12 Must-Do’s while visiting Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is the cultural and recreational oasis of Western North Carolina. Known for its’ strong arts scene, variety of foodie restaurants, and craft brewery scene, this trendy city continues to make headlines. That being said, I feel too little is said about the city’s proximity to beautiful natural wonders. I first visited this city while living in nearby Greenville (SC) and eventually moved here because I fell in love with the unique vibe, strong vegetarian food scene, lively event calendar, and most of all, the quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Being located in the picturesque Blue Ridge mountains region, endless hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls are just a short drive away. I had the opportunity to live in this beautiful region for 2 years, eating at wonderful local restaurants, attending all sorts of art festivals, and exploring the various overlooks and trails on the Parkway.

Of course, the region is also rich in historical significance. The stately Biltmore Estate is the most popular with tourists. America’s largest privately owned home comes in at a whopping 175,000 square feet! It’s way bigger than the White House which comes in at 55,000 square feet. George Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, built the mansion between 1889-1895. The lavish mansion first opened to the public in 1930 in hopes of boosting tourism during the depression.

Most tourists concentrate on the Biltmore and the food scene. That being said, I believe that exploring the beautiful nature in and around the city should be #1 on your list. The iconic Biltmore aside, here’s my guide to what I believe are the must-do’s on your first vacation here.

1. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway

Although it would be quite tiresome & time consuming to drive the entirety of this 400+ mile long drive, you can enjoy the same tremendous views by driving a small section. The drive starts just outside of Asheville, so it’s an easy daytrip. As a leaf peeper and hiker, fall is my favorite time as bright golden and red hues line the entire byway. Keep in mind lots of other people will be arriving in droves to see the awesome color. If you can get out here early in the morning, it will be a lot quieter.

As a local, I often timed my drive super early during the week to bypass the hefty traffic which can be bumper to bumper. Although winter takes on its’ own barren Narnia-like charm, the road is often closed due to heavy snow. Skiers and snowshoers can use the road at this time which is pretty cool.

Spring and summer is the prime time to enjoy the stunning waterfalls and hiking trails. The 20 mile drive to Craggy Gardens, one of the most breathtaking viewpoints along the drive, is a nice short daytrip option. You can see gorgeous wildlflowers starting in June.

Other interesting sights I recommend adding to your Parkway itinerary include: Graveyard Fields, the Museum of North Carolina minerals, and the North Carolina Arboretum. The arboretum is easily one of my favorite places in the city (I even had a season pass. Highlights include a quilt garden, rustic hikes, and a super impressive bonsai garden.

Check out this convenient Blue Ridge Parkway map to plan your journey.

2. Test out your old-time gaming skills at The Asheville Pinball Museum

Nostalgic pinball museums & arcades seem to be all the rage today. As a kid of the 80’s, I especially seek out these arcades anywhere I travel with the best being the Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame and Pinball Perfection in Pittsburgh. The Asheville Pinball Museum isn’t too shabby for a small city. It’s so fun to put the phone away and enjoy some old-fashioned fun in a nostalgic environment. It’s located downtown so you can dine and/or shop all in the same area.

This one is particularly unique due to the all-you-can-play (no time limit) for one price format. No need to carry rolls of quarters, simply play to your heart’s desire. For under 20 bucks you can step back in time to the days when classic video games ruled over smartphones. 75 classic pinball machines and video arcade machines will make you feel as if you time traveled back in time via Doc Brown’s time machine (at least for a few hours).

What’s even more – you can play your old faves on classic NES, Super Nintendo, and Sega systems! See if you can still remember all the tricks of Super Mario 3, Sonic, and Super Mario Land. To be honest, I have mini versions of all three of these systems at home but it’s more fun to play in a public setting!

The Pinball Museum is the perfect activity on a super hot or rainy day when all the wonderful state parks are out of question. Just be aware that everyone else will likely be thinking the same thing! This place gets extremely busy so avoid weekend nights (I’ve seen lines wrapped around the building). Be prepared for a possible wait any day (entrance is limited to 80 people at a time).

3. Check out the foodie scene

If you’ve kept up with the news the last 10 years, then you know this city is widely known for its’ diverse foodie scene. Craft breweries, farm-to-table restaurants, Southern style comfort eateries, and quality ethnic restaurants dominate Main Street. I’ve always heard that it is a great city for vegetarians and the shear number and quality of veggie friendly places did not disappoint!

My favorite local breakfast cafes

As you will likely be up and ready to go early in the morning (prior to exploring the great outdoors), you will likely be seeking a great breakfast to fuel up pre-workout.

On the trendy side, Biscuit Head is a very popular hipster foodie haven. Here you can order a southern style biscuit “as big as a cat’s head”, served alongside a gravy flight (vegan available too!) or topped with a variety of jams from a self-service jam bar. My go-to is the Half Breakfast plate which includes a biscuit, eggs your way, and a side. Green Sage, a fantastic breakfast & lunch cafe, is the perfect choice for health conscious diners as they use all organic produce and serve a majority plant based menu. Both cafes serve awesome coffee.

Check out my guide to breakfast dining for the full scoop on vegetarian friendly dining choices.

My favorite lunch spots

The local restaurants are so good here that I often go out to lunch mid week just to take a break from the computer. Many of the most well known restaurants are located downtown, but there are hidden gems all around the city. Here’s a few of my favorite picks around town:

Nine Mile: Creative Jamaican restaurant with tasty vegetarian dishes. I highly recommend the Ires Ites for a filling and savory veggie friendly option. This dish includes cavatappi pasta topped with tofu and veggies in a creamy pesto sauce. It’s so good!

Chai Pani: This Indian restaurant specializes in Indian street fare. They serve a lot of snacks and quick eats like Kale Pakora Chaat, but I come here for the delicious lunch Thali. Mike goes for the Chicken thali, I go with the veggie (Saag Paneer). Each includes: chana masala, daal, masala slaw, jeera rice, pappadum, chapati, veg raita, and gulab jamu so it’s a filling and affordable meal. In terms of buffets, Andaaz in Biltmore Village and Mehfil (downtown) Indian are 2 incredible local choices.

Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian: This is a great choice outside of the busy downtown region. This is a classic old-school Italian joint and the food is always predictably good. I love their pizza and Ziti. The service is always great and the ambiance perfect for a date. Bonus points for the nice patio.

White Duck Taco: Trendy place to grab a few tasty tacos and a craft beer. Tacos are served a la carte so you can mix and match. At least one vegetarian option is available daily. Excellent chips and queso! This place is addictive (and fortunately cheap) so I’ve probably dined here more than anywhere else.

If you prefer a sampling of the best the city has to offer, consider signing up for a foodie tour. Also check out my full guide to the top local restaurants. This list will be a bit biased as I am a vegetarian, however, there are restaurants for everyone here including a big BBQ and microbrewery scene.

4. Stay, spa, and/or dine at The Omni Park Grove Inn

The exclusive Omni is a stunning 4 star property nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. If you don’t mind splurging a bit, this is the best place to stay in town. The world-class subterranean spa, wonderful dining options, and Daniel Ross designed golf course are a few of the standout amenities. I love daytrippin’ here to enjoy the breakfast buffet, shopping, and the fabulous mountain scenery.

If staying at the resort is beyond your budget, I still recommend making your way over here for breakfast at the Blue Ridge Artisanal Buffet. This wonderful buffet features a diverse assortment of breakfast fare in a gorgeous dining room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Blue ridge mountains. We dined here often for special occasions (it is a bit pricey) and holidays (both the buffets and decor are amazing).

Service is excellent and the coffee is absolutely delicious. Highlights include an omelet and doughnut bar! Gluten-free and vegetarian selections include an amazing chia seed pudding, gluten-free pastries, and fresh juiced squeezed drinks.

If your visit happens to fall during the holiday season, you will want to explore the artistic creations in the National Gingerbread competition, the most luxurious of its’ kind in the US. This event has been featured on numerous TV shows and is highly regarded to be the most prestigious gingerbread competition in the country. These houses are not your ordinary gingerbread houses, but rather artistic masterpieces. Take a look below at some winning creations from year’s past…

5. Plan a daytrip to check out a waterfall or 2

Asheville is located just an hour away from Transylvania County, nicknamed the “Land of Waterfalls.” This is a fitting title as the region is home to more than 200 waterfalls. The triple falls trail at Dupont State Forest is the most impressive of the bunch featuring 3 incredible waterfalls via a moderate 2 mile hike.

If you are not up for a lengthy drive, Catawba Falls is super impressive and located within 20 minutes of the city. The 1.5 mile trek is moderately easy and the ending vista of a 50 foot beauty makes the small amount of effort more than worth it. This is one of my favorite leaf peeping destinations in the state.

Here are a few more moderate waterfall hikes near the city if you don’t mind working up a sweat. As the city is located right next to Transylvania County, “the Land of Waterfalls,” the options are basically endless.

6. Hike to the top of Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock has long been one of the most popular tourist sites in all of North Carolina. After completing this spectacular climb (appropriately nicknamed the “ultimate stair climber”), you will easily see why. A 499 step (one-way) intense stair climb leads you to the top of this rock outcropping. From here, you will feel as if you are on top of the world as you look out upon the 75 mile long views in front of you, including Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge. This is one of my favorite viewpoints despite the hefty admission fee (17 bucks). Also, as a fitness buff, I love the challenge! Note: There is a mountain elevator alternative for those who can’t hike.

If you have been busting your butt in the gym lately and are up for the leg & butt blasting challenge, continue on a bit further. Another 300 steps take you up to an even more amazing viewpoint (Exclamation Point) with 360 degree views of the Blue Ridge mountains. Also, don’t miss out on Hickory Nut Falls trail which will lead you to a mesmerizing 400 foot waterfall: it’s the 2nd tallest east of the Mississippi. You may have noticed this one in the film, The Last of the Mohicans.

After your climb, take some time to stroll around Chimney Rock Village -a tacky, but fun area to grab a coffee, a sandwich, browse the shops, etc. Lots of old time nostalgic gifts and Bigfoot souvenirs to enjoy. I recommend Dirty Dancing fans to continue on to Lake Lure (just a few miles away) for a boat cruise where you can see the steps that Baby (Jennifer Grey) practiced her dance movies on.