HOW TO EXPLORE ASHEVILLE—ONE OF THE ‘COOLEST CITIES IN THE U.S.’

Chris Barlas, the co-owner with his two brothers of a trio of popular restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina—Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill, Cornerstone Restaurant, and Stone Ridge Tavern—says that he wants to tell anyone willing to listen about why  his hometown is “one of the coolest cities in the U.S.”

It’s where he was born and still lives, and he says that he plans to always keep it that way.

“Being here all my life, I’ve seen how Asheville has transformed over the years from being a sleepy little town to a vibrant city with a great dining, craft beer, and arts scene,” Barlas says. “Throw in the gorgeous mountain backdrop and all the outdoor activities, and coming here is a must.”

Barlas, 46, shares his advice for an ideal Asheville escape.

If I was a visitor here, I’d check into… The Foundry [hotel], a former steel mill that has an industrial chic style. The rooms have a hip design, and the bathrooms are big. Eat food with soul here at Benne on Eagle.

The Restoration Hotel is new and has a rooftop where you get great views of the mountains.

The Radical in the River Arts District is a bomb of color. The sunset view from the rooftop is wow.

The top attractions not to miss are… Biltmore Estate was built in the late 19th century as a home for George Washington Vanderbilt. The house is beautiful and historic, and the property is so much fun to explore (think wine tasting, art events, hiking and biking trails). Coming here and seeing the largest home in America is a great way to spend the day

The Omni Grove Park Inn has the best spa I’ve ever been to. Breathtaking views, great massages, and you can see stunning sunsets from the pools.

Then you have small family-owned businesses that give Asheville an old-town charm.

For craft beer, check out… Asheville is the place for craft beer. I remember having my first Highland Beer at Barley’s Pizzeria—Oscar Wong was making Oatmeal Porters in the basement in the ’90s. Today, it’s one of the biggest breweries in town and still the best.

Green Man Brewing is another fantastic place, and Pisgah Brewing has Red Devil Ale and Wicked Weed’s Sours that I love. Burial Beer always has good ales, and Hi-Wire Brewing features comedy shows and drag.

But if you’re not a beer drinker, the Asheville area offers wine and craft cocktail bars, wineries, cideries and distilleries.

Enjoy the outdoors and good hiking at… The Mountain to Sea trail—over 700 miles that shows off our beautiful mountains. It goes all the way to the Outer Banks.

Graveyard Fields was a place where I frequently camped as a kid. The waterfalls are gorgeous, and depending on the time of year, you’ll see fields full of wildflowers and blueberry bushes

Mount Mitchell: There are all sorts of hiking trails here and some beautiful spots to have a picnic. Get to the top, and your reward will be a 360-degree view of the entire landscape.

Bearwallow Mountain feels like you’re in The Sound of Music, and the hike is only 2 miles, so it’s good for new hikers.

Restaurants to put on top of your dining list include… Asheville Proper has delicious small plates and dry-aged steaks. Try the grilled octopus or chef’s tasting to get the full experience.

The Bull and Beggar serves French classics and creative cocktails. Get the cote de boeuf for two and sticky toffee pudding.

Little Pearl is the place for the freshest and best oysters. The staff treats everyone like family and knows what hospitality means.

Salsas is for casual, eclectic, and flavorful Caribbean cuisine. I love going there for the Jamaican spliff rolls, which are stuffed with crab meat, avocado, mole, and this sweet spicy fruit salsa. It’s best paired with a margarita.

For vegetarians, there’s Laughing Seed and Plant, a fine-dining vegan restaurant.

The Japanese smokehouse Ukiah always delivers unique but pleasing flavors with dishes like an addictive mushroom tempura and sea bass skewers with a brown butter ponzu sauce.

Enjoy art at… The River Arts District. It’s the center of the arts scene in Asheville and an area that reflects how much the city has changed over the last decade. More than 200 artists are at work across 22 buildings within a square-mile radius—a living arts neighborhood that’s as walkable as it is interactive.

If you walk around, you’ll see galleries and open artists’ studios where you can just walk in and see them working on everything from glass blowing and pottery to painting and photography. There’s often live music and art demonstrations happening on the streets. You can’t help but get inspired.For a great late-night scene… check out dance parties, drag shows, dive bars, karaoke bars, live music shows, craft cocktails at bars and restaurants with a happening bar scene.

The Golden Pineapple plays host to a weekly Saturday night dance party hosted by local DJs, and Scandals is a fun place to go dancing. Drag shows are plentiful at O. Henry’s and Banks Ave.

2024-03-15T17:29:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd