Guidebook for Asheville
Food Scene
Asaka Japanese Cuisine
801 Biltmore AveQuick and affordable Japanese food
Friendly and affordable Mexican food with good portion sizes. Menu is flexible enough to eat cheap or go all out.
8 locals recommend
La Carreta
1435 Merrimon AveFriendly and affordable Mexican food with good portion sizes. Menu is flexible enough to eat cheap or go all out.
La Carreta
1435 Merrimon AveSame as the Hendersonville Rd / South Asheville location
Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdSame great food as the West Asheville location....but closer!
Just awesome burger with locally source ingredients in most of their menu offerings.
151 locals recommend
Farm Burger Asheville
10 Patton AveJust awesome burger with locally source ingredients in most of their menu offerings.
Our go to breakfast place....cause they always have breakfast and pretty doggone affordable too!
10 locals recommend
Waffle House
172 Weaver BlvdOur go to breakfast place....cause they always have breakfast and pretty doggone affordable too!
Iconic Blue Ridge Parkway views, great food, and a fantastic drive getting there! Arrive early since lines get long quickly during weekends and peak summer days...they don't take reservations. Please note this is a SEASONAL restaurant.
22 locals recommend
Pisgah Inn Observation Deck
Iconic Blue Ridge Parkway views, great food, and a fantastic drive getting there! Arrive early since lines get long quickly during weekends and peak summer days...they don't take reservations. Please note this is a SEASONAL restaurant.
Like variety?? Try their lunch buffet...good way to try different types of Indian food without committing to a specific plate off the menu.
191 locals recommend
Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington AveLike variety?? Try their lunch buffet...good way to try different types of Indian food without committing to a specific plate off the menu.
Hey...this is the ice cream served at many downtown shops/restaurants and Biltmore Estate. Beware the portion sizes....because it is such a satisfying ice cream!!
73 locals recommend
Ultimate Ice Cream Company
195 Charlotte StHey...this is the ice cream served at many downtown shops/restaurants and Biltmore Estate. Beware the portion sizes....because it is such a satisfying ice cream!!
Local Asheville chain serving Mexican style (quick service similar to Moe's) food.
15 locals recommend
Neo Burrito
1341 Parkwood RdLocal Asheville chain serving Mexican style (quick service similar to Moe's) food.
Total West Asheville vibe with great food wrapped into one. Cool repurposing of former old service station into a restaurant.
137 locals recommend
Universal Joint
784 Haywood RdTotal West Asheville vibe with great food wrapped into one. Cool repurposing of former old service station into a restaurant.
Great place to catch lunch any day of the week. A little different but not really overly touristy....good food and great atmosphere. Close to Pack Square Park
39 locals recommend
Daphne at Twisted Laurel
130 College StGreat place to catch lunch any day of the week. A little different but not really overly touristy....good food and great atmosphere. Close to Pack Square Park
Chocolate!!! Oh yes, and ice cream and many other just wonder goodies!! Definitely a place to stop by!
363 locals recommend
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareChocolate!!! Oh yes, and ice cream and many other just wonder goodies!! Definitely a place to stop by!
Great BBQ AND they support our local elementary school! Monday nights kids eat free with adult purchase.
76 locals recommend
Moe's Original Bar B Que
4 Sweeten Creek RdGreat BBQ AND they support our local elementary school! Monday nights kids eat free with adult purchase.
Parks & Nature
This is THE Parkway visitor center, get your National Passport book stamped here and get on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail while parked.
226 locals recommend
Blue ridge Parkway Visitor Center
195 Hemphill Knob RdThis is THE Parkway visitor center, get your National Passport book stamped here and get on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail while parked.
Close to Asheville with loads of mountain bike and hiking trails. Just 15 or so minutes away....
66 locals recommend
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Close to Asheville with loads of mountain bike and hiking trails. Just 15 or so minutes away....
A separate portion within Bent Creek Experimental Forest, fee to access via car but you can walk or bike in from the Bent Creek. Beautiful gardens and exhibits throughout the year.
582 locals recommend
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayA separate portion within Bent Creek Experimental Forest, fee to access via car but you can walk or bike in from the Bent Creek. Beautiful gardens and exhibits throughout the year.
Visit the highest peak in the East (of Mississippi River). Accessed from Asheville via the Blue Ridge Parkway (northbound). Visitor center and variety of hiking trails abound.
