I’m just back from a mini trip to Asheville, NC and wanted to provide some feedback about what we did and where we ate! The trip was with a high school girlfriend (we go someplace every year for a long weekend), and we flew down Thursday afternoon, and back up north early Sunday afternoon. As it turns out, that really wasn’t enough time and I’m already thinking about a return visit.

Overall, we loved Asheville and the surrounding areas. Even though the weather was hotter than we had hoped, we were still out and about and saw quite a bit. The people we met were so pleasant and friendly and were often a contrast to the people we meet in the northeast! The city itself is very manageable and easy to walk around. We walked into town and all around and never felt uncomfortable. Challenged by walking up a hill occasionally, but never uncomfortable!

We stayed at the Renaissance in downtown Asheville and it more than met our needs. While the room was a bit small (more narrow actually), it was clean, the beds were great, housekeeping was very good and the AC worked really well (which was good since it was a very hot weekend). The location was wonderful and we walked everywhere, and parking was free. We didn’t try out their restaurant, and appreciated the feature at the business center that allowed us to print out boarding passes without charge (because we found out that Continental moved the time of our flight on Sunday up by one hour).

In terms of restaurants, we had breakfast at Tupelo Honey and Mayfels. Tupelo Honey was wonderful. Great omelets, and wonderful biscuits and bacon, and wonderful service. Not the healthiest of breakfasts but it was wonderful and lasted us well into the afternoon. The only surprise was that it didn’t open until 9 (and even then there were 8-10 people waiting besides us). On Sunday, we tried to go to Early Girl but the wait was too long, and ended up at Mayfels. That was also a very good breakfast (huevos rancheros) and service was very good. Their lunch menu looked great (very New Orleans-focus) and I’d love to go back and try the gumbo and/or the mufaletta.

For dinners, we ate at Limones (our top pick), Tupelo Honey (a close second) and Vincenzos. At Limones, the menu was totally unexpected and we had quesadillas and Mexican Caesar salad as appetizers and then black angus steak (can’t remember the cut exactly), with asparagus and truffle max & cheese as the main courses. The food was amazing. Service was equally impressive and pleasant. We didn’t have room for dessert but they do give you a complimentary chocolate truffle. We did not have reservations but were very early (went in around 5:15). You’ll definitely want to make reservations if you’re going there any later.

Tupelo Honey was also excellent. They don’t take reservations and we waited about 25 minutes. Appetizers there were fried green tomatoes on goat cheese grits and cheesy grits cakes. I was the one who had a craving for fried green tomatoes and they were good, but not as good as the cheesy grits cakes! Our main courses were shrimp and grits for my friend and flank steak for me. Both were excellent, and service was again very impressive. I also love that the restaurant has a small box up front of reading glasses that you can borrow to read the menu!

We went to Vincenzo’s on our first night, and this was after our flight was significantly delayed and it was around 8:30 by the time we could start thinking about dinner. The staff was very pleasant, and we sat downstairs where there was entertainment. We shared an appetizer of the olive salad (there were way too many olives) and then my friend had small portions of the gnocchi and also chicken saltimbocca. I had the regular size portion of chicken picatta. Everything was good….just nothing outstanding like the other restaurants. In the menu they noted that it was a non-smoking restaurant until 9:30 and lots of people lit up exactly at 9:30!

Our only lunch was on Saturday when we were at the Biltmore House, and ate at the Stable Café after finishing the tour. It’s a lovely setting, very well air conditioned and they have a nice menu. My friend had the cobb salad and I had turkey club and both were fine…nothing outstanding. But, their iced tea was very cold and they kept refilling and that was actually more important since we were totally parched after all the time in the House.

Besides eating, we did see quite a bit of the area! On Friday, after the TH breakfast, we headed out to the Blue Ridge parkway and enjoyed the drive. The Folk Art Center was our first stop and had an amazing store and impressive displays. The Destination Center is also worth stopping at. They have a nice video of the area and interesting displays and the people working there are just lovely. The Parkway was closed after Weaversville and the park range explained about a detour (which we were never able to find so just meandered our way back to town).

We spent much of Saturday at the Biltmore House. We bought combo tickets that included admission to the evening concert (which was KC and the Sunshine Band and the Village People), and also purchased the audio tour. The tour was impressive and having the audio helped significantly, although I think they could provide more detail and information. Given the high price of admission, I didn’t think $8 was bad for the audio tour and would have also gone on at least one of the other tours (which were $15) if my friends’ knee wasn’t bothering her as much. We walked a little bit in the gardens, but that probably would have been better to see in the evening or fall! We also stopped at the winery and saw their video, but the line for wine tasting was 20-30 minutes long, so kept going into the shop.

The setting for the concert was wonderful. Just next to the House so you go through all the usual parking and admission things to get there (but it ran pretty smoothly). Our disappointment was only in that KC was well past his prime (in our humble opinions) and the Village People got stuck in Boston. We were a bit late in getting to the concert (still enjoying dinner at Tupelo Honey) and so didn’t hear the announcement that we could have gotten a refund. Oh well…..

On Friday night, we went to the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival and were just blown away. This style of music and dance was really unknown to us but the talent of the performers was impressive. It’s a 3 day event and each evening features 15-16 different acts, including singers, musicians, cloggers, and even an older woman who was yodeling! If you’re in Asheville at all during the rest of the summer, you might want to go to the Shindig on the Green, which is on Saturday evenings in August (and is free).

Shopping is also one of our favorite activities and we did spend some time in town browsing through the unique stores. Malaprop’s Bookstore was very impressive and I always love to shop at the independent book stores. We didn’t realize that this area was such a center of quality and unique crafts and there are lots of stores in town and in the general area in which to spend your money. I managed to find a few things at the Guild Crafts store at the Folk Art Center and also at the store on Tunnel Road.

We were at Biltmore Village very briefly (just to grab some caffeine in the morning) and it looks like there are branches of many of the stores we have in the Northeast (Coldwater Creek, etc), although there was also a crafts show going on that I was tempted to hit (but didn’t have the time). Mast General Store is definitely worth a stop (if nothing else, but to go to the candy section in the back and relive childhood memories). They have a wonderful assortment of merchandise (besides the barrel candy, of course). Of course, we did have to stop at the Chocolate Fetish and found a few things to buy! It’s a very small shop, but I can now recommend their raspberry truffles and I also purchased some of the different barks as gifts.

Overall, a great trip and I’m looking forward to going back!

Asheville is a go-back-to kind of place, isn't it, MP07950! We're lucky to have it here in NC, and I never tire of going there. Ya'll come back, hear?

Yes, do come back! If you love to shop for unique items, check out Bellagio in Biltmore Village. Really spectacular selection there. And the Grovewood Gallery next door to the Grove Park Inn is another great shop of unique and special crafted items.
If you are in the mood for a massage, etc. try the Secret Garden in Weaverville.
Thank you for your wonderful trip report. Asheville is a delight.

Thanks for the recommendation on the shop at Biltmore Village! I'll make a note of it for the next trip (Continental has Asheville as a special for this weekend for $139 roundtrip but I think it's a bit too soon)!

Thanks for a detailed trip report! I'm considering Asheville for a mini trip in September or October and your write-up makes Asheville sound even more appealing

Have recommended Asheville to many, and oddly, a bunch opt out of going to Biltmore.... it's too expensive, or it's not "their thing." Can't imagine going to Asheville and NOT seeing it -- at least the grounds if nothing else!