Ashville, AL Road Trips

Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, and is the largest city in Western North Carolina with a population of approximately 93,000 (2019) and a metro population of 425,000 (2018). Asheville was named after the ninth governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe. It is the principal city in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, with a population of about 425,000 in 2010. It has been described variously as the "San Francisco of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky." It's a city that Rolling Stone magazine dubbed "America’s New Freak Capital." Self magazine proclaimed Asheville as America’s "Happiest City." Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area belonged to the Cherokee Nation. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area known as Guaxule, bringing the first European visitors along with European diseases, which seriously depleted the native population. The area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century. In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley. Soon after, Davidson was lured into the woods by a band of Cherokee hunters and killed. Davidson's twin brother Major William Davidson formed an expedition to retrieve Samuel Davidson's body and avenge his murder. Months later, Major Davidson and other members of his extended family returned to the area and settled at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.

Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20s was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nation's most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the modern BB&T Tower. 1 Battery Park Hotel, 1 Battle Sq. A 14-story building faced with brick, limestone and terra cotta trim with a Mission Revival style roof, erected in 1924. 2 The Biltmore Estate, 1 Approach Rd, toll-free: +1-800-624-1575. A French Renaissance-inspired chateau; with over 250 rooms, it is the largest single family home in the U.S. and the largest privately-owned house in the world, just a few minutes outside the city and should be on any visitor's itinerary. Basic admission includes access to the fabulous gardens, stables, expansive hiking trails, winery and self-guided house tour. Adults $76-96, youth price half-admission, children 9 and under are free. 3 Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Sq. M-F 8AM-6PM. Completed in 1928, the outside features complex setbacks, window groupings and overlay of Neo-Classical Revival ornamentation.

Asheville Glass Center, 140 C Roberts St. (River Arts District), ☏ +1 828 505-7110. M-Sa 10AM-5PM and by appointment. A glassblowing school, working glass studio, and glass gallery with demos and workshops daily. 1 Old Farmers Ball contra dance, Bryson Gym, 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa. Lesson at 7:30PM, dance 8PM-11PM. Asheville is well-known for its scene in contra dance, an easy-to-learn social folk dance with mixed European origins. The main dance takes place at Warren Wilson College, a little outside the city proper. $12. (updated Oct 2023) Asheville Brews Cruise, ☏ +1 828 545-5181. A personalized tour and VIP treatment at three of Asheville's finest local microbreweries -- Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, French Broad Brewing Company, and Highland Brewing Company. $40 per person. Eating Asheville Tours, 1 Page Avenue, #101, ☏ +1 828 489-3266, [email protected]. Eating Asheville’s walking food tour leads you through an orchestration of the finest and most delicious sights and tastes that the city has to offer. Join us for a tour of the city’s unique food culture. Inquire about our walking brewery tours of downtown Asheville! $47 per person. Electro Bike Tours, 24 College Street, ☏ +1 828 513-3960, [email protected]. Pedal with ease to the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Botanical Gardens, Grove Park Inn, Pack Square, and more on this guided two-hour electric bike tour of Asheville. Also, check out the Bike n Brew Ride! $45 per person. Ghost Hunters of Asheville, ☏ +1 828 779-4868.

Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them. Asian Heiwa Shokudo, 87 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 254-7761. M-Th 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5:30-9:30PM, Sa noon-3PM & 5:30-9:30PM. Traditional Japanese and sushi. $8-15. Mela, 70 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 225-8880. Daily 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM. Authentic Indian food in a beautiful and exotic atmosphere. Full bar available. $9-17. Wasabi, 19 Broadway St, ☏ +1 828 225-2551. Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. $8-26. Modern American The Market Place, 20 Wall St, ☏ +1 828 252-4162. M-Sa 5:30-10PM. Innovative "farm to table" cuisine. $4-24. Table, 18 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 254-8980. Closed Tuesdays. New-American cuisine with a daily written menu. Mexican/Latin American/Caribbean Limones, 15 Eagle St, ☏ +1 828 252-2327. Daily 5-10PM. Upscale fresh Mexican-Californian cuisine. Reservations recommended. $14-26. Mamacitas, 77A Biltmore Ave, ☏ +1 828 255-8080. Fresh, made from scratch Mexican cuisine. $3-8. Salsa, 6 Patton Ave, ☏ +1 828 252-9805. M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, M-Th 5:30-9:30PM, Sa Su 12:30-3PM, F Sa 5:30-10PM. Mexican-Caribbean food. European Bouchon, 62 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 350-1140. M-Sa 5PM-. French comfort food of the Lyon area of France and wine bar. $10-20. Cucina 24, 24 Wall St, ☏ +1 828 254-6170. Closed Mondays. Traditional Italian. Reservations recommended. Lunch $7-11, dinner $15-27.

