Asheville, North Carolina Travel Guide
If you’ve had the chance to read through my previous blog entry, you’ll know that my partner and I recently embarked on a cross-country move from Denver, Colorado to Asheville, North Carolina. We’ve been busy settling into our new apartment and getting our footing out here, so this article has been on the backburner for a while longer than I’d hoped.
That said, the time spent here since the original draft has given me a lot more insight to share, so I’m excited to be publishing it now!
I’ve taken some time to look back on our first trip out in November of 2021, as well as our experience living in Asheville so far to compile some information for folks planning a trip or even just thinking about visiting. You’ll read about everything from parking tips, activities, the best time of year to visit, and the process of actually getting to Asheville to mention a few.
With this blog especially, don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. You can find my contact information at the bottom of this post, or you can always get in touch with me through my social platforms like Instagram.
So What’s the Deal With Asheville?
The Basics
Asheville is a small city nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain range in western North Carolina at the confluence (that’s a fancy word for where rivers join) of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers. It has a population of just under 100,000 people and sits at an elevation of 2,134 feet above sea level.
What’s Out Here?
The town is most known for its easy accessibility to outdoor activities like camping and hiking and is a major weekend destination for residents of neighboring areas in the Carolinas and beyond. In addition, Asheville plays host to the famous Biltmore mansion and a lively art and brewery scene among other things.
Downtown Asheville, NC
Downtown Asheville has a distinct industrial charm lent to it by the many former factory buildings dotting the city, as well as train yards and crossings in the area. It is situated about 2 hours southwest of Charlotte and 3 hours northeast of Atlanta. For those who may be familiar with the Twin Cities, downtown Asheville reminds me quite a bit of the area surrounding Mill City Ruins Park in Minneapolis. For those who are familiar with my hometown of Denver, Colorado, the River North Arts District is an apt comparison.
If you happen to be a beach lover, you’ll be looking at a 4-6 hour trek to the Eastern shoreline depending on where exactly you’re headed. This will be more of a weekend getaway than a day trip for most folks, but it’s certainly possible to make it to the coast and back in a day if you start very early and leave late to make the most of your time.
Getting to Asheville
If you’re not in close enough proximity to drive to Asheville, you have a couple of options to consider. Asheville has a small airport (AVL) where you can catch the occasional direct flight out with small airlines like Allegiant and Sun Country depending on where you’re headed, but more often than not you’ll be connecting through a larger hub like Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, etc.
The reverse is true as well. As far as flying into AVL, if you keep an eye on Google Flights and have a bit of luck on your side, you might be able to snag a direct flight to the city. This will largely depend on where you live and how flexible your timeline is, so in general, booking a flight with a connection is likely.
Another option to consider is flying into Charlotte, NC (CLT). This will lend you a much wider selection of direct flights and airlines to travel with and can save you a bit of cash too. You will need to rent a car in Charlotte to make the last leg of your journey (a 2-hour drive west to Asheville) but you’ll also have the benefit of easy transportation once you arrive. For most people planning a short trip out, this route would be my suggestion.
A Note on Parking
Due to high tourism in the area, parking can be extremely difficult in the city on weekends, holidays, and during events. On the positive side, there are very affordable parking lots and garages downtown (my personal recommendation if you’re driving), and luckily the city is plenty small enough to cover on foot once you’ve found a spot. As with any trip, a good pair of walking shoes is a great idea to bring.
You should download the ParkMobile app once you arrive if you haven’t used it before, and plug in your car’s info so that you can pay for parking via your smartphone. I’ve used the app in a number of cities now, (Asheville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, etc.) and it’s been an absolute game-changer for dealing with metered parking. You’ll get a notification before your meter or spot expires, and you can re-up without trekking all the way back to your car. It’s like this thing was made for street photographers.
When to Visit
Since I’m writing this post from Asheville just a few weeks after our move, I can only really speak to the time of year we visited, which was in the middle of November, and in early Spring as well.
The good news is that I can definitively recommend traveling to Asheville, or really anywhere in North or South Carolina during the fall season. Autumn in the Carolinas is gorgeous. The dense and seemingly never-ending deciduous forests coupled with a relatively temperate climate mean that the colors are beautiful- and stay beautiful for several weeks. My partner and I couldn’t get enough of the scenery as we traveled along the highways to each of our destinations.
