Asheville Recap
Cort and I had a great trip back to Asheville this year! After visiting in the summer of 2020, we knew we wanted to go back and experience fall in the mountains. It was a quick trip, but such a fun one! Tons of you guys asked for details on our trip, so I’ve put together a brief recap of the restaurants and hikes we tried out!
Hotel
We stayed at the Foundry Asheville hotel, which is a Hilton property in downtown Asheville. The location was perfect, as we were right in the heart of downtown and were able to walk to most of the restaurants we tried as well as had easy access to shopping. We made the 7 hour drive for this trip, so we valeted our car at the hotel and had no problem coming and going as needed. We will definitely stay here again the next time we visit!
Food & Drink
Wicked Weed Brewpub - After our long drive into town, we went here for an easy dinner and drink. The brewpub location (not to be confused with the Funkatorium) was a 3 minute walk from our hotel. On a Monday night, there wasn’t a wait to get in and we enjoyed sitting outside near the fire. The beer menu was fantastic, and though the food menu isn’t super big, both Cort and I really enjoyed the sandwiches we got. I’d definitely come here if you are looking for a laid back, family friendly meal at a brewery!
Chestnut - This was our first time trying Chestnut, which is an upscale contemporary southern restaurant, and it did not disappoint! Unfortunately, we didn’t book a reservation ahead of time (which I highly recommend doing), so we our name on the waitlist for seats at the bar. Since it was only two of us and a Tuesday night, we only had to wait about 20 minutes to get in around 6:30pm. We really enjoyed sitting at the bar...and would actually prefer to sit there over a booth if we go in the future! The drink menu was incredible - Cort and I both enjoying our cocktails...which change seasonally. I highly recommend the Burning Bronze if it is still on the menu! All of the food options looked great, so we opted to try multiple dishes. We really enjoyed the Cauliflower 3 Ways, Pickled Green Tomatoes, and the Banana Pudding for dessert!
Biscuit Head - We fell in love with Biscuit Head after our first trip, and knew we had to go back at some point on this trip. This hole-in-the-wall, order at the counter location on Biltmore Ave always seems to be busy, but we were lucky to show up with no line for a late lunch on Tuesday. My favorite item on the menu is the Biscuits & Gravy, while Cort always gets the Classic Sandwich. As a whole, the line moves pretty quickly, and the food comes out super fast. I definitely recommend Biscuit Head if you need a quick breakfast or just want some good, old-fashioned comfort food!
Farewell Coffee - Another repeat from last year, this was our favorite coffee shop we’ve tried (though we definitely haven’t tried them all yet!). About a 7 minute walk from our hotel, this was our go-to caffeine stop. There are multiple tables inside that would be great if you needed a place to work for an hour. On a nice day, they open all the windows, making it super airy and relaxing!
Hiking
Black Balsam Knob - We learned of this trail from our trip last year, but unfortunately tried it on a rainy / cloudy day, we knew we wanted to try again when it was sunny...and I’m so glad we did! From downtown Asheville, it was about a 50 minute drive to the trailhead, but most of it was on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a breathtaking drive through the mountains. It’s definitely worth taking your time on the drive and stopping at various pull-offs to see the views! There is parking on the side of the road at the trail entrance. After about 5 minutes of hiking in tree cover, the rest of the trail opens up to a “bald” mountain top with views for hundreds of miles. Fair warning that it gets incredibly windy on this trail...so dress warmer than you would think. The hike itself isn’t very challenging and can be as long or short as you would like!
Hawksbill Rock - This hike came from multiple recommendations! About a 30 minute drive north of Asheville on Blue Ridge Parkway (opposite direction as Black Balsam), this hike was super easy to get to. Because most people end up going a few minutes further to Craggy Gardens, this trail doesn’t get a lot of traffic, as we say only about 8 other people total our entire time. The hiking itself took us just under 2 hours round trip. I’d call this a moderate to slightly difficult hike, as there is quite a bit of elevation gain and some steep rocks to climb at the end. The hike is mostly tree covered and peaceful, but there are plenty of views along the way. The hike was well worth it though, as the views at the end on the Hawksbill Rock were absolutely breathtaking.
Let me know if you try any of these restaurants or hiking trails! I’d also love to know what your Asheville favorites are!
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