If you’re in Asheville as a visitor or are planning a trip for the future—perhaps to indulge in a relaxing weekend or to attend a wedding, business conference or other event—there’s a good chance that at some point in the process you asked yourself, “Didn’t they just have a hurricane? What will it be like? Should we even go?”
As you deliberated your options, perhaps you turned to Google for answers: “What is open in Asheville?” or “What is there to do in Asheville?” Hopefully, you discovered that large portions of our beautiful city are up and operating as usual—that restaurants and breweries are hopping with guests, that the River Arts District is welcoming art lovers and that many trails in our stunning mountains once again beckon the adventurous.
Maybe you decided that, regardless of the progress our region had made following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, you wanted to come and support us—not in spite of the damage, but because of it. And wow, if that’s you, you are a special kind of good soul.
Either way, you’ve ultimately decided to join us—and for that, I thank you. I hope you feel welcomed and enjoy every minute of your stay.
We publish this “Visitors Companion” every year. Months before it hits the stands, our editorial team starts to pull together ideas for it—and we often compare this planning process to the bragging that parents do about their children. Because, as longtime residents, that’s what it’s like to write about all of the amazing things our region has to offer. To be sure, there’s a reason that a stunningly high percentage of visitors to Western North Carolina make repeat trips and consider this their “home away from home.”
In this issue, you’ll find a lot of practical resources to make the most of your trip. There’s a really good three-day itinerary for lovers of food, music, art and architecture, as well as a list of four easy and beautiful hikes within an hour’s drive of downtown Asheville. Also, before you head out for your dinner reservations, make sure to read our behind-the-scenes look at the farms you’re likely to see on the menu.
The city of Asheville has long been popular with tourists. Even in the 19th century, when George Vanderbilt decided to build his stunning Biltmore Estate here—becoming the largest private residence in the U.S.—Asheville was known as a destination hot spot. Today, we maintain that spirit of hospitality. Your stay gives us the opportunity to share our home with you—to share our food, music, art and adventure—and to brag on this wonderful and resilient city. And for that, I thank you.
Tennille T. Legler Publisher
2025
Publishers
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Recipe Editors
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Copy Editor
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Design/Layout Editors
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Tina Bossy Freeman
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Director of Advertising & Marketing
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Distribution Coordinator
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Contact Us PO Box 1185 Asheville, NC 28802 828-620-1230 edibleasheville.com editor@edibleasheville.com For advertising options, call us at 828-620-1230
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Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved. Published by Blue Root Media LLC.
Visitors Companion Vol. 10 | No. 2
An outdoor event at the NC Arboretum showcases two of the
Photo by Erin Adams.
Contributors
Erin Adams - Photographer
Erin Adams is an Asheville-based food and lifestyle photographer. In addition to Edible Asheville, her work appears in a variety of publications, including Our State, WNC Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, and Garden & Gun Magazine. She shoots commercially for Biltmore Wines, The Biltmore Estate restaurants and many small businesses in the area.
Lindsey Barr - Contributor
Lindsey grew up in central NC, where she developed a love for science and the outdoors (and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award). She left her aerospace engineering career in 2012 to pursue her passion for helping to introduce people to the outdoors. Lindsey owns Blue Ridge Hiking Company - an Asheville-based guide service offering day hikes and backpacking trips throughout Western NC.
Brook Bolen - Features Editor
Born and bred in WNC, Brook Bolen is a writer, editor, home cook and ravenous eater. Her work has appeared in Salon, VICE, WNC magazine, and more.
Amy Bess Cook - Contributor
Amy Bess Cook is a writer committed to sharing unsung perspectives. A veteran of the wine industry, she is founder of a pioneering platform amplifying female vintners that’s won recognition from the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times. Her essays and articles have appeared in trade, literary, and lifestyle publications.
Ada m Coulter - Contributor
A fifth-generation Western North Carolinian, Adam serves his community through his work with North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Buncombe County Center. He is passionate about supporting the region’s agricultural heritage and future.
Sue Dolamore - Contributor
Sue Dolamore is a fine art painter with a studio in Warehouse Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District. Her current works combine bold linework and harmonious watercolors resulting in art with a positive vibe to enhance homes and work environments worldwide and can be found at her Asheville studio at 170 Lyman St., Art on 7th Gallery in Hendersonville, Re-Imagine Gallery in Fairview and online at suedolamore.com.
Sara h Giavedoni and Jimmy MacKenzie - Contributors
Sarah and Jimmy are both graduates of UNC Asheville, amateur Asheville historians, and Thomas Wolfe Society speakers. They own and lead Asheville Literary Tours, which operates from spring through late fall. They have previously appeared in HuffPost, Boing Boing, Business Insider, The Daily Dot, and The Millions.
Chris Smith - Contributor
Chris Smith is executive director of the Utopian Seed Project, a crop-trialing nonprofit working to celebrate food and farming, and co-host of “The Okra Pod Cast.” Smith’s book, The Whole Okra, won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2020. In 2023, he received the Organic Educator Award from the Organic Growers School and was named a Champion of Conservation by Garden & Gun.
Kristina Valdiviezo - Photographer
Kristina Valdiviezo is an award-winning photographer, and talent behind Fraiche Photography, celebrated for her expertise in product, food and lifestyle photography. Combining editorial finesse with commercial appeal, she has earned acclaim for her ability to elevate brands.
K ay West - Contributor
Kay West is a full-time writer who covered food and restaurants for over 30 years in Nashville and, since 2019, in Asheville, where she now lives. She is the author of five books, including Around the Opry Table: A Feast of Recipes and Stories from the Grand Ole Opry. In July 2024 she received the first place award for Food Writing from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for her restaurant reviews in the Nashville Scene
2024 American Culinary Federation National Champions
Nationally Recognized Excellence with an Asheville Vibe
Explore A-B Tech’s award-winning Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, Hospitality Management, and Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast programs. You’ll find our graduates in restaurants, hotels, bakeries and breweries throughout Western North Carolina and beyond.
“Asheville
is On its Way Back and Needs Visitors Now More Than Ever” Afar
Ashevillians have been working tirelessly to restore their community in the weeks since [Hurricane Helene], demonstrating the grit and moxie that define this Appalachian area. Located in the heart of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, and art lovers.
“Forbes Travel Guide’s Top 12 Destinations for 2025”
Forbes
Most of downtown Asheville is open for business, including shops, restaurants, galleries and art studios. Tourists can also enjoy the mountain town’s bountiful breweries, including Highland Brewing Company and Archetype Brewing. Asheville’s most famous attraction, the 8,000-acre, castle-like Biltmore Estate, and its four-star inn are welcoming visitors.
“25 Best Places to Go in The South in 2025”
Southern Living
Mountain towns have a special kind of strength. Try to knock one down, and be prepared to witness the kind of comeback they make movies about.
“52 Places to Go in 2025”
The New York Times
In 2025, this Blue Ridge mountain town invites travelers to “plan a return trip with heart” to celebrate new opening and reopenings.
“2025’s
Top 100 Romantic Restaurants” OpenTable
The Biltmore Estate - Dining Room: Located at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, indulge in elegant dining specializing in regional cuisine.
A Volunteer Vacation
As Asheville rebuilds, tourists are invited to join the work party
WRITTEN BY AMY BESS COOK
Alot of travelers are steered by altruistic motives these days.
As worldwide poverty creates the need for homes and schools to be built, and environmental damage leads to beaches and rivers that need to be cleaned, folks are traveling to areas in need to donate their time, money and talents to a worthwhile cause.
In the United States, this act of traveling to volunteer—or “voluntourism”—often follows a natural disaster, like floods and wildfires. That’s when the Good Samaritans appear to prepare meals for victims, hand out water or blankets or even aid in rescue efforts.
In Asheville, the opportunity for voluntourism continues to exist as the city and the broader region of Western North Carolina rebuild following Hurricane Helene. Wind and rain from that storm, in September 2024, caused trees to topple through homes and cars and landslides to wipe out roads and houses. Intense flooding, meanwhile, turned nearby rivers and streams into forces of destruction, damaging just about everything in their paths.
But ever hopeful and resilient, the city is now forging a steady path to recovery and welcoming guests along the way.
If you’re considering a volunteer travel experience in Asheville, here are some tips.
Identify Your Purpose
A first step to planning an altruistic adventure is to find a need that suits your abilities. Whether your expertise is animal welfare, construction, mental health or something else, there’s a good chance you’re needed in Western North Carolina.
Those who are savvy with a kitchen knife, for example, might consider pitching in with food prep at Equal Plates Project, an organization that partners with local farms to transform produce into nourishing meals.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of welcoming visiting volunteers is the opportunity to connect with people from across the country who are passionate about strengthening local food systems and addressing food insecurity,” says Executive Director Madi Holtzman.
