Asheville, NC Travel Guide
I visited Asheville a few months after being hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024 and while there was quite a bit of damage and re-building happening, it was still thriving and I really enjoyed it! I’m sure there are going to be a ton of changes over the next couple of years to help repair the city, but here is a guide based off what is still there and what you’re able to do!
where to stay
We took our camper van on this trip & slept in the River Arts District because it was quiet due to the damage of the Hurricane. Right now (January 2025) I wouldn’t recommend staying near there if you’re doing a hotel or Airbnb/Vrbo. I would suggest staying in Downtown Asheville. It’s extremely walkable and there are restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, unique shops, malls and more all crammed into one area.
You could also go the nature route and stay in a vacation rental outside of the city. Asheville is surrounded by mountains so you can definitely find some cute cabin rentals in the mountains and then just drive or Uber into the city.
what to see
#1 – South Slope Brewing District
Right by Downtown is the South Slope Brewing District. It’s one of the most popular places in Asheville because it’s filled with breweries, art galleries, restaurants, & nightlife.
#2 – Explore Downtown
Downtown has cute shops, restaurants, the Grove Arcade (built in 1929 with Late Gothic Revival architecture houses), museums & more. You could spend a whole day exploring Downtown and the South Slope, plus it’s very walkable!
#3 – Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
Located in Downtown, this was one of the more unique places we went to in Asheville. It’s a book store and champagne bar, so you can walk around and pick out a book, purchase it, then be seated at a table while you sip on champagne!
#4 – River Arts District
This area was hit really hard by the Hurricane, which is such a bummer because I had heard from so many people how awesome it was. BUT it still has quite a few shops & galleries open so I would still recommend checking out the places that are up and running! We met a couple of the artists and loved walking around admiring all the different art! Everything from ceramics, paintings, glass blowing, there is a ton of art to see!
#5 – Brewery Hopping
This is outside of the park but it is such a wonderful view of the mountains and you won’t experience much traffic. If the park ends up being closed for some reason, this is a great option to still experience the Smoky’s! There are tons of pullover spots with gorgeous overlooks.
#6 – Hike
Asheville is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains so there is no shortage of hikes. Make sure you do your research ahead of time, because a lot of hikes/roads to get to hikes were affected by Hurricane Helene. If you want a nice challenge, you could hike up to Mount Mitchell. It’s the highest peak East of the Mississippi River, with an elevation of 6684 ft.
We hiked to Lookout Mountain and it was a great Moderate hike to gorgeous views
Distance: 3.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: 843 ft
Level: Moderate
More info here
#7 – Biltmore Estate
If you want something more unique, take a tour of the Biltmore Estate. If you’ve seen the cheesy Christmas movie “A Biltmore Christmas”, this is the mansion that’s featured in it! The Biltmore Estate was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II in the late 1800s and is the largest privately owned house in the United States. It’s filled with Gilded Age architecture. Tickets are not cheap. Find more ticket info here.
#8 – Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa
The weather was rainy while we were in Asheville but if we had a clear day we were planning on hitting up Omni Grove Park at sunset to have a cocktail and hang out on their terrace. If you look up pictures of this beautiful place you’ll see the gorgeous terrace that overlooks mountains. They also have a famous spa, so if you’re looking for some R&R while visiting Asheville, this is the place!
Restaurants
Biscuit Head
Breakfast food. This is an Asheville staple. I’m not normally a huge biscuit fan but these biscuits were to die for! I went pretty basic with bacon, egg & cheese on mine, but they have tons of options to choose from!
White Duck Taco
Mexican Food. These tacos were very unique but in a GREAT way! I wouldn’t classify them as very authentic Mexican tacos, but they were different and tasted phenomenal. My favorites were the Bangkok Shrimp & Korean Beef!
More Restaurants
We didn’t make it to these but they were on our list!
Chai Pani – Indian street food
Chestnut – American Food
Rhubarb – Farm-to-Table New American Fare
Coffee Shops
Double D’s
This is a Double Decker bus turned into a coffee shop. I’m obsessed with a unique coffee shop so I had to check this out and bonus, the coffee was great! If you like spicy mocha’s, try the “Red Hot Chili Mocha”!
Well Played Board Game Cafe
If you like board games and coffee, this is your place! They do serve alcohol as well and are open late!
Ultra Coffee
This coffee shop is in the River Arts District and a lot of the area is still ripped apart from the Hurricane. I really liked their coffee, but the vibe inside was pretty basic. So if you’re a cute coffee shop kind of person, this might be a skip.
