A Day in Asheville, NC
This article was written in collaboration with The Edge' s Director of Videography Jazmin Bender. Find her accompanying video here.
Tucked away in Western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville has easily become one of the most up-and-coming towns in the tristate area. Known predominantly for its progressive ideals, spirited lifestyle, dynamic art scene and the millennial crowd it so effortlessly attracts, Asheville is the perfect spot for a weekend away.
But the crowds of free-spirited millennials are only part of the attracted visiting population. Asheville is also a beloved tourist attraction for antique-lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and everything in between. The only thing harder than not falling madly in love with this town is trying to take advantage of all it offers in a weekend’s time.
Despite being a middle-of-nowhere mountain town with a population of only a few thousand, the late-1800s Asheville was one of great fame─thanks to its Art Deco architectural scene, which was only inferior to that of Miami Beach at the time.
Over a century later, this top tourist destination still radiates history and art, with galleries standing at the corner of every street, murals painted across slabs of untouched concrete and 1900s-inspired buildings made up of mosaic tiles and geometric motifs. Between the rugged mountainous backdrop and the stylized Gilded Age-era architecture, Asheville is truly a sight to see.
Aside from the buzzing art display, it’s no secret that the town clearly flaunts an energetic food and drink scene─including a wide array of lively taprooms, intimate wine bars and the biggest number of breweries per capita than any other American city. Really, it’s not called “Beer City USA” for nothing.
Most often, those who are familiar with Asheville fall into one of two categories: those who have been and have plans to revisit and those who have never been but are itching to make a trip. If you happen to fall in the latter category, we’d recommend reading on.
While it’s not exactly ideal to be traveling during such unheard-of times, tuck away this itinerary in your pocket for a rainy day─you know, when travel becomes somewhat of a normalcy. So, whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, an outdoor retreat, memories to be made with friends, or a mountain-encompassed solo trip, Asheville is truly foolproof.
The list of spots to hit in Asheville is, expectedly, infinite. So here are just a few of our favorite local spots for whenever you’re in town next.
Food & Drink.
Ever heard of farm-to-table? Well the culinary masterminds fueling the townies and tourists of Asheville have─and they’ve been doing it since way before it was du jour. With impressively seasonal menus and delectably local ingredients, there’s no such thing as a mediocre meal. From traditional American BBQ at Luella’s BBQ, to locally-modified Italian fare at Cucina 24, to tapas dishes at restaurant connoisseur Katie Button’s Cúrate, local joints have designated Asheville as an internationally recognized culinary destination─and for good reason. If there’s anything to enlighten visitors about beforehand, it’s that visiting Asheville is nothing short of an experience─and food is simply an integral part of that experience.
Fueling up before a day on the town. Coffee who? Courtesy of Jazz Bender
If you find yourself in town, we recommend stopping by Battery Park Book Exchange─a quintessential athenaeum Downtown café offering “a marriage between two of earth’s finest pleasures,”─books and wine. Oh, and live music if you’re into that─but why wouldn’t you be?
In its very essence, this spot is a used bookstore and swank champagne bar sitting pretty in The Grove Arcade. But in a more fanciful sense, it’s a book worm’s getaway and the perfect spot for a glass of something bubbly and a novel-themed menu item─how does a “Of Meat and Men” charcuterie dish sound?
If you’re not on the hunt for a book to cozy up with or a spritzy cocktail to sip on, perhaps a more traditional café will suit your fancy. Located in the heart of the River Arts District, Summit Coffee Co. is the coffee lover’s paradise. The café’s painted, graffitied, mural-adorned exterior flaunts the artistry so overtly found in the town, let alone in the River Arts District. And the inside? White-washed brick walls, tall ceilings, rustical wooden framing and industrialized metal decorate the 360° bar elegantly placed in the center of the room. If you’re unimpressed with the design, you will surely be dazzled by the charming Southern hospitality extended by the baristas. The coffee isn’t too bad, either.
The Art Scene.
It’s simply a known fact that the art scene in Asheville is unmatched─at least for as far as one can comfortably drive. Between the Downtown Art District, which is jam-packed with some of the South’s most decadent galleries and finest art museums, the River Arts District, which is home to old industrial buildings comprising local artist studios and fittingly abbreviated “RAD,” and not-so-hidden gems, like graffiti skate parks and antique stores, it’s hard to believe that immense artistic talent is so concentrated in such a remote mountain town.
While the physical art is undoubtedly a prized trait of Asheville, the art scene extends far beyond elaborate murals and handfuls of galleries─and the music scene is no exception. With performances being anything but few and far between, you can find everything from big-time artists to local indie rock bands and saxophone street performers─all of which attract toe-tapping listeners and unavoidable dancing.
On one street you may stumble upon an outdoor music festival and on the next one be welcomed by street vendors advertising glass work, framed photography, pottery and paintings. If you’d rather shop for art than watch it live, there’s no better locale to shop ceramic pottery and hand-crafted jewelry than in Asheville.
Graffiti skatepark or IG photo op? Photo submitted by Jazz Bender.
Outdoor Recreation.
While it’s probably obvious that a place like Asheville is an outdoor paradise, we thought we’d remind you anyway. Placed serendipitously between two major mountain ranges, the list of outdoor excursions and activities is never-ending. With uninterrupted access to numerous hiking trails, scenic overlooks, cascading waterfalls and breathtaking views, it’s hard to ignore the beauty that Asheville so effortlessly possesses.
Hours can also be spent exploring the sets of some of Hollywood’s most successful, and aesthetically scenic, films─remember “The Hunger Games?”─thanks, of course, to the picturesque backdrops offered by the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to exploring Asheville. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out our favorite spots─or, find some new ones! Whatever you do, just remember to have fun and eat to your heart’s content!
Featured visual submitted by Jazz Bender
Check out what our Jazmin Bender did when she visited Asheville! Produced and edited by Jazmin Bender