Asheville, NC

Food & Drink

Restaurants & Cafés

• 12 Bones Smokehouse (River Arts District)

• White Duck Taco Shop (Downtown)

• Neng Jr.’s (Filipinx‑Appalachian fusion, West Asheville)

• The Admiral (small‑plates bistro, West Asheville)

• Wild Ginger (Vietnamese, West Asheville)

• Bull & Beggar (brasserie, River Arts District)

• Limones (Latin‑inspired, downtown)

• Five Points Restaurant (classic diner breakfast, north of downtown)
• Ultra Coffeebar (RAD café)
• Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop (retro lunch spot, Brevard)

Deserts & Bakeries

• French Broad Chocolate Lounge (desserts, downtown)

• Sunshine Sammies (gourmet ice‑cream sandwiches, downtown)

• Hole Doughnuts (West Asheville)
• OWL Bakery (artisan pastries, West Asheville)

Cocktails

• The Golden Pineapple (cocktail bar, West Asheville)

Breweries

• Wicked Weed Funkatorium (sours brewery + kitchen, South Slope)

• Burial Beer Co. (brewery + kitchen, South Slope)

• Highland Brewing (east Asheville; taproom with food trucks/kitchen)

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom (Mills River)
• Turgua Brewing (Fairview)
• Wedge Brewing Co. (brewery with food trucks, River Arts District)

Hikes / Walks

• Catawba Falls Trail – 3 mi RT (or 3.5‑mi loop), moderate. Leads to a 100‑ft cascade in Pisgah NF; lower trail and new footbridges are open, but the upper‑falls platform/Wildflower spur remain closed for repairs.

• Daniel Ridge Loop Trail – 4‑mi moderate loop near Brevard with the 150‑ft Daniel Ridge Falls (aka Tom’s Spring Falls); trail is fully open post‑Helene.

• Moore Cove Falls Trail – 1.4‑mi easy out‑and‑back in Pisgah, ending at a 50‑ft falls you can walk behind; reopened and considered family‑friendly.

• Rainbow Falls Trail (Gorges State Park) – 2.5‑mi moderate RT to a 125‑ft free‑fall waterfall; the park and trail reopened on Nov 1 and are now open.

• Graveyard Fields Loop (Lower & Upper Falls) – 3.5‑mi moderate loop off the Blue Ridge Parkway with two waterfalls, high‑elevation meadows, and summer blueberries; trailhead is open, but some Parkway sections closer to Asheville remain closed, so check detours.

• Glassy Mountain Trail (Carl Sandburg Home NHS) – 1.3 mi one‑way (2.6 mi RT), moderately steep; climbs from the historic farm to sweeping summit views. The site’s trail network has reopened.

• Asheville Botanical Gardens Loop – 0.5‑mi easy urban loop showcasing native plants and a creek; garden trails reopened after Helene, though some cleanup continues.

Arts & Crafts

• Explore the River Arts District – wander working studios, watch pottery or “make‑your‑own” glass ornaments at the North Carolina Glass Center. 
  
• Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild) – browse galleries of Appalachian craft and catch free daily artist demonstrations on the Blue Ridge Parkway (open 10 a.m.–5 p.m.). 

Scenic Drives & Viewpoints

• Blue Ridge Parkway drive (US‑276 ↔ NC‑151 segment) – a crowd‑light stretch reopened after Helene; gives access to overlooks such as Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam. 
  

History

• Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site – tour the poet’s farmhouse, visit the goat farm, or stroll the gentle Glassy Mountain path; most grounds reopened in December 2024.
• Thomas Wolfe Memorial – guided house museum downtown; listed by NC DNCR as OPEN for visitors during recovery.