Ashville is a popular destination. I’ll provide travel tips and ideas to make your Ashville a better experience. Located in west-central North Carolina, Ashville is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the banks of the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. It is a stone throw’s away from the Tennesse border and is just a little over an hour away from the Great Smokies National Park. Ashville, home to over 94,000 people, is a moderate-sized city with big-city conveniences and a small-town feel. Its location makes it the ideal place to visit for outdoor types, while the city itself is a draw even for indoor types.
Accommodation
Hotel accommodation is readily available in the city center, ranging from $100+ to over $600/night (Oct 2022). Options also include bed and breakfasts, camping grounds (including RVs), and short-term rentals in and round the city. Plan to book accommodation early due to destination popularity. Expect higher prices in the Fall (changing of the leaves), Christmas time (Biltmore celebrations) and Spring (wildflower season). Downtown hotels typically have parking, even though you may have to pay a fee. I stayed at the Aloft hotel and had to use the adjacent city-run parking lot. I had to scan my credit card for entry initially. Check-in came with a parking ticket to use for the duration of the stay.
Getting Around
The city is quite compact and if you’re of average fitness, you should be able to walk get around town fairly easily. There are just a few steep streets to watch out for. If you are driving, expect limited street parking, particularly during the day. Hourly parking decks are available to offset that problem. The city also boasts buses, taxis and ride-shares.
Things To Do
Due to location, Ashville is a draw for outdoor activity. Hiking is a major one. Trails range from easy to difficult in a variety of distances. I typically self-guide when I hike. However, on this trip, I discovered some outdoor outfitters the provide guided tours and decided to give them a try Sunset And Scenic Hikes in Ashville – HER//Excursions (cloudwaysapps.com). Water sports, including fishing and water rafting, are just a few of the outdoor activities that can also be done around Ashville.
A vibrant, and hip town, Ashville attracts a lot of artists. Art lovers can avail themselves to the pleasures offered by the River Arts District. There you will find canvas, wood, glass, stonework, earthenware designs of every shape and color, designed to suit every taste and budget. The Folk Center, located just outside of downtown, is another place to explore and buy art. Shopping can also be found right in the heart of downtown. One can buy clothes and bags from unique boutiques or purchase specially crafted beer to artisan chocolates.
There are also bus, ghost and city tours. I enjoyed an informative tour of the Burton Street Neighborhood via Tours – Hood Huggers International, a Black-owned tour company that provides a history of a Black neighborhood in Ashville. The company is also active in preserving Ashville sites significant to the community even as it runs a community garden. The tour company also offers tours of Eagle Street (downtown) as well as driving tours.
For a different kind of fun, you can visit the Cherokee Casino on Haywood Street. Not least of all, it is a must to take a leisurely, scenic drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the majesty of nature. The drive is easily done and your mind will thank you for it.
Food
The city has a food Ashville Eats – HER//Excursions (cloudwaysapps.com) scene that rivals bigger cities, delighting my foodie heart. Cuisine is local, Southern, international, vegan, vegetarian and everything in-between. The downtown contains a plethora of restaurants, bars and coffee shops that will make it difficult to choose. A few minutes’ drive from downtown will deposit you in neighborhoods providing yet more food choices.
Then there are breweries. It has one of the highest density of breweries anywhere in the United States, earning its moniker of Beer City. Essentially, Ashville is a beer-lover’s haven. There are at least twenty in the immediate downtown area, each brewery showcasing its own unique taste.
Safety
I walked all over town, including to and from the River Arts District 1.3 miles away from my hotel, without being accosted or feeling unsafe. Everyone I met was very friendly. The hotel’s safety measures included the use of a room key to operate the elevator and this also went a great way to making me feel safe.
General
Ashville does struggle with homelessness, and you will meet enough people begging for money, or sleeping on the streets as you walk around town. That said, I did not experience or witness any intrusion or aggressiveness.