414 locals recommend
Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 NC-128Visit the highest peak in the East (of Mississippi River). Accessed from Asheville via the Blue Ridge Parkway (northbound). Visitor center and variety of hiking trails abound.
Local City park with a portion of the Urban Trail passing through. Look for monuments to past local leaders. Summer time fills the park with a continuous stream of events as well as "Splasheville" water feature for the kids.
95 locals recommend
Pack Square
80 Court PlazaLocal City park with a portion of the Urban Trail passing through. Look for monuments to past local leaders. Summer time fills the park with a continuous stream of events as well as "Splasheville" water feature for the kids.
Frisbee golf and mountain bike trails in a local City park on northwest side of town.
34 locals recommend
Richmond Hill Park
300 Richmond Hill DrFrisbee golf and mountain bike trails in a local City park on northwest side of town.
Beautiful State Park southwest of the Asheville area with great hiking trails and scenic vistas!
107 locals recommend
Gorges State Park
976 Grassy Ridge RdBeautiful State Park southwest of the Asheville area with great hiking trails and scenic vistas!
Access to three main waterfalls via multiple hiking trails. Just west of Hendersonville and Brevard, NC. A limited time of year sees a rare lightning bug which flashes a blue color.
624 locals recommend
Dupont State Forest
Staton RoadAccess to three main waterfalls via multiple hiking trails. Just west of Hendersonville and Brevard, NC. A limited time of year sees a rare lightning bug which flashes a blue color.
Iconic foothills mountain park with gift shop, scenic views of mountains and piedmont region, and multiple hiking trail options, one of which leads to Hickory Nut falls. All nestled just above the village of Chimney Rock.
184 locals recommend
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
431 Main StreetIconic foothills mountain park with gift shop, scenic views of mountains and piedmont region, and multiple hiking trail options, one of which leads to Hickory Nut falls. All nestled just above the village of Chimney Rock.
Entertainment & Activities
Asheville's local nature park in East Asheville, just 5-7 minutes away. Great way to see local wildlife and be outdoors especially if weather seems iffy that particular afternoon. Many exhibits are indoors so you can warm up/cool off as needed.
295 locals recommend
WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek RdAsheville's local nature park in East Asheville, just 5-7 minutes away. Great way to see local wildlife and be outdoors especially if weather seems iffy that particular afternoon. Many exhibits are indoors so you can warm up/cool off as needed.
AMC River Hills 10
121 River Hills RdGo so a movie starting between 4pm to 5:30 each day and SAVE BIG!!
Sightseeing
See City of Asheville City Hall (art deco) and the adjacent Buncombe County Court House (neo-classical) built just prior to the Great Depression.
Court Plaza
Court PlazaSee City of Asheville City Hall (art deco) and the adjacent Buncombe County Court House (neo-classical) built just prior to the Great Depression.
Mixture of restaurants and shopping in historic building. One of the largest buildings downtown and must see architecture inside and out.
203 locals recommend
Grove Arcade
1 Page AveMixture of restaurants and shopping in historic building. One of the largest buildings downtown and must see architecture inside and out.
Arts & Culture
See the Flat Iron Building and the "Iron" directly in front of it which is part of the Urban Trail. Take a quick stroll down Wall Street for more shops and restaurants.
Flat Iron Street Art
20 Haywood StSee the Flat Iron Building and the "Iron" directly in front of it which is part of the Urban Trail. Take a quick stroll down Wall Street for more shops and restaurants.
Home of author born in Asheville and who stayed many summers in WNC, and buried here. Most famous novel is Look Homeward Angel.
110 locals recommend
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
52 N Market StHome of author born in Asheville and who stayed many summers in WNC, and buried here. Most famous novel is Look Homeward Angel.
Temporarily relocated onto Biltmore Avenue as the permanent gallery is expanded and renovated on Pack Square.
158 locals recommend
Asheville Art Museum
2 S Pack SquareTemporarily relocated onto Biltmore Avenue as the permanent gallery is expanded and renovated on Pack Square.
Asheville Museum of Science
43 Patton AveScience museum
Essentials
ALDI
480 Swannanoa River RdEfficient and quick shopping with budget friendly priority!
Dollar Tree
109 River Hills RdIt's a dollar store...but maybe you need cheap wrapping paper or gift bags....
Dollar General
800 Fairview RdReally close and just in case you need more variety on essentials.
Shopping
Walmart Supercenter
125 Bleachery BlvdCause you may have left something at home.....