Asheville Has Range

Around every corner, or rather, every twist of the riverbend, there’s a stunning Asheville vista to discover. From the rolling hills of the legendary Biltmore Estate to the aptly named Blue Ridge Mountains (distinguished by the hazy hue they take on when the sun hits the clouds just right), plentiful sights abound in this North Carolina haven. 

It’s a city so alluring that its minor league baseball team has carried the “Tourists” moniker on and off for nearly a century.  And yet, Asheville feels anything but overrun by tourists. Perhaps because there’s no shortage of delights, both natural and gastronomical.

Asheville offers space for everybody, whether you crave a sunny trail hike, a fresh craft beer, a glimpse at a colorful mural, or a blend of each.

On a recent five-day sprint across the region, I discovered a near-perfect alchemy between the gorgeous great outdoors, culinary delights, and leisurely comforts closer to home, like a fresh Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA, a fine dram of American single malt, a carefully selected cigar, or a stroll through the lush hills of The Biltmore. 

The multitude of options makes perfect sense. Asheville has proven itself a transient sort of city. It has been a haven for traveling artists and musicians for decades. And it still is today. The River North Arts District especially. Every step in the area is a constant reminder that even a red brick building facade can serve as a canvas. 

Put it all together, and a symphony of variety swells in grandiose fashion, especially at the Biltmore Estate (more on that shortly). And while that historic house might be one of the region’s defining experiences, it’s clear that the city attracts a diverse demographic, from history buffs to hiking enthusiasts and even leaf peepers in autumn. 

Particularly notable is the city’s resiliency, helping the region at large roar back to life close to two years after Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina. It’s a frequent and necessary topic of conversation, but the city looks vibrant and restored, rather than blighted. Band together Asheville has done, and that’s an understatement.

There is perhaps no place better-suited to immerse yourself in Asheville’s idyllic natural beauty than with a stay just a short drive from the city at the recently opened AutoCamp Asheville. It’s as perfect an encapsulation of the rustic yet luxurious heart of the area as any. 

Situated alongside the French Broad River, Autocamp takes the classic Airstream trailer and turns it into a luxe mini-camping site, complete with a fire pit and fire starter kit for the city dweller among us.

These revamped trailers, available in multiple sizes based on your party, are even outfitted with a flat-screen television and Bluetooth capability. Not that you’ll want to spend all that much time inside when the promise of Asheville exploration awaits.

Sweeping riverside views proved impossibly memorable, and a well-appointed General Store and Kitchen within the AutoCamp Clubhouse gave me plenty of food options.

I personally relished the chance to kick back in an Adirondack chair and sip a fresh local Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA on the clubhouse porch, starry skies well within view. 

One thing is almost immediately clear about Asheville. In the “Land of the Sky,” there’s plenty within your reach mere moments away. Like a lovely, scenic Blue Ridge Mountain drive led by Hike Bike Kayak Asheville.

It isn’t just Asheville proper that’s buzzing. The nearby towns of Weaverville and Black Mountain are equally charming. Tucked among the region’s striking topography, both are bursting with art galleries, quaint boutiques, and farm-to-table dining, thanks to the likes of Weaverville Italian-American bistro Glass Onion. 

Over in Black Mountain, Hell or High Water (which opened in spite of Hurricane Helene in 2024) blends farm-to-table offerings with remarkable meat from its butcher shop, while hotspots like Mountain Nest Gallery offer vibrant art authentic to the region.

The cornucopia of Asheville delights winds its way to and from the heart of the city, out to Black Mountain’s Oak and Grist Distilling Company and back into town. While North Carolina isn’t quite the heart of the whiskey industry (that’d be Kentucky, of course), Oak and Grist is carving out a distinct space for itself in the burgeoning category of American Single Malt.

Under the tutelage of founding partner and Scotch industry veteran Edwin Dodson, head distiller and co-founder William Goldberg and his lean-but-mighty team carefully craft everything from a sumptuous rum cask-finished American Single Malt to an authentic genever spirit. 

If you’ve had your fill (responsibly) of Oak and Grist, perhaps you’re in the mood for something with a more crisp, sudsy disposition. Keep your eyes peeled across AVL for Wicked Weed tap handles aplenty. It’s advised, even mandatory (at least according to me) that you order a fresh, local pint. 

Better still would be a visit to the South Slope Brewery District (music to my ears) and the Wicked Weed Funkatorium, where its innovative, mouth-watering, and comprehensive sour beer program takes shape.

So named for King Henry VII’s decree condemning hops, the brewery was once a bootstrap DIY operation, the result of a 2011 partnership between Ryan Guthy, Guthy’s parents, and Walt and Luke Dickinson (Ryan Guthy is now the president of the company).

Wicked Weed’s original brewpub continues to stand proudly near hip music venue The Orange Peel, and it’s not hard for the Wicked Weed team to recall the early days when its Freak of Nature IPA helped put the then-compact brewery on the map. 

A slew of award-winning beers earned medals in quick succession at the lauded Great American Beer Festival and created a domino effect of sorts. Bigger and better beers, continued growth, impressive and expansive operations, and a 2017 acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Think of it like Asheville and Asheville craft beer gone national, yet hops-fueled beer lovers needn’t worry. The quality and attention to detail remains just the same as in the old days, if not more intensive. Its popular Pernicious IPA holds down the fort as the brewery’s flagship IPA, as much a story of Asheville resilience as craft beer innovation.

“It’s not in your face, it’s a very well-rounded, very soft IPA that gives the IPA drinker everything they want … through that R&D and development, we start to originate what we want to be,” said Wicked Weed co-founder Ryan Guthy of the brewery’s journey. “The East Coast can also make great IPAs,” he said over lunch at the brewpub’s patio on a sunny Asheville day.

Undoubtedly, the Wicked Weed patio is as well-appointed a place as any to enjoy a cold one after a day hike across portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Burial Brewing’s Forestry Camp is also a hops lover’s fever dream, modeled like a rustic, woodsy basecamp and serving up immensely distinctive brews like its Surf Wax West Coast IPA. 

Time your visit right, and you might be able to catch an indie rock band of the moment live in concert on the property. 

There are other pursuits that lean more lavish, like an enticing hand-rolled stogie at B&B Tobacconists or a refreshing happy hour cocktail with a jaw-dropping rooftop view at Wildwood Still. Take heed, as the shiso infused roku gin-and-yuzu-driven Pardon My French comes highly recommended at the Moxy rooftop haven. 

And for those who seek out an exceptionally great dive bar, the Asheville Yacht Club warrants a mention. No, it’s not on the water, and no, you can’t dock your boat there. What you can do instead is belly up to a lively bar scene under the watchful eye of a skull-and-bones flag.

As if saving the best for last, the Biltmore Estate casts a memorable, luxurious, and historical shadow over the region. 

Mention that you’ve got a visit to Asheville in the works, and most would argue that visiting its legendary 8,000 acres worth of grounds is nearly mandatory. The thing is, those people are absolutely correct. Ultimately a study in both conservation and innovative forestry techniques, George Washington Vanderbilt fell in love with the region in the 1880s, buying up swaths of land and eventually enlisting Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design its gardens and grounds. 

Nowadays, Antler Hill Village within the estate recreates the historic charm of the Biltmore in its early days, with luxe dining and libations available at the Biltmore Bistro and the Biltmore’s own winery.

A visit to the Biltmore Estate is awash in history. It’s showcased in never-before-seen fashion through immersive outdoor evening experience Luminere, part light show and partly a lesson in the heritage of the property, all cast on the front facade of the famed mansion. Think of it like a Disney World-level production, on display now until mid-October. 

A day at the Biltmore and its rolling hills calls for much-needed sustenance, which proves remarkably easy to find at charming farm-to-table outpost The Corner Kitchen. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dined there, a distinct point of pride for the staff. And pro tip, the Southern Fried Cornmeal Oysters are otherworldly. 

And to rest your weary bones afterwards, look to the rustic-yet-sumptuous trappings of the Grand Bohemian Lodge, a rugged, ultra-premium ode to the grand American hunting lodge. 

As you drift off to sleep surrounded by classic paintings of Asheville foliage and wildlife, you already might find yourself dreaming of another visit to one of the most charming parts of the country.