Visiting Asheville, NC
Asheville, North Carolina is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina and it is a great place for a weekend getaway. Surprisingly, Asheville has incredible food and a ton to do (historical sites, shopping, breweries, and of course, hiking).
Originally located on Cherokee Nation Land, Asheville was settled by Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto. In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson settled the area and in 1793 was named “Morristown”. In 1797, Morristown was renamed Asheville after North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe.
Asheville played a strategic role in the American Civil War with the Battle of Asheville in 1865, where the Union Army unsuccessfully tried to capture Asheville. After the Civil War, George Vanderbilt visits the area and decides it is a perfect location for his country home and in 1889, he starts the construction of the famous Biltmore House. While the Biltmore House was originally a private residence, it has been open to the public for visits and events for many years now.
Where to eat:
Mamacita’s Taqueria: Mamacita’s is a locally owned family taco shop serving up casual Mexican food in a fun environment. They have some classic and fun taco flavors and some amazing margaritas! I would definitely recommend the carnitas, Baja Fresh and the shrimp tacos.
Biscuit Head: There are a few different Biscuit Head locations in Asheville, but we went to the one on Biltmore Ave. Biscuit Head is owned by a family that wanted to share their love of Southern cooking with the world. They serve some outrageous biscuits and even more outrageous gravy flavors and toppings. The Fried chicken biscuit was a religious experience and I would HIGHLY recommend it.
All Souls Pizza: All Souls Pizza is located in the Wecan neighborhood, close to the French Broad River. They use fresh and seasonal ingredients to make amazing pizzas, and they even mill their own flour and polenta. I would highly recommend their country ham and egg pizza, NC shrimp pizza and their pepperoni. Don’t forget to order dessert and perhaps some zucchini fries too!
Buxton Hall Barbeque: Buxton Hall serves up some serious Carolina style BBQ and is housed in a historic building that used to be a wood-floored roller rink. We went on a Saturday night and there was a long wait, but we grabbed a beer next door and enjoyed ourselves while we waited for our table to open up. Everything we ate was amazing, and I would absolutely recommend the pulled pork!
Sunny Point Cafe: Sunny Point Cafe in West Asheville, is a wonderful neighborhood spot. We went for brunch on the weekend and the entrance area/ outdoor patio was filled with people waiting for their table while enjoying coffees and Bloody Mary’s. They serve up local American cuisine and are famous for the Huevos Rancheros (which was delicious), shrimp and grits, and carrot hot cakes. If you are in the mood for a good, classic brunch spot, this is the place to go.
What to do:
Visit Biltmore House: The Biltmore House is the largest privately-owned house in America and is owned by the famous American family, the Vanderbilts. You can spend an entire day on the grounds of Biltmore House, between touring the actual house, walking the grounds and gardens, visiting the winery, etc.
Go Hiking/ Spend Time in Nature: Asheville is close to 8 national and state parks, over 200 waterfalls and 4 rivers (the French Broad River, Green River, Swannanoa River and Catawba River), which is my way of saying there are a lot of gorgeous hikes to take.
Wander Around Downtown: There are around 113 buildings in Asheville that are on the National Registry of Historic Places. Spend some time just walking around. Surprisingly, downtown Asheville has a massive concentration of Art Deco (1920’s) style buildings. while you are walking around, be sure to check out the Basilica of St. Lawrence, the Grove Arcade, the Jackson Building, The Manor and Asheville High School.
Go on a Brewery Crawl: Asheville has a massive beer scene (about 26 craft breweries) and you could easily spend your entire trip brewery hopping. Here are some options to start you off- Highland Brewing Company, Green Man Brewery, Asheville Brewing Company, Catawba Brewing Co, and New Belgium.