A weekend in Asheville, North Carolina
The mountains of North Carolina make for a spectacular getaway. From the adorable little towns, the sprawling Blue Ridge Mountains, the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, and the scenic North Carolina Waterfall Byway, there is definitely something for everyone! We recently had the chance to explore this awesome mountain city with our toddler in tow. We would love to share with you the coolest things to See, most interesting food to Seek out, and some really unique places to Sleep in the Asheville area! This will be a great guide in case you have a shorter trip in the area, especially if you only have a weekend!
We have broken our guide down into three sections, so it is easy to navigate. We are looking at interesting places to See, amazing food to Seek out, and some of the best places to Sleep. We hope you enjoy our list. Asheville is amazing and there is definitely more to see and do there then you can accomplish in one weekend, but we think our guide would make an amazing weekend getaway. If there is somewhere we have missed, or a great spot you think we have to know about, we would love to hear from you. Check out our Facebook page or shoot us an email at seeseeksleep@gmail.com.
The Coolest Things to See
The Biltmore Estate
If you had to pick one thing Asheville would be famous for, it would definitely be Biltmore Estate. Biltmore is simultaneously America’s largest private home, and the chateau in the mountains that is the de facto symbol of Asheville. Constructed between 1889 and 1895, the Biltmore house is still the largest private home in America and boasts over 178,000 square feet. The house itself is a site to behold but the estate also boasts a village, an award winning winery, horseback riding, and gardens. This is a touristy attraction for sure, but one of our absolute favorite ways to spend an afternoon in Asheville!
The Blue Ridge Parkway
This scenic drive consistently ranks as one the nation’s best. Though it extends from the Shenandoah range in Virginia all the way to the town of Cherokee in western North Carolina, some of the best parts are just south of Asheville. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway there are stunning areas to pull off and park (hence the name) and enjoy the amazing views. Some of North Carolina’s best hiking trails are off the parkway as well; Graveyard Fields, Devil’s Courthouse, and Looking Glass Falls are all close to the Parkway, and an easy day trip from Asheville. Another great option for a scenic drive is The North Carolina Scenic Byway, if you are heading west out of Asheville, or coming into Asheville from that direction.
Downtown Museums
There are a couple of museums that are worth checking out if you are in town, especially with small kids. AMOS, or Asheville Museum of Science, is a great little science museum that would be a hit with Toddlers. The Asheville Art Museum is a quaint downtown art museum with a great kids art space that was definitely a hit with the little one we brought along with us. After spending some time exploring the museums, downtown Asheville is easily walkable!
The North Carolina Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum is a fantastic place to get some fresh air in Asheville. There are over 400 acres of gardens, hiking trails, biking trails, and tree collections. The admission is free, but there is a parking charge if you drive into the park. Our favorite section was the awesome collection of Bonsai trees. The Arboretum is still under development and is always growing! If you are in the area during the holiday season, they do a spectacular light show!
The Most Delicious Food to Seek Out
White Duck Taco Shop
White Duck Taco Shop is a delicious little Taco joint that is quickly spreading across the southeast. This amazing Taco Place started in Asheville so we felt good adding it to this list, but its easy to see why they are quickly spreading to other cities like Greenville, Charlotte, and Nashville. They serve the kind of tacos you’ve likely never had before like their Korean beef bulgogi, buffalo chicken, and Banh Mi tofu. Their menu also changes seasonally so there is always something new to try! Our favorite has been the chicken tikka masala, and their tacos are so stuffed they come with an extra tortilla so you can make another taco with what falls out of your first one!
Biscuit Head
Biscuit Head is our favorite spot for a quick breakfast in Asheville. It’s hard to beat their cathead sized breakfast biscuits and their incredible Jam Bar, featuring many different jams and jellies for your biscuits including spicy mango, peach rosemary, sour cherry, and apple pie. If you have a breakfast sweet tooth, their biscuit French toast will definitely satisfy it. If a savory breakfast is more your speed, be sure to try one of their five kinds of gravy or the mimosa fried chicken biscuit. They also serve up killer coffee here: hello maple bacon latte!
Hole Donuts
Fresh hot donuts. It doesn’t get better than that and Hole Donuts have some of the best in Asheville! These donuts are made to order and are served piping hot. They are perfect for a chilly mountain day. They are always serving their vanilla glazed donut and their cinnamon sugar donut, but there is also a seasonal weekly flavor to try out!
Tupelo Honey
That Honey Dusted Fried chicken is making my mouth water just thinking about it! Started in Asheville in 2018, Tupelo Honey currently has 18 restaurants operating around the United States. It is a must stop every time we are in Asheville. They specialize in amazing southern comfort food and their brunch is to die for! Our favorites (besides the fried chicken ofcourse) have to be the crispy brussels, the shrimp and grits, and the mac-and-cheese waffle with Asheville hot chicken!
Breweries (plural, there are too many great ones to choose from!)
We’re sure the brewery capital of the world is some storied town in Europe, but Asheville certainly has to be in the conversation from craft brew capital of the Southeast US. You can literally toss a baseball in any direction and hit an amazing brewery is Asheville. Some of our favorites include: Wicked Weed, Hi-Wire, New Belgium, and Bold Rock.
The Most Unique Places to Sleep
Treehouses of Serenity
This treehouse rental compound in the mountains is simply breathtaking. They have some truly incredible treehouses, several of which are themed after Harry Potter and Lord Of the Rings. They are truly a special place to stay. We actually have an interview with the owners! You can check out all the amazing Treehouse Rentals in Asheville at Treehouses of Serenity by reading that blog post!
The Omni Grove Park Inn
One of Asheville’s most storied and elegant resorts, you will love the Omni Grove Park Inn. This “Arts and Craft” styled hotel was built in 1913 and has played an important part in history, which we love. During WWII, the hotel housed many imprisoned Axis diplomats, and the Philippine government even functioned there in exile. Many presidents have stayed in the hotel over the 19th century. The hotel is also home to a world famous subterranean spa you have to see to believe!
The Inn at Biltmore Estate
We wrote earlier about how much fun you can have exploring the Biltmore estate. Why not make the experience truly special and Sleep there as well? You can do just that at the Inn at Biltmore Estate! This four star hotel sits just above Antler Village on the estate and has commanding views of the surrounding mountains. You can experience the luxury and hospitality of the legendary Vanderbilts with world class dining, luxurious spa treatments, and a dedicated concierge staff!
Hilton at Biltmore Park
If you are a fan of a traditional hotel, you can’t go wrong with Hilton at Biltmore Park. This hotel is one of our favorites in the area. It is a very nice hotel with updated rooms, but also includes a pretty great restaurant, Forklore, and an onsite spa! The gym and indoor pool also make for a nice treat! This Hilton is located in Biltmore Park, an up and coming shopping area with many chain boutiques, a lot of great food options, and a movie theater. This Hilton is also close to the interstate for quick day trips around the city and free parking!
Thanks so much for reading about the coolest things to See, the best food worth Seeking out, and the most unique places to Sleep in Asheville! Combine a few of these that sound interesting to you and you will surely have a great weekend in this western North Carolina city! Did we miss any must See places? We would love to hear from you! You can reach us at seeseeksleep@gmail.com.
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Photos courtesy of Biltmore Inn, Hilton, and Omni Grove Park Inn.
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