Travel Editor, Amanda Stuermer
The perfect blend of the Southern creative spirit, mountain ingenuity, and legendary food culture makes Asheville, North Carolina, a must-visit. From hiking trails to gallery openings, it's easy to see why this jewel of Appalachia has quickly become the talk of the nation.
EAT + DRINK
Asheville has been known as Foodtopia for several years, and the scene keeps growing.
Imagine the perfect meet-cute between generations-old family farms and innovative young chefs specializing in global cuisines.
A few restaurants not to miss are Cúrate for mouth-watering Spanish tapas, Cucina 24 for an inspired twist on an Italian eatery that uses ingredients found in the mountains of the American South (that somehow more than just works), and Gan Shan West for Asian-inspired dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.
It may be known as a brewery town, but Asheville’s bar scene has quickly come into its own.
Cultivated Cocktails is home to Asheville’s first proper gin and rum distillery since Prohibition.
Enjoy a libation in their trendy space on Page Ave. Check out The Low Down, a chic underground lounge and Art Deco-inspired neighborhood bar in West Asheville. The Tiki Easy Bar is a speakeasy tropical world hidden at the back of Hi-Wire Brewing’s South Slope Brewery.
ARTS + TUNES
Play us some mountain music! Rolling Stone named the Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club as one of the top five rock clubs in the country. The list of artists who have played there is as diverse as it is long, including Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys, Dave Grohl, and Lou Reed.
The Grey Eagle is Asheville’s longest-running (and most beloved) all-ages venue and has hosted over 10,000 different bands and artists, including the Avett Brothers and Band of Horses. They also serve tacos, which gives them bonus points in our book.
The River Arts District is Asheville’s creative center. The vibrant neighborhood's converted warehouses and industrial buildings now house the galleries, studios, cafes, and shops of nearly 300 makers. Pick up a map and spend the afternoon shopping and strolling. Be sure to check out the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, which runs along the banks of one of the world's oldest rivers, the French Broad.
LaZoom Comedy Bus Tours is affectionately called the original theater on wheels. The historical and hysterical city bus tours feature outrageously entertaining tour guides, outlandish comedy skits, and incredible views of downtown Asheville.
HIKES + BIKES
Ideally situated in the southernmost stretches of the Appalachian Mountains, some of the oldest mountains in the world, Asheville is home to a variety of Instagram-worthy trails.
Mt. Pisgah Trail, off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is an iconic 2.3-mile trek through velvety green forests and outstanding views from the summit’s observation deck.
The Graveyard Fields Trail is a 3.3-mile loop through tunnels of gnarly-branched rhododendrons and lush fields to several tumbling waterfalls. If you like to pack more adrenaline into your outdoor pursuits, the Blue
Ridge wilderness surrounding Asheville provides
endless opportunities for world-class mountain biking. The Pisgah National Forest graciously offers more than 300 miles of trails. It’s become a favorite mountain bike destination for those seeking technical rides, steep climbs, and woop-inducing descents.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest is just 15 miles from town. Locals refer to it as “Pisgah Lite,” but the Bern Creek Epic Trail still provides 20 miles of single and double track and includes Green’s Lick, a heart-pumping two-mile downhill that should be on any mountain biker’s bucket list.
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