Asheville, North Carolina was my home for a year prior to me moving to Lexington, Kentucky. I return to Asheville a few times a year, primarily to go hiking. Every now and then I will go downtown to have dinner and walk around. It’s a very eclectic, thrifty town. Various stores line the streets with merchandise often displayed on racks outside their street front. Most are small businesses rather than franchises. Street musicians work the corners and you can find them collaborating at times. The best time to go to Asheville is in the Spring or the Fall. This visit was in the Winter so it was quiet amidst the somber skies.
The restaurant I chose to dine at was the Tupelo Honey Café. It specializes in Southern Comfort Cuisine. Their kitchen is open, so you can see them cook in front of you. It also contracts with a local brewery to produce their own beers in which they serve on tap. They also make awesome Bloody Marys. I often dine here when in town.
While walking around I noticed two street musicians sharing artistic advice on music and business tips on where they work and what areas are best for garnering attention. I thought that was pretty cool. In a world filled with greed and people wanting more, more, more, here were two musicians just helping each other out. I don’t think I would have witnessed this scene in another city big or small.
Asheville has several small business artisan shops. It also has horses! It offers carriage rides if you would like to go on a horse-drawn tour around town. The architecture alone is worth a ride around town with a brief history of the city.
Asheville is a great town to relax in. If you are seeking accolades and adoration, it would not be your town. If you are seeking to relax and be a part of an aesthetic community then I recommend a visit. The hiking in the surrounding areas is fantastic with lots of waterfalls and small, artistic towns. There is also the Biltmore Estate, which I will be writing about at a later time.
Last modified: April 23, 2020
