Asheville Weekend Guide
A weekend in the mountains. What a dream! When escaping the southern heat, there’s really nothing better than riding with the windows down and the 55 degree wind whipping through your hair.
Things I really love about Asheville:
Location. It’s in the mountains. Fresh, cool mountain air, gorgeous trees and views EVERYWHERE.
The Biltmore. I felt like I was back in Europe touring this Estate.
The brewery scene. Go for the craft brews, y’all.
Local vibes. Everyone in Asheville loves to support local businesses and trade. I’m all for it.
We escaped to Asheville for a long weekend for some wedding festivities! It was a destination wedding for the couple, and I’m SO HAPPY they chose Asheville as their spot. For our quick whirlwind of a weekend, I’ll highlight some of our favorite spots/activities.
BREWS
Asheville is probably most known for their plethora of craft breweries. THEY. ARE. EVERYWHERE. And everything is delicious.
Highland Brewing Company
One of the oldest brewing companies in Asheville, Highland is where our friends decided to tie the knot! They have a great rooftop patio where you can sip and admire all of the mountain views. I tried a lot of different beers here…and I enjoyed every single one. Especially their Pumpkin Spiced Brew!
Catawba Brewing Company
Located closer to the center of town, this brewery is smaller than Highland but also boasts of delicious tasting brews. Keep your eyes peeled, because the wall art in this area is FUN! They have a great outdoor seating area where you can mix and mingle all afternoon long. They’re also attached to Vortex Donuts, a coffee/donut shop, in case you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up (which we did). Donuts are just as delicious in the afternoon as they are in the morning.
Sierra Nevada
Almost a household name, Sierra Nevada is located about 25-30 minutes south of Asheville. The Sierra Nevada estate is huge! You can tour the grounds, eat lunch, listen to a live concert on their lawn, sit by a campfire, all whilst sipping on some great beer. I would recommend at least a couple of hours at this spot, especially if there’s live music. Did I mention there’s a second story balcony with rocking chairs?
Wicked Weed
We had all of the best intentions of visiting Wicked Weed - and we had endless recommendations for this spot. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit, BUT it’s on the top of my list when I do return.
EATS
Biscuit Head
Quite possibly the most notable spot in town - we had to check it out for ourselves. My advice : GET THERE EARLY. The line is always out the door. I think we waited 45 minutes to an hour for a spot to sit down, but thankfully the time from ordering food to table was less than 10 minutes. And I’ve never seen a selection of jams/jellies so extensive IN MY LIFE. Try them all. And, for the record, the food was totally worth the wait. I demolished my pulled pork biscuit.
Corner Kitchen
This cute spot is located in the Biltmore Village (just outside of the Biltmore entrance) in a house that is over 100 years old. We ate here for brunch, and it was DELICIOUS. Their menu has something for everyone - their fried chicken is some of the best I’ve had in the south. (TRUTH). There was a wait to be seated, but you can walk around the area and enjoy popping in and out of the little shops!
Trade and Lore
This is a small coffee shop located in the downtown area - I had my first pumpkin spiced latte of the season here! Good coffee. Nice patio area and located in the middle of everything.
DO
The Biltmore
This. Place. Is. What. Dreams. Are. Made of. The Biltmore Estate was owned by the Vanderbilt family (AKA American royalty). If you’re a fan of Downtown Abbey - THIS IS YOUR SPOT. Or really, if you’re a fan of beautiful places, you must visit the Estate. Ticket prices are steep, but if you book a week in advance, they will take $10 off your ticket. We had to register for a specific time slot to tour the home (AKA palace/castle/mansion), but you are free to explore the grounds at your leisure. I loved every second of my time at the Biltmore. Be sure you visit the gardens + conservatory. MY ADVICE: BLOCK TIME TO SPEND THE BETTER PORTION OF YOUR DAY HERE. You can literally pack a picnic to enjoy in the gardens, and they also have eats on the estate property. There is SO MUCH to see. And you’ll spend a good portion of your day just gawking at how beautiful everything is. Your ticket comes with a free wine tasting, so be sure you allot enough time to drive from the house to the winery + wait in line. We opted to enjoy the wine bar next to the tasting room and purchased a bottle of their Riesling. Visiting the Biltmore was a treat.
And this concludes our Asheville shenanigans. Asheville, I’ll see you again.
