Guidebook for Asheville
Sightseeing
Opened in 1913 Grove Park Inn is one of Asheville's favorite historic landmarks. It's unique stone masonry and shingled roofs are a sight that shouldn't be missed. It offers sweeping views of the city from it's outdoor balconies, spa treatments, salt water pools, tennis, golfing and fine dining that ranges in price. It is well worth the cost of parking and a beverage to watch the sunset views on the stone terrace or rock in the rocking chairs next to their massive stone hearths.
LOCAL SECRET: On the eve before the 4th of July, The Grove Park Inn has it's annual fireworks display. Many locals and guests will book reservations with window views in the restaurants. Make reservations in advance.
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The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveOpened in 1913 Grove Park Inn is one of Asheville's favorite historic landmarks. It's unique stone masonry and shingled roofs are a sight that shouldn't be missed. It offers sweeping views of the city from it's outdoor balconies, spa treatments, salt water pools, tennis, golfing and fine dining that ranges in price. It is well worth the cost of parking and a beverage to watch the sunset views on the stone terrace or rock in the rocking chairs next to their massive stone hearths.
LOCAL SECRET: On the eve before the 4th of July, The Grove Park Inn has it's annual fireworks display. Many locals and guests will book reservations with window views in the restaurants. Make reservations in advance.
Yes, this is a very touristed spot but it's well worth the price of admission if you like history and culture. The estate offers specialty back doors tours of the house for an extra fee that are worth the added cost. It also has fantastic hiking & biking trails and picnic spots with views of the French Broad river near the lagoons. I know a great 6 mile hike on the estate that will take you along the back hills behind the house where you can see their magnificent 100 year oak trees and the Vanderbilt monograms on the main house that can not be seen from the entrance, through the gardens. It has several restaurants including the Stable Cafe near the house and Cedric's Pub near the winery.
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Biltmore
1 Lodge StYes, this is a very touristed spot but it's well worth the price of admission if you like history and culture. The estate offers specialty back doors tours of the house for an extra fee that are worth the added cost. It also has fantastic hiking & biking trails and picnic spots with views of the French Broad river near the lagoons. I know a great 6 mile hike on the estate that will take you along the back hills behind the house where you can see their magnificent 100 year oak trees and the Vanderbilt monograms on the main house that can not be seen from the entrance, through the gardens. It has several restaurants including the Stable Cafe near the house and Cedric's Pub near the winery.
Hot Springs Resort And Spa
315 Bridge StThomas Wolfe Memorial
52 N Market StThe Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
382 Blue Ridge PkwyGrove Arcade
1 Page AveAsheville Art Museum
2 S Pack SquareShoji Spa & Lodge
96 Avondale Heights RdBlack Mountain
Food Scene
Best donuts and pastries in Asheville! A family favorite.
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Geraldine's Bakery
840 Merrimon AveBest donuts and pastries in Asheville! A family favorite.
Best place in Asheville for Sushi. Love to take the kids here for family dinners. Their Summer Roll and Blur Ridge Roll are my favorite items on their menu... and the Sushi Martini on their specials board is outstanding. Joanna, one of the owners, and I were pregnant with our youngest children at the same time and have watched our kids grow up over the years. If you see her, please tell her Shelley sends her regards.
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Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
19 Broadway StBest place in Asheville for Sushi. Love to take the kids here for family dinners. Their Summer Roll and Blur Ridge Roll are my favorite items on their menu... and the Sushi Martini on their specials board is outstanding. Joanna, one of the owners, and I were pregnant with our youngest children at the same time and have watched our kids grow up over the years. If you see her, please tell her Shelley sends her regards.
Yum!! Located along the river in the River Arts District this is another one of my favorite places for dinner or lunch. In the summer you can sit on the patio and watch the tubes and kayaks float by. Every dish has some variety of a smoked item on it. Definitely a favorite for low key dinner conversations and a great view.
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Smoky Park Supper Club
350 Riverside DrYum!! Located along the river in the River Arts District this is another one of my favorite places for dinner or lunch. In the summer you can sit on the patio and watch the tubes and kayaks float by. Every dish has some variety of a smoked item on it. Definitely a favorite for low key dinner conversations and a great view.
Budget friendly sushi restaurant close to the house. You can eat in or order take out. They have ample parking so it's a great place to grab a quick bite of sushi or take the family to dinner. Their Joeski Roll and Sea Weed salad are among my favorite items that they make.
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Zen Sushi
640 Merrimon AveBudget friendly sushi restaurant close to the house. You can eat in or order take out. They have ample parking so it's a great place to grab a quick bite of sushi or take the family to dinner. Their Joeski Roll and Sea Weed salad are among my favorite items that they make.
