Four Days Hiking and Eating in Asheville

Mary and I recently spent four glorious days exploring and hiking in beautiful Asheville, NC. It was a much needed break from school and work, and the weather was pretty much perfect! So, here's what we did and my top tips for planning your own trip to Asheville!

Day One - Monday

We arrived in Asheville around 3:30. We didn't know that Asheville was hosting the SoCon basketball tournament so driving around/looking for parking was a bit of a struggle, but we soon discovered lots on Coxe Street and Hilliard Ave that would be our car's home throughout our trip. 

Parking Tip: Though navigating the streets can be tough with all the sharp turns, confusing intersections, and occasional one-ways, parking in Asheville was a dream! Everywhere we parked used the Park Mobile app, and each spot was numbered. Spots were also often reserved at 12 hour stretches for flat fees of $3-4! (Having just received a parking ticket here at home, Asheville parking was 10/10)

Turns out, a fair number of businesses in Asheville are closed on Monday so the bar we initially picked to try (Ben's Tune Up) was closed. We were also pretty overwhelmed by the SoCon crowds, so we ducked into a quiet alley and discovered a gem: Zambra Tapas Bar. Their bar menu is extensive and we positively devoured our cocktails. The bartender was really personable and chatted with us about must-sees in Asheville. Though we didn't try any food, their menu sounded quite yummy. 

Ukiah may be one of the best meals I've ever had, but their lack of Instagram-friendly lighting needs some serious re-thinking. 

Can't Miss Meal: Dinner was at Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse and, no lie, it was one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. I'm talking last meal-worthy. We ordered the edamame, salmon sashimi, pork bao, veggie ramen, and sea bass skewers. The edamame was steaming hot and covered in this light, flaky salt that was to die for. The salmon sashimi was SO fresh and melted like butter in my mouth. Mary reported that the pork bao was "artistic, thoughtfully prepared, and compassionate." The vegetable ramen is made with a yuzu shio broth, which I've never had before but would literally take intravenously if it was possible. If anyone at Ukiah is looking to trade the recipe for this ramen, I'm offering my soul. The sea bass skewers were also super yummy, but the least stand out of the meal. We had their Something F*@king Chocolate for dessert--a homemade lava cake that was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. (Also the whole meal, with two cocktails, came to $126??? My NYC self that used to pay that much for solo dinner out with a friend in Brooklyn died.)

Day Two - Tuesday

A Hike to Remember: We got up early on Tuesday to head out on our long hike. We headed ~50 mins south towards Pisgah National Forest for our hike on the John Rock Loop. This was a challenging hike, around 7 miles in total and 1,200+ elevation change overall, but well worth the views and the immersion in nature that it offered. At one point, we had climbed all the way up to the top of a huge rock face where we got to watch some crows work together to build a nest. We paused once for a snack of trail mix and Twizzlers, and met some fellow alumni of William & Mary on the trail! Highly recommend this hike -- bring plenty of water and snacks. 

Foiled by yet another case of unexpected-closure, our original plan for pizza and a beer post-hike had to quickly update. We found Barley's Taproom and Pizza, a fun blend of traditional Irish pub and pizzeria with an extensive brew menu. I tried one of their specialties -- Noble Cider's Apple Pie (and, yknow what? It did, in fact, taste like apple pie) We were pretty ravenous at this point so we downed a Caesar salad and shared a medium pizza. It was yummy! (Also, after lunch we trotted across the street to Double D's Coffee and Desserts, a literal double-decker bus parked in a small garden cafe, for a latte (for Mars) and an ice cream sundae (to share). Recommend checking it out! They are cash only, though, so be prepared to dish out or find an ATM.)

A Game for Two: We practically collapsed in the hotel after lunch, in need of hot showers and good naps. We brought along a new game to try during our down time and decided to break it out before heading for dinner. The game is called A Little Wordy -- it's a two-person word game that seems, at first, to be overly complicated but is actually really fun. 

