Sarah 
Asheville, North Carolina is a fantastic place to visit, whether traveling solo, with a partner, or with kids! I recently took a solo Asheville weekend trip to this small city nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only is there plenty to do and see in the area, but I could have spent even more time in the quaint downtown. I’m currently working on an audio walking tour of the downtown area which will cover all the history, legends, and highlights of Asheville, but until then, here are the details of my trip–and my can’t-miss recommendations–for your own visit.
Where to Stay: AC Hotel by Marriott Asheville Downtown
The AC Hotel in downtown Asheville was the perfect home base for my explorations of the city. I arrived late in the evening, tired from a long drive from Georgia. The hotel has an attached parking garage and it was super easy to find a convenient spot. Check-in was seamless, and I was in my room and resting in no time. My room was minimal, modern, and clean, with a fabulously comfortable king bed and a huge window with a partial view of Pack Square Park. All the staff members I encountered during my stay were friendly and accommodating. I loved the walk-in shower–although the second overhead rain shower wasn’t working–and also appreciated that the floor of my room was a laminate concrete texture instead of icky carpet. I didn’t get the chance to visit the rooftop bar and restaurant, Capella on 9, but it gets great reviews that mention the amazing views. I would definitely stay here again, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a centrally-located hotel in Asheville.
Where to grab breakfast or lunch: The Rhu
The breakfast sandwich at The Rhu was so dang good, I thought about going back the next day to get it again. Honestly, I decided to pop into this place to eat simply because it was near my hotel, and I thought it would be quick and easy. I tried to order a vanilla latte, but they didn’t have vanilla and offered me a lavender latte instead. I’m traditionally not a fan of lavender in food, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that my latte was delightful. And my breakfast sandwich? Divine! The atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and cozy, and I ate my sandwich at the window bar while admiring all the amazing succulent plants they are cultivating on the sills (I was tempted to take a cutting but restrained myself!). There is even more table seating on an upstairs level, and a cute little assortment of jams, small housewares, and assorted local artisanal products for purchase on their “pantry” shelves. I will be making another trip to The Rhu the next time I’m in Asheville, and I encourage you to check it out too.
What to do: Exploring, Museums, Shopping, and Instagramming!
Honestly, you could spend at least two to three days in downtown Asheville to see all there is to see. My advice is to start with my handy dandy audio tour, coming soon, which will guide you to all of the city’s highlights while giving you the full story of Asheville, all in about an hour! I’ll drop the link here when it’s ready. The Asheville visitor’s center, on the outskirts of downtown, is quite large. The center’s staff is very friendly, and the facility houses perhaps thousands of brochures of different attractions to check out in the area. By all means head there if you have questions about something, or if you feel a desperate need for brochures and maps, but otherwise I think you can skip it.
After my walking tour of the city, you could go shopping in one of the several cute boutiques scattered throughout the city, or in the Grove Arcade which houses an eclectic mix of shops focusing on locally made products, and has a fascinating history of its own. Or you could check out one of the several museums in the city–the Asheville Art Museum, the Asheville Museum of Science, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, and the Moogseum are all good choices to spend an hour or two.
Finally, don’t miss all the amazing urban art to see throughout the city. If you are hoping for that perfect shot for your Instagram feed, head to Chicken Alley and Carolina Lane. Nestled between Woodfin Street and Walnut Street, just west of Broadway, these two narrow alley roads are an Instagrammer’s dream, with large murals covering almost every wall, and colorfully picturesque garage doors scattered up and down the streets. Bring your tripod or your selfie stick and grab that viral photo!
P.S. If you are an explorer of the ghost hunting variety, Chicken Alley is purported to be the most haunted spot in the city, and has even been dubbed “the most haunted street in North Carolina”. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a local doctor who was stabbed in the heart during a bar brawl nearby at the turn of the 20th century. The spirit of this unfortunate soul is said to lurk in this alley late at night, wearing his signature fedora hat and long duster coat. I love legends like these, and although I didn’t dare to check out Chicken Alley late at night I was there alone quite early in the morning. I peered down to the end of the alley but alas, did not spot the doctor’s ghost.
Where to end your day: South Slope Brewing District
Asheville has become quite the craft brewing destination, now boasting more beer breweries per capital than any U.S. city. With upwards of 50 breweries to choose from in the area, you can’t go wrong! I only had time to visit a couple of brewing establishments during my short visit. My favorite was the Asheville Brewing Company, because the beer was great, but also because there was ample covered yet outdoor seating on the rainy evening I visited, free wi-fi, and the pizza I ordered was phenomenal. If you check it out, I highly recommend the Hot, Sexy Mother Clucker! pizza, which was the perfectly unlikely combination of a pizza and a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, with pimento cheese holding the whole creation together. Yummmmm!
I can’t wait to get back to Asheville again soon, and spend even more time shopping in the boutiques, visiting the museums, and sampling the local beers! And with my car conveniently parked at the AC Hotel, where I’ll definitely stay again, I’m looking forward to exploring more of the area next time too. If you’re interested in taking a virtual walk through Asheville, check out my Asheville City Walk on YouTube. And stay tuned for my audio tour coming soon!
xoxo
S
