCIBLE A go-to spot for meeting friends for drinks—the vibe is divey and locals only, but the cocktails are classic and well-mixed. 140A Roberts St
SOVEREIGN REMEDIES Hip, multilevel bar with a vintage vibe serving craft cocktails & locally sourced New American fare. 29 N Market St #105; sovereignremedies.com
SALVAGE STATION A locals-only sprawling outdoor venue with a rustic vibe featuring live music, a bar, and Southern-style eats. 468 Riverside Dr; salvagestation.com
CAPELLA ON 9 Stylish hangout at the AC Hotel serving a locavore menu of small plates, craft beer & cocktails with an unbelievable view of the downtown skyline. 10 Broadway St f9; capellaon9.com
CÚRATE By another James Beard-nominated chef, Katie Button. It’s a Spanish tapas bar with an all-Spanish wine list. I love the pulpo a la gallega, which is Galician-style octopus served warm, as well as paella de verduras with seasonal vegetables. 13 Biltmore Ave; curatetapasbar.com/bar-de-tapas
PLANT Creative all-vegan cuisine, craft beers & biodynamic wines served in a spare, modern setting. 165 Merrimon Ave; plantisfood.com
ASHEVILLE BREWING COMPANY An award-winning craft beer hall with pub food. 77 Coxe Ave, Asheville; ashevillebrewing.com
LAUGHING SEED CAFE Warm cafe & bar serving organic, locally sourced international vegetarian & vegan fare. 40 Wall St; laughingseed.com
12 BONES Located right in the River Arts District. Order the chicken sandwich, ribs, and pulled pork plate, or try the ‘Hogzilla’ sandwich with sugar bacon, pulled pork, bratwurst, and pepper jack cheese with a side of blueberry barbecue sauce. Open until they sell out of barbecue. 5 Foundy St; 12bones.com
LUELLA’S Known for their wings and smoked meats with housemade sauces served alongside local beer & cocktails in a homey setting. 501 Merrimon Ave; luellasbbq.com
HI-WIRE BREWING A craft beer company and taproom. 197 Hilliard Ave; hiwirebrewing.com
BURIAL A craft beer company known for its double IPAs. 40 Collier Ave; burialbeer.com
GREEN MAN Located in Downtown's brewing district, this is an award-winning brewery that has been a staple of the Asheville brewing community since 1997. 27 Buxton Ave; greenmanbrewery.com
ARCHETYPE Brewery offering experimental beers in a relaxed taproom with a family-friendly vibe. Try the saisons. 265 Haywood Rd; archetypebrewing.com
ZILLICOAH BEER CO Try the lager at this brewery. 870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin; zillicoahbeer.com
NEW BELGIUM Try the sour beers at this tasting room. 21 Craven St; newbelgium.com/visit/asheville
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The oldest craft brewery in Asheville with a patio, sports facility, and tours. 12 Old Charlotte Hwy; highlandbrewing.com
THE PROSPECT A lifetime membership is five dollars. Order a beer, queue up a song on the jukebox, and play a round of pool. They also have a backyard space, which feels like you’re a guest at someone’s house. 11 Buxton Ave
THE MED A beloved old-school locals-only diner. 57 College St; themedavl.com
ROSETTA’S KITCHEN A beloved vegetarian and vegan spot that also offers multiple flavors of kombucha. 68 N Lexington Ave; rosettaskitchen.com
The steaks and classic cocktails can't be beat at this laid-back eatery serving seafood & wood-fired meat dishes, plus cocktails & a robust wine list. 1 Page Ave Suite 151; ashevilleproper.com
POSANA Enjoy a romantic dinner on the patio where imaginative seasonal and sustainable culinary creations and an award-winning wine list are served. 1 Biltmore Ave; posanarestaurant.com
THE ADMIRAL An innovative, changing global menu & cocktails served in a modest cinder-block building. 400 Haywood Rd; theadmiralasheville.com
BUXTON HALL BARBECUE Eastern Carolina-style barbecue restaurant from restauranteur Meherwan Irani. Home of the famous chicken sandwich. 56 Patton Ave; buxtonchickenpalace.com
RHUBARB A cool, contemporary spot for farm-to-table New American fare, plus a weekly family-style dinner. 7 SW Pack Sq; rhubarbasheville.com
WICKED WEED BREWING Hip brewery with a tasting room & a restaurant serving high-end, locally sourced New American fare. 91 Biltmore Ave; wickedweedbrewing.com
ALL DAY DARLING Order a cup of coffee and a ham and cheese croissant with Dijon mustard. The seasonal sweet pastry is always good, too, but make sure you get it warmed up! 102 Montford Ave; alldaydarlingavl.com
TAQUERIA MUNOZ Order the bowl of lamb consommé or a lamb quesadilla. 1438 Patton Ave; taqueriamunoz.com
MOLINA The place for tamales. 809 Patton Ave
THE ROOF AT THE RADICAL Three unique dining experiences await you at boutique hotel, The Radical, led by James Beard award Best Chef nominee and Asheville staple, Jacob Sessoms. Head to the rooftop bar for sunset views of the French Broad River. 95 Roberts St; theradicalavl.com
ANOCHE Come here for a mezcal or tequila. 176 Clingman Ave
DOUBLE CROWN A funky, speakeasy-style bar in a tiny house offering regular karaoke, plus a big bourbon list. It’s always fun and always packed. 375 Haywood Rd
AFTERGLOW An espresso bar by day and club by night. 95 Roberts St; afterglowavl.com
ARTS | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
THE BILTMORE A 250-room mansion that the Vanderbilts built back in 1895. It’s still the largest private residence in America. The grounds are also beautiful, with huge gardens, greenhouses, and running trails. You can go horseback riding there. During Christmas time, they have an extended tour. Every room is decked out with a different Christmas tree. It also has beautiful views of the mountains. Veer further left of the lawn, and visitors will find an intricate garden designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the same architect who designed New York City’s Central Park). And since it’s been preserved by five generations of the original owners, the Vanderbilts, visitors can still experience the home’s historical magic. Even if you're not staying on property at Biltmore, you won't want to miss its popular seasonal attraction Biltmore Blooms. New flowers crop up weekly, so no one trip is the same: On any given day you might stroll past daffodils, azaleas, tulips, or roses among famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's picturesque landscapes. biltmore.com
ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM Collection of American art from the 20th & 21st centuries, plus art-related programs for all ages. 2 South Pack Sq; ashevilleart.org
RIVER ARTS DISTRICT A creative hub along the French Broad River. Former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals, contain glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries. The buzzing dining and nightlife scene encompasses hip cafes, BBQ restaurants, craft breweries, and cozy, chilled-out music venues like the long-running Grey Eagle. riverartsdistrict.com
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY A National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. Running from Virginia all the way to Cherokee, North Carolina, it cuts through Asheville and it’s a hidden gem in America. It’s a great scenic drive to see all the fall colors. You can also hike Hawksbill Mountain — it’s a gorgeous 360-degree view looking out over the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont. blueridgeheritage.com
THE ORANGE PEEL A music venue that attracts national acts. Located downtown near a plethora of bars and restaurants. Generally, if artists are coming through Asheville, they’re going to play the Orange Peel. 101 Biltmore Ave; theorangepeel.net
THE GREY EAGLE Mellow all-ages destination for live music & innovative Latin cuisine with a roomy outdoor patio. Everyone from Band of Horses to the Avett Brothers have played here. 185 Clingman Ave; thegreyeagle.com
FLAT LAUREL CREEK A pretty easy 2.5 mile loop trail that takes you through big sharp rocky peaks, dense forest, walls of azalea and mountain laurel, and over a high-elevation, crystal clear stream.
NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM Acres of gardens, miles of trails, & lots more. ncarboretum.or
CARL SANDBURG HOUSE A National Historic Site, located at 81 Carl Sandburg Lane near Hendersonville in the village of Flat Rock, North Carolina, preserves Connemara, the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg. 1800 Little River Rd, Flat Rock; nps.gov/carl
MOUNT MITCHELL About an hour drive north and the highest peak east of the Mississippi. You can find more difficult hikes along the parkway, but the majority of them are easy hikes that you can take your kids, parents, and dog on. There are also tons of waterfalls. Established in 1915 by the state legislature, it became the first state park of North Carolina. 2388 NC-128, Burnsville; ncparks.gov/state-parks/mount-mitchell-state-park
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK The Mountains-to-Sea Trail there runs all along the parkway. It straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. An observation tower tops Clingmans Dome, the highest peak, offering scenic views of the mist-covered mountains. nps.gov/grsm
PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Known for mountain biking and fly fishing. If you want to see a waterfall and do just a little hiking, go up Looking Glass Falls. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Asheville. The waterfall is a very short hike, just a little off the main road. It’s beautiful and the drive up along the Davidson River, is beautiful. fs.usda.gov
CENTER FOR CRAFT The vanguard of the craft movement for over 25 years. 67 Broadway St; centerforcraft.org
RIVERSIDE CEMETERY Book a post-dinner ghost tour with Haunted Asheville or LaZoom Tours.
ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY Book tickets to one of their beloved Masterworks concerts or ALT ASO productions. 27 College Pl #100; ashevillesymphony.org
CRAGGY PINNACLE TRAIL Hikers will love the jaw-dropping 360-degree mountain views at while thrill-seekers can get their pulses pumping by ziplining through the treetops of a 242-acre wildlife habitat with Navitat Canopy Adventures, or going whitewater rafting with French Broad Adventures (which also offers hot-springs float trips for the less adrenaline-inclined). 3641 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Barnardsville
SHOP
FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATE LOUNGE Take a tour at this chocolate specialist, which uses carefully sourced beans to create truffles, bars & other sweets. 10 S Pack Square; frenchbroadchocolates.com
MALAPROP’S BOOKSTORE This independent bookstore, open since 1982, is known for its wide selection of books and cozy atmosphere. The store hosts a variety of community events, including author visits, book clubs, and poetry readings. It also has a walk-up window for takeout orders and a cafe. 55 Haywood St; malaprops.com
MAST GENERAL STORE Retailer selling a broad selection of goods, including food, apparel & outdoor gear, since 1883. 15 Biltmore Ave; mastgeneralstore.com
EAST FORK Artisanal homewares are available from this store making its own durable pottery products. For its founders Connie and Alex Matisse (a husband-wife duo), creating ceramics is more than just a business or means of artistic expression. Alex’s desire to create art is in his DNA: he happens to be the great-grandson of the French painter Henri Matisse. 15 W Walnut St; eastfork.com
SPA
SHOJI SPA & RETREAT Visit for an outdoor soak with a mountain view. 96 Avondale Heights Rd; shojispa.com
DAY TRIP
BLACK MOUNTAIN If you're itching to explore a little further past the city limits, stay an extra day or two and check out a cozy town just 25 minutes east, known as a creative hub. Made famous by the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center dedicated to preserving the history and exploring the legacy of Black Mountain College.