For dinner, we headed back downtown to Cúrate Tapas Bar. Unfortunately, we were still a little full from our late lunch so we couldn't try everything we wanted to -- but we made it work! I tried their red sangria and Mary tried an orange blossom wine from Spain before we ordered their berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant drizzled in honey), croquetas de jamón (ham fritters), patatas bravas (fried potatoes in sauce), and their vieiras (scallops). Everything was quite tasty! The patatas bravas was probably my favorite, the sauce was to die for, and I'd skip the scallops next time around in favor of trying one of their shrimp dishes. The eggplant was also super yummy and I'm currently trying to figure out how to recreate it at home. Mary also noted that if she was going to order again, she'd try a different jamón iberico dish instead of the fritters. And, as dessert aficionados, we had to push through and try some of their desserts! So we ordered their Sacher torte and the tarta liquida--an almond tart with an oozy liquid center.

Day Three - Wednesday

A Hike to Remember: Wednesday morning was another hike in the Pisgah National Forest, this time with promise of a magnificent waterfall. The Daniel Ridge Loop Trail is a beautiful hike that follows the Davidson River as it cuts through the forest and offers plenty of scampering opportunities across the babbling brooks. This hike was really fun because it required a lot of navigating gnarled tree roots, climbing over tree logs, and crossing rivers. We ended up at the very top of a cascading waterfall, getting to experience the rush of the water just before it crashes over the edge. And then! We hiked down and got to see the entire fall in its majesty. 10/10 experience. This hike was a lot harder on the knees because the downhills were steep at points. The blazes are also few and far between, but the path is well-worn so it's pretty clear.

Don't let her expression fool you -- this was one of our favorite meals!

Can't Miss Meal: After our hike, we hightailed it to White Duck Taco Shop, home to delicious flavor combinations like Jerk Chicken, Bangkok Shrimp, and the best Fish taco I've ever eaten (hello chipotle cream!). Mary was honestly not a fan of the jerk chicken, the spice was "unlike any jerk seasoning I've ever had before, too cinnamon or nutmeg-y," but we devoured the shrimp and fish tacos. Also had a frozen Cheerwine (basically a grown-up slurpee 10/10), sweet tea, and their house-made queso and chips which was super yummy. I highly highly recommend a stop here for lunch. 

After showering and resting a bit, we headed back out to go shopping before dinner. There are plenty of cute, local boutiques on Haywood and Patton. Dog & Pony Show is an adorable, kitschy boutique with homewares both vintage and new. Mary and I picked up a vintage print for our wall here, though I was on the verge of buying every single candle on display. We also stopped in Charmed Asheville, The Chocolate Fetish, the Kress Emporium, and the Asheville Tea Company. I wish we had the time/energy to do a proper tasting at the Tea Company -- they're only $15 and the people who work there are so knowledgeable about all things tea.

For dinner we went down the road to Green Tea Sushi. This place is deceptively large--it looks so much smaller on the outside! It was also incredibly popular, especially for a Wednesday night. We only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, though, and they don't take reservations. It was definitely worth the wait! We tried their Green River, Salmon Wild Dragon, Dynamite, and spicy tuna rolls and we absolutely gobbled them all up.

Day Four - Thursday

Can't Miss Meal: On our way out of town, Mary and I stopped at OWL (Old World Levain) Bakery for breakfast and I'm so! glad! we did! Their pastries are absolutely to die for. We ordered a cardamom bun (I would do almost anything for something cardamom flavored), a savory danish, and an almond rose croissant. We also had their jasmine tea latte ("inSANE, so, so good"-Mary) and hot chocolate, a salty, decadent cup of chocolate. The pastries were incredibly filling and beyond yummy. The vibe of the bakery is also really charming and everyone was as friendly as could be. Definitely don't pass this one up! 

I highly recommend choosing Asheville as your next outdoor + foodie getaway! There are plenty of places to go camping or lots of hotels, inns, and B&Bs to choose from. Mary and I know we'll be back soon to hit different trails....and slurp up that vegetarian ramen from Ukiah.