How to Spend 3 Days in Asheville, NC

Asheville is a quirky city with a unique vibe and charm. We loved its free spirit, southern hospitality, and easy access to hiking and nature exploration.

In the heart of the Blue Ridge moutains, Asheville is located at the confluence of two rivers – the French Broad and the Swannanoa. Its higher elevation makes it noticeably cooler than the rest of the region. The town is charming any time of the year, but in our opinion, the best times to visit are the spring and fall.

We were truly charmed by Asheville and highly recommend visiting.

Where to stay in Asheville

Asheville offers a variety of accommodations, from hotels to many Airbnbs. Choosing where to stay will depend on your budget and interests. Most everything you would want to do in and around town will be an easy drive away. Here are a few recommendations from us:

• The Inn at the Biltmore – a bit on the expensive side, this hotel offers a stay in a beautiful setting. It is located on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, right next to the vineyards. The rooms and suites are luxurious and comfortable, the views from your room are stunning, and there is a certain tranquility that makes this place ideal if you want to relax and enjoy nature while still being close to Asheville. We loved our stay at the Inn at Biltmore and highly recommend it.
• The Village Hotel at the Biltmore – a bit better priced, the Village hotel at the Biltmore is another good option. It is located in Antler Hill Village, still on the estate’s grounds but in a slightly busier part. Dining, winery tours, excellent ice cream and more are just a walk away from this hotel.
• AC Hotel by Marriott – if you prefer to stay in downtown Asheville, this hotel is an excellent choice, not just because of its location but also because it has a great rooftop bar that offers unbelievable views of the city. The accommodations are also very comfortable, and the hotel feels fresh and hip.

Day 1 in Asheville

Spend a full day at the Biltmore Estate

Start your visit to Ashville at the historic Biltmore Estate. A summer home of the Vanderbilt family, the huge castle-like house remains the largest single-family owned property in the United States. Started in 1889 and finished in 1895, the estate has a rich history that is preserved and continuously restored by the generations of Vanderbilt family members. The home and its grounds are open to the public and you can spend a full day exploring and enjoying this magnificent property.

People from around the world come to the Biltmore, so you can expect plenty of fellow visitors. We recommend that you buy your tickets online here in order to avoid waiting onsite. Different packages are available based on your interest. We recommend visiting the house, gardens, and winery.

Start at the Biltmore house

Learn about America’s Gilded Age and the mansions built by some of the most prominent families. Follow the story of the Vanderbilts and how the estate has changed over the years.

You will have a choice between the self-audio guided tour and an expert-guided tour. We recommend that you skip the expert-guided tour. While you will get to see parts of the home that are not available to the general public (e.g., maids’ quarters, maintenance area and more), we did not find that the extra options were worth the price of the guided tour. The audio guide and the areas included in the general admission are plenty for most people.

Visit the Biltmore gardens

The Biltmore gardens are beautiful at any time of the year. The grounds are replanted with seasonal flowers and are a must-see on your visit. It was here that the first forestry education program in the US was established in 1898.

You can visit the gardens as part of your general admission, or you can get a discounted ticket which includes free parking and access to the gardens.

Spend time at Antler Hill Village and visit the estate winery

Antler Hill village is about a ten-minute drive from the main estate house. The village is where the Vanderbilt winery is located. Your entrance to the estate includes a complimentary wine tasting. If you enjoy wine, we highly recommend that you take advantage of the wine tasting and be sure to ask which wines are produced using local grapes. Trying them will give you an idea of the local terroir and the flavors reflected in the wine.

Additionally, be sure to try the ice cream at the Creamery. It is made with milk produced on the estate by Jersey cows. It is delicious and a must try. 😋 You can find out more about the history of ice cream making and milk production at the estate here.

Additionally, there are a number of dining options at the village and, if you stay at the Village Inn, you will be able to walk and enjoy a variety of restaurants.

If you have more time at the estate, a number of additional activities are also available, from guided bike rides to horseback riding and more. Here is the full list of activities you can pick from and enjoy.

Day 2 in Asheville

Explore downtown Asheville

The downtown area of Asheville is charming and you will cover it, including breakfast, coffee, and lunch, in about a half a day. A certain mountain vibe can be felt while strolling the streets and breathing in the fresh air. Here are some suggestions on how to spend a morning or afternoon in downtown:

• Get on the hop-on-hop-off trolleys and hear about the history of town from local storytellers.
• Stop by the Grove Arcade – Ashville’s original mall, opened in 1929. Admire the ornate architecture and enjoy eclectic shops and restaurants. Unlike other malls, this one is full of one-of-a-kind stores.
• Explore the many art galleries all around downtown.
• Enjoy various street performances by many local and even international artists who bring their talents to Asheville.
• Visit one or more of the independent bookstores like Malaprops or the Battery Park Book Exchange where you can browse over 10,000 books.
• Visit the Asheville Pinball Museum and play one of the 75 pin ball machines and various classic video games.
• If you are in town on a Friday night, enjoy the Asheville Drum Circle – a local tradition of beating drums. Tourists are welcome to join in.

