jQuery(function($) {
if($('.x-cart .outer').html()=="0 Items") {
$('.x-menu-item-woocommerce').css('display','none');
}
});
Menu
This was one of my favorite weekends to date! Asheville is just a short two hour drive from Charlotte, and the perfect weekend getaway destination. Bailey and I got to bring the boys with us for this trip, and it truly made one for the books! There’s so much to do in Asheville, you’ll find one of the best brewery scenes on the east coast, lots of farm to table local restaurants, and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains all around you. I’ve put together the perfect guide (based off our own activities while visiting) to a weekend in Asheville for you and your travel companions!
For this trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown! This was my first time staying at this hotel, and I loved it. It’s conveniently located just a short walk from over 200 locally owned shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in the downtown area of the city! Rooms were artfully decorated (pictured above), and either had a view of downtown or the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bailey and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay in both the bridal and grooms suites and they were by far some of the coolest rooms we’ve ever stayed in! They were spacious, full of luxury, and honestly like mini apartments. The hotels hospitality was fantastic, breakfast was included in our stay daily, and the hotel’s lobby had it’s own coffee bar with locally produced snacks at hand – if you know me, you know this was a highlight! I can’t go without mentioning the hotels own rooftop bar, The Montford. The Montford serves up artisanal small plates, craft cocktails, and panoramic views of the Blue Ridge mountains – make sure to check this spot out.
The food scene in Asheville is spectacular! You really can’t go wrong here but let me highlight a few of my favorites.
The Montford Rooftop Bar // As mentioned above, this spot is located at the top of the Hyatt Place hotel and boasts some of the best restaurant views we’ve seen in Asheville to date. A contemporary, rustic speakeasy, offering craft cocktails and small plates. Some of our food favorites here were the tater tots, bison meatballs, and sausage flat bread. Don’t miss out on the smoking gun either! I would recommend this if you’re looking for a more casual, laid back dinner & drinks scene.
Curate // Asheville’s number one rated restaurant! We had dinner here our second night, and it was all that it was cracked up to be. This is another small plates joint, offering some of Spain’s finest and most authentic cuisine. I loved this whole experience! Make sure to book a reservation as early as possible and this spot rarely has room for walk-ins and reservations can be hard to come by last minute.
Old Europe // Let’s be honest, this guide wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t find a great local coffee shop in town. We randomly stumbled upon this place in search of a good iced coffee to combat the heat and we struck gold! This spot makes authentic European desserts and pastries daily, and the coffee didn’t disappoint either. It’s a cozy little spot perfect for an afternoon break!
The Corner Kitchen // This is the cutest little restaurant located in the Biltmore Village. The village itself has been dubbed historic, and is filled with cozy little shops and restaurants. We did Sunday brunch here and the menu consisted of lots of southern “mommas” fare.
Tupelo Honey Cafe // Asheville is home to Tupelo Honey’s first ever location! Scratch made southern food at it’s finest, this place is the perfect brunch location. We have one here in Charlotte, but there’s nothing like visiting the OG of brunch while in Asheville. If you take me up on my recommendation, make sure to order the sweet potato pancake – it does not disappoint. Anticipate a longer wait time here as this is a popular location!
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. // Okay, I’m not even a beer drinker and I loved this place and really can’t wait to go back! If this isn’t on your list of to-do’s go ahead and add it in! Let me just start off by saying the food is actually really good here too, we had lunch here on Saturday of our trip but since I was mentioning it here under activities, I skipped adding it under the food category. They have corn hole, live music, bocce ball, and obviously lots of Sierra Nevada beer. I recommend setting aside a half day for this as it’s located just outside of Asheville.
Biltmore Estate // If you’ve never been to Asheville, this is a iconic must do in the city. The Biltmore Estate is a mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt II in the 1800’s and the largest privately owned house in the United States. Guided tours take you through all the rooms of the home, there is an on-site vineyard with wine tasting opportunities, an equestrian center and much more. This does require the purchase of a ticket.
Go Shopping Downtown // If you’re staying at the Hyatt Place Asheville, downtown is walking distance from the hotel. Asheville is known for it’s local artists and designs, cool indie wear, and vintage boutiques. If you’re into the artsy things, you should spend an hour or so checking these places out. If you’re in search of art specifically, I hear the River Arts District is the place to be. We haven’t experienced this personally, but it’s on our list for next time.
Cruise along the Blue Ridge Parkway // This 469 mile scenic route between Virginia and North Carolina is stunning no matter what time of year you are visiting, but during fall it’s absolutely spectacular. Expect panoramic views of the mountains, wildlife, and foliage for days! It’s also home to some of the most beautiful hiking trails if you prefer to take in natures beauty on foot. I have hiked around the Blue Ridge Mountains, but not in Asheville so I cannot recommend a specific trail just yet but will update once I’ve experienced this here. They also offer guided tours for this!
Asheville is pretty casual in terms of attire. It’s one of America’s best outdoor towns so you’ll notice lots of hiking gear, flannel, jeans, and athletic wear. If you’re headed out to dinner, jeans are still appropriate – I just dressed mine up with a simple blouse and heels, or a fancier slide if you’re not a fan of the added height.
*In partnership with Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown. As always, all opinions are my own.
