WEEKEND ROAD TRIPS:
WEEKEND IN ASHEVILLE
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| The Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina |
BREAKFAST: Downtown’s eclectic Early Girl Eatery ( www.earlygirleatery.com) serves up seriously good food from early until late, with kids and kids-at-heart most welcome.
10 A.M.: The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site ( www.wolfememorial.com) features the Victorian childhood home of Thomas Wolfe, immortalized in his autobiographical novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.” A tour starts at the modern visitor center behind the house. The site is on the “Asheville Urban Trail,” a self-guided 1.7-mile loop that tells the story of Asheville’s history, famous residents, and culture through 30 bronze statues.
LUNCH: Curate Tapas Bar ( www.curatetapasbar.com) is the hottest downtown table for dinner, but locals swear by hot chef Katie Button’s lunch and brunch menus as well – with a table or seat at the bustling bar much easier to score.
Originally published in The Charlotte Observer
Originally published in The Charlotte Observer
1 P.M.: Just a half-mile from the heart of downtown, The Adventure Center of Asheville (www.ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com) includes Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures, Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, and Bike Adventures of Asheville. Ziplines overlooking the city, treetop bridges and challenges, and miles of single-track bike trails are among the highlights here.
4 P.M.: The city is called “Brewtopia” for good reason, thanks to the large number of microbreweries. Asheville Brews Cruise ( www.ashevillebrewscruise.com) offers a variety of beer- and brewery-centric tours, including a classic “Mobile Cruise” that often visits Highland Brewing ( www.highlandbrewing.com), Asheville’s original and largest brewery.
DINNER: Horizons Dining Room at The Grove Park Inn ( www.groveparkinn.com) offers endless views and a menu that focuses on fresh ingredients from local farmers. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Grove Park’s lobby alone is worth the short drive out of downtown.
BREAKFAST (WEEKEND BRUNCH): Corner Kitchen ( www.thecornerkitchen.com) in busy Biltmore Village is a great place to start a “Biltmore” day at 9 a.m. sharp on weekends (7:30 a.m. weekdays).
10 A.M.: You can’t visit Asheville without heading to Biltmore ( www.biltmore.com) and those in the know head there early to beat the crowds and reserve a specific tour time for Biltmore House. The mansion, grounds, and gardens are well worth an extended visit, but so is a visit to Antler Hill Village, which includes the most-visited winery in the nation, Biltmore’s Outdoor Adventure Center, shopping, casual dining and more.
LUNCH: After tasting wines, Antler Hill Village features two dining options: fresh local fare at Bistro and creative pub grub at Cedric’s Tavern.
1 P.M.: More Biltmore exploration.
4 P.M.: The River Arts District ( www.riverartsdistrict.com) is well worth a stop to see artists work and meet them face-to-face. It’s also easy to meet other eclectic locals at the River Arts District’s Wedge Brewing ( www.wedgebrewing.com), which opens daily mid- to late-afternoon and features popular pitchers of beer, frequent food trucks, live music, and more.
DINNER: The Blackbird ( www.theblackbirdrestaurant.com) in downtown’s hip Aloft hotel is new and hot, thanks to locally-sourced farm-to-table fare.
WRAP UP: The Orange Peel ( www.theorangepeel.net) offers up a packed live-music schedule.