Hello hello! Vishnu and I are back from our ~48 hour getaway to Asheville, and I wanted to share the details while they’re fresh in my mind.
Side note: What is it about kids going wild after not seeing their parents for a couple of days?! Both K and M were bonkers last night! Comes with the territory, I suppose!
If you have any questions about Asheville or anything I share here, please contact me. Happy to help!
Why Asheville?
Vishnu and I were in desperate need of a getaway. Nothing crazy, something quick and easy to get to…enter Asheville! It’s a 3.5 hour drive from where we live in Atlanta, it’s known for good hiking, good food, and a fun downtown. Count us in!
Where We Stayed
In all honesty, aside from one dinner, Vishnu planned all of this trip. I had no idea where we were staying until we arrived. And let me tell you! The Restoration Hotel is absolutely beautiful! It has a unique look and feel that hits you as soon as you step inside (along with a really nice scent). It’s also only 3 months old.
The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Asheville and super close to everything you want/need. My favorite aspect was the customer service. Everyone was super kind, helpful and accommodating. Our room was beautiful and included a vanity. The hotel delivers a small breakfast to you between 8-9 am every morning (re: pastry, fruit, yogurt). There’s a free onsite shuttle that will take you anywhere within a 2 mile radius. There’s an onsite restaurant, pub, and rooftop bar.
This hotel has it all! We’d definitely stay here again.
What We Did
The first thing we did upon arriving on Friday was put our stuff down and head out to explore downtown Asheville. It’s super fun and eclectic. Also, surprising to me was how big it actually is. It’s no Chicago or Atlanta, but Asheville can definitely hold it’s own!
The next day, after eating breakfast, we drove (less than 10 minutes from the hotel) to the Biltmore Estate. We parked by the shops/winery and hiked a few of the nearby trails for an hour or so. Vishnu booked a chocolate/wine tasting for 5 pm, so we had plenty of time to kill, so we…
…decided to hike/walk to the Biltmore House and garden (almost 4 miles). We walked around that area, grabbed lunch, and then WALKED BACK! Vishnu said he wanted to and convinced me that I wanted to as well.
I’ll say this – my legs and hip flexors were not happy with me in the moment, but I’m glad we walked and experienced the grounds up close and personal! If nothing else, it gave me and Vishnu more 1:1 time together!
The tasting itself was super fun and interesting. I loved the chocolates we got to try (obviously!).
All in all, I think we did a great job doing in the essentials on this trip!
Where We Ate
- Plant – A must-try vegan restaurant with incredibly unique and delicious dishes. The cheese plate and any of the desserts are must gets! Also incredible are the non-alcoholic sodas!
- Tupelo Honey Cafe – We went here for breakfast and enjoyed our meal. This was a pretty popular place at all times of day, so I’d say it’s a safe bet for any meal!
- Stable Cafe (at the Biltmore Estate) – We were starving by the time we sat down for lunch here. We ordered two salads and the warm pimento cheese dip (A MUST!), and that kept us full until dinner time.
- Strada – Another popular place in downtown. I’d say that the food was good but not great, minus the arancini balls. Those were really good!
- Early Girl Eatery – We were here for breakfast on our last day, and really enjoyed our food. I got the spinach and potato cakes with tomato gravy and the whole plate was delicious!
And that’s the recap! We had a really fun and relaxing time in Asheville. Until next time…!
