How To Spend a Weekend in Asheville, NC

We had the absolutely most amazing time in Asheville, NC!!! So much so that Tyler wants to move there now… 

I booked our Asheville trip pretty last minute. I pounced on the idea of a weekend getaway and had heard lots of great things about the town. Also, I selfishly wanted time with Tyler to myself (aka: no video games!). This was our first experience with Airbnb and definitely not the last. Asheville was filled with beautiful scenery, tons to do, and a quirky hipster vibe. Tyler will have to work on his beard if we want to move there…

The ride from Raleigh to Asheville is four hours so we didn’t get to our cabin until Midnight on Friday. By then, we were extremely exhausted that I just called it a night. 

I’d heard tons of rave reviews about The Cantina in Biltmore Village but we were surprisingly unsatisfied with our time there. The restaurant itself was awesome and we devoured some chips n’ queso. They were also pet-friendly and offered outdoor seating. (Thankfully, we got great weather all weekend!) However, our service was terrible. Perhaps it was a one time thing though?? The food and margaritas were delicious so I’d give them a second chance.

Tyler wanted to bypass the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore Estate was owned by The Vanderbilts, and is largest privately owned estate in The United States. It is one of Asheville’s most popular tourist attractions and for good reason. The Biltmore is no longer lived in but has opened it’s doors to tours of the 6950.4 acre property. If you’ve never been, you should definitely tour it at least once. Tyler and I agree that it’s a surreal experience.  

I was determined to visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center because I wanted to see some Otters. I was not disappointed. There were also coyotes, foxes, bears! Oh my!

The Nature Center is small and there were plenty of kids running around but we still had fun as two grown (sort of) adults. Unfortunately, we only had twenty minutes till closing so we didn’t really have time to take it all in. It was a short excursion that entertained us for the time being. Plus I got to see foxes eating peanut butter. If that doesn’t make you smile, you must be heartless… 

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I was so pleased with how our Airbnb turned out! I wasn’t expecting much but fell in love with the Log Cabin Motor Court. The property is in Weaverville, the town right next to Asheville, and is conveniently located to the highway. It was a quick ride to everywhere! The motor court had about twenty cabins, ranging in style and size. We stayed in the Midnight Roost cabin. Everything was rooster themed… the coffee mugs, the clock, the bedspread ?

This place was SO darn cute and cozy! The Midnight Roost was small. It consisted of a main bedroom and a bathroom but we didn’t need much. Perfect size for us! Plus, the Log Cabin Motor Court is pet-friendly so we really loved being able to bring Kona along. The bed was super comfortable and the cabin was very tidy. I enjoyed some coffee on the rocking chairs in the morning.

I booked the Midnight Roost through Airbnb. Airbnb was a great and easy way to travel.

Saturday was also my cousin’s college graduation! Congratulations Max! On Saturday night, we met up with the guys to celebrate. We started off at Urban Orchard Cider, which was a great choice. Who else agrees that cider is basically alcoholic apple juice? The guys got a flight to test different flavors. My two favorite are the Hopaleño and Sweet English. Sweet English is your basic, average Joe cider while Hopaleño has a bit of a spicy kick to it. Moy caliente! 

Afterwards, I suggested the Thirsty Monk. The Thirsty Monk in downtown Asheville has three different floors offering three different menus. All three also provided a different atmosphere. Super cool, right? On our next trip to Asheville, I want to check out SkyBar as well. But my favorite place was…

The Battery Park Book Exchange!

Before checking out on Sunday, Tyler asked me: “You’re not one of those people who orders coffee and reads the book inside Barnes & Noble, are you?” Why yes, Tyler, I am… bookstores are my shit!!! And the Battery Park Book Exchange was like a magical playground for me.

First off, the Book Exchange is absolutely beautiful and reminds me of a 1950’s speakeasy meets library. The place was filled with books of all kinds (TWO FLOORS FULL), there were numerous places to sit, and there was even a bar. We ordered coffee but once it was an “acceptable” time we indulged in Mimosas.

It’s also dog-friendly. What more could you ask for?

Everyone in Asheville was so friendly. Most people came up to pet Kona or tell us stories. One elderly couple told us about their two poodles, George and Georgette. LOL.

On Sundays, art vendors line the street of downtown Asheville with their homemade goods which is where I got my beautiful craft ring that I’m obsessed with. Of course, I choose a black stone. It matches my soul.

Our last stop was Highland Brewing Co. On Sundays, they bring out a reggae band and hold a small concert outside. There were tons of puppies and people! (Note: Inside is not dog-friendly.) They also provided food trucks and picnic tables!

Highland’s has a rooftop bar that we quickly checked out. Most people were down by the concert area though. Asheville is home to numerous hip breweries. If you love beer— you’re in the right place! 

This was a weekend to remember and I’m glad I got to share it with my wonderful boyfriend. We’re thinking of going to Charleston next!

What’s your favorite place in Asheville, NC?

What weekend adventure should we go on next?