Visiting Asheville, North Carolina

This past weekend, Tyler and I packed up our bags to head out east to Asheville, North Carolina for a family wedding. The quaint town of Asheville features winding streets, historic buildings, the epic Biltmore Estate, breweries, wineries, the Biltmore Village shopping area, picturesque landscapes, and numerous outdoor activities in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. If you have not visited the area, add it to your list! Here are a few of our favorite pictures and places from visiting Asheville, North Carolina in hopes to inspire a fun weekend getaway.

Exploring the Biltmore Village

At the heart of Asheville is the Biltmore Village, a shopping center that dates back to the 1800’s and has an old world feel. Encompassed within a few blocks are brand name shops, boutiques and local restaurants. We ate lunch at the Village Wayside Bar and Grille, a little eclectic eatery that has the slogan, “slightly dysfunctional people pleasers” and a menu filled with salads and sandwiches. The lush landscaping was a perfect setting to get a couple quick outfit photos.

Colorful Maxi Dress: Dress (Rental option) | Purse | Gold bracelet | Earrings

Exploring Other Areas in Asheville

Standing at the top of the list is the Biltmore Estate. We did not do the tour but were fortunate to see the grounds for the rehearsal dinner at the Antler Barn on the Biltmore Estate. Visiting the barn was like taking a step back in time to the early 1900’s. The grounds were filled with original wagon and farm equipment, insight to the history of the estate and manicured landscapes. Many of the foods for dinner were from the Biltmore Estate and the wines were from the Biltmore Vineyards. It was a true farm-to-table dinner! While we did not see the mansion, many recommended visiting the mansion if you have the time. The grounds pass and tour are expensive but from those that went they felt the cost was well worth the experience.

Blue Embroidered Dress Outfit: Dress (Rental option, Similar) | Pumps | Purse | Gold bracelet | Earrings

Asheville is known for having many breweries in town. We loved visiting Highland Brewery! Choose one type of beer or create a customized flight from four that interest you. Since both Tyler and I have different tastes, his flight was created with a variety of IPAs and differing levels of hops, whereas my flight was largely fruity beers. Our favorite was a stout that was brewed with chocolate, vanilla and blueberry! I am not much of a beer drinker myself, but I loved this experience! They had a relaxing patio and barbecue food truck on site for some delicious grub while we enjoyed the beer.

Floral Maxi Dress: Dress | Purse | Gold bracelet | Earrings

Since Asheville is nestled into the mountains, there are many scenic hikes and drives to be explored in the Asheville region. We chose to hike Graybeard Trail a little ways east of the city for its high reviews. It included a couple small waterfalls and a pathway that shimmered from the quartz mineral content. This trail is one of many in the nearby Pisgah National Forest.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a picturesque drive that winds near Asheville, and features some of the oldest mountains and prettiest waterfalls east of the Rockies. Driving in the Asheville area keep an eye out for wildlife. We came across a bear and her two young cubs, as well as many turkeys!

Other hotspots to mention in Asheville are the many art galleries and the Pinball Museum.

Suggestions Where to Stay in Asheville

If you prefer to stay in a house, we loved our little Beekeeper Cottage in nearby Swannanoa. With three bedrooms and two baths, there was plenty of sleeping space for the five of us. The house is nestled on a country road is surrounded by flowering bushes, large trees and a small herb garden. Fill free time by swaying on the wooden tree swing, lounging on the hammock, reading a book from their mini library or playing a board game. This option also worked well because it had a full kitchen, washer and dryer.

From a hotel standpoint, the Omni Grove Park Inn was superb! Drive past 1920’s mansions to reach the hotel on top of a beautiful overlook. Inside the hotel has an enormous firepace, shops, spa and restaurants. Enjoy a meal with one of the best views in town as it looks over the Asheville skyline. Brunch is a personal favorite with the Omni’s “Art of Eating” experience. From homemade French toast with raspberry compote, to an omelet bar, fresh baked goods section and some of the best corned beef hash in town, this meal was one of the best brunches I have ever eaten!

Pink Dress Outfit: Lilly Pulitzer, last season (Similar here and navy option) | Sandals | Purse | Gold bracelet | Earrings

And if you want the full Biltmore experience, there are a few luxury lodging options on the estate that are available. I imagine this would be a one-of-a-kind experience since there is everything from the mansion tour to farm, barn, gardens and winery on site.

Pictures From An Asheville Wedding

I was so excited to celebrate Tyler’s sweet cousin getting married. Every detail was exquisite. Their wedding took place in All Souls Cathedral, an intimate, historic church built by George Vanderbilt. Following the ceremony, the reception was in a nearby venue downtown. From someone who loves fresh flowers, I could not stop admiring the fresh flower wall and hanging floral display that spanned the course over the bridal party table.

Purple Ball Gown: Gown Rental | Purse

All the whimsical details and friendly people had our weekend in Asheville feeling like it was straight out of a fairy tale. If you have any favorite things about visiting Asheville, North Carolina that I left off, let me know in the comments below! I am sure we will be back someday and would love to hear!

Live your life joyfully so,

Ashley

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