If you’re not a fan of cold weather, you may find you enjoy your time in Asheville more if you plan your visit nearer the summer months. While we experienced temperatures on the lower end of what you can generally expect for the area, Asheville was by far the coolest location at around 40-50°F (4-10°C) on average during our stay.
For those who may be coming from a dry location like Colorado, the humidity plays a role in making the air feel slightly colder than you might expect. Packing an extra couple of layers is something I highly recommend for every trip, but especially if you’re traveling in the fall or springtime when unanticipated shifts in temperature can lean colder.
While Asheville gets a bit of a break from heat and humidity during the summer months due to its slightly higher elevation, you should expect to see some hot and humid weather, especially in July and August. If you’re from the Southeastern region, however, you may actually consider it a welcome break from the oppressive summers that some of our coastal neighbors and nearby states experience.
Our Experience Visiting Asheville
When my partner and I arrived in Asheville for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by how lively it can be. Although it was dark and we had been on the road for several hours from Durham, our curiosity got the better of us. We decided to head downtown to check it out and look for something to eat before checking into our hotel
At this point I’ll say that out of the three locations we selected in North and South Carolina to tour, (Asheville, Greenville, and Durham) I was definitely the most interested in Asheville right off the bat. I had read some great things about the mountains, as well as things like the brewery and art scene in town.
The first thing that grabbed our attention was how beautiful the area around the city is. Driving in or out of Asheville on the eastern side, you’ll head over the French Broad River, and get a great view of some of the city’s outlying buildings. The surrounding mountains and endless trees are very reminiscent of what we might find in a mountain town back home.
Our initial plan was to try and grab dinner downtown, but we quickly discovered that on a Friday night with no prior planning this wouldn’t be possible. It will be in your best interest to make reservations where possible and remember there are lots of great spots just outside of the main drag if you’re not having any luck.
Despite its small size, the city was busy and filled with visitors wandering the streets when we ventured out again the following morning. Asheville makes up for its size and creates a very convincing illusion that the town is much larger than it really is. As a street photographer, I saw plenty of opportunities for compositions, and can’t wait to get out and shoot more.
The city is home to so many great shops, galleries, bars, restaurants, music venues, and more, and there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained while you’re here. I’ve listed some specifics below to get you started on planning your trip.
Things to Do
Below is a list of things that I have personally done/eaten/experienced (except where noted) NOT just some links from a Pinterest board. There are so many places to explore, and this is not a complete list, but these are some things I can recommend from experience!
Food and Drink
White Labs - Located just outside downtown Asheville. The beer is good, but the hot chicken sandwich and pizza are even better. They operate from a really cool location, and it’s usually easy to find parking and a table. Take some time to read the signs and learn more about what they do there- beyond just brewing beer- as well.
Asheville Sandwich Company - I do eat meat most of the time, but I love vegan food and the vegan Reuban here puts most regular Reuben sandwiches to complete and utter shame. Also, please don’t leave without trying the fried green tomatoes.
Wicked Weed Brewing - Great brewery with a restaurant in the downtown location. This one reminds me of the more traditional Belgian-inspired breweries I’ve visited in Portland and Denver.
Shanghai Dumpling House - Great little spot for dumplings, we’ve had good luck getting a table even on a busy Friday as described above. You can’t leave without a plate of crispy pork or vegetable dumplings! Sauce game is well above average too.
Entertainment
The Grey Eagle - For music lovers, an awesome little underground music venue. We got to see a killer rock band touring from Seattle here, and can’t wait to go back.
River Arts District - This part of town is home to tons of art and galleries. They have tons of events like gallery walks to attend, and do a lot to lend Asheville its weird and artsy vibe.
The Biltmore - I’m not going to lie, we have yet to check out the Biltmore, but I can’t make a shortlist of Asheville activities without including it! This is definitely something to plan for as tickets are pricey. If you do want to see the mansion while you’re here, be sure to research the events going on and plan your visit accordingly.
Lexington Avenue - This street just a couple of blocks away from the city center plays host to a number of vintage shops, boutiques, and my favorite: record stores! Definitely a can’t-miss area if you’re heading downtown
Closing Thoughts
I’ve been having a lot of fun exploring Asheville and the surrounding regions since we arrived in March, and with any luck, some of these tips and recommendations will be helpful for folks who are looking to visit. Western North Carolina is beautiful, and it should definitely be on your list- especially during the Fall!
Have any questions or comments about this travel guide? Let me know!
You can email me directly at nick@gunairy.com, or get in touch via Instagram. Thanks as always for reading, get out and try something new today!
- Nick