Best Last Minute Plans for Your Trip to Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
- Ian Wasserman
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
I believe travel is one of life’s great joys. See new sights. Taste new things. Meet strange and new people, and come away with a refreshed appreciation for the great mysteries of existence.
For all these benefits, I don’t mind a little planning. Indeed, you could say over the years I’ve been planning trips not just for myself, but for the many others who read this blog. But let's face the facts: there’s no need to overcomplicate these things. Some people just want to hit the ground running, and I can respect that.
So if you’re ready for some no-fuss, no-timed entry, minimum-preparation things to do in Asheville, then read on and discover five of the best ways to maximize your time spent in this great mountain town.
The old tried and true. Asheville is, of course, best-known for it's outdoors. And if you’re looking to go on a hike, I would heartily encourage you. Be it spring, fall, summer, or even winter, there’s some drop-dead gorgeous spots to trek on up to.
But are these kinds of hikes really “last minute” material? I don’t think so. You have to remember to pack hiking shoes, for one thing. For another, you got to drive on out there, and if you’re running on a tight schedule, there simply may not be enough time.
Fortunately, you can get a proper dose of Asheville’s outdoors without heading too far afield. The NC Arboretum is only fifteen minutes away from downtown, and for twenty bucks per car, you gain access to acres and acres of trails suitable for all skill levels, from the winding Hard Times to a gentle stroll through the upper gardens.
Hours: 8am to 9pm, every day of the week.
Downtown, of course, is a must-see on your visit to Asheville. There’s vintage shopping, stellar-people watching, and the downright best restaurants and cafes in town. Yet while I’ve done my best to help one and all navigate downtown Asheville, I think things could be simplified a little bit more.
The Grove Arcade, Asheville’s one-and-only historic indoor shopping center, takes all the best things to do in downtown, and places them under one roof, making it the perfect destination even in inclement weather.
Park in the Wall Street garage just across the street, and get to exploring. Some of my favorite shops include the Battery Park Book Exchange, Spicewalla, and Enter the Earth, all great places to go gift-shopping or find some memorabilia from your trip to Asheville. As for restaurants, I’m partial to Huli Sue’s and Carmel’s, serving Hawaiian barbecue and Southern fusion respectively.
Once you’re through exploring the Arcade, if you decide to head out into the wilds of downtown, you’re perfectly situated. Head north to discover the Asheville Pinball Museum and the Basilica of St. Lawrence. To the east: more shopping and restaurants. To the south you’ll find the well-named South Slope, Asheville’s famous brewery district.
Hours: 9am to 7pm, every day.
Since we’re speaking of the South Slope, it might as well be our next stop. Take a stroll down Coxe Avenue down from downtown proper, and you’ll find brewery after brewery, including some of the most famous venues and bars in all of Asheville, such as Asheville Yards, the Wicked Weed Funkatorium, and Ben’s Tune-Up.
The options can be overwhelming, but if you’re looking for a genuine bar-crawl, then there’s no better place to do it. On the other hand, if all you need is a simple drink, some good energy, and an all-around bona-fide taste of Asheville’s brew-scene, then I suggest Burial Beer, all the way at the bottom of the South Slope.
They’ve got indoor seating, outdoor seating, bar-bites, and awesome live music at Eulogy next door. So no matter whether you’re after a one-stop look at Asheville’s breweries, or the perfect place to start off a night on the South Slope, Burial Beer’s the choice for you.
Hours: Noon to 10pm. Open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Like the South Slope, the sheer variety of what Asheville’s River Arts District has to offer can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Hundreds of galleries and workshops, a dozen coffee houses, all spread out over an revitalized industrial quarter. And although it's all walkable, it isn’t quite as easy to navigate as downtown or west Asheville.
To resolve this issue, I recommend a visit to Marquee. Like the Grove Arcade, it’s a kind of condensed representation of what this funky part of town has got going on. In short, Marquee is the River Art’s District largest and most diverse gallery, featuring artists working in every medium you can imagine.
And if you want to extend your expedition to the RAD post-Marquee, then you’re in luck. Its surrounded by a slew of other studios, including Foundation, Level 42 Gallery, and Riverview Station.
Hours: 11am to 6pm, every day of the week.
Perhaps my favorite recommendation on this list, I’ve been hanging out in west Asheville’s Dobra Tearoom ever since my sister introduced it to me, more than a decade ago. Now I will say, this destination requires just a modicum of planning-ahead; the weekends can get pretty busy. But if you stop in for some afternoon tea on a weekday, then it should be no-sweat.
All that’s left to do is pull up a floor-cushion (or a real chair, if you prefer) and enjoy some soothing tea, good company, and delectable pastries, many of them gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
For parking, I recommend looking for a spot on the street, in the paid lot across the road, or—and I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you this—sometimes I just park in the free lot outside rEvolve vintage clothing, only a couple storefronts away. Maybe check out their wares on your way out; it’s the least you could do.
Hours: 10am to 7pm, every day.
Businesses Mentioned
NC Arboretum
(828)-665-2492
20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
Grove Arcade
(828)-252-7799
1 Page Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Burial Beer
40 Collier Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Marquee
(828)-989-1069
36 Foundy St, Asheville, NC 28801
Dobra Tea (West)
(828)-505-4307
707 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
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