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Caption: KYOTO North Carolina Asheville
Video of Citizen Vinyl
Caption: Vinyl is big throughout Asheville, and especially at this shop and community center. A local singer/songwriter took over the historic Citizen Times newspaper building downtown, transforming it into a vinyl pressing facility, a recording studio, a farm-to-table cafe and horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar, and a record shop. Bartenders curate the daily tunes, playing both A and B sides of their extensive record collection. Leather couches and communal work tables placed throughout the bright, airy space let digital nomads do what they do best. More things to do in Asheville.
Video of plēb urban winery
Caption: The craft beer scene may be very strong in Asheville, but don’t for a second believe that’s the only game in town. Plēb combines brewery vibes with their own wines, made primarily from local grapes. Order a flight of small-batch varietals — reds, whites, roses, or Old and New Classics — and don’t be shy about bringing a gang. There’s room in the warehouse for everyone to spread out and settle in.
Video of Looking Glass Falls
Caption: The historic Blue Ridge Parkway route winds through North Carolina and Virginia through the southern and central Appalachian Mountains. This road can be whatever you need it to be: a quick and easy respite from the highway for a relaxing nature hit at the many scenic overlooks, or a slow and deeper exploration of the many waterfalls, streams, lakes, gardens, and trails throughout.
Video of Biltmore
Caption: George Vanderbilt’s Gilded Age home on 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the largest residence in America — at a staggering 175,000 square feet. You can visit, tour, dine, stroll the gardens, and even spend the night. (You’ll definitely need a full day.) There are playgrounds, horseback riding trails, seasonal events and museum-worthy exhibitions, and a whole host of activities for kids, making it a good destination any time of year. More things to do in Asheville.
Video of Battery Park Book Exchange
Caption: Books and wine are a historically perfect pair, and you can find plenty of both on offer at this funky and elegant used bookstore and champagne bar in the beautiful Grove Arcade, just one of many Art Deco gems around Downtown Asheville. Peruse the two floors of shelves, order a cheese plate, and settle in with a newfound treasure. If you’re there when someone is playing live music, all the luckier. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself begging the server to open an outpost in your hometown — and don’t be surprised when they politely refuse.
Video of Applewood Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast
Caption: One of the longest continuously operated bed and breakfasts in the area, now under thoughtful new ownership, is sophisticated and charming, located in a Colonial Revival that was once a former army captain’s residence. Sprawling grounds planted with maple and cherry trees provide a countryside respite that’s just a short walk from downtown Asheville. A multi-million-dollar renovation of the six-room inn completed in 2021 made way for a dream chef’s kitchen for special dinners and events, an eclectic art collection, and the restoration of fireplaces, balconies, and high-end decorative details that make each room sing.
Picture of Fleetwood's
Caption: Feeling spontaneous? Then head to West Asheville for this all-ages rock-and-roll venue, dive bar, comedy club, and vintage shop — which happens to also have a Vegas-style wedding chapel. Think neon, kitsch, and no commitment. More fun things to see and do in Asheville.
Video of Cúrate
Caption: The tapas bar that launched the mini Spanish empire in town is helmed by James Beard-nominated chef Katie Buttons and her husband Felix Meana, whose bright, bustling space in a 1920s bus depot on the main drag remains a hot ticket more than a decade after its debut. More things to do in Asheville.
Picture of The Crow & Quill
Caption: Before they let you in here, they’ll ask you to become a member. But if you value a venue that knows its cocktails and has more than 600 whiskeys and 1,000 spirits on offer, you’ll be glad for the benefits that this free membership bequeaths. Claim your perch at the bar to study that dizzying array of drinks, or else settle into the vintage armchairs and sofas, a slightly better vantage point for admiring all the antiques so artfully arranged everywhere. More things to do in Asheville.
Picture of Chai Pani Asheville
Caption: You didn’t think you traveled to the middle of western North Carolina to eat blow-your-mind Indian street food, did you? Well, now that you’re here, take your place in the queue so you can see what the culinary fuss is about, then go home raving about the selection of chaat (“snacks”) like corn bhel (a vegan power mix) and aloo tiki chaat (crispy potato fritters served on garbanzo stew), followed by a uttapam (crepe) or thali (a try-everything combo platter). More places to try in Asheville.