Passionate about the environment? The nonprofit group RiverLink, which focuses on the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River, invites volunteers to participate in its regularly hosted workdays. One popular worksite is Karen Cragnolin Park, home to the largest pollinator meadow in the city of Asheville.
“The care of this property requires many hands,” says Land Resources Manager Hannah Coats, “and we are so inspired by all of the groups, both local and out-of-town, that have helped make the site what it is today.”
Voluntourism Travel Tips
Traveling as a volunteer in an area impacted by a natural disaster can be different from taking an indulgent getaway purely for rest and relaxation. Here are a few ways to optimize your giving trip to Asheville.
• Expect to plan your own accommodation. The storm created a housing shortage, so local nonprofits rarely have the resources to house volunteer crews. Please plan to line up your own lodging at one of the area’s hotels, home rentals or campgrounds.
• Tread lightly. Refrain from “disaster tourism” and making special trips to areas hit particularly hard by the storm, usually for the purpose of taking photos or videos. When talking to locals about their experience, it’s helpful to follow their lead about their willingness or desire to do so.
• Every dollar counts. If you can spend cash in local shops, please do! Last fall, Asheville suffered a 70% drop in tourism due to the storm; many businesses never recovered. Your patronage means so much.
• Consider day trips. Several towns near Asheville were likewise hit by the storm, including Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Marshall, Burnsville and Spruce Pine. If they’re back up and welcoming guests, consider a day trip.
• Kick back and relax. Whether it’s at a rooftop bar or a speakeasy, reward yourself with a good drink or hearty meal after a hard day’s work! This region was meant to be enjoyed.
What Type of Are You? Traveler
Each year, millions of visitors flock to Asheville and the broader region of Western North Carolina, seeking outdoor adventure, award-winning food and drink, captivating art and soul-stirring music, along with historic sights like The Biltmore Estate. So we asked Asheville’s tourist experts to tell us what people hope to see and do while here, and here’s the info they shared.
Information gathered and excerpted from “Audience Personas” by Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
EXPERIENCE ENTHUSIASTS
This group of people likes to go to places where they can mix relaxation with arts and culture activities or once-in-a-lifetime activities. They often like to travel for specific events, like festivals, and outdoor activities are a must.
Sample Travel Experiences
• Participating in water sports on the French Broad River
• Watching hawk migration with birding tour companies
• Hiking local trails
• Adding volunteerism experiences to a trip
• Enjoying Asheville’s nightlife
• Sampling iconic food and drink
• Learning about Southern Appalachian culture
• Visiting local galleries and museums
• Attending live events like concerts and shows
• Shopping for one-of-a-kind pieces in the River Arts District
TRAVELING TRADITIONALISTS
This group of people often chooses destinations based on the availability of major attractions and noteworthy sights to visit. They seek out new experiences and are keen on places that offer a good value.
Sample Travel Experiences
• Taking a tour of Asheville breweries
• Venturing out for a wine tasting and winery tours
• Shopping at outlet stores
• Exploring local art galleries and museums
• Experiencing restaurants in Asheville’s Foodtopia
• Taking a stroll through botanical gardens
• Visiting historic sites like Biltmore Estate
ENERGETIC FAMILIES
As the name implies, this group blends parents and kids who are looking for family-friendly adventures like museums and hiking trails, with the opportunity to relax and escape their daily tasks.
Sample Travel Experiences
• Taking a family float on the French Broad River
• Going on a walk through a nature conservation area
• Spending time at art and science museums
• Visiting children’s museums
• Cooling off at a splash pad
• Visiting family-friendly breweries
• Exploring nature with family-friendly hiking trails
VALUE SEEKERS
With a flair for scoping out good deals, this group of visitors is often traveling to relax, while also enjoying cultural activities. You can often find them biking on regional trails, indulging in self care at a local spa, or capping off a day of play at a local food truck, restaurant or brewery.
Example Travel Experiences
• Exploring local food scenes
• Taking a scenic road trip
• Relaxing at spas and wellness spots
• Mountain biking through national parks
• Enjoying Asheville’s nightlife
• Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Zip lining or other adventure activities
WhaT,s in a Name
When visiting your favorite Asheville restaurants, look for the names of these five farms on the menus. They’re part of the network of local growers and producers that work with chefs to create the city’s award-winning food.
WRITTEN
BY KAY WEST
The phrase “farm to table” isn’t just hype in the mountains of North Carolina; it’s more like the way folks just tend to do business. With dozens of farms dotted throughout the hills, Asheville’s awardwinning chefs often have their pick of seasonal fruit and vegetables, paired with locally raised meats and cheeses and a variety of regional wines, spirits and beers.
As you eat and drink your way through Asheville, a well-known culinary destination, look for the names of these local producers on your menus. Some may consider them the supporting cast in a fabulous meal, but your chef will probably tell you they’re the stars.
Sunburst Trout Farms
Supplies Rainbow Trout Waynesville, NC
Sunburst Trout is so ubiquitous on Asheville and Western North Carolina menus that many diners think it’s a particular species of trout. (It is, in fact, rainbow trout). Sunburst, rather, is the name of the business that supplies the fish to about 150 Western North Carolina restaurants. Founded in Haywood County by Dick Jennings Jr., it’s been around since 1948.
“Our trout are fed an all-natural diet which has a natural colorant, like a carotene, that gives them a reddish hue,” says Wes Eason, Jennings’ grandson, owner and director of sales. “When people see the color, they think Sunburst is the perfect name.”
The most popular product purchased by restaurants is the skin-on boneless filet, and every chef puts their own spin on it depending on the season, especially at some of Asheville’s favorite downtown eateries. At Cúrate, for example, it’s charcoal-grilled with hazel-
nut picada, while at The Market Place, it’s pan-seared and served with Farm & Sparrow cream peas and kale. At Posana, meanwhile, the trout filet is plated with quinoa, roasted grapes, fennel, radicchio and labneh.
The product line has expanded over the years, and diners will find other Sunburst Trout Farms offerings on menus, including hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout—a lox style popular at breakfast—smoked trout dip and trout caviar.
Eason admits he doesn’t order his own trout when he goes out to eat, though chefs frequently send out some version of Sunburst that always impresses. “It’s amazing what they come up with and it’s always so good,” he says. “The only thing I haven’t seen done with our trout products is dessert, but I wouldn’t be surprised—and it would probably be great.”
A variety of products from Sunburst Trout Farms (courtesy of Sunburst Trout).
Hickory Nut Gap Meats
Supplies Beef and Pork
Fairview, NC
Jamie Ager, a fourth-generation farmer at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, still remembers the thrill of his first sale to an Asheville restaurant in 2003: 20 pounds of hamburger meat to John Stehling, the former chef-owner of Asheville’s Early Girl Eatery. “That first sale rocked my world,” Ager says. “We started delivering ground beef once a week to John. He had a sign on the wall that said they served local beef, and our name and logo right under it.”
Hickory Nut Gap Farm dates back to 1918, when Jim and Elizabeth McClure—Ager’s great-grandparents—settled on the land in Fairview, about 20 minutes southeast of Asheville. Every generation since then has been raised on the farm, including Ager and his three brothers. After graduating from Warren Wilson College with a degree in sustainable agriculture, Jamie returned to the farm with wife, Amy, whom he met at Warren Wilson and has the same degree.
HNG has been retailing its grass-fed, pasture-raised beef since 2001 at the North Asheville Tailgate Market. Initially, their purpose for also selling to restaurants was utilization, making sure they could sell every part of the cow, beyond just steaks.
He laughs when he repeats his early sales pitch to chefs. “How would you like to pay twice as much for your meat?” But enough of them were sold on the promise of better flavor and the opportunity to support local agriculture that HNG built a loyal wholesale clientele for their beef and pork, among them popular local restaurants like Asheville Proper, Chestnut and Copper Crown.
Ager is a fan of Sierra Nevada Taproom’s pot roast grilled cheese sandwich, which features HNG slow-roasted beef, fontina, muenster and aged white cheddar cheeses, with Rad Little Thing IPA onion jam on house white bread.
Ager encourages people to visit the farm, where the Hickory Nut Gap Farm Store and Butchery sells beef, pork and poultry, house-made bologna, bacon and pâté, seasonal goods, prepared foods and products from other local makers like French Broad Chocolate, Matcha Nude, Dynamite Roasters Coffee, Asheville Tea, Spicewalla, Fermenti and Noble Cider.
“I’m always proud to see the Hickory Nut Gap name,” he says. “And grateful we have been able to create a business with all these Asheville partners.”
Black Trumpet Farm Supplies Mushrooms
Leicester, NC
When Gwen and Jay Englebach appeared at a local tailgate market in 2019, introducing a lion’s mane mushroom they cultivate at Black Trumpet Farm in Leicester, it piqued people’s interest and elicited questions. With its unique shape, people wanted to know how the fungus tasted and how it could be prepared.
Fortunately for the Englebachs, once Asheville chefs discovered Black Trumpet Farm, they had plenty of ideas for the mushroom variety. The couple now grows it in a 2,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility they built in 2022, replacing the “glorified shed” they started in.
“We did a lot of cold calls to restaurants in the beginning,” Jay recalls. “We’d take sample boxes, as pretty as we could make them, right to the kitchens, talk to chefs about what they wanted and what we could do.”
Some may consider these products the supporting cast in a fabulous meal, but your chef will probably tell you they’re the stars.
As it turns out, Black Trumpet could do quite a bit; currently they’re producing about 750 pounds of mushrooms a week, spread among their core seven or eight varieties. Their mainstays are grey oyster and lion’s mane; certain varieties like king trumpet and maitake are a little more coveted, but both are tricky to grow.
“Chefs do want a specific thing sometimes for a specific menu item and we do our best to make sure they get it, but a lot of places are just happy to have a variety,” says Jay.
Diners will find Black Trumpet Farm mushrooms on plates from Luminosa, Jargon, Tall John’s, Table, Twisted Laurel, and Plant, among many more, and used in a variety of ways—in dishes, on pizza and focaccia, and as starters and sides.
“I appreciate the shout-out when restaurants name us on the menu, especially when the parents are in town and we take them out,” he says with a laugh. “It makes them proud.”
The Culinary Gardener Supplies Seasonal Produce
Weaverville, NC
Since he was a teenager growing up in a suburb of New York City, Evan Chender’s professional and personal interests have been entwined in food, drawn to both cooking and growing. He held jobs in restaurants, grew produce in his backyard and earned a BA in Food Culture and Sustainable Agriculture from Vassar College, deeply immersed in the experimental garden’s year-round growing program.
“Having our name on a menu is so important. Asheville supports Asheville and it’s a big part of what makes this area so authentic and special.”
—Jen Perkins, Owner of Looking Glass Creamery
He took jobs in New York’s Hudson Valley and in Tuscany, Italy, which produced food specifically for the restaurants on those properties and observed elevated farm-to-table cooking up close. He also worked for a month as a stagiaire (intern) at the notoriously grueling Noma in Copenhagen, which has been ranked among the best restaurants in the world.
In 2012, he moved to Asheville and got a job as a chef/gardener for Well-Bred Bakery & Café, all while penning plans for a farm business on a small 8,000-square-foot plot of land. In the fall of 2013, he launched The Culinary Gardener, with a single-minded focus: “My intent from day one was just to grow for restaurants,” he says. Because he was fluent in the language of chefs he connected well
with them; his first client was Matt Dawes at The Bull and Beggar in the River Arts District, and his reputation for pristine produce grew quickly, placing The Culinary Gardener in the kitchens and on the menus of many of Asheville’s best restaurants.
He added acreage in Reems Creek Valley and now grows year-round. His radicchio is revered; he has cultivated as many as 30 varieties and calls their six-month season the cornerstone of his winter production.
Seasonal harvests are similar to others in the region. “What makes Culinary Gardener’s stand out is variety, selection and how we prepare them for sale,” Chender says, “harvesting them at the right size, getting them really clean and packaging them appropriately so restaurants can use them right out of the box.”
Looking Glass Creamery Supplies Cheese
Columbus, NC
In 2009, Jen and Andy Perkins were considering which of two states to settle in with their young son—Washington or North Carolina. When Jen, a novice cheesemaker aspiring to make it a career, heard of a program in North Carolina whereby the state loans out pasteurizing equipment to up-and-coming cheesemakers, the couple bought a log cabin in Fairview, built a small creamery next door and used the loaner equipment to start processing 50 gallons of milk a week.
“We did what a lot of young cheesemakers do,” Jen recalls. “We started with fresh cheese, which you can make and get out the door in two days and get some cash flow.”
The first purchaser of Looking Glass Creamery cheese was Trout Lily Market in Fairview. When Jamie Ager of Hickory Nut Gap Farm invited her to ride along with him as he made meat deliveries to Asheville restaurants, she brought along samples and price lists and Looking Glass was on its way. Early buyers were Early Girl Eatery and Biscuit Head. With experience and more milk from nearby sources, Looking Glass began expanding the types of cheese they made and adding to their customer base.
In 2017, the Perkinses bought the property known as Harmon Dairy, located in Columbus, about 45 minutes south of Asheville. The new creamery began production in 2018, and their onsite farm store opened in 2019. Many of their sales remain to Asheville restaurants: All Souls Pizza features the fromage blanc and mozzarella on their Greens Pizza, while Leo’s House of Thirst tops a chanterelle tartine starter with whipped fromage blanc and uses Looking Glass aged cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich.
The recognition the creamery receives from restaurants helps drive visitors to the dairy and the farm store, where people can peek into one of the four underground cellars, see the animals, walk the property, get a bite to eat, something to drink, a scoop of ice cream and wedges of Looking Glass Creamery cheese to take home.
“Having our name on a menu is so important,” says Jen. “Asheville supports Asheville and it’s a big part of what makes this area so authentic and special.”
The Food from Up Here
Two rooftop restaurants and bars— Capella on 9 and Wildwood Still—deliver on Asheville’s promises: stunning views and fabulous food.
PHOTOS BY KRISTINA VALDIVIEZO
There’s something magical about rooftop restaurants and bars—especially in Asheville. The views stretch for miles, with lush trees covering the gentle mountains, and the menus reflect the city’s reputation for seasonal dishes and awardwinning beers, wines and cocktails.
There are a handful of places in downtown Asheville that offer rooftop dining options, but two standouts make their mark on the city’s skyline: Capella on 9 and Wildwood Still. Both sit atop popular hotels, which are among the tallest buildings in the city.
Capella on 9 sits on the top floor of the AC Hotel. With a chic vibe, it serves a nicely curated menu of breakfast and dinner options (it’s closed for lunch). A variety of tapas plates, including crab cakes with roasted garlic aioli and seared scallops with green apple jicama slaw, invite sharing and conversation.
Wildwood Still, meanwhile, at the Moxy Hotel, is a relative newcomer but has won an early fan base with its breathtaking sunset views. Its menu offers Asian-inspired plates, including pork gyoza and short ribs with a kohlrabi purée, and has become a local mecca for whiskey lovers with 150 varieties at the bar.
Pictured left to right: A cocktail at Capella on 9, a sampling of small plate offerings at Capella on 9 (above and top); the exterior and interior of Wildwood Still (right and upper right); popular menu items at Wildwood Still (far right).
The Road to Rebuilding
How one local champion of the “buy local” food movement bounces back after Hurricane Helene
Gina and Jeff Kocha of Blue Mountain Distributors (photo by Kristina Valdiviezo). At left, photo of mud in the company’s warehouse (photo courtesy of Blue Mountain Distributors).
Gina Kocha plugged her nose as she pulled on the handle of a giant walk-in cooler that had been sealed shut for 72 hours—without electricity—and still held hundreds of gallons of milk, quickly souring in the late-September heat.
“Ugh,” Kocha said as she stepped into the cooler, sloshing in four inches of mud, surveying spilled cartons and overturned pallets, a potent stench filling every corner. “Can you believe?”
It was more a statement than a question because it was very much a reality. The 24,000-square-foot warehouse owned by Fletcher-based Blue Mountain Distributors was packed with nearly $1 million of local food products—from milk and chocolate to coffee and pretzels—when the rains of Hurricane Helene caused the nearby Cane Creek to swell, turning the usually docile stream into a powerful force of destruction. Now the warehouse was decimated, along with everything inside.
Before the hurricane, this warehouse was a beehive of activity—a place where Western North Carolina’s commitment to local food is on full display. As a local food distributor, Blue Mountain works with dozens of regional farmers, bakers and chefs to get their products onto the shelves of everything from small food co-ops to major grocery stores and into the hands of consumers. It’s a behind-the-scenes powerhouse that allows the “buy local” movement to thrive.
When Cane Creek roared to life, on September 27, 2024, cameras mounted on the warehouse caught footage of a 12-foot wave moving up the driveway. The wall of water picked up Blue Mountain’s fleet of delivery trucks and slammed them against the side of the warehouse, creating an opening for stacks of large wooden pallets to move into the building and act like a viscous blender, causing major destruction inside.
Forklifts and pallet jacks were destroyed, computers were fried and all of the paper records were gone. Delivery trucks landed on their sides, sometimes upside down, and their headlights blinked eerily after the water got to their wiring. The food, obviously, was a total loss, soaked in water and mud and debris. By the time the storm had passed, it had created a six-foot pool of water in the warehouse that only slowly receded.
But this story isn’t just about loss and destruction. Ultimately, it’s a story about strength and resilience.
