{"id":33998,"date":"2019-11-29T09:29:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T22:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=33998"},"modified":"2022-11-07T13:17:24","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T02:47:24","slug":"asheville-north-carolina-blue-ridge-parkway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/asheville-north-carolina-blue-ridge-parkway\/","title":{"rendered":"Asheville, North Carolina – the Blue Ridge Parkway & Southern Eats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Type in \u2018Asheville in the fall\u2019 and you\u2019ll get a sense of its magic. In the heart of fall, Asheville\u2019s Great Smoky Mountains turns into a sea of red, orange and yellow. Few places do fall foliage quite like Asheville.<\/p>\n

The Appalachian National Trail<\/a> cuts through North Carolina, making Asheville the perfect start-stop point for day hikes. But Asheville is much more than a small, outdoorsy city in the mountains, it\u2019s \u2018America\u2019s Beer City\u2019 with over 63 breweries \u2013 the most per capita in the country.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Asheville is a breath of fresh air in the south.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The Carolinas don\u2019t get much attention, compared to other states. Asheville\u2019s liberal, artistic mountain spirit is a breath of fresh air in the conservative South. Buskers turn sidewalks into stages, Uber drivers become tour guides and the streets are filled with foodies, beer lovers, and adventurers, alike.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

Asheville is perfect for foodies and adventurers.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Flights, car hire & accommodation<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s the kind of city that\u2019s perfect to tag onto another trip or go-to for the weekend. We visited for four days, which was the perfect, long-weekend from New York City<\/a>. The flights were USD $100 through the local airline, Allegiant. The airport is only 15 minutes from Downtown Asheville \u2013 a quick USD $15-20 Uber ride.<\/p>\n

The general consensus about the hotels is that they\u2019re too expensive. Some Uber drivers even said they can charge up to USD $400 per night, so we\u2019re happy we went for the Airbnb. We stayed about 10 minutes from the downtown area in a gorgeous space that cost USD $370 for four nights.<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

Wander around the city and sample the local brews.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Asheville, while hilly, is a walkable city. With its brewery strips and artists on the street, you\u2019ll want to experience it by foot. Instead of hiring a car at the airport, we chose to take Ubers and use Budget for a day rental to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway. The day rate was USD $80, plus a deposit. This gave us the freedom to wander in the city, then explore the incredible mountains by car.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

You can experience this city on foot.<\/em><\/p>\n

3-4 days in Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains<\/h2>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to have a fun time here,\u201d said just about every Uber driver we spoke with. When you have 63 breweries within a small city radius, you know it\u2019s going to be a good time.<\/p>\n

But, Asheville is just as much a foodie city as it is a beer destination. We had one average meal in four days. Our days were filled with shrimp po\u2019 boys sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, barbequed meat, fried chicken and anything Southern we could get our hands on.<\/p>\n

I have one piece of advice: try everything!<\/u><\/strong> Asheville had the best food out of any city I\u2019ve been to\u2026 and I\u2019ve travelled to 50+ countries.<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

You’ve got to try a po’boy at Mayfel’s.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Day one – exploring downtown<\/h2>\n

Day 1:<\/u><\/strong> Take one day exploring Downtown Asheville. Start at noon and head to Prichard Park to take in the heart of the city. Go grab a po\u2019 Boy at Mayfel\u2019s<\/a> then wander the quaint street behind it – Wall Street. There\u2019s plenty of boutiques, coffee shops and yes, a brewery or two, to stop at.<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

The southern food in Asheville is some of the best I’ve tried.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Coxe Avenue (otherwise known as the \u2018South Slope\u2019 brewery district is bursting with Asheville\u2019s best drinking spots. Don\u2019t miss Funkatorium<\/a>, Hi-Wire<\/a>, and Twin Leaf<\/a>. But, forget about the names and just wander into anyone that calls you.<\/p>\n

Buxton Hall Barbeque<\/a> is a famous locale and a must-try for fried chicken. This place doesn\u2019t take reservations, so try to get there early. We had a 40-minute wait, but thankfully, there are plenty of breweries close by.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

Take a stroll downtown to see what the city has to offer.<\/p>\n

Day two – Biltmore Estate<\/h2>\n

Day 2:<\/u><\/strong> The 19-century Biltmore Estate<\/a> is one of the main attractions in Asheville. It\u2019s the largest privately-owned house in America, owned by the Vanderbilts. It\u2019s quite the spectacle and was the filming location for the movie Richie Rich<\/em>. You can buy tickets online (in advance) for around USD $80. While not cheap, it is part of the Asheville experience. You can spend the morning there, then explore the nearby charming Biltmore Village.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

Take in the views of the Great Smoky Mountains.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Day three- following the Blue Ridge Parkway into the Great Smoky Mountains<\/h2>\n

Day 3:<\/u><\/strong> It\u2019s time to get out of the city and start working off all those beers and Southern eats. Follow the Blue Ridge Parkway<\/a> out of Asheville into the Great Smoky Mountains<\/a>. Follow the road as it cuts through the national park and stop at the lookouts and hiking trails for endless sweeping views.<\/p>\n

You can easily spend the day hiking and driving around this region. Make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks for the day, as we didn\u2019t pass by any stores or pop-up stands in the park.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a great resource to help you pick the best hiking trails for your adventure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Bad<\/p>\n

Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Day four – experiencing the River Arts District<\/h2>\n

Day 4:<\/u><\/strong> You need one last day to soak up the amazing weirdness of Asheville. While still in its infancy, the River Arts District<\/a> is a cool spot to check out. For some incredible barbeque food, head to 12 Bones Smokehouse<\/a>, then for some more beer, visit New Belgium Brewing Company<\/a>. While you\u2019re in the area, you cannot miss Hole Doughnuts<\/a>. They make them fresh right in front of you.<\/p>\n

\"Beautiful<\/p>\n

You won’t regret taking in the sights and flavours of Asheville, NC.<\/em><\/p>\n

After a lot of exploring, by foot and by tastebuds, you\u2019ll be ready to go back to your normal routine. But, the heart (and palette) warming spirit of Asheville will stay with you, long after you\u2019ve left.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What’s your favourite hidden gem city you’ve ever visited?<\/strong><\/p>\n