Quick Little Getaway to Asheville

If you live in/near Atlanta like myself, Asheville is one of those must see cities that you can make a quick weekend trip out of. Only 3ish hours away from Atlanta (straight up I-85) makes the drive easy and short! 

My fiance and I took a day and went to explore some of the local gems and hot spots that Asheville offers. See below for some great rec's, friends!

FOOD

- 12 Bones BBQ
- French Broad Chocolate Lounge

- Mamacita's

- Local Provisions

- Wicked Weed
-Tupelo Honey

-The Junction

-Thirsty Monk (drinks too!)

DRINKS

- Wedge Brewery
-Green Man Brewing

-High Wire Brewery

-Wicked Weed Brewing Pub

-Funkatorium

-New Belgium

-Sierra Nevada

There are tons more breweries (like 25)! Let's just say there is a lot of beer flowing through this mountain town.

If you head downtown, you will stumble upon some fun stores, such as record shops, hippie like retail stores, and a fun 50's diner type of store/restaurant where you can get ice cream while sitting on some nostalgic bar stools. You will also find some drifters/musicians playing music on the streets... that is a given.

Known for their eclectic style, Asheville also offers a River Arts District right on the outskirts of downtown. This area is full of so much graffiti and wall art that really shows the vibe that Asheville radiates. If you're in town, you need to experience this!

Although our 3rd trip together, this time we went to 12 Bones BBQ in the Arts District, then set out to explore this area more and see all of the art! We also went to New Belgium (v cool), Green Man Brewing and then Wicked Weed for one last flight and dinner. 

Some memorable takeaways:

The views New Belgium offered in their tasting room. / Green Man Brewing's roof top bar, piles of rocks used for stacking, and board games. / Wicked Weed's newest beer 'Rose Gold' - so good we took some home in a growler. The 'Wicked Burger' there is also amazing; complete with apple chutney and potato chips on the burger. / Of course, the city's bright colors and individual style of art!

Some highlight pictures are below:

There you have it, friends! So much fun packed into one day. Opt to get outside or in your car and find a town near you to explore. Cheers!

.....And if you're still interested, I wanted to write a little more about our trip home. Keep scrolling.....

After our Asheville hangs, we drove to Cherokee where we stayed at Harrah's (fiance's deal... not mine)! But the resort has a Starbucks AND Dunkin Donuts so I was good. We stayed the night, lost money gambling, and enjoyed the nice amenities. The next day we headed home, but made some fun stops along the way.

Driving into Georgia from North Carolina, you will stumble upon a small restaurant near the state line called Cupboard Cafe. You just may miss it as it isn't the most glamorous building, but oh man... talk about one of the most Southern places (in the best way). Definitely the type of place that makes me swell with happiness that I was born and raised here. The kind of place where unsweet tea is unheard of, and their sausage is so local that the pasture 1/4 mile up the way sources it. Guys, stop here if you're driving on hwy 441!

So cute.

So southern. (There's that local sausage!)

Heading into Rabun County, we wanted to stop at the Wander North Georgia store in downtown Clayton. We follow them on Instagram and are hooked! They make you realize how much is out there to see and explore in North Georgia which simply just makes me happy! Just like their IG account, their store did not disappoint. It was so cute and had all the things you would need for your next camping or hiking trek.

And yes, there's wall art inside and games to play! They've done it right with their set-up y'all.

We also drove up to Lake Burton and admired the pretty mountain and water views, as well as the cutest lake homes. We then had to head home to the dreaded Atlanta traffic to pick up our pup! The day before was when the bridge collapsed on I-85, so that was a real treat to come home to.

All in all, this trip was a success and much needed. If you have any questions about North Georgia or Asheville, leave me a message in the comments and we'll chat!

xo, Nicole