How to spend a weekend in Asheville

Asheville is one of my favorite southern cities. It has a laid-back, bohemian vibe and its own unique style with no shortage of things to do! Whether you want to explore its vibrant art scene, sample some of Asheville’s many craft breweries, visit America’s largest mansion, indulge in a spa retreat, or explore the great outdoors, Asheville has you covered! The city has so much to offer. You won’t go hungry either. For a small to mid-sized city, its culinary selection is not shabby and will satisfy the toughest food critiques. They really embrace “farm to table” dining by supporting their local community. All of that and it is surrounded by the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, giving the city the perfect backdrop.

Explore the River Arts District

River Arts District is a colorful revitalized neighborhood located off Interstate 240, situated between downtown and West Asheville. This once industrial area has become a hotspot for local artists. Old warehouses have been converted into cool studios and galleries showcasing artistic masterpieces. The area consists of a 2 mile stretch of 22 buildings and featuring the works of over 200 artists. It’s easy to spend an afternoon here, watching artists at work, or even taking a class or simply sitting back and enjoying a pint or a meal.

Sample some of Asheville’s craft breweries

Asheville is a craft beer lovers paradise with more breweries per capita than any other southern U.S. city and second in the entire U.S., only trailing Portland, Maine. If you are wondering where to start with so many breweries to choose from, South Slope Brewery District is a great start. If you are staying downtown, South Slope is within easy walking distance.

There wasn’t enough time to hit them all but we enjoyed a few. Another reason we need to go back to Asheville. Bhramari had a great selection of on-tap, a to-go beer selection, and a full menu featuring weekly specials. I was fascinated by the artwork on the cans of their to-go selection. I didn’t eat here but the food looked and smelled delicious and they had great outdoor seating. Green Man Brewery opened in 1997 and is one of Asheville’s original breweries. They have a taproom and have opened up outdoor space to accommodate social distancing. Green Man has a rotating selection as well as a featured beer. They don’t have a food menu but there was a taco truck parked out front while I was there. Wicked Weed Brewing is another local favorite with a downtown/South Slope location and a location in West Asheville. They serve locally sourced American fare as well. Wicked Weed’s sister brewery Funkatorium is located in South Slope. Their taproom is dedicated to serving sour beers. Burial Beer has unique and spacious outdoor seating, a plentiful draft menu, and a kitchen.

Enjoy the local cuisine

There are so many great food options in Asheville it’s hard to narrow down. Let’s start with breakfast! Green Sage Cafe has been an Asheville favorite of mine for the past decade. Their vision is to provide nutritious, safe, organic, thoughtfully sourced cuisine. This is a must-stop for breakfast or lunch for me. If you don’t feel like being super healthy, Vortex Doughnuts is a yummy choice. They have unique choices, vegan options, and gourmet coffee. They are conveniently located in South Slope. Hole Doughnuts is another local favorite, serving up some delicious doughnuts with the cutest store-front. Biscuit Head is a breakfast and lunch cafe. They have locations in both West Asheville and Biltmore. I haven’t tried it yet but hope to next time!

For dinner, I recommend Cúrate. This downtown restaurant features Spanish cuisine and tapas. It is housed in a former 1927 bus depot. Downtown, next to Cúrate, is Rhubarb. Rhubarb serves contemporary American fare focusing on farm-to-table, locally sourced family-style meals. Unfortunately, Rhubarb was closed while we were there but I heard great things about it and is on my list for next time. For lunch one day, we stumbled on The Black Bird. The Black Bird serves brunch, lunch, and dinner. Their focus is on locally sourced, eclectic southern cuisine. They also have delicious desserts and the best bloody marys! If you love tacos as much as me, you have to try Mamacitas. You know you’ve found a good spot when it’s packed with locals. It is a no-frills, locally-owned spot that has fresh tacos and Mexican cuisine. Mamacitas is conveniently located downtown, at the edge of South Slope, next to Wicked Weed Brewery.

For dessert, head over to French Broad Chocolate Lounge for mouth-watering treats and ice cream. It is centrally located downtown.

Discover the city’s street art

One of my favorite things to do in every city is to find its street art. It adds so much uniqueness and character. Asheville has plenty of it. Most of the street art I found was downtown, South Slope, West Asheville, and the River Arts District. Asheville also has its own urban trail. Details for the urban trail can be found here: Exploreasheville.com

Hop over to West Asheville

West Asheville is across the French Broad River from downtown and has a unique bohemian vibe all of its own. It’s a nice little escape from the sometimes busy downtown. There is a lot to do and explore here from the many restaurants of Haywood Road to the numerous consignment shops, record stores, bars, pubs, bakeries, and music venues, it is impossible to be bored in this fun corner of Asheville.

New to West Asheville is the New Belgium Brewing’s riverside brewery. Its taproom sits above the French Broad River. This brewery offers a free tour but it does require a reservation. You can take in the views from its deck and local food trucks set up shop here so you won’t go hungry!

Get out on the French Broad River

The French Broad River flows through Asheville and the surrounding national forests. There are plenty of opportunities to go tubing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), canoeing, or fishing as well as many outfitters to make this happen for you. On this past trip, we opted for tubing and went with Zen Tubing. We were not disappointed. They were well organized and professional. From the drop-off point, back to their base, it took about 2 hours with time to get out and swim.

Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles from North Carolina to Virginia. It sits in close proximity to Asheville. There are plenty of scenic stops and lookout points along the way that are perfect to stop and have a picnic with a view!

Visit Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is roughly 40 minutes outside of Asheville. There are plenty of trails, waterfalls, camping, fly fishing, and outdoor activities to be experienced. Pisgah is home to Sliding Rock, a 60 foot long sloped natural rock slide that ends in a natural pool. We gave Sliding Rock a go on our last trip to Asheville. It was fun and the plunge into the cold mountain water is sure to wake you up!. There is an entrance fee of $5 per person, parking, and a lifeguard on duty.

Biltmore Estates

Biltmore is probably the most well-known and obvious thing to do in Asheville. Biltmore is America’s largest privately-owned home. The Vanderbilt family built the estate in 1895. It consists of 250 rooms and is situated on 8,000 acres! Not only can you tour the home, but you can explore the estate gardens, over 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, tour the estate’s winery, and hang out at Biltmore Village. It would be easy to spend a weekend here alone!

What are your favorite things to do in Asheville? Feel free to drop comments or questions below!

Cheers! Angela