5 Reasons to Visit Asheville, North Carolina Right Now!

I am absolutely in love with Asheville, North Carolina!  I recently planned a mother-daughter trip here for me and my mom and I couldn’t have enjoyed our time in Asheville more!  Here are 5 reasons to visit Asheville, North Carolina right now:

1.  Fall Foliage

Asheville, North Carolina is giving the Northeast a run for it’s money when it comes to fall foliage!  And warm temperatures that lasted into late September mean a delayed changing of the leaves, so you can easily plan a fall foliage trip for this November. You can track the best places to enjoy the brightest fall color right here and plan your activities accordingly. I suggest taking a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or planning a beautiful hike.  Have your cameras ready, your Instagram will thank you 🙂

2.  Food & Drink

There is no shortage of incredible places to eat and drink in Asheville, NC.  Pretty much everything is farm to table, so yes this is a true foodie lovers paradise! And the craft beer and craft cider scene is some of the most happening in the whole country, so you can easily plan a trip around food and drink alone.  I highly suggest getting sunset cocktails at the Omni Grove Park Inn, sampling some incredible craft cider at Urban Orchard Cider Company, enjoy a delicious meal at Local Provisions with their daily changing menu, tasting North Carolina’s Biltmore Wines, and treating yourself to an outstanding crepe at Creperie Bouchon!

A post shared by Stuart Brazell (@stuartbrazell) on Oct 5, 2016 at 8:45pm PDT

3.  The River Arts District of Asheville

If you’re an art lover, you must visit the River Arts District.  I spent the afternoon just wandering the area stopping in studios that caught my eye.  The River Arts District could easily be the most diverse and concentrated area of artists in the world where there is truly something for everyone.  Another great option is to book a 2 hour walking tour with Asheville Arts Studio Tours. This tour, led by an artist, gives you an insider look into a variety of studios, some of which have multiple artists working out of them.

4.  The Biltmore Estate and Antler Hill Village

You simply can’t visit Asheville without spending the day at the Biltmore Estate!  Visit America’s largest home, built by George Vanderbilt, and explore the 8000-acre beautiful and grand estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC. There are many different tour options, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to take everything in.  I suggest starting your day by taking a beautiful stroll through the Biltmore Gardens in the morning and then touring the Biltmore House.  Afterwards head over to Antler Hill Village and enjoy your free wine tasting at Biltmore Winery.  This is also a magical place to visit at Christmas time, so if you can’t make it in time for fall color plan a trip around the holidays!

5.  Downtown Asheville

I absolutely adore downtown Asheville and consider it someplace I would be quite happy to live!  Downtown Asheville has so much personality from the boutique shops, delicious restaurants, and friendly people. You can easily spend the day just wandering around seeing where the day takes you.  When your feet need a break I suggest booking the Just Chillin package at Wake Foot Sanctuary.  It is the perfect way to revive, relax and treat yourself. And most definitely the place to stay in Asheville is the Bunn House! You can enjoy a full tour of this boutique property in my in-depth Asheville travel guide, so watch, enjoy and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel:

XOXO – Stuart