Your Weekend Guide to Asheville

Asheville has gained popularity in the past few years and with good reason. It’s a quirky, colorful city surrounded by North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and jam packed with some of the best breweries in the nation. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, Asheville is a great option. When I was living in Charleston, it was only a four hour drive from Asheville so I visited several times and perfected a weekend itinerary.

Weekend Itinerary

The nice thing about Asheville is that it’s a rather small city so you can do quite a bit in a short amount of time. If you’re interested in the brewery scene, I would recommend staying downtown so you can walk everywhere. If you’re more into the hiking aspect, try to get a cabin in the mountains. There are plenty of AirBnB options.

Friday

If you’re headed to Asheville for a weekend visit, spend the first evening getting acquainted with the city. Walk around, explore the small shops, and hit up a few breweries. There are dozens of breweries within the city limits. Split beer flights with your travel companions so that you can try a little bit of everything!

Saturday

Saturday morning is the perfect time to go hiking. Wake up bright and early and head out to one of the locations suggested below. Most of the more well-known hikes are 30 minutes or more outside of the city so plan to be gone for at least half the day. Once you return, grab lunch and then, if you haven’t tired of them, try out a few more breweries. Finish the day with a nice dinner at one of Asheville’s many unique restaurants.

Sunday

Spend your last day soaking in the history of the Biltmore. Give yourself at least four hours to explore the 250 room residence and surrounding gardens. Grab a late lunch before heading home.

Where to Drink

Like any true millennial, I’m a big fan of craft beer. To give you an idea of my taste preferences, I usually go for IPAs and am particularly partial to West Coat IPAs that have citrus notes. If I’m feeling something lighter, I go for a Belgium beer (they have that distinct banana flavor) or a sour.

I’m not claiming to be a beer expert, but I’ve tasted my fair share over the years and therefore, have plenty of opinions. Here are my thoughts on a few of Asheville’s most popular breweries.

Bhramari Brewing

Rating: 5/5

If you’re looking for a brewery that is downtown, has great beer, and offers awesome food, this is the place for you!

Wicked Weed

Rating: 5/5

There’s a reason Wicked Weed is Asheville’s most well known brewery. Their selection is diverse and their IPAs are delicious. Even if you’ve tried Wicked Weed before, the brewery offers a lot of options you can’t find elsewhere.

Wedge

Rating: 4/5

Wedge has great beer, but what sets this brewery apart is the ambiance. They actually have two locations in Asheville. I would suggest making the trek out to the further location, Wedge At Foundation, to see some spectacular graffiti.

Burial

Rating: 4/5

Burial’s draft list is extensive despite the brewery’s small size. They have a really nice outdoor set up that offers a chill atmosphere. It’s a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Funkatorium

Rating: 4/5

The Funkatorium is Wicked Weed’s dedication to sour & funky beers. If you’re into sours or just need a change of pace, the Funkatorium is a great brewery to visit.

Catawaba

Rating: 3/5

I was 50/50 on the beers I tried at Catawabe. Some were good. Some were terrible. The brewery is huge and they have an awesome patio so that counts for something!

Hi-Wire

Rating: 1/5

Hi-Wire was a disappointment because the building was so fun and colorful from the outside. I was expecting great things. Unfortunately, I didn’t like a single beer I tasted.

Twin Leaf

Rating: 1/5

Twin Leaf was average, and unfortunately in Asheville, there’s no room for average beer.

Where to Hike

There are so many hiking options near Asheville that it’s almost overwhelming to choose where to go. If you don’t want to hike for an entire day and would prefer something closeby, I would recommend heading to Craggy Gardens. The drive to Craggy Gardens is about 35 minutes from downtown Asheville and takes you along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Getting there is half the fun because you’ll drive through gorgeous mountainscapes. Take your time and don’t be afraid to stop at the many overlooks along the way.

Once you arrive to Craggy Gardens, check out the overlook near the Visitor’s Center then take the short hike up to Craggy Pinnacle Summit. At the top, you’ll witness a stunning 360-view of seemingly endless peaks and forested slopes. Afterwards, if you’re up for more adventure, pick one of the many other trails in the area to explore.

If you’re in Asheville for longer than a weekend or simply want to spend more time hiking, a few other options to consider are Devil’s Courthouse, Catawaba Falls, and Triple Falls. While I can’t personally vouch for these, I read some great reviews when doing research on the area!

Pro Tip: If you’re going to be driving on Blue Ridge Parkway, make sure to check beforehand to make sure there aren’t any road closures that will get in your way.

The Biltmore

It’s hard to believe that something as stunningly beautiful as the Biltmore sits in the middle of North Carolina. The residence and expansive gardens look like something you’d see in Europe. In fact, the design of the Biltmore house was inspired by various grand chateaus in France. Even if history doesn’t interest you, the Biltmore is worth a visit.

Originally owned by George Vanderbilt, the house itself covers 178,926 square feet, making it the largest privately-owned house in the United States. The Biltmore has 250 rooms, including 43 bathrooms, multiple kitchens, an indoor swimming pool, and a bowling alley.

Don’t let the ticket price scare you off. You can easily spend a whole day at the Biltmore. As you’re planning your trip, here are a few recommendations to keep in mind:

• Try to purchase your tickets at least a week ahead of time in order to secure a discount.

• Select the earliest option for the house tour. In the summer, that means 9:00am. Getting started early will allow you to beat the crowds and will ensure cool temperatures.

• Spend the extra $10 for the audio guide. If you don’t, you’ll just be walking around a big house with no idea what you’re looking at.

After you’ve completed the house tour (it takes about an hour and a half), spend some time checking out the house exterior. For the best view of the property, climb the staircase beyond the lawn and walk up to the Statue of Diana. Thank me later for your Instagram.

Next, explore the gardens. The Biltmore has more than 30 acres of formal and informal gardens. Don’t miss the Italian Garden, the Walled Garden (with a walk through the Shrub Garden on the way), and the Conservatory.

Before heading out, jump back in your car and head to Antler Hill Village. Your general admission ticket will get you a free wine tasting at the Biltmore Winery! Taste 6+ wines and buy a bottle to remember your visit!

Where to Eat

Even though Asheville is small, it’s definitely a foodie city. In fact, you can find great restaurants in every category - Italian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, and more. Here are a few worth checking out…

• Chai Pani - If you like Indian food, this is THE place to go!

• Cúrate - Spanish tapas in a great atmosphere.

• Sunny Point Café - Awesome breakfast. Go hungry!

• Green Sage Cafe - If you’re looking for a quick lunch, this is a good option. The bowls are delicious.

Follow Along WITH MY TRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM!