Things to do in Asheville, NC
Beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail Photo: Alex Diaz
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
THINGS TO DO
IN ASHEville, NC
As you have probably guessed by now, the beautiful mountain town of Asheville is one of my favorite spots to explore. Those awe-inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains are just one of the reasons why. I like the mix of styles and hippie vibe of this arty city with tons of things to do, places to eat and spots to shop.
Ranging over 550 miles from Pennsylvania down through to Georgia, the isoprene from trees gives the mountains their characteristic blue coloring and hazy look. The great Shenandoah National Park holds down the Northern end of the range while the Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds down the South.
It is said that the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country especially as spring and fall unfold in all their glory. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, Asheville was originally within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation and today is the 11th most populated city within the state.
A few beautiful reasons you’ll want to visit
WHERE TO STAY
While many people will have The Grove Park Inn at the top of their list, I actually prefer more contemporary landing spots with better locations. They offer a closer more walkable experience to the downtown happenings and are a much softer hit to the purse.
For my money, the Cambria in downtown is just such a property as a 2021 Choice Hotel winner. Their rooftop bar with firepits at sunset offers stunning views of the mountains and is the place to see and be seen for a signature cocktail and some fabulous Cuban food at Hemingways. I haven’t had better since visiting the Keys some years ago and I wrote more about it in this post. Their ropa vieja with black beans and rice is simple perfection.
If you’re looking for that Grove Park experience closer to Biltmore, I would suggest the Grand Bohemian Hotel right outside the gates to the estate. Part of the Kessler Collection and Marriott Bonvoy brand, this property will give you all the atmosphere you want with great bars and restaurants to visit along with better, more spaciouisly designed rooms that are gentler on your budget.
You’ll find that because it is outside the estate gates that you will be very walkable to the property, its’ shops and restaurants, which is great. I love this property for its’ quirky design vibe with curated art across the board for a very nice collection in the public spaces as well as the rooms.
The Grand Bohemian Hotel offers more than The Grove Park Inn
RIVER ARTS DISTRICT
For another option on a great location to stay, eat and shop, try the River Arts Disctrict which I have written about more extensively before in a post here. Located on the East side in an old historic warehouse district, “RAD” is home to hundreds of working artists, their studios, galleries and shops.
I like starting the day with some freshly made breads and buns at Mother Bread Store with a good glass of wine. The Sunday Brunch menu is popular so get your reservations in instead of just showing up. They specialize in different types of sourdough-hence the name-which is a personal favorite of mine on the bread front.
The second Saturday of the month, the district holds gallery walks with demonstrations, workshops, live music, wine tastings, food and more. You can meander at your own pace and drop in and out of the restaurants and shops or you can ride on the free trolley.
You’ll find glass, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, jewelry and textiles in a variety of mediums in the galleries. Many also offer their works in small more affordable forms such as cards, bookmarks, journals and sketchbooks. Everyone can afford to find a treasure to take home with them in one of the best art districts in the South.
Lovely exhibition at the Mark Bettis gallery in River Arts Disctrict
LUNCH SPOT
Shout out to one of my go-to spots for a little Indian street food lunch is Chai Pani located on Battery Park Avenue. Chef Merherwan Irani’s homage is a favorite of both locals and tourists for dishes like the Sloppy Jai with spiced lamb and green chutney, crispy kale pakoras, matchstick okra fries and great selections of Indian wraps and sandwiches. If you love it, you’ll be happy to hear there is also one in Decatur, GA should you care to make the shorter drive to get your fix on.
Take a shopping break with some authentic Indian street food Photo: Chai Pani
fine dinner dining
There are so many good places to consider for fine dining that it is hard to talk about just one. I have already reviewed Chestnut for you in a previous post. I can’t say enough about the place. I love their ambiance; I’m obsessed with their food and I usually try to stop in once on every trip to the city. Their gnocchi are otherworldly and the shrimp and grits are the best in town.
Another choice that would never disappoint is Italian at Cucina 24 with Chef Brian Canipelli on Wall Street in downtown. Open since 2008, Brian is an Atlanta native and was a nominee for the James Beard award for best chef in 2016. High end Italian meets Southern Appalachia as his dishes offer some of the freshest local farm ingredients around.
The best in Italian from Chef Brian Canipelli at Cucina 24 Photo: Cucina 24
His menus change daily and offer up dishes like beef and porcini ragu with house made tagliatelle, prosciutto and ricotta gnocchi, guanciale and pecorino on rigatoni or tortelli with sorrel and hazelnuts. This is a pasta lover’s dream menu and don’t get me started on his wonderful entrees.
Spanish tapas and some foodie shopping at Curate Photo: Curate
Curate is a must do for sharing some small plates of Spanish tapas like Iberico jamon, octopus or goat cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers. Grab a table for yourself one night at this great little spot and pick up lots of super foodie take-aways in your grocery bag from their bodega shop.
GETTING ATSY DOWNTOWN
We spent the better part of a couple of days just walking the downtown area to stop in galleries like Benjamin Walls, Momentum and Blue Spiral 1. All three are wonderful contemporary spaces with a lot to offer. You can sip on a glass of wine while perusing the large format photography of Benjamin Walls. I love his African collection which kicked off the career of this very talented artist
Momentum Gallery located on Broadway, is a two-level space that focuses on emerging and mid-career artists of all types. There you will find paintings, original prints and sculpture in a variety of mediums such as glass, fabric, ceramic and metal.
Blue Spiral 1 is one of the largest gallery spaces in the South with both upstairs and downstairs exhibition spaces that change out on a regular basis. This is by far one of my favorite galleries to visit with benches to rest and contemplate the art in Zen-like spaces. The gallery caters to designers and collectors from around the country and there is nothing they don’t seem to have from prints to 3-D to paintings and photography. Their small treasures collection room always provides a purchase opportunity for me.
Enjoy this quicktour of the best things to do
The walkable downtown district is where the action is on any given day
CONCLUSION
If you enjoy walkable downtown areas that offer outdoor cafes, music, shopping, art galleries, restaurants and bars, Asheville is your kind of town. Biltmore Estates deserves a holla for their Spring Dale Chihuly in the gardens show up now through May 23rd. Consider camping and hiking in some of the prettiest mountains you’ll ever visit or opt for a little luxury in the many hotels on offer. You’ll enjoy it either way!
If you enjoyed what you read, you might also enjoy other posts under Edible Fare. There you will find restaurant reviews, recipes, foodie tips and best spots to eat in a variety of cities. I also put emphasis on food and art experiences in my travel posts under Explore the World. Until next time…
Cheers!
ArtsyChowRoamer
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