Enjoy whitewater rafting on the French Broad River

If you have never done whitewater rafting, be sure to try it in Asheville. It is so much fun, and the rapids on the French Broad River are not intense (level 3). You will get wet, but you will also have a lot of fun. We booked rafting with the French Broad Adventures and had a great experience. You can pick a half-day or full-day ride and let the team teach you how to enjoy the river and its rapids. We highly recommend that you go if you are in the area.

You can also book ziplining and canyoneering packages and make it a full day of adventures.

Day 3 in Asheville

Hike to see some beautiful waterfalls

There are a number of waterfalls you can hike to in the Asheville area. You will need a car to get to all of them so plan accordingly. Some of our favorites include High Falls, Laughing Falls, Rainbow Falls and Reems Creek Falls. Additionally, be sure to bring some cash with you as you will have to pay a Park Fee, which you need to leave in an envelope at the entrance of most hiking trails.

You can find a list of waterfalls and hikes, along with distance and difficulty information here.

Hike the Max Patch trail and have a picnic

Stop at a local grocery store and pick up some ingredients for a picnic. Then, head to Max Patch (Max Patch, North Carolina 28743) for an unforgettable hike and view of the Appalachian Mountains. The road to get to Max Patch is narrow and there are a limited number of parking spots, but it sure is a great experience to hike to the top and have a 360-degree view of the mountains. The hike is just 1.5 miles and is fairly easy, and there are plenty of spots for a picnic with a magnificent view. We highly recommend this hike. ❤️

Max Patch is open one hour before sunrise and closes one hour after sunset.

The area is home to many sensitive plants and wildlife so be sure to hike only on the marked trail and take all of your garbage back with you, as there are no places to dispose of it.

Where to drink and eat in Asheville

There are plenty of great options to choose from when it comes to where to dine in Asheville. Here are our favorites:

Breakfast, lunch or just coffee

• The Rhu – a bakery using local ingredients; homemade breads and pastries, locally roasted coffee and excellent teas. Be sure to try the Cruffin – something between a croissant and a muffin. 😋
• Babbets: A New Orleans Coffee House – by far our favorite place for coffee and made-to-order beignets. Super casual and super tasty. 😋

Lunch and dinner

• Wicked Weed Brewing’s Brewpub – a great pub and restaurant serving American fare using locally sourced ingredients. The beers we tried were excellent and the food was super tasty. We also loved the atmosphere of the pub. Wicked Weed also offers brewery tours seven days a week, but you must sign up ahead of time here.
• Luella’s Bar-B-Que – South – a local institution, Luella’s offers smoked meats and homemade sauces as well as local beers. The setting is very unpretentious and the food is super tasty. We loved Luella’s. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way but very much worth the drive.

Dinner and special occasions

• The Bull and Beggar – for a truly special meal, try this restaurant in the River Arts District. Wow, we were really impressed by the quality and creativity of the food and cocktails, as well as by the excellent service. The restaurant is really popular so be sure to make a reservation ahead of visiting.
• Rhubarb – farm-to-table restaurant that we really enjoyed. We had dinner for a special occasion at Rhubarb and we loved it. There was a wide selection of North Carolinian cheeses and a variety of southern-inspired dishes made with local ingredients. We loved the ambiance and our table by the window allowed us to enjoy nice views of downtown Asheville. Service was timely and attentive, despite a full restaurant, and the waiters were very knowledgeable about the dishes and ingredients. Be sure to grab a reservation ahead of time as the restaurant is quite popular.
• The Dining Room at the Biltmore Hotel – if you are staying at the Biltmore Estate, enjoy dinner at this romantic and elegant restaurant. It has been ranked very highly for its food and service for many years. Be sure to reserve a table ahead of time.

What we loved about Asheville

• Super relaxed place to visit; quirky but so much fun
• Beautiful nature all around; excellent hiking
• Excellent food and so many choices
• Historic Biltmore and its grounds – just beautiful
• Touristy but not too touristy
• Friendly people everywhere

What to bring

Asheville is a casual place so, no matter the time of the year, be sure to pack comfortable clothes and shoes, as you will be walking and enjoying the outdoors for much of your time in Asheville. Be sure to bring:

• Layers of clothing as the weather changes a bit in the mountain
• Comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking
• Hiking boots if you plan to do some hiking
• A hat of your choice
• Water shoes if you plan to do whitewater rafting
• Sunscreen always and, if you are visiting in the summer, be sure to bring bug spray
• Sunglasses. Right now, we love this and this pair.
• An umbrella. We like this one for travel, but Amazon has many reasonably priced options.
• Dressing up for a special occasion a bit more on the casual but nice side. For example, you can wear a nice shirt with jeans and a jacket and feel dressed just right. You can of course dress up a bit more if you like, especially if you plan on having a dinner at the Dining Room Restaurant at the Biltmore.

Check out our list of travel essentials on what to take and how to maximize your packing.

In closing, we loved Asheville. It was cool and relaxing, and nature was magnificent. We would love to come back in the late fall to see the leaves changing.

[All pictures taken by the Styled Traveler]

Additional resources and inspirations

Here are some links to additional resources you might find useful and inspirational for your trip to Asheville, North Carolina:

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