Asheville Weekend Getaway
Goals of Trip: Explore, Celebrate (Anniversary Trip!), Wander
Keywords: Funky, Eclectic, Scrappy
Time Visited: April/Springtime
Don’t forget to pack:
Light rain jacket (Especially in spring, weather can be unpredictable)
Your quirkiest outfit to fit in with the locals - thrifted, unusual colors, bright patterns!
Growlers to fill at one of the many local breweries to bring a taste of Asheville to your home.
Travel:
If staying in downtown, Asheville is extremely walkable to shops and attractions. For our short trip, the only driving we did was to visit the French Broad Chocolate Factory and Ginger’s Revenge.
Accommodations: Kimpton Hotel Arras
Pros: Beautiful views of the city and backdrop of mountains, boutique luxury feel, elegant décor, easy to use our streaming services on the TV, comfortable bed, walkable to SO MANY places. We took a few short walks to wander and explore shops and nearby parks.
Cons: On the pricier side, regular noise from street on par with a downtown hotel experience in any city, valet parking only ($$)
Would absolutely stay here again if it was a special occasion, but next time I’ll be either price-comparing with similar hotels within a few blocks’ radius or leveraging hotel/credit card points.
Friday – Day 1
3pm Check into Hotel and Decompress
5pm Dinner and Drinks at Wicked Weed Funkatorium
Walked 11 minutes to reach the major area where breweries are located
Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium was a very purposeful stop, as I am a mega fan of sour beers- they have the most extensive and varied selection of sours that I have ever witnessed! Want a flight? They’ve got more than 10 different flights of purely sours to choose from.
Large areas for indoor and outdoor seating, dog friendly for outdoor dining and drinking
Typical bar food, we enjoyed the pretzel with beer cheese and spicy mustard – the spicy mustard did not play! It was HOT! But flavorful and enjoyable
Saturday – Day 2
11am Brunch at The Med
Again, a delightfully short walking distance from our hotel. I knew this spot was extremely popular and there would most definitely be a wait. Staying so close by enabled us to put our name in for a table, then spend time exploring the nearby park and local stores while waiting for a text that our table was ready.
Highlights: Crispy. Fried. Catfish. Sitting on a bed of perfectly seasoned collard greens. With a pillow of cheesy and savory grits.
This place was 100% worth the (15 minute) wait and was by far my favorite food of the trip. See my yelp review for more details!
1pm Tea and Dessert at High Climate Tea
This was a highly anticipated spot for me, and it did not disappoint! Enjoyed learning about the different types of teas and everything that goes into the tea, from water at the perfect temperature to how time affects the taste of the tea.
I adored the peaceful atmosphere and interior, filled with beautiful green plants flowing around you and warm wood elements. Imagine walking into a peaceful tea house to read a book while you enjoy the sensory delight of a beautifully steeped tea with a sweet or savory snack!
3pm French Broad Chocolate Factory Tour
Ever since we visited a chocolate factory in Seattle (Shout out to Theo Chocolates), getting a factory tour in different locales is one of my favorite ways to inject adventure into a weekend trip. Not only does it give you something fun to look forward to, but you get to create a personal connection with and learn so much about a brand and industry.
From unrefined cacao bean to elegantly finished bonbon, you can taste across the spectrum of chocolate during the tasting tour!
Our tour guide, Matthew, did a wonderful job at keeping us engaged, informed, and made us laugh. He took us through the background of the company and explained its origins and evolution to date, then we tasted a selection of chocolates in different forms. We then took a look at the actual processes of manufacturing and quality control. No hair covers or beard covers required with all of the equipment behind a window for easy viewing without any hassle.
5pm Ginger Beer Flight at Ginger’s Revenge
Spontaneously purchased a Groupon for Ginger’s Revenge based solely on passing it while we were on our way to the chocolate factory tour, and so glad that we did!
This spot is uniquely focused on Ginger beer brewing. Sprawling throughout a warehouse-like gathering space, with room for local vendors to sell their crafts. Our favorite flavor was the Pineapple-Jalapeno ginger beer, we purchased a growler to bring home with us. Refreshing and full of biting, gingery goodness, this place is a striking counterpoint to the average offerings of a typical brewery.
7:45pm Dinner at Posana
I chose Posana for our celebratory anniversary dinner purely based on the fact that it seemed really nice, on the more formal/expensive side, and was less than 1 block from our hotel. I was pleasantly surprised that the entire menu was gluten free! Neither myself or my partner are gluten-free, but we appreciate the concept and enjoyed our meals thoroughly.
Extensive beverage selection ranging from sommelier recommendations to mocktails and non-alcoholic choices. The dishes tasted extremely fresh and it was evident that the chefs base the menu around seasonal ingredients for that reason. NY strip was cooked a perfect medium rare as requested, and the warm beet salad was a flavorful delight.
8pm Dessert at French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Less than a block’s walk away, the French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a simply fantastic place to go for dessert after Posana. Not to be confused with the factory location which we toured earlier and is in a completely different part of town, this cozy cafe offers their full range of chocolates along with cakes and ice cream.
If you are a person who loves savory flavors and detests one-dimensionally flavored desserts…. go get the golden milk ice cream at the chocolate lounge. This is proof that the folks at French Broad can go beyond chocolate and continue to produce absolutely delicious and creative delicacies!
Sunday – Day 3
8am Coffee and to-go breakfast at The Rhu
· Cute as a button café! You know they are good because the line will snake out the door if you don’t get there right as they open. Merely thinking of their breakfast sandwiches has me salivating! Purchased a few local food items as gifts – the Lusty Monk mustards are to die for, a spicy conversation piece for your next charcuterie board or gift basket.
11am Hotel Check-Out and Drive Home