Living only 4.5 hours from Asheville, I am shocked and upset with myself for just now visiting such a special place for the first time! It’s safe to say, this will surely become a tradition for many years to come. Asheville has something for everyone, plenty of hikes, scenic drives, shopping, architecture and, yes, BEER!

While the activities are seemingly endless, a weekend in Asheville was enough of a getaway to cleanse the soul with crisp mountain air and make memories together with some of our closest friends. I’ve summed up our itinerary and included some tips and tricks below!

Day 1 – Friday

We left Nashville after work Friday, so we didn’t arrive in Asheville until after 10 p.m. (thanks to the time change!). We checked into our hotel and quickly freshened up before grabbing a bite to eat and waiting for our friends to arrive. The fall is definitely peak season in Asheville, and even though we were booking weeks in advance, the hotel options were limited, and those that were available were pricey. We settled on a dive-y hotel in a great location and packed our own bedding 🤣.

Be warned – many bars and restaurants had stopped serving food by the time we arrived, so our options were very limited (and I was very hangry). If you’re arriving late, consider grabbing a bite on the road or researching open establishments near your hotel before you arrive. We landed on an Irish pub (Claddaugh Irish Pub) for a burger and beers.

Once our friends Chris and Leslie arrived, we popped in a bar called the Yacht Club. The drinks, especially the cocktails, were fantastic and affordable (get the key lime pie martini!), but the decor was shockingly X-rated. Be warned.

Day 2 – Saturday

Saturday morning was a beautiful, perfect fall day. It was a bitter cold but the sun was shining and the vibes were immaculate. We decided to split up in the morning – Chris and Leslie choosing to start their day with a scenic hike, and Matt and I opting for food and shopping!

We took a very short – and very pretty – drive to Biltmore Village, an adorable gingerbread-looking town with shops, restaurants and plenty of charm. We grabbed a coffee from The Well-Bred Bakery and wandered the streets shopping and chatting. We grabbed lunch at The Corner Kitchen (the crab corn chowder is a MUST!), then met up with Chris and Leslie for drinks at The Cantina.

We spent the afternoon doing a brewery tour through downtown, ending our night at Barley’s Taproom for pizza by the slice.

Day 3 – Sunday

The brewery crawl caught up to me Sunday morning, so it was time to head home and our trip was cut a bit short. I made a list of some must-do activities for our next visit (hopefully) very soon!

• Omni Grove Park Inn for drinks and ambience
• Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Battery Park Book Exchange: a library with a champagne bar!
• Spend a whole day at the Biltmore!

What did I miss?? Comment and let me know what needs added to my next visit!