arwin56

Hello everyone,

We have gotten such good advice on other trips here so hoping someone can advise us for this trip also. We're taking a daughter to Asheville the first weekend in May to celebrate her 21st birthday. We gave her a choice of Boston or Chicago & she wants to visit Asheville! She likes the eclectic "scene" & is a vegan, has read a lot about the city & thinks she would enjoy a visit there. She doesn't care much about seeing the Biltmore but we may do a tour anyway because I think she would enjoy the gardens. She is more interested in the downtown area I think. I'm about to book a hotel & wondering if we stay outside of the downtown area will parking be an issue for us? We will be in Asheville for 2 full days aside from our travel days. Also, any restaurant & activity suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance for taking time to answer!

Brian_in_Charlotte

There are plenty of parking decks at reasonable cost in the downtown area - the city has a helpful website list and map of them.

However, I'm a big fan of staying downtown if you can swing it. It really is a great little downtown and being able to walk right into it from your hotel is a big plus IMO.

When I was her age, I was much more into the downtown area than Biltmore too.

SAnParis2

I just visited Curate' on my last trip there & it is outstanding - http://www.curatetapasbar.com/ You may want to make a reservation as it was packed when we were there + it was just mentioned in GQ as an outstanding restaurant for this year...If you choose to stay downtown (I would also recommend that option) we usually opt for Hotel Indigo, also near the Visitors Center.

arwin56

Thanks guys! I have actually looked at the Hotel Indigo & the Haywood Park Hotel as options-just wasn't sure if 2 adults & 2 young adults(birthday girl's 24 year old brother will be along also)would be able to tolerate each other in a non-suite room for 3 nights. Dad snores! But I'm sure you're right about it being much better to stay downtown if that's the area you're focusing on.

SA-thanks for the recommendation. Sounds amazing!

datamichniak

Brian is correct about downtown. There is a Renaissance (Marriott) two blocks off the main area right next to the house where Thomas Wolfe spent his boyhood... (please forgive me - my daughter moved away last year and I have forgotten the street names) there is a street with at least four, maybe five used cd/record stores - lots of little boutique type shops and plenty of Vegan and Sushi that she will enjoy. Oh, and the beers come in pints too! Indigo is new and hipper and cooler (I am sure). The time of year will be perfect for you - have a great a time. And remember, if you're too weird fo Asheville, you're too weird!!!!

Tarheelgrl

Since you daughter is vegan, you might want to go to Plant, a vegan restaurant on Merrimon Ave. It's my favorite.