Liquor is available by the drink in Asheville, but if you want to buy liquor by the bottle you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores rather than at a traditional liquor store. These stores have limited exterior decorations so they can be difficult to find. If you plan to explore nearby counties keep in mind Madison County (to the north) and Yancey County (to the northwest) are "dry counties" and prohibit all alcoholic beverage sales. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations. The alcohol laws of the state prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2AM Monday through Saturday, and from 2AM until noon on Sundays. Pick up a copy or check the website of the local alternative newsweekly Mountain Xpress for an up-to-date, detailed guide for what is going on at each bar and club for the night. Downtown: Asheville Brewing Company, 77 Coxe Ave. A brewpub with their own locally-brewed beers on tap and a full liquor bar, piles of board games, and a large outdoor covered patio with giant movie screen. Barley's Taproom, 42 Biltmore Ave, ☏ +1 828 255-0504. A popular destination with an expansive variety of beers, local, regional, and continental. 52 beers on tap. Small stage with live music 3-4 nights a week, no cover charge. Upstairs Billiard Room with four tables available by the hour. Bier Garden, 46 Haywood St, ☏ +1 828 285-0002. Daily 11AM-2AM.

Asheville is rightfully well known for its many Bed and Breakfasts Montford Historic District: 1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House, 235 Pearson Dr, toll-free: +1-800-552-5724. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Queen Ann style home, built in 1899 and authentically restored. It has ten rooms, a large three-bedroom carriage house, beautiful gardens and a much-photographed front porch. $115-360. Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast Inn, 46 & 48 Cumberland Ci, ☏ +1 828 251-2454. Check-in: 4-7PM, check-out: 11AM. An English-themed Colonial Revival home, a half-mile walk to downtown. Five rooms and three suites. $150-395. AppleWood Manor Inn, 62 Cumberland Ci, ☏ +1 828 254-2244. Check-in: 3-7PM, check-out: 11AM. Built in 1912. Four rooms plus a suite and a cottage. $145-230. Asheville Seasons Bed & Breakfast, 43 Watauga St, ☏ +1 828 236-994. Check-in: 4-7PM, check-out: 11AM. Beautifully restored historic home, all rooms with private baths and most with working fireplaces. Your hosts will offer you wine or beer upon your arrival and in the morning will cook you a wonderful breakfast, served with organic coffee. A half-mile walk to downtown. $109-214. Black Walnut Bed & Breakfast Inn, 288 Montford Ave, toll-free: +1-800-381-3878. Check-in: 3-6PM, check-out: 11AM. Six rooms and a carriage house. $180-325. Carolina Bed & Breakfast, 177 Cumberland Ave, toll-free: +1-888-254-3608. Check-in: 4-7PM, check-out: 11AM. Beautifully maintained and decorated Arts & Crafts Home with 6 bedrooms and one cottage. Beautiful gardens, 1/2 mile from the center of Downtown Asheville.

1 Asheville Regional Airport (AVL IATA). Western North Carolina's largest airport. It offers jet and commuter service on United, American, and Delta. Asheville has non-stop service from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York City, Newark, Orlando and Tampa. It is 15 miles (25 km) south of downtown Asheville near the town of Fletcher. Ground transportation and major rental car companies are available at the airport terminal. Flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP IATA) in Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT IATA) in Charlotte, North Carolina, or McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS IATA) in Knoxville, Tennessee, are sometimes cheaper than flying directly to Asheville. Greenville is about a 1½-hour drive, Charlotte and Knoxville are both about 2-hour drives. The closest Amtrak train station to Asheville is in Greenville, South Carolina or Spartanburg, South Carolina. Asheville is located at the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Mountainous, curvy, and scenic sections of highway are found along the interstates in all four directions while traveling into Asheville. The Asheville area is also served by 10 US and state highways. The Blue Ridge Parkway has four primary accesses in Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191. Maps are recommended as highways may have listed directions but may travel in different directions; for example, a road signed "east" may travel north/south for a significant amount of time.

A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown. There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $0.75 per hour thereafter. Attendants are on duty M-F 10AM–7PM. Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes $0.40. Uber and Lyft are also available. Asheville Taxi Co, 775 Haywood Rd F, ☏ +1 828 333-1976. Checker Cab, ☏ +1 828 254-1155. Pick-ups in 10 minutes on average. Econo-line vans available for up to 10 passengers. Self-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours. All buses in the Asheville Transit System are equipped with bike racks. Asheville Redefines Transit (ART), 49 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville (next to the U.S. Post Office), ☏ +1 828 253-5691, [email protected].