forty-two hours in Asheville, North Carolina
Also, why are road trips the absolute best reward for a season of working hard?
After a recent busy season of work, my husband and I hit the road. Because who doesn’t enjoy a road trip after being chained to a desk for the past couple of months?
The first trip we took was to Asheville, North Carolina. This trip was mostly to see Ryan Adams in concert, but the fact that Asheville was experiencing peek autumn colors was an added bonus.
And since we were headed to Asheville for a single event on Saturday night, we were able to spend the rest our time exploring a city I hadn’t visited since high school.
Asheville didn’t disappoint.
We arrived Friday evening, staying in a hotel just outside of the main downtown area. It was the perfect spot for us. We saved money by not staying directly downtown, but we could still walk everywhere, which is always important to us. We love visiting places that are walkable. It’s the best way to truly explore a city.
So after arrival, we set out on foot for downtown. Mike had already decided he wanted to visit a record store (or four), and I, of course, was intent on finding an independent bookstore. Again, Asheville didn’t disappoint.
First stop: Citizen Vinyl
Citizen Vinyl is not just a record store. It is also a record pressing company (a process you can watch behind a large window or get a tour of), a bar, a coffee shop, and a meeting place.
Also… do you see all the plants around the space? Those were all for sale. SIDE NOTE: I need more plants in my life, so I was drawn to the variety of beautiful plants they displayed here.
There was an event going on upstairs in the loft space you see pictured here. But generally, it felt like a hip place to meet up with friends on a Friday afternoon.
And my husband was able to pick up several records.
For Dinner on Friday
The weather was perfect that weekend. We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely dinner on the sidewalk in front of a small restaurant, whose name I can’t remember for the life of me. The many restaurants of downtown had this type of seating available, which made for a lively atmosphere and wonderful people watching.
The Biltmore in October is Perfection
If you’ve never visited the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, you are missing out. We spent a large part of our Saturday touring this beautiful landmark.
And we felt extremely fortunate to visit when we did, because not only were the gardens of the Biltmore blanketed in peak autumn leaves and a gorgeous display of mums in all colors, the staff of the Biltmore had already begun decorating for Christmas.
I know this next picture is a bit crooked and cut off funny, but I was taking photos on my iPhone with my left hand (I’m not left-handed) while holding the audio device to my ear with my right. So, knowing that, it’s a pretty good photo, right?
Their self-guided audio tour with audio is really well done, by the way.
A further note about Christmas at the Biltmore… When we were there on October 15th, there were several Christmas trees, and a few mantles were decorated. I am told that this is because Christmas at the Biltmore is so over-the-top and gorgeous that they begin decorating a month before the official Christmas season begins on November 1
One final note about the Biltmore… I got to see the pool again. Mike thinks this is weird about me, but I am terrified of indoor pools. I’m especially terrified of indoor pools that are in a basement without windows. This pool is one of the reasons.
This pool freaks me out so much that I included it in a few scenes inside Emerge. (Who’s read this series? The first book is free!) Part of the setting of Emerge (a dystopian novel about a deadly pandemic) is set around Asheville and the Biltmore (which is in ruins in these novels). My characters spend time hiding inside a dilapidated Biltmore and at one point face the danger of falling through the floor into the Biltmore swimming pool.
Also, as someone pointed out on Facebook, what are those ropes for? They add to the creepiness, I think.
To get over the frightening basement pool, we headed for the winery for a tasting that we scheduled upon arrival. (If you go, you need to schedule this as soon as you arrive.)
We ate lunch at one of the many restaurants on the grounds. All in all, it was just a lovely day. You can see more photos and videos of our tour of the Biltmore and of Asheville on Instagram.
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
One of my favorite activities in Asheville was dinner on Saturday night before the concert.
We’d been unable to go inside the Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar on Friday because there was a wedding rehearsal dinner going on. The fact that someone had scheduled a special event there told me that this restaurant/book store was a place I wanted to visit.
I just wanted to visit the bookstore; I had no idea what the champagne bar was all about.
Maybe it was because I was denied entrance that made me want to try harder the next night. This might say something about me. I’ll have to think about this.
But we returned Saturday, and it was well worth the wait.
Inside, we discovered a cozy, used book store with a wine and champagne bar (two bars actually, and you could also order beer) and a food menu consisting of various charcuterie boards, paninis, and salads, all served on boards.
You could either grab a glass of wine and wander the book store, sit in one of the cozy spots throughout, or get a table in the bistro portion (inside or outside) and order food along with your wine or champagne.
The Facebook page even claims you can exchange books for champagne. 🍾🥂
We enjoyed perusing the stacks with a glass of wine while we waited for our table, then ordered a couple of charcuterie boards for dinner before the Ryan Adams concert.
To Complete Our Tour of Asheville: the River Arts District
Before we get to the River Arts District, a rant of sorts…
The concert was incredible on Saturday night. Mike and I love Ryan Adams’ music, and it was nice to see him play back in his home town.
I have no photos from it, mainly because it actually irritated me to see just how many people held up their phones to video every song Adams played. I honestly don’t understand how you can enjoy an acoustic concert you came to “listen” to if you’re too busy holding your phone in front of your face the entire time. It’s not like the video or sound will be great quality. I know this makes me sound like a grumpy old lady, but I just didn’t get it. And just like the movie theater, when you are in a dark arena (meant to be dark) so that you could enjoy the entertainment you paid money for, you don’t want the constant light from hundreds of phones distracting you. It’s just rude. End rant.
Bak to the River Arts District… I always say you should leave a town with more to see on the next visit. This ensures you will return to the place you enjoyed. The River Arts District was the item on my “to see” list that I left undone.
We woke early Sunday morning, and after a quick breakfast, I suggested that we at least drive through the River Arts District to see what it’s all about. When you search for a list of “What to do in Asheville,” the River Arts District is almost always on the list.
It is a district of warehouses and various industrial buildings containing art galleries, studios, and restaurants that run along… you guessed it… a river. The problem for us was that not much was open on Sunday morning.
However, across from the area of art studios and galleries was a walking and bike path along the river that crossed over and joined a park. So, Mike and I were able to enjoy the area by getting in a several mile walk in the brisk, autumn air before we began the road trip home.
That was a lot in forty-two hours, right? For me, it was the perfect get away after a busy season of taxes. And I can’t wait to go back to Asheville.
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