Asheville is an interesting place and had a lot to offer. Its downtown area is lined with quirky shops and boutiques featuring many local products and organic/natural items. The whole town has a hippie sort of vibe with an emphasis on caring for yourself and the environment. Lots of delicious, organic foods, a constant awareness of recycling vs the landfill, art, and the outdoors (it sits at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains). Lots of concepts I can really appreciate!
We decided to book our stay through AirBnB, which is a site where people list their apartments, extra bedrooms, homes, etc. for others to rent. While on the surface it sounds a little serial-killer-scary, it's completely safe! Our first experience with AirBnB was during our New York trip. This time, Jesse and I chose to stay with a couple offering their extra bedroom. While this did lend less privacy, we had a great time talking with our hosts, sharing travel stories and learning about Asheville through a local's perspective! Some hosts are more involved than others, and often share these expectations within their listing. AirBnB is a great way to live like a local on vacation, save money (we spent half of hotel costs), and meet some awesome people. Our hosts were wonderful, and even cooked us breakfast both mornings!
We arrived on Saturday afternoon, checked-in, and set out to explore the downtown area. While we didn't have specific plans, I did have a list of places to eat (would you expect anything less?!). So, our first stop was The Gourmet Chip Company, where they toss kettle-cooked chips in various seasoning combinations. We chose the Napa - sprinkled with seasalt, lavendar honey, herbs, and bleu cheese. Jesse loved this stop, as he prefers salty snacks over sweet. Crazy...right? ;)
Friends Heather and Luay also began their break in Asheville, so we met them for coffee at Double D's (double-decker) coffee bus.
We spent most of Sunday walking around downtown. There are so many fun shops to pop in and out of! The old architecture is also beautiful to see. We also walked to the Grove Arcade where there are local craftsmen selling products outside and local shops inside. I had fun selecting scents to create my own custom bath scrub in Bathe. Everything begins as a base, you select up to 3 scents to combine and other add-ins depending on the products. They mix it up and package it for you to enjoy at home!
A few street performers were out and fun to watch/listen.
It was a bit cool walking around, so we got some hot cocoa at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. That cocoa is legit - very rich, creamy, and you select your flavor. I tried the Maple and Smoked Salt.
We took an afternoon drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was beautiful as the mountainside is beginning to burst with greenery. I could only imagine how breathtaking it would be in the fall! Sunday night we were limited on dinner options, as many places were closed for the night. We decided on pizza and had no regrets. It is in fact possible for 2 (skinny) people to demolish a 14" pizza.
The next morning we went to the Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate. We almost didn't go, but we were so glad we did! It was definitely worth it! The mansion alone is amazing, with such attention to detail everywhere you look. It took 6 years to build and is exquisite, especially for a home built in the 1890's! I highly recommend the audio guide - it gives you the full experience and educates you on each room as you walk through. You appreciate the experience a lot more with the guide.
(view from one of the terraces)
We ate lunch on site at the Stable Cafe, and had one of the best meals of our life. For real. We were a little bummed that we'd be there through lunch and miss out on good eats in Asheville, but we were blown away with the food there. We got the Southern Sampler Feast for Two, which had roasted chicken, ribs, Carolina BBQ, collard greens, pimento cheese grits, and slaw. For $30, the meal was a steal! Our waitress was perhaps the most Southern belle I've ever heard, and upon placing our order she said, "Ooo, wee. Y'all will love every minute of it!" And she was so very right! We sacrificed the slaw to conquer the rest, because everything else was seriously on point, including the sweet pickles! And we never, ever like sweet pickles. The greens and grits were off the charts, and Birmingham has some pretty mean greens and grits around town.
We were so stuffed we had to get dessert to go (no photo!). Because, you know, I had to get dessert. Especially with a description like this: "a generous portion of ginger chiffon cake layered with pink grapefruit curd and vanilla butter-cream, served with Champange sabayon, candied ginger, and fresh grapefruit." I didn't know what Champagne sabayon was, but now know it's likely one of the Lord's best creations.
Left to explore on the grounds was the Gardens, Conservatory, and Winery.
The Winery was neat. You walked walked through the entrance and down into the cool cellar; back upstairs and into the tasting room. Each ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting.
We had a great getaway in Asheville! We loved the town and would gladly return. There was plenty more to do...and eat. :) Now I'm going to make a salad...
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