Ashville NC is a place with a ton of hidden gems. From great places to eat to Vanderbilt’s estate if you have a free weekend here is how to spend it in Ashville.
Day 1
Starting off the day I would recommend visiting The North Carolina Arboretum. This is a gorgeous botanical garden with tons of walking trails and things to see. You could easily spend a few hours here, taking photos and learning about tons of indoor and outdoor plant varieties. They often have events and exhibitions so I would recommend going when they have something that is in interest to you. I have seen their bonsai exhibition and it was a great change of pace to a typical garden on the east coast.
After spending the morning at the Arboretum you might be getting hungry for something to eat. If you love BBQ I can not recommend 12 Bones enough. 12 Bones, famously the BBQ spot of the Obamas, is known for their ribs and sides. With their ribs coming in a number of rub types I would stick to the original but I dont think you could go wrong here. Expect to pay about $18-20 per person
12 Bones is located in the River Arts District of Ashville NC. This can be described as an artistic hub, with tons of unique art pieces designed and built right in their studios behind many of the River Arts District shops. Unfortunately most places close at around 5pm so make sure to check out the exhibits as early as you can. Bonus: Ashville allows graffiti in certain areas so all around this district is some really amazing graffiti worth of going to see.
After exploring a ton of local artist (I would recommend the woodworking studio near 12 Bones) you might want to start exploring downtown. First stop if your into desserts would be a local bakery called Old Europe Pastries. The make a verity of desserts that are pretty light, and not to sweet! You can enjoy their many desserts with a London Fog latte or any other hot or cold drink you prefer. I loved the Pot de Crème, if you need help deciding which dessert to get!
In addition to Old Europe downtown Ashville has a ton to offer. From the boutiques to local old-time candy stores just park your car and wander around downtown. If you need a spot to start off with I would say the Grove Arcade. Their is parking all around that area on the street and tons of amazing little shops.
After a long day exploring downtown Ashville if your over the drinking age end the day by having some original cocktails at a place called Times Bar. Not only does it look somewhat like a Speakeasy but I would highly recommend their Compliments to The Chèvre drink. Drinks here range from $11-15
Day 2
To kick off the day you need to have a fantastic breakfast. For this Biscuit Head is a must. It most likely will have a line and serves up some amazingly soft and fluffy biscuits. Bonus: You can order online the day before to skip the line if your in a rush! They are huge so one should be a good sized portion and when paired with their eggs any way you want them and some think cut style bacon it doesn’t get much better. On average be prepared to spend $5-15 on breakfast here.
If biscuits really aren’t your thing ( even though these are the best biscuits you might have) their is a great café called Sunny Point. This is an all-around solid American breakfast spot. Expect an hour wait if your getting here in the morning, or call ahead a make a reservation!
After wrapping up breakfast put on something nice and head over to the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore is a southern castle and was once home the George Vanderbilt. It has stayed in the family and is currently owned by his great grandchildren.
I would block out the majority of the day for the Biltmore. On my first visit I stayed for 7-8 hours and still didn’t see everything it had to offer. The Biltmore estate is about 8,000 acres, with tons of gardens restaurants wineries, and of course the famous estate. Tickets are a bit pricey running $76 per person but if you buy them online and in advance you save $10 per ticket. This is one of those things that is best explored when you have ample time and their is good weather. Take tons of photos of the gardens and inside the house, but I really recommend sitting on many of the outside benches and admiring the view of the entire mountain range. All tickets come with complimentary wine tasting, so if you are of age make sure to head over their in advance to place a reservation. It fills up completely about an hour or so before closing.
Directly outside of the Biltmore is a little tutor style neighborhood with tons of restaurants and places to shop around. With your ticket you can come and go as you please for the day so if you need a change in pace make sure to check out the little town.
Please let me know if you end up visiting these locations, and stay tuned for future travel itineraries!
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