My favorite taco place in Asheville. They make handmade corn tortilla's and offer a great assortment of single taco dishes. This is another great place to bring the family... providing everyone likes soft tacos. All of their fish tacos, their green chili chicken taco and beef brisket taco are my favorite. We also love their guacamole.... and house made margaritas.
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Taco Temple
132 Charlotte StMy favorite taco place in Asheville. They make handmade corn tortilla's and offer a great assortment of single taco dishes. This is another great place to bring the family... providing everyone likes soft tacos. All of their fish tacos, their green chili chicken taco and beef brisket taco are my favorite. We also love their guacamole.... and house made margaritas.
Best budget breakfast spot on our side of town. Easy access to parking and seating. Just try to get there before the church crowds get out on Sunday mornings.
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Rise 'n Shine Café
640 Merrimon AveBest budget breakfast spot on our side of town. Easy access to parking and seating. Just try to get there before the church crowds get out on Sunday mornings.
Best vegetarian restaurant in Asheville that happens to be close to our house. The menu is all plant based and just out of this world. It's a great place for dinner but sadly, it isn't open for lunch. It's still not very touristy so you may not have to wait long for a table, but call ahead to make a reservation because the locals love this place.
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Plant
165 Merrimon AveBest vegetarian restaurant in Asheville that happens to be close to our house. The menu is all plant based and just out of this world. It's a great place for dinner but sadly, it isn't open for lunch. It's still not very touristy so you may not have to wait long for a table, but call ahead to make a reservation because the locals love this place.
Delicious vegetarian fare in downtown Asheville that is open for lunch and dinner. It use to be one of my favorite spots until "Plant" opened. Now it's rare that I go there but I do love their raw foods menu options.
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Laughing Seed Cafe
40 Wall StDelicious vegetarian fare in downtown Asheville that is open for lunch and dinner. It use to be one of my favorite spots until "Plant" opened. Now it's rare that I go there but I do love their raw foods menu options.
Among on of the BEST breakfast spots in Asheville. It's a bit touristed because of it's location downtown but well worth the wait. Their biscuits are outstanding. It's a great place for brunch if you have time to wait.
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Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall StAmong on of the BEST breakfast spots in Asheville. It's a bit touristed because of it's location downtown but well worth the wait. Their biscuits are outstanding. It's a great place for brunch if you have time to wait.
Another Asheville favorite for breakfast. This is place is frequented by locals and everything on the menu is delicious. They offer a mix of breakfast and lunch items that you can order from throughout the day but sometimes on the weekends the wait can be quite long.
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Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood RdAnother Asheville favorite for breakfast. This is place is frequented by locals and everything on the menu is delicious. They offer a mix of breakfast and lunch items that you can order from throughout the day but sometimes on the weekends the wait can be quite long.
The BEST biscuits in Asheville that is frequented by the locals. On the weekends the lines can be quite long to get in but it's sooo worth it. They offer a variety of different breakfast biscuit items on the menu, including a pulled pork & egg biscuit smothered in gravy and a fantastic eggs benedict biscuit (my personal favorite). If you are in the mood for a good southern biscuit... this is definitely the place to go.
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Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdThe BEST biscuits in Asheville that is frequented by the locals. On the weekends the lines can be quite long to get in but it's sooo worth it. They offer a variety of different breakfast biscuit items on the menu, including a pulled pork & egg biscuit smothered in gravy and a fantastic eggs benedict biscuit (my personal favorite). If you are in the mood for a good southern biscuit... this is definitely the place to go.
Fantastic chicken wings and barbecue that is close to our house.
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9Round North Asheville
61 North Merrimon AvenueFantastic chicken wings and barbecue that is close to our house.
Fantastic vegetarian breakfast burrito and avocado toast.
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Green Sage Cafe Merrimon
633A Merrimon AveFantastic vegetarian breakfast burrito and avocado toast.
Best breakfast in Asheville. Nextdoor to Asheville Yoga Studio
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Liberty House Coffee and Café
221 S Liberty StBest breakfast in Asheville. Nextdoor to Asheville Yoga Studio
Excellent cocktails and farm-to-table menu. Great place for a romantic dinner.
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Cucina24
24 Wall StExcellent cocktails and farm-to-table menu. Great place for a romantic dinner.
Must visit restaurant for foodies. 4 star Micheline restaurant that was featured by Anthony Bourdain in his television series. Lunch menu is more reasonably priced than the dinner menu but you MUST call in advance for a reservation. Same-day reservations are rare but possible.
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Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveMust visit restaurant for foodies. 4 star Micheline restaurant that was featured by Anthony Bourdain in his television series. Lunch menu is more reasonably priced than the dinner menu but you MUST call in advance for a reservation. Same-day reservations are rare but possible.
Best barbecue in Asheville. Frequented by the Obamas during their visits to Asheville.
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12 Bones Smokehouse RIVER
5 Foundy StBest barbecue in Asheville. Frequented by the Obamas during their visits to Asheville.
Parks & Nature
Beaver lake has a dirt running walking trail that goes along the west side of the lake. It's about a 1.5 mile loop but you can walk/run around the lake through the bird sanctuary for a longer 3.5-4 mile loop. The morning sunrise views at the lake are spectacular, particularly when the mist is burning off the mountain landscape. It is also one of my favorite place to kayak on the lake.
LOCAL SECRET: This is a great place for family picnics, a Frisbee match or to just lay on the grass and soak up the sun. Dogs walkers, boaters and fisherman do require a permit but these can be purchased at the warden's shack at the boat loading docks.
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Beaver Lake
Beaver lake has a dirt running walking trail that goes along the west side of the lake. It's about a 1.5 mile loop but you can walk/run around the lake through the bird sanctuary for a longer 3.5-4 mile loop. The morning sunrise views at the lake are spectacular, particularly when the mist is burning off the mountain landscape. It is also one of my favorite place to kayak on the lake.
LOCAL SECRET: This is a great place for family picnics, a Frisbee match or to just lay on the grass and soak up the sun. Dogs walkers, boaters and fisherman do require a permit but these can be purchased at the warden's shack at the boat loading docks.
This hike will take you to a lookout point that has a 360 view of the Blue Ridge mountains. It's a relatively easy 1.5 mile hike with a shallow incline to the top at the end of the trail. It's a great place to hike with kids and older parents.
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Vandring på Craggy Pinnacle
3641 Blue Ridge PkwyThis hike will take you to a lookout point that has a 360 view of the Blue Ridge mountains. It's a relatively easy 1.5 mile hike with a shallow incline to the top at the end of the trail. It's a great place to hike with kids and older parents.
Bridal Veil Falls
Snowball Trailhead
Unnamed RoadNorth Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayBotanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver BoulevardDuPont State Recreational Forest Visitor Center
89 Buck Forest RdLooking Glass Falls
U.S. 276Table Rock State Park
158 E Ellison LnOldest forest in WNC. Fantastic hiking trails. Well worth the drive.
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Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Cheoah Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
5410 Joyce Kilmer RdOldest forest in WNC. Fantastic hiking trails. Well worth the drive.
Drinks & Nightlife
Unique handmade bitters and drink mixes make this one of my all time favorite places to meet friends for a cocktail. It's still not overcrowded by tourists yet but it's hard to keep it a secret because of how good the drinks and food items are. Definitely on of my top recommendations for foodies.
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Sovereign Remedies
29 N Market StUnique handmade bitters and drink mixes make this one of my all time favorite places to meet friends for a cocktail. It's still not overcrowded by tourists yet but it's hard to keep it a secret because of how good the drinks and food items are. Definitely on of my top recommendations for foodies.
Another one of my favorite places to meet friends for a glass of wine. Stacks of bookshelves great little nooks for conversation and reading. It's also a wonderful spot for date nights. Although it's fairly popular with tourists on the weekends, it's still relatively accessible during the week. They usually have a guitarist on the weekends and also offer a light cheese and appetizer menu. Their Sunburst Farms smoked trout dip (a local fishery) is one of my favorites on their menu.
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Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
1 Page AveAnother one of my favorite places to meet friends for a glass of wine. Stacks of bookshelves great little nooks for conversation and reading. It's also a wonderful spot for date nights. Although it's fairly popular with tourists on the weekends, it's still relatively accessible during the week. They usually have a guitarist on the weekends and also offer a light cheese and appetizer menu. Their Sunburst Farms smoked trout dip (a local fishery) is one of my favorites on their menu.
The Crucible in the River Arts District is one of the best kept secrets in Asheville. It is a great little bar in the Robert's Street Studio building that only locals and bar industry folks hang out it. They make great cocktails, so if you are looking for a low key, untouristed spot, this would be the place to go.
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Crucible
140A Roberts StThe Crucible in the River Arts District is one of the best kept secrets in Asheville. It is a great little bar in the Robert's Street Studio building that only locals and bar industry folks hang out it. They make great cocktails, so if you are looking for a low key, untouristed spot, this would be the place to go.
Fantastic place for à béer. The beloved Taqueria Munoz food truck at Zillicoah is a local favorite for it’s authentic Mexican fare. I highly recommend the ´People Power’ beer - outstanding! It’s a great dog friendly place to end the day 1and watch the sun set over the French Broad River.
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Zillicoah Beer Co.
870 Riverside DrFantastic place for à béer. The beloved Taqueria Munoz food truck at Zillicoah is a local favorite for it’s authentic Mexican fare. I highly recommend the ´People Power’ beer - outstanding! It’s a great dog friendly place to end the day 1and watch the sun set over the French Broad River.
Located in the River Arts District, The Wedge Brewery is a great, dog friendly place to stop for a good beer after visiting the Glass Center and art studios. There is always a gourmet food truck on site where you can grab a snack to go with your beer while you play a game of corn hole with a friendly local.
The Wedge Building itself is an Asheville icon that was once featured in the movie ´Thunderbird’ and converted into art studios by the legendary John Payne.
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Wedge Studios
129 Roberts StLocated in the River Arts District, The Wedge Brewery is a great, dog friendly place to stop for a good beer after visiting the Glass Center and art studios. There is always a gourmet food truck on site where you can grab a snack to go with your beer while you play a game of corn hole with a friendly local.
The Wedge Building itself is an Asheville icon that was once featured in the movie ´Thunderbird’ and converted into art studios by the legendary John Payne.
Highland Brewing Company
12 Old Charlotte HwyThe Admiral
400 Haywood RdBest cider house in town. Recommend their Blackberry Coder and Ginger Cider. So good you’ll want to take a couple of growlers home with you.
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Urban Orchard Cider Co. - West
210 Haywood RdBest cider house in town. Recommend their Blackberry Coder and Ginger Cider. So good you’ll want to take a couple of growlers home with you.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton AveEverything Else
Only open on Saturdays from 8-Noon. This open air farmers market features organic produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, eggs, bread and other items grown and made by local Farmers and craftsmen. There is a Crepes, Tamale & Arepa food truck as well as a pop-up juice bar on site for folks hungry for a quick breakfast. The market usually also has live music, fresh brewed coffee, pottery and gift item stands -- also made by local growers and craftsmen. Located on the UNCA campus, this is a great place to explore on a lazy Saturday morning.
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North Asheville Tailgate Market
275 University HeightsOnly open on Saturdays from 8-Noon. This open air farmers market features organic produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, eggs, bread and other items grown and made by local Farmers and craftsmen. There is a Crepes, Tamale & Arepa food truck as well as a pop-up juice bar on site for folks hungry for a quick breakfast. The market usually also has live music, fresh brewed coffee, pottery and gift item stands -- also made by local growers and craftsmen. Located on the UNCA campus, this is a great place to explore on a lazy Saturday morning.
French Broad Adventures
12 Good Adventures LnZen Tubing
608 Riverside DrSky Tubing
284 Lyman StArts & Culture
The River Arts District is the home of over 100 artists studios that are housed in repurposed industrial manufacturing buildings along the French Broad river. The district has numerous restaurants, including 12 Bones Barbecue and The Wedge Brewery. Most artists keep public studio hours during on the weekends and during the week. It's a great place to find original artwork, fiber arts, hand crafted pottery and sculpture. Some of the studios like the Asheville Glassworks also offer daily lessons. Visit the River Art District website for more details.
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River Arts District
3 River Arts PlThe River Arts District is the home of over 100 artists studios that are housed in repurposed industrial manufacturing buildings along the French Broad river. The district has numerous restaurants, including 12 Bones Barbecue and The Wedge Brewery. Most artists keep public studio hours during on the weekends and during the week. It's a great place to find original artwork, fiber arts, hand crafted pottery and sculpture. Some of the studios like the Asheville Glassworks also offer daily lessons. Visit the River Art District website for more details.
The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
382 Blue Ridge PkwyNorth Carolina Stage Company
15 Stage LaneBe Be Theatre
20 Commerce StThe Grey Eagle
185 Clingman AveIsis Music Hall
743 Haywood RdThe Orange Peel
101 Biltmore AveCoffee Shop
Best little coffee shop in Asheville. Perfect spot to grab a coffee and find good wifi.
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PennyCup Coffee
857 Merrimon AveBest little coffee shop in Asheville. Perfect spot to grab a coffee and find good wifi.
Green Sage Cafe Merrimon
633A Merrimon AveBest vegan breakfast burrito in Asheville.
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareFrench Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe
821 Riverside Dr