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The Ultimate Guide of Things To Do in Asheville, North Carolina!

Asheville Travel Guide

by Nadeen
September 22, 2021
A A

In the spring of 2021 I visited Asheville North Carolina for the second time. There are so many great things to do in Asheville and it is a year-round destination. For every season there is a reason to visit and explore Asheville. In this Asheville travel guide, I will share where to stay, things to do & and what to eat in Asheville!

Why visit Asheville, NC?

Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina. It is located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. Although it does get humid in Asheville, it does not get as hot due to the higher elevations. Average July temps are in the 70s and you can expect crisp cool breezes in the spring and fall. During the winter the daily average is in the 30s.  One of the popular things to do in Asheville is take in the beautiful fall foliage.

Spring foliage, views from the balcony of Omni Grove Park Inn
Spring foliage, views from the balcony of Omni Grove Park Inn

Asheville has a regional airport. Allegiant Air is the major airline although American Eagle, Delta and United Express also flies here and Jet Blue will be soon. If you are driving to Asheville, it is about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Charlotte North Carolina and 3 hours and 15 minutes from Atlanta Georgia.

The Best Places to Stay in Asheville

There is no shortage of places to stay in Asheville. Whether you are looking for luxury accommodations or prefer to get away to a rustic cabin in the woods. There are multiple chain hotels located downtown which will allow you to walk around the area. You can also rent villas and homes and stay in Bed & Breakfasts.  

In addition there are luxury resorts such as the Biltmore Estate and the Omni Grove Park Inn. You may also be familiar with the Grand Bohemian chain which is located at Biltmore Village.

The Biltmore House on The Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore House on The Biltmore Estate

At Christmastime, The Biltmore Estate is the perfect destination. On my first trip to Asheville, my husband and I stayed at The Village Hotel on the Biltmore Estate. There were a lot of activities including wine tasting and touring the Biltmore house. We didn’t leave the resort for 2 days! You can read all about that visit here:

Christmastime at the Biltmore Estate

I was excited to head back to see more of Asheville. On my second visit I stayed at The Omni Grove Park Inn. From the moment you pull up, you know you are in for an amazing stay in Asheville. This indoor-outdoor property is one of the most stunning hotels I have ever seen. You are surrounded by majestic mountain views.

sunset terrace at the Omni Grove Park Inn
Views from the sunset terrace at the Omni Grove Park Inn!

Spending time on the sunset terrace is a must even if you are not staying at the hotel. The Omni Grove Park in a full-service resort with a pool, luxury spa, golf course, fitness center, conference rooms, and several restaurants. They are also known for their Gingerbread House contest that occurs during the winter Holidays.

filled wine glass with The Omni Grove Park Inn in the background
Make reservations in advance to enjoy the sunset terrace at The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Visit Asheville’s Unique Neighborhoods 

While visiting Asheville North Carolina, explore the unique neighborhoods. I found some areas to be a bit hipster and quirky. So it is not surprising that it is sometimes referred to as the “Portland of the South”-Portland, Oregon that is.

Love Your Community mural
A mural in the River Arts District

Downtown Asheville is a walkable area. There is a self-guided walking tour available that will give you the chance to learn the history of Asheville. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries. Be sure to check out historic buildings like the Grove Arcade and the Woolworth building.

Asheville Art Museum entrance
Downtown Asheville

The River Arts District runs along the French Broad River. It is a few minutes from Downtown Asheville. Industrial buildings are now the home to over 200 artists’ studios and galleries. There are also restaurants, cafes and breweries in the area. Most studios are open during the day but check the RAD guide for schedules and more info.

River Arts District buildings
River Arts District

Head to the River Arts District on the Second Saturdays of every month. There are gallery walks, demonstrations, live music, workshops, food, and wine tastings. Other events are held in the River Arts District as well including a Juneteenth event.

West Asheville is located about 15 minutes from Downtown across the French Broad River. West Asheville is described as having a neighborhood Bohemian feel. Stroll down Haywood road to take in the old and new refurbished buildings, breweries, book stores, music venues, vintage clothing stores and record shops. The New Belgium Brewery is a popular stop here and it offers tours. West Asheville is also known to be LGBQT+ friendly.

Sunny Point Cafe sign
Sunny Point Cafe is a popular eating spot in West Asheville. I loved the vibe, outdoor patio and decor and the food is delicious! 

Explore Beer & Wine Tasting in Asheville

According to the Explore Asheville website, Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other U.S city! (WOW). There are over 100 draft and bottle beers from hoppy IPAs to dark stouts. Plan your “Beercation Getaway” and attend one of their beer festivals using the Explore Asheville website.

And for the wine drinkers-not to fear! Head over to the Biltmore Estate for wine tasting experiences. And if you are willing to take a little drive head to Hendersonville which is about 35 miles away. There are several wineries in this area.

wine tasting in Asheville NC
Wine tasting at The Biltmore Estate

Support Black-Owned Businesses

One of the amazing things about Asheville North Carolina is their commitment to supporting Black-Owned businesses. When is I was planning my trip, I expressed my interest is visiting these businesses and learning more about the Black history and culture in Asheville and the tourism board immediately sent me resources.

Black Lives Matter mural in Downtown Asheville
Black Lives Matter mural in Downtown Asheville

Thanks to Explore Asheville, I was able to take one of the “Hood Huggers International” tours which I highly recommend. I did the walking tour downtown and it was eye-opening. We learned about the history of Black communities in Asheville and visited existing Black businesses. You can read about the tour and the other Black-Owned businesses I visited during my trip in this blog post:

Black-Owned Businesses in Asheville North Carolina

During the walking tour downtown, I learned that in 2020 Asheville voted to provide reparations to Black residents for the city’s “historic role in slavery, discrimination and denial of basic liberties”. In addition the committee agreed to make investments in areas where Black residents face disparities AND to take down or change some monuments that honored the confederacy. I was shocked. I do not know of many cities or states in America that are doing this. Bravo, Asheville!

Enjoy Asheville’s Wellness & Outdoor Activities

If you are looking for a great escape to the outdoors, Asheville is it. There are a multitude of activities for nature & wellness lovers. From a luxury spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn to hiking thru the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville is also home to one of three vortex destinations in the United States. An energy vortex is a specific geographical area with a swirling center of energy which is great for healing and meditation. If wellness is on your list of things to do in Asheville, check out this article on epic self-care experiences there.

Entrance to the luxury spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn
Entrance to the luxury spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn

Eat at The Best Asheville Restaurants

Asheville has a large variety of local cuisines from fine dining to Southern cuisine to Appalachian and international cuisines. You will also find award-winning restaurants and chefs. James Beard nominated Chef Katie Burton owns Curate-a Spanish tapas restaurant that requires reservations in advance.

You will also find unique opportunities like foraging tours. These tours allow you to find wild edibles in the Blue Ridge Mountains, cook them, taste them and/or have them made into appetizers at a local restaurant. How cool is that?

Below are some of the restaurants I visited. Hopefully this will give you an idea of the deliciousness that awaits you there.

1. The BlackBird

Farm to Table experience, scallops, fresh Brie cheese with apples, salad with pecans, raspberry cocktail, chocolate cake.

callops, fresh Brie cheese with apples, salad with pecans, raspberry cocktail at The BlackBird

chocolate cake at The BlackBird
This cake was so decadent!

2. Benne on Eagle

Short rib hash with potatoes and jalapeno relish with blueberry vodka cocktail

Short rib hash with potatoes and jalapeno relish at Benne on Eagle

3. Sunny Point Café

Bacon tomato and pimento cheese omelet and a fluffy biscuit

Bacon tomato and pimento cheese omelet and a fluffy biscuit at Sunny Point Cafe

4. French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Liquid milk truffle and gourmet ice cream

Liquid milk truffle and gourmet ice cream at French Broad Chocolate Lounge

5. Tupelo Honey Café

Fried Chicken and Waffles

Tupelo fried chicken and waffles

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed my Asheville North Carolina travel guide! Breathing in that fresh mountain air in Asheville was just what this doctor needed after a long COVID-19 winter! I can’t wait to return!

Nadeen at the Omni Grove Park Inn
Enjoying the fresh mountain air on the terrace at The Omni Grove Park Inn

Before you go be sure to check out…

Asheville Foodie Guide Reel on Instagram and

Asheville Highlights Reel

 

 

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Tags: ashevilleNorth Carolinausa
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Nadeen

Nadeen

Dr. Nadeen White is a "Blogger by Day, Physician by Night". She is an award-winning travel blogger, Amazon bestselling author and speaker. The Sophisticated Life Blog covers affordable luxury travel, culinary travel and wine. Her domestic and international travel guides gets people to the destinations of their dreams. So, if you are living the sophisticated life or desire to do so, this is the blog for you!

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  • ***SAVE & SHARE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL! 
How many of these things do you do on a regular basis when you are taking off 🛫 on an international trip?

After the Maui and Morocco natural disasters I started thinking more about these things especially since I visited both places this year. I started to let some of these action items slip! 

In case you missed my LIVE broadcast of “How to Prepare for Natural Disasters While Traveling” you can still catch it on my YouTube channel The Sophisticated Life. But these are some of the highlights! 
https://youtu.be/0hK0LseyX9E?si=B-MCsaQc3Xm_wRM2

And let me tell you about the last one——we are already seeing Flu in our hospital and COVID is NOT going anywhere! So protect yourself! Wear your masks 😷 and please get vaccinated! 

#naturaldisasters #naturaldisastersurvival #traveltips101 #traveladvice #travelguides #travelbloggervibes #travelexperts #travelblogs #blacktravelblog #moroccoearthquake #mauifires
  • These memes have been cracking me up all week! 😂😂 
Ever since my husband @parrishu70 and I met a couple in Champagne France 🇫🇷 with the most intense, printed color coded itinerary that even included times for naps 😴 -I kid you not-we have used their terminology of “trips” vs “vacations”. 

TRIPS: usually go go go. You are in a city or place for a limited time so you want to see it all. These are tours and reservations and an itinerary. IE our group trip to Morocco. 5 cities in 9 days! Things have to be organized, you may pack outfits based on activities that are planned and you may be tired when you get back. Hence the term “I need a vacation from my vacation”. 

VACATION: more relaxed. Go with the flow vs reservations and tours. Sleeping in in the mornings. Strolling around locations and popping into places. Relaxing on a beach all day for days at a time. Room service. Being lazy in a comfy bed. Going on a cruise. 

Now it is possible to have a mix of these 2! Over the years I have learned a lot from my husband and since he prefers vacations, even if we visit cities, I make sure we have time to relax and stroll around. AND as I have gotten older I definitely need to recharge with vacations. I do feel energized on trips thou lol. 

How about you? What’s your favorite? 

#tripvsvacation #funnymemes4ya #husbandmemes #couplestravel #couplesvacation #couplesgoal #blackcouplestravel #blackcouplestraveltoo #blacklovematters #blacklovecouples #theofficememes
  • Is anyone else holding on to summer like I am? Or are you ready for fall? I have no issue w less humid weather and crisper morning and evening air, I love pumpkin 🎃 but I do know that fall leads to winter and that IS not OK with me!! 

I am already planning my winter 🥶 escapes. And I live in Atlanta!! My skin gets dry, my hands and feet stay cold and I miss feeling the sun 🌞 on my skin!! Maybe it’s my island 🏝️ 🇯🇲 roots lol 

So which one are you? Summer? Fall? Or are you a winter or spring person? 

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  • My heart is heavy today. I am incredibly sad as I read reports and see the news about the earthquake in Morocco and the effects in Marrakech. 😔😔

As many of you know I traveled with 16 other adventurers for 9 days thru 5 cities in Morocco 🇲🇦 just 3 months ago!!! 

We met so many incredible people. Of course after being on the road that long together we felt close to our guides and drivers. I even had a meeting with two of the team members yesterday while they were in Marrakech and the earthquake happened a few hours later. 

My mind quickly went to them and all the people in my pictures wondering and hoping that they were safe. So far they are. But the death toll is over 1,000 and homes are crumbling. It’s a disaster. 

As a physician this also made me wonder—-are you prepared to handle a natural disaster while traveling? Do you know what to do? Do you have things in order before you go on vacation? Let’s talk about it tomorrow evening LIVE here on Instagram and Facebook at 5pm PT and 8 pm ET. You can share your thoughts on the Maui fires as well. My husband and I were in Maui in April and I’m still trying to comprehend that places we visited are gone. People have lost so much the past few months. Please stay safe. But let’s also get prepared! 

Sound off in the comments with any questions you would like answered tomorrow night! 

Swipe left to see pics from cities all over Morocco 🇲🇦 the people make the place ❤️

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  • Do you have a favorite spa in your city 🌆 that you go to regularly?
I do but recently I tried a new one and it was VERY RELAXING! 

I have been to @stregisatl several times over the years but this was my first time using the spa. I had their version of an aromatherapy massage with hot stone add on. 

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Prior to the conference I spent 2 days exploring Loudoun County Virginia thanks to @visitloudoun Funny story-I used to work at Loudoun County hospital as a physician over 20 years ago! It was hard to believe I was returning as a wine writer and content creator  with @wsetglobal degree! 

Northern Virginia is now a booming wine region and also the location of the 5-star luxury Black-Owned resort @salamanderresort in Middleburg-owned by Sheila Johnson. I was able to take a look around the grounds and it is lovely. 

“The Family Reunion” event in collaboration with @chefkwameonwuachi took place there this past weekend. It is in its 3rd year. I haven’t been yet but I have seen & heard good things. Tickets sell out fast and it’s a lux $$ item so start planning! 

I did spend a few nights @salamanderhoteldc It was the former Mandarin Oriental and there are plans for further renovations including the spa. I loved the spacious room and bathroom. 

These are just 2 of the Salamander properties located in the US and Caribbean. Have you stayed in any of them? Remember, you do not have to be Black to support Black-owned businesses! 

Please like, comment & share! 

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