The property most often associated with the small city of Asheville, NC is the Biltmore and it is an unusual and extraordinary place. Fully 8,000 acres, the Biltmore estate, highlighted by George Vanderbilt’s French Renaissance castle, can be found in the heart of Asheville.
It would be easy to spend your entire visit enjoying the grounds and the multiple gardens, various shops and restaurants and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Village at the Biltmore is a destination all on its own. They even boast a winery. But there is more to Asheville.
Our friends from Austin, TX see Asheville as similar to the Austin of the 1980’s, quirky and unspoiled by commercial development. And the downtown area reflects that kind of perspective. Live music venues are everywhere and during warmer weather on Friday nights at Pritchard Park there is a drum circle that reminds one of Eeyore’s Birthday Party, that annual festival in Pease Park in Austin. Yes, bohemianism lives on in Asheville. Even the street buskers have their quirks. This guy balances himself and juggles while keeping one of his dogs on his head.
Restaurant cuisine is eclectic with a good number of Asian restaurants outnumbering barbeque. But if regional cuisine is your thing, 12 Bones has some of the best barbeque on the East coast. Craft beer is found on virtually every block and outdoor seating is readily available when the weather cooperates.
Staying downtown is easy with hotels from Hilton Suites to Marriotts to smaller boutique hotels such as the Hotel Arras, a Kimpton hotel, right downtown in the middle of the city. We enjoyed the Arras, especially its location. The restaurant has great food and is dog friendly, inside and out. If it is a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains you desire, check out the Omni Grove Park Inn on a hill at the edge of town.
Looking for a different experience? Glamping is available just outside of town. A brief stay in these luxury accommodations was about as close to real camping as I will ever get. It was quite nice … but I preferred the Arras.
Go to Ashville. It is not San Francisco or Boston but it is a fascinating and fun small city. Great for a long weekend. And if you missed Austin in the 1980’s you can get a feel for why that town’s most cherished saying is “Keep Austin Weird”.