“I call them the ‘Three Ds,’” says Kocha, who co-owns Blue Mountain Distributors with her husband, Jeff Kocha. “We had devastation and depression, and now we have determination. We have more hope than darkness and we are praying over this business every day.”
The story of Blue Mountain Distributors started in 2000, when Jeff Kocha moved to Asheville from Connecticut, where he had worked as a firefighter and knew an Italian family who imported a lineup of products from their home country, including olives, pastas and sauces.
Once in Asheville, Jeff started selling the products himself, using a 14-foot trailer to ferry products down from Connecticut and offering them at a gas station market off Long Shoals Road. When customers flocked to the Italian goods, other stores noticed and asked Jeff to supply them too. One store owner asked Jeff if he could supply them with products made locally. “Before I knew it,” Jeff says, “I had a distribution business.”
Gina joined the business in 2020, in the early days of the Covid pandemic, and the duo built the business at a rapid clip, going from 35 local food brands to 120 with well over 3,500 products.
Of all of the businesses that buy local products from Blue Mountain, the largest client is Ingles Markets. Founded in Asheville in 1963, Ingles is now based in nearby Black Mountain. On the shelves of Ingles, you’ll find locally roasted coffee from Pisgah Coffee Roasters and Dynamite Roasting Co., honey from Blue Ridge Apiary and meat snack sticks from Hickory Nut Gap Farm.
In the weeks following Helene, the Kochas spent weeks trying to understand the true scope of the damage. They first checked on employees, all of whom were safe but reported damage to cars and homes. One employee said his roommate died, having been swept away by rushing floodwaters.
The “Road to Rebuilding” series is presented in partnership with Ingles Markets, celebrating and honoring businesses in Western North Carolina that are rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
“I call them the ‘Three Ds’: We had devastation and depression, and now we have determination. We have more hope than darkness now and we are praying over this business every day.”
—Gina Kocha, owner of Blue Mountain Distributors
Once electricity and cell service were restored, they started to hear about the fate of their vendors. Biscuit Head’s production facility for jams and biscuit mix, located near the Swannanoa River, suffered major flooding, as did French Broad Chocolate’s café and production facility near the French Broad River. Similar stories kept trickling in.
The Kochas turned their attention to the warehouse, one of two they owned and an epicenter of their operations. They focused on salvaging whatever they could, from brooms and mops to office furniture. “We didn’t have any money, so we had to save what we could,” Jeff says. Their three children—including a son who’s a firefighter in Asheville and his twin sister who’s a paramedic in Transylvania County—showed up to help.
The task was daunting, but the kindness of friends and neighbors burst through—just as it did throughout the region. Their banker, for example, offered them office space, which allowed them to access valuable records, while friends traveled from out of state to help power-wash the mud off any equipment that could be saved.
Because the warehouse had been almost full when Helene hit, Blue Mountain was facing hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt— mostly owed to the local vendors that had given them the food that had been destroyed. But in an overwhelming gesture of community, more than two dozen of those vendors canceled their invoices and
cleared them of that debt. “We couldn’t believe that our community, family and loyal vendors showed us they had our backs and would continue to support us on this journey,” Jeff says.
A setback was suffered when the Kochas were told that the Fletcher warehouse had suffered too much damage to be saved. For a brief moment, they considered walking away from the business. “I built that warehouse with my own two hands,” Jeff says. “We were already looking forward to retirement and spending more time with our grandkids.” But when they realized how many local business owners relied on them for their own success, they decided they had to soldier on. “We know how many families would be impacted, and this is what led Gina and I to take the step toward rebuilding,” Jeff says.
As luck would have it, a friend of theirs owned a large warehouse that was sitting empty in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about an hour south of Asheville, and he offered the space to Blue Mountain for free for six months. Initially meant as a temporary solution, the Spartanburg warehouse has proven to be well positioned for regional deliveries and will now serve as a hub. Jeff and Gina, using their home in Hendersonville as a temporary office, are looking for a new location near Asheville.
Since the hurricane, Blue Mountain Distributions has added dozens of popular brands to their inventory, including the Asheville-based seasoning company Spicewalla, the beloved bread maker Annie’s Bakery and a maker of handcrafted sodas, Waynesville Soda Jerks. They also found that the demand for local products among big retailers like Ingles is now higher than ever.
The Kochas now predict the business will be 100% operational by the end of 2025, if not stronger and bigger and certainly more resilient.
“I’ve said this 100 times, but this community is so supportive of local,” Gina says. “The consumers of Western North Carolina, they’re awesome—they’re the most dedicated and loyal supporters of their local companies.”
Photo courtesy of Asheville Culinary Concierge
At Your Service
Asheville Culinary Concierge offers a comprehensive set of food services—from in-home meal prep to heat-and-eat options—to vacationers looking to actually take a vacation
The grocery store aisles i n Asheville often get crowded around 2pm on Fridays, when visitors get to town and stock up on food for a long weekend at one of the nearby vacation homes.
Perhaps they’re here for a family reunion or a wedding, maybe a milestone birthday or anniversary. Regardless of the occasion, they have to eat while they’re here—perhaps even feed a large group. And so they navigate a new store layout, stare at the food-stocked shelves and try to come up with meals on the fly. Does the vacation home have the spices they need? How about the cooking oil? Does that recipe need a blender or soup wand, and does the rental have them?
There might be a few people who enjoy this experience, but for many it’s a hassle and a chore—an unpleasant way to start a vacation. And that’s how the idea for Asheville Culinary Concierge came about.
Founded by local chef Katie Fiore, who also owns a successful catering company, Asheville Culinary Concierge offers a comprehensive set of food services for visitors. Before guests arrive, she and her team can stock the fridge and pantry with snacks and staples, or deliver premade and hearty meals that can just be heated and served.
Fiore also offers in-home meal prep where she and her team will cook a restaurant-style meal—offering as many courses as the guests want, with the option of multiple cuisine styles—and fully clean up afterward. And for those looking to enjoy one of Asheville’s award-winning restaurants, Asheville Culinary Concierge can also make suggestions and help make reservations.
“People want to experience everything our region has to offer, including all of the amazing food, but they don’t want to eat at restaurants for every meal and they don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen. So we do the work,” Fiore says. “We want them to enjoy their beautiful vacation home—their time together—and let us handle things.”
Imagine waking up to breakfast options already stocked in the
“People want to experience everything our region has to offer, including all of the amazing food, but they don’t want to eat at restaurants for every meal and they don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen. So we do the work. We want them to enjoy their beautiful vacation home—their time together—and let us handle things.”
—Katie Fiore, chef and owner of Asheville Culinary Concierge
kitchen—with flaky croissants and fresh fruit on the counter, cereal and milk for kids, or eggs with spinach and parmesan ready for a quick prep and served with a toasted slice of locally baked bread. For the afternoon, perhaps a hike is on the agenda. You’ll find pre-packed picnic bags with sandwiches and wraps, bags of chips or pasta salad, and homemade cookies.
When dinnertime rolls around, you’re ready to celebrate your special occasion—and the menu is already planned, with all allergies and dietary restrictions allowed for. Perhaps it’s grilled chicken kebabs with herbed rice and a berry balsamic salad made with local greens, or roasted salmon with an assortment of dips and flatbreads. Once dinner is over, and your champagne glasses have been clinked for toasts, Fiore and her team will handle the cleanup so your vacation home is ready for a new day of adventure.
HOW IT WORKS
Once your vacation dates are confirmed, contact Asheville Culinary Concierge by filling out the intake form on the website: ashevilleculinaryconcierge.com. One of their team members will then discuss the details of your trip with you, taking notes on the activities you’d like to enjoy and the special occasions you want to celebrate. They can then offer customized food options from among their services, and guests are welcome to choose any of the offerings that will help make their trip a success.
A Marked Tree Shows the Way
The award-winning wines of Marked Tree Vineyard reflect their makers’ journey
“As soon as we turned the corner onto this property, we knew we were home,” says Marked Tree co-owner Tim Parks. “We moved here in 2015, planted vines in 2016, opened our doors four years later and now here we are.”
For centuries, trees have been “marked” in one way or another to send messages to the people who walk past them. Hikers, for example, have tacked colored blazes to tree trunks to show the routes of trails, while landowners have painted trees with symbols or lines to indicate property boundaries.
For Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock—a 65-acre vineyard and winery, and a stunning slice of heaven located 2300 feet above the surrounding landscape—the name represents a personal journey for owners Tim Parks and Lance Hiatt (which we’ll get into later). But it also pays homage to a practice used by indigenous people, who would bend young saplings to the ground with leather straps, resulting in mature and oddly shaped trees whose trunks grew parallel to the earth. Known as “marked trees,” they would signal the location of hunting grounds, fresh water or other noteworthy landmarks.
“This is what you’ll see on our logo,” says Parks, holding up a wine glass with the winery’s signature bent tree etched on the side. “It’s meaningful for us because of the path we personally took to start this.”
Marked Tree Vineyard is a relative newcomer to the small community of wineries in Western North Carolina, opening its doors in
2020, but it has enjoyed a rise in popularity powered by the quality of its wines.
Marked Tree took home seven medals at the 2023 NC Wine Competition and nearly a dozen awards at the 2024 NC Fine Wines Competition, including a gold for its 2021 Lemberger. Meanwhile, two of its other wines—the 2022 Chardonel and 2021 Reserve Petit Verdot—recently scored 90 points by wine reviewer James Suckling, which is a ranking of “outstanding.”
When we visited Marked Tree recently for a guided tasting, we reveled in mountain breezes and the warmth of late afternoon sunlight. A 300-year-old white oak nicknamed “Otto” welcomed us and other visitors with a wide umbrella of branches spreading over a gravel path to the winery.
Perched along a hilltop of the Eastern Continental Divide, with rolling hills and rows of grapes, the winery has become a top destination for visitors and locals alike. It’s located just a few minutes off Interstate 26, a main artery through Western North Carolina, and yet the vibe quickly changes in that time. Four lanes turn into two, and two then turn into one, and restaurants and retail shops are replaced by rows and rows of apple trees and grapevines.
Marked Tree Vineyard continues to collect awards for the wines it produces at its Flat Rock vineyard. Photos by Jake Garmon Photography.
“We want people to love their time here,” Parks says.
“We don’t really have a bar vibe—it’s a tasting room— and so we think people can settle in here.”
Tree manages a 65-acre vineyard, growing both red and white grapes. Its tasting room is named Watershed, a nod to its location along the
On the day of our visit, we saw couples holding hands and lounging in west-facing Adirondack chairs, awaiting a sunset still an hour or two away, while large families sat and laughed around big round tables on a patio lined with hydrangeas. Inside the tasting room—a beautiful space designed by Hiatt, an architect by trade—were several groups of friends, a gathering of what appeared to be a book club, and at least one mellow bachelorette party hitting the hot spots of Henderson County.
“We want people to love their time here,” Parks says. “We don’t really have a bar vibe—it’s a tasting room—and so we think people can settle in here.”
Marked Tree is part of a wine-producing region in Western North Carolina known as the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County— one of six regions in the state formally designated by the federal government as an “American Viticulture Area” (AVA).
With eight varietals of grapes—selected for their ability to thrive in the region’s loam soil and cool mountain climate—Marked Tree offers about 20 different wines and typically produces about 3,300 cases per year. The wines are seasonal and often sell out, although die-hard
fans know the winery’s second tasting room in downtown Asheville usually has a few spare bottles of the favorites. It’s worth a visit to both locations to experience both the mountain vistas at the vineyard and the intimate yet urban setting of downtown Asheville.
During our visit, we enjoyed a 45-minute tasting of several top sellers, a signature offering that visitors can reserve in advance at their current tasting room aptly named Watershed, an ode to their location on the Eastern Continental Divide. Looking for something more unique, their new facility named Skyward, the lead branch on a marked tree, opens in May offering wine maker and barrel room tastings, tours, events and curated experiences.
“Our team is trained on storytelling,” Parks says, noting that the tastings include interesting tidbits about the grapes and winemaking process. But don’t expect the guides to tell you what you should smell, taste or—above all else—like. “We want people to experience this for themselves,” Parks says. “There are no right or wrong answers.”
We started our tasting with a sophisticated sparkling Vidal Blanc known as Bubble Swarm—the scientific name for bubbles moving
Marked
Eastern Continental Divide. Photos by Jake Garmon Photography.
up through liquid—which is typically offered from November to February for stylish toasting during the holidays. We followed that with a Reserve Vidal Blanc, which had beautiful notes of citrus and hints of what one wine expert described as the essence of “spring rain.”
We finished with the Grüner Veltliner, a popular wine that’s slightly green in color. “We have a love-hate relationship with this grape,” admitted Bonnie Hiatt with a laugh, one of the Marked Tree’s guides as she pours. “The grapes are just so tightly clumped together on the vine, making it more challenging to harvest, but the wine is worth the effort.”
For folks who are looking to snack, Marked Tree offers a well-curated menu of local offerings, including a beautiful smoked trout from Sunburst Trout Farms in nearby Waynesville and a cheese board featuring a trio of artisan cheeses with the option of local pickles from DJ’s Pickles in Lenoir, NC or charcuterie. For those looking for a bit of indulgence, there’s caviar from Marshallberg Farm in Lenoir and truffles from Van’s Chocolates of Hendersonville.
As mentioned, the name Marked Tree holds a special significance for Parks and Hiatt, who, in the mid-aughts, were living in Atlanta and working, respectively, as an architect and a retail executive with an intense travel schedule. Looking for a slower pace, they started to sketch plans for a new chapter in life and decided a winery would blend their love of good wines and good food with beautiful spaces.
Not ones to act impulsively, they spent eight years learning the craft of winemaking—attending multiple conferences and completing viticulture programs. They then spent another few years looking for the right patch of earth on which to grow their vineyard and eventually build their winery, looking for signs—or marked trees, in other words—for where to set down roots.
“As soon as we turned the corner onto this property, we knew we were home,” Parks says. “We moved here in 2015, planted vines in 2016, opened our doors four years later and now here we are.”
Enjoy one of our unique dining experiences or reserve the space for your own event at
VIBRANT NEW AMERICAN CUISINE, STEEPED IN SOUTHERN TRADITIONS
Lunch, Brunch & Dinner
Reservations Recommended Convenient parking at the Aloft Hotel
47 Biltmore Avenue
828.254.2502
THE WINE REGIONS of North Carolina
Six federally designated “American Viticultural Areas” are reviving the state’s historical tradition of growing grapes and making fine wines.
1 UPPER HIWASSEE HIGHLANDS
Winding rivers and tree-covered mountain slopes are home to vineyards producing distinctive high acid dry and off-dry style wines.
2 CREST OF THE BLUE RIDGE HENDERSON COUNTY
Warm days and cool nights during the growing season produce ideal conditions for cultivating European vinifera and French-American hybrid grapes.
3 APPALACHIAN HIGH COUNTRY
Vineyards planted at elevations between 2,290 and 4,630 feet create the conditions for unique benefits amid the mountainsides.
4 YADKIN VALLEY
Home to dozens of wineries that enjoy moderate elevations and a proximity to the Yadkin River that allow a variety of grapes to thrive.
5 SWAN CREEK
A specific microclimate makes unique grapes while the nearby Brushy Mountains create a scenic backdrop and provide a distinct mineral-rich soil known for its ability to retain nutrients and water.
6 HAW RIVER VALLEY
Rich soil and a long growing season are perfect for both the grapes and wine lovers who enjoy sipping at their favorite wineries nearly year-round.
There’s so much to sip and savor amid the vineyards of
North Carolina.
From the mountains to the coast, there are about 200 wineries operating in the state—with grapevines basking in the mild climates and healthy soils—and they continue to attract wine lovers from around the world.
Some of the wineries specialize in the state’s historical tradition of making muscadine wines, a versatile sip that is often sweet but can also be dry, produced in both still and sparkling varieties, and made from muscadine grapes native to the Southeast. Others are gaining renown and breaking new ground with the better-known Vitis vinifera European varietals.
To be sure, North Carolina’s wine industry has matured significantly in recent decades, as growers and winemakers work together to wrest the best from this beautiful fruit.
The winery at Asheville-based Biltmore Estates, meanwhile, is the most visited winery in the U.S. and offers two spaces to sip and sample its wines. And don’t forget to look for North Carolina wines in restaurants and wine shops for a genuine taste of the state’s offerings.
Visit NCWine.org for more info or scan the QR code to download the app.
The U.S. government has now granted official wine-growing designations to six regions in the state—regions known as “American Viticultural Areas,” or AVAs—and a seventh area is now under review. These designations are given to places where distinctive characteristics about the land—its soil, climate and elevations—give wine lovers the opportunity to experience something unique to that part of the world.
“These places attract a lot of tourists,” says David Bower, a winemaking instructor at the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture and Enology. “As the wines achieve more critical acclaim, people will come here just to tour those AVAs.”
For those looking for unique experiences and stunning views, North Carolina wineries offer the best—from tasting rooms set amid vineyards and working farms to wineries offering overnight stays in everything from plush hotels to rustic treehouses.
The Pre-Game Show
Bars and lounges like Färməsē in downtown Asheville offer pre- and post-dinner drink options that can bookend your restaurant reservations
“If you’re going to go through the effort of getting dressed up, you might as well make an evening out of it.”
—Layla Neuroth, owner of Färmǝ sē
As more Americans adopt the custom of enjoying drinks before and after dinner—a set of sips known as aperitifs and digestifs, respectively—bars and lounges are rolling out special offerings specifically for these occasions.
The historical roots of aperitifs and digestifs date back centuries, mostly to Italy and France, where the roles they played in a diner’s experience were mostly physiological. Aperitifs were meant to stimulate the appetite and prepare the stomach for food, while digestifs (as their name implies) were meant to help with the digestion of a meal.
These days, the goal of pre- and post-dinner drinks is just as much about the social aspect of an “evening out” and enhancing the overall experience of a meal, says Layla Neuroth, owner of Färmǝ sē (pronounced “pharmacy”) in downtown Asheville, a cocktail lounge within walking distance of several award-winning restaurants.
“An aperitif before dinner can make conversation easier once you’re at the restaurant, especially for first dates,” Neuroth says. “Nobody wants to sit awkwardly across from someone for a full hour and try to find things to talk about.”
Similarly, when the meal is over, “diners are conscious of sitting at an empty table and taking up space at a restaurant on a busy night,” Neuroth says. “When they want to keep the party going, they head out for an after-dinner drink.”
We live in an era where food and drink lovers are often encouraged to ignore convention and gravitate toward what they like—rules be damned—but there are some generally accepted guidelines for aperitifs and digestifs.
Aperitifs tend to be lower in alcohol than typical cocktails, dryer and maybe even slightly bitter. The idea is to avoid drinks that overwhelm or dull the palate. Popular options include vermouth or a dry wine. One of the more iconic pre-dinner sips is a Negroni, made with Campari, gin and sweet vermouth and garnished with an orange peel.
Neuroth also recommends an Aperol Spritz, a cocktail made with prosecco, Aperol liqueur and a splash of soda water. “It’s light and gives your stomach an easy feeling.” Another good option is a Moscow Mule, made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. “Really, you just don’t want to be weighed down with something heavy,” she says.
Located on Biltmore Avenue, just steps from Pack Square in downtown Asheville, Färməsē welcomes a pre-dinner crowd starting around 4pm, while the more lively post-dinner set starts to arrive around 8. “If you’re going to go through the effort of getting dressed up, you might as well make an evening out of it,” Neuroth says.
Neuroth recommends arriving for pre-dinner drinks at least 45 minutes to an hour before your restaurant reservations, with enough time baked in for the walk or drive to get to where you’re going. “You don’t want to be slamming anything before dinner,” she says. “Give yourself enough time to sip and take things slowly.”
After-dinner drinks, meanwhile, have historically contained herbal or botanical components to help with digestion, with a higher alcohol content than pre-dinner drinks. Another common adage is that digestifs are dark and served neat, like a brandy.
Neuroth says her clientele often gravitates toward desserty options, like Espresso Martinis or drinks made with the coffee liqueur Kahlúa or Baileys Irish Cream. A signature option at Färm ə sē is “The Infused,” made with vodka, a toffee-almond-infused cordial and walnut bitters.
So what does Neuroth herself drink for bookends around a meal?
“I’m a bourbon drinker, so I’m usually having a Manhattan for a pre-dinner drink. After dinner, I’m probably having the same thing. I make mine with Amaro, which has a lot of medicinal properties. And then during the meal, well, yeah, I’m probably having a Manhattan,” she says with a laugh. “You can really just drink what you prefer.”
Layla Neuroth, owner of Färməsē in downtown Asheville, suggests lighter drinks with a lower alcohol content for pre-dinner sips. Photo by Kristina Valdiviezo.
A Weekend in Asheville for Lovers of Art, Architecture and Food
WRITTEN BY SUE DOLAMORE
As a long-time Asheville resident, I’ve watched this vibrant city evolve into one of the most exciting destinations for art lovers. And as an artist myself, based in the beloved River Artist District, I’ve drawn endless inspiration from the city’s natural beauty and eclectic energy.
Check out my suggested three-day-weekend itinerary to experience Asheville’s magic during your visit.
Day One: Explore Downtown Asheville
Visit the Grove Arcade
Start your adventure at the Grove Arcade, a historic landmark completed in 1929. Designed by Asheville developer Edwin Wiley Grove, the Arcade blends modern shopping concepts with early-20th-century architectural beauty. Inside, you’ll find boutique stores, showcasing local artists, and the Makers Market, an outdoor bazaar where artisans offer handmade jewelry, paintings, clothing and more. It’s a perfect spot to immerse yourself in Asheville’s creative culture. Parking can be tricky on busy weekends, so be sure to check out Asheville’s parking resources.
Street Performers
While out and about, be sure to look for some of Asheville’s best buskers. Performers are out most days from late morning until about 9pm. You may see musical performers, living statues and people who type out poems for you. Prime locations include areas near the Grove Arcade, the Flat Iron statue on Battery Park Avenue, and along Haywood Street. While they don’t sell anything, they do appreciate tips if you enjoy their performances.
Woolworth Walk
Next, head over to Woolworth Walk, a restored building that once housed a Woolworth store. The space is now an art gallery featuring the works of over 170 local artisans, offering paintings, pottery, woodwork, glass, and much more. Take your time exploring the two-story space, which includes rotating exhibits from featured artists.
Drum Circle
If it’s Friday, don’t miss the Asheville Drum Circle in Pritchard Park, just a short walk away. Starting at 6pm, join drummers, dancers and rhythm lovers for this lively community event. Nearby, Jack of the Wood offers great food and live music, featuring local bluegrass and old-time tunes in an Irish pub atmosphere.
Pictured left to right: A visitor at the NC Glass Center; the interior of the Grove Arcade, an architectural gem; a brunch offering at Chestnut restaurant.
Day Two: Dive into Asheville’s Craft Scene Breakfast
Start your day in the Montford Historic District. The neighborhood offers pleasant walking along shady streets by distinctive Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts and Colonial Revival homes. Set in a former gas station, All Day Darling at 102 Montford Ave. is the perfect spot for breakfast. This bright and welcoming restaurant offers delicious options, including gluten-free baked goods and creative takes on breakfast classics. It’s an ideal spot to fuel up before a day of art exploration.
Center for Craft
Next, head downtown to the Center for Craft at 67 Broadway St. This unique venue celebrates the impact of craft on humanity, offering exhibitions, a materials collection, a resource library and interactive experiences where you can try your hand at some basic crafts. The center showcases innovative works created from sustainable materials and is a great place to gain a fresh perspective on art.
Visit RAD Outpost
Make your way to the RAD Outpost at 24 N Lexington Ave. After the devastation of Hurricane Helene, this space was created to showcase work from artists affected by the flood. It’s a great introduction to the talent in Asheville, with a variety of works on display. Check for hours. From here, you can catch a trolley or drive to the River Arts District (RAD), which is about eight minutes away by car.
Lunch in the River Arts District
Once in the RAD, take a break for lunch. Fresh West Pizza at 342 Depot St. offers delicious wood-fired pizza and fresh salads, while Grey Eagle Taqueria at 185 Clingman Ave. is perfect for taco lovers. Afterward, spend your afternoon exploring the artists’ studios and galleries in the district. You can pick up a map at any of the studio buildings to help you navigate through the district. Be sure to cross the railroad tracks and visit the studios open on the river side of the tracks. These were the locations most impacted by Hurricane Helene. (My studio is located in the Warehouse, just across the tracks.) On the corner of the
building you can see markers that show the flood levels for both the 1916 and 2024 floods. Throughout the district, you’ll find a wide range of media and styles, with many artists happy to discuss their work.
Try Your Hand at Glassblowing
If you’re feeling creative, visit the North Carolina Glass Center at 140 Roberts St. You can sign up for a 30-minute class and make a paperweight, pendant or ornament. It’s a fun and hands-on way to engage with Asheville’s arts scene. When the studios begin to close around 5pm, head back downtown for a sunset dinner at one of Asheville’s rooftop restaurants. Hemingway’s Cuba at 15 Page Ave. offers delicious Cuban cuisine, cocktails and unbeatable views of the mountains.
Day Three: Enjoy A Relaxed Day of Art and Culture Brunch
For a relaxing start to your Sunday, head to Chestnut at 48 Biltmore Ave. for brunch. Known for its locally sourced ingredients, Chestnut offers a variety of mouthwatering dishes. The owners, Joe Scully and Ken Westmoreland, are dedicated to both their community and the environment. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal. Open for brunch daily from 10am to 2:30pm.
Asheville Museum of Art
After brunch, take a short walk to the Asheville Museum of Art at 2 S. Pack Square. Admire the fine collection of 20th- and 21st-century American art, along with rotating exhibitions that highlight both historical and contemporary artists. Open from 11am to 6pm.
If you still have time and energy after the museum, hit some of the finest art galleries in the city on Broadway, including Blue Spiral 1, The Haen, American Folk Art Gallery and more.
End with Chocolate
No trip to Asheville would be complete without a visit to the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Located at 10 S. Pack Square, next to the museum, this cozy spot offers handmade chocolates, truffles, cakes and decadent chocolate beverages. It’s the perfect place to indulge before wrapping up your weekend.
The Languagesof Art
From paintings to ceramics, the River Arts District and Asheville’s creative community find ways to thrive after Helene and tell the story of the human experience
There are roughly 7,000 languages spoken in the world, and every one of them serves the same purpose. From the multiple dialects of Papua New Guinea to the most commonly spoken words in English and Mandarin Chinese, the goal of language is to allow people to communicate their thoughts and ideas to each other.
Art is the same way. But instead of language, artists use “mediums” or different tools and materials to tell stories. There’s painting and photography, woodworking, sculpture, pottery, glassblowing … and the list goes on and on. The mediums provide a platform for the artist to communicate. Sometimes the message is joy and abundance; other times it’s anger or grief.
This incredible variety of mediums is part of what makes Asheville’s River Arts District so special. Stretching several blocks along the French Broad River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, the River Arts District (RAD) serves as the working home to hundreds of local artists working in a variety of mediums. There are ceramicists who throw beautiful mugs, woodworkers who carve unique side
tables, and painters who create brightly colored landscapes. And yet they all contribute to a shared sense of inspiration—to enhance and showcase the human experience.
“There’s no single way to make art, and that’s what I love about the River Arts District,” says Tim Reaves, a local photographer who serves as marketing co-chair of the River Arts District Artists. “That mix of voices and styles is what makes this place so special.”
The RAD doesn’t exist just to display finished works in beautiful galleries; it is also home to dozens of working studios, which are busy spaces that are often messy and splattered with paint or clay, perhaps baptized with empty wine bottles following a celebration for a fellow artist. These spaces are also where artists hold classes and events, welcoming both experts and novices to explore a new craft.
By working as a community, the artists of the RAD have discovered strength in numbers—a camaraderie that has helped them weather the storms, both literally and figuratively, while also attracting art enthusiasts from around the world who come to Asheville for the unique pieces they’ll find.
RIVER ARTS DISTRICT
The River Arts District emerged as a cherished home of regional artists in the 1980s, when cash-strapped artists took over abandoned warehouses and industrial spaces built in the previous century. Buildings that once housed cotton mills for producing denim and flannel, and tanneries that made leather belts, evolved into the bright work spaces of creatives drawn to the mountains of North Carolina.
Given its proximity to the river, the River Arts District was one of the areas devastated by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. As the river swelled, it spilled over into the streets of the RAD closest to the river and flooded studios and galleries. Valuable art was ruined, waterlogged and caked in sludge, and entire galleries were flooded.
While the studios east of the train tracks were generally left unscathed, due to their higher elevation, many of those to the west of the tracks suffered severe damage. Displaced artists have since found tem-
Artists in the River Arts District specialize in many different mediums and are welcoming guests back to portions of this unique neighborhood after flooding from Hurricane Helene.
porary locales to create and offer their art—setting up in home studios and organizing pop-ups in shared galllery spaces—but the goal is very much focused on rebuilding the damaged areas of the district.
In the meantime, Reaves says, “we want people to know the RAD is open.”
To be sure, there are hundreds of artists still working in the district, and more are expected to reopen as the year progresses. Tourists are encouraged to visit the district and find the pieces that speak their language, supporting a resilient group of creatives who continue to produce some of the country’s most stunning art, while also perhaps enjoying a cup of coffee or lunch.
For updated details on who and what is open in the RAD, check riverartsdistrict.com.
Photo courtesy of Rose Rooted
Bound for Greatness
Asheville’s rich literary legacy is alive and thriving
WRITTEN BY SARAH GIAVEDONI AND JIMMY MACKENZIE
You can see the remnants of several authors’ legacies around town, and we encourage you to explore this rich literary past on your visit.
The mountains of North Carolina have long inspired creative pursuits—so it should come as little surprise that the region has been home to many successful authors, with its cities and landscapes providing the backdrop of several captivating tales.
Some authors were lucky to be born here, like Asheville’s “native son” Thomas Wolfe. Others, like Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, found their way here and set down roots later in life.
Either way, you can still see remnants of their legacies around town, and we encourage you to explore this rich literary past on your visit.
O. Henry (1862–1910)
William Sydney Porter was not the first author to find his way to Asheville but he may have been the first to become a household name. In 1894, Porter was embroiled in a bank embezzlement scandal in Houston, Texas. While behind bars, he passed the time writing short stories with ironic twist endings and published under the pen name O. Henry.
O. Henry’s most famous story, “The Gift of the Magi,” is often retold around the holidays. It follows a poor husband and wife who make significant sacrifices, unbeknownst to each other, in order to get each other the perfect Christmas gifts.
During his later years, O. Henry and his wife lived in Asheville, and he wrote from an office downtown. The building is no longer standing, but there is a marker on the sidewalk. (Perhaps O. Henry would have appreciated its ironic placement in front of a bank ATM.) Today, you can visit him at Riverside Cemetery in North Asheville’s historic Montford neighborhood. Many visitors leave pennies at his grave, a reference to the story for which he’s best known.
Carl Sandburg (1878–1967)
Carl Sandburg was already an internationally famous author, singer and poet when he moved to Henderson County, just south of Asheville, in 1945. He purchased a farm estate built in the 1800s called Connemara. His wife, Lilian, raised award-winning goats on the property.
Sandburg lived with his wife at Connemara until his death. Today, the property is a national park site featuring tours of his house and his book collection, along with hiking trails and beautiful mountain views. When you visit, be sure to stop by the barn and pet the treasured descendants of Lilian’s goats.
During his career, Sandburg wrote volumes of award-winning works, many of them while living in Hendersonville. He won several Pulitzer Prizes, including one for volume two of his huge Abraham Lincoln biography, The War Years. His 1927 recordings, The American Songbag, meanwhile, influenced many folk singers including Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan.
Throughout years and years of prodigious output, Sandburg is perhaps best known for his short poem, “Fog”, which readers may recognize. It first appeared in his Chicago Poems (1916). In it, he muses that the fog comes in “on little cat feet.”
The house where author Carl Sandburg lived with his wife, who raised prize-winning goats on the property.
Photo by Erin Adams.
Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938)
Born and raised in Asheville—or “Altamont,” as he called it in his novels—Thomas Wolfe is popularly known as “Asheville’s native son.” He was portrayed by Jude Law in the film Genius, which depicted Wolfe’s working relationship with Scribner’s editor Maxwell Perkins. Perkins also served as the editor for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Wolfe’s first novel, Look Homeward, Angel, was a loosely fictionalized account of his youth in Asheville, with names and locations only lightly modified in some cases. Much of the story takes place at his mother’s boardinghouse, where he lived. Today, the boardinghouse is a state historic site called the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Home, in downtown Asheville. Guided tours offer a fascinating way to step back into Wolfe’s time.
Several monuments to Wolfe stand around town, including a bronze replica of the angel referenced in the book’s title. Wolfe’s father ran a monument shop downtown, where the famous marble angel sculpture stood sentinel before it was sold. Wolfe is buried beside his family members in Riverside Cemetery.
Wilma Dykeman (1920–2006)
Long before the “Green” movements of the 1970s, locally born Wilma Dykeman was ahead of her time. Her 1955 nonfiction book The French Broad included a chapter entitled “Who Killed the French Broad?” Dykeman theorized that since no one owns the river, it’s incumbent upon all of us to keep it pollution-free.
Pictured above: A bronze replica of the angel statue featured throughout Thomas Wolfe’s most famous novel sits in front of the Asheville Art Museum. At top: The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is located at the boardinghouse that was run by his mother.
Her first novel, The Tall Woman , published in 1962, focused on an Appalachian woman whose family fought on opposite sides of the Civil War. She won a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Humanities Senior Fellowship among many other awards, distinctions, and teaching designations.
Dykeman died in 2006 and is buried at the Beaverdam Cemetery on the north end of town. A section of the nearly 20-mile greenway that runs through Asheville is named after her.
John Ehle (1925–2018)
Asheville-born author, World War II veteran, humanitarian and advisor to the state’s governor, John Ehle began his professional writing career in the 1950s. His most famous novel, The Land Breakers (1964), was praised by Harper Lee, who called Ehle one of the foremost writers of historical fiction.
Two of Ehle’s books were made into Hollywood films: The Journey of August King and The Winter People, starring Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis. His daughter, Jennifer Ehle, is an actress. She portrayed Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 BBC miniseries “Pride and Prejudice” and the younger sister to Emily Dickinson in the 2016 film A Quiet Passion, starring Cynthia Nixon.
Charles Frazier (b.1950)
Asheville-born Charles Frazier grew up around Andrews and Franklin, NC. He worked as an English professor for a number of years before publishing his first novel, Cold Mountain , in 1997. The novel was an instant success, and the film adaptation (2003) earned more than 100 award nominations and an Oscar win.
Cold Mountain was based in part on Frazier’s family history from neighboring Haywood County—namely, stories about his great-great-uncle’s involvement in the Civil War.
Western North Carolina and the Appalachians feature heavily in Frazier’s subsequent novels, including Thirteen Moons, Nightwoods and Varina.
WICKED GOOD SEAFOOD IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ASHEVILLE
F. Scott (1896–1940) and Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948)
Zelda Sayre grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, but her family often vacationed in the cooler Blue Ridge Mountains. In 1920, she married author F. Scott Fitzgerald shortly after the popular success of his debut novel, This Side of Paradise. The pair quickly became a national sensation, partying their way across America and continental Europe. Zelda was an accomplished ballet dancer and painter and she also authored a novel, Save Me the Waltz , which was a fictionalized account of a tryst she had on the French Riviera.
Zelda would come to stay in Asheville while a patient at Highland Hospital, a mental health facility in the Montford neighborhood. While she was there, F. Scott would come to town for extended visits and stay at a variety of local hotels. The famous Grove Park Inn displays a plaque commemorating his stay, outside the rooms he rented there.
Zelda would later die at Highland Hospital, in 1948, when a tragic fire took the lives of her and eight other women. A historical marker memorializing Zelda is found on Broadway near UNC Asheville.
Discover Local Authors around Asheville
There are myriad places throughout Asheville, in addition to those mentioned above, where you can discover more about area authors.
First and foremost, Asheville is home to a number of local bookstores. Malaprop’s Bookstore has been a downtown touchstone for more than 40 years. Bagatelle Books in West Asheville focuses primarily on used and rare books. The lucky shopper can find early editions of classics from some of the authors on this list. And no book lover’s trip to town is complete without visiting the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar. In addition to offering a literary labyrinth of primarily used books for sale, the bar’s drink menu references novels and local authors.
Pictured above: A display at the Grove Park Inn, where F. Scott Fitzgerald would often stay while in Asheville. At left: A copy of “Save Me the Waltz” by Zelda Fitzgerald.
Several other bars and restaurants also pay homage to local authors on their menus. Notably, the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel has a breakfast and dinner restaurant called the Writer’s Bistro. And Character Study in West Asheville is among the newest book-inspired bars in town.
Perhaps the best way to learn more about Asheville’s authors is to hear what the experts have to say. The Buncombe County Library System hosts a variety of interesting talks and presentations throughout the year, as do the Thomas Wolfe Home and Wilma Dykeman Legacy. Or, why not hear from the authors themselves? Check local calendars for upcoming book signing events from the best of today’s local authors.
The Legacy Continues
Asheville’s literary history continues to grow and evolve as new local authors make their mark through the written word. There are many contemporary authors who are worth finding.
Asheville resident Robert Beatty penned a series of middle-grade novels, beginning with Serafina and the Black Cloak in 2015 that was released by Disney Hyperion to great acclaim. Meanwhile, another Asheville resident, Sara Gruen, continues to enjoy success for her novel Water for Elephants, which was made into a movie in 2011 and then a Broadway musical in 2024.
UNC Asheville professor Wiley Cash’s historical fiction draws on regional events as the crux of his stories, while Asheville native Elizabeth Kostova was awarded one of the largest advances for a previously unpublished author for her first novel, The Historian, in 2005.
Whether they were born and raised here or not, the thread that binds Asheville’s authors is the Blue Ridge Mountains themselves. This unique sense of place is woven through their stories, making our city an important element in the legacy of Asheville’s literary history.
Scratch-made salads, sandwiches, burgers and wraps—with a wide selection of fresh-baked desserts and sweet treats. Plus! A new dinner menu starting at 5PM with steak and seafood options, paired with wine, beer, and other adult beverages.
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Good Vibes
Auratherapy is decoding auras and wants to make Asheville a hub for this emerging wellness practice
for learning more about auras.
and
Auratherapy Founder Laura McCann wants to make Asheville a national hub
Pictured on opposite page: Her store in the Grove Arcade offers aura analyses
aromatherapy products. Photos by Kristina Valdiviezo.
Auras can reveal a lot about a person—from personality traits to emotional states of being—and McCann has witnessed a lot of what she calls “massive aha! moments” from her clients.
Some people call them vibes—as in “that person gives off good vibes”—but Asheville-based wellness entrepreneur Laura McCann knows them by their more formal name: auras. And she’s on a mission to make Asheville a national hub for learning more about them and using them as a guide to bolster our health and well-being.
Auras are the energy fields that flow in and around our bodies, moving at different speeds and frequencies. With the use of software and scanners, built specifically for the purpose, auras can be mapped out and show up as glowing hues of the rainbow, from red to violet. A red aura, for example, reflects someone who is energetic and strong-willed, while a blue aura emanates from someone who is calm and intuitive.
Auras can reveal a lot about a person—from personality traits to emotional states of being—and McCann says she has witnessed a lot of what she calls “massive aha! moments” from her clients. Her Asheville-based store, Auratherapy, located in the Grove Arcade, conducts aura and chakra analyses or “readings” for hundreds of people each week, she says. The process creates detailed reports from the findings, along with product recommendations from Auratherapy’s own line of aromatherapy products for body and home.
“One of the new frontiers of wellness is finding out how to manage our energy,” McCann says. “Where are we moving and where are we holding on to energy?”
McCann opened Auratherapy in 2018 and enjoyed swift success. Many clients come in for fun—often as part of a birthday celebration, girls weekend or bachelor/bachelorette party—but others come to the store looking for genuine insights and healing. McCann has since opened a second location in Miami and does a brisk business of selling her Auratherapy products online.
McCann now sees an opportunity to expand even further, and her larger vision is to make Asheville an epicenter for “energy work”—which, in addition to aromatherapy, can include breathwork, meditation, acupuncture and Ayurveda, among other practices—building on the city’s decades-long reputation as a destination for health and healing.
“Your energy tells a story—and our goal is to help you read it, understand it, and transform it,” McCann says. “Asheville is the perfect place to explore this new field of wellness.”
As part of that goal, McCann plans to release a new book later this year— Auratherapy: A Guide to Adoring Yourself, Your Chakras and Your Auras —while also rolling out a certification program for others interested in conducting aura readings and possibly offering Auratherapy products to their own clients.
A centerpiece of McCann’s plan is a new conference and events center, where she can host workshops and classes. In 2024, McCann bought a beautiful old church in Woodfin, just north of Asheville, for that purpose. After donating all of the pews, a working organ and stacks of Bibles to a church in Old Fort that got ruined in Hurricane Helene, she is now undertaking a massive renovation of the church with plans to open in late 2025.
“The church has these stained glass windows, and one of them shows the Noah’s Ark story,” McCann says. “It’s taking a lot to move forward with this after the hurricane. And so after seeing that, I felt this really big open-heartedness. We had to find the silver lining in all of this.”
As part of its aura readings, Auratherapy analyzes the energy in a person’s chakras. Meaning “wheel” in Sanskrit, chakras are balls of energy within seven regions of the body, from the base of the torso to the top of the head. Ideally, the chakras are balanced and allow the free and easy flow of energy. Negative emotions, like fear and anger, can cause blockages and potentially contribute to physical health issues.
The readings at Auratherapy generate a detailed 14-page report, and McCann and her team use the findings to suggest aromatherapy products that support the client’s needs. Auratherapy offers oils and sprays, all of them made in a production facility just north of Asheville.
McCann moved to Asheville in 2017, leaving a career in fashion in New York City to carve out a new life in the mountains. After meeting an aromatherapy expert at a friend’s party, she learned more about essential oils and discovered that many people use the energetic frequencies of the oils to bolster and balance their own energy fields.
Inspired by the healing potential of these products, McCann understood data was needed to provide insights that were tangible. Her life and business partner Jim Levinson, a mechanical engineer, reiki master and a student of energy healing practices, invested in the equipment to analyze auras and chakras, hoping a scientific approach could help steer clients toward specific purchases that could have the biggest impact.
With so much going on, McCann is herself using aromatherapy products to maintain focus and balance, helping her stay grounded as she tries to build a successful business while staying true to her core mission of helping others become the best versions of themselves.
“In my own journey, I’ve had to learn this notion of adoring myself,” McCann says. “And not in the way most people think—like a woowoo or metaphysical way—but to just be energetically aligned with my true nature.”
Supporting Beekeepers On Their Journey
2025 Event Venue Directory
From small gatherings to large galas, these event spaces in Asheville and surrounding areas will provide the perfect backdrop for your celebration.
12 BONES SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING
2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden
The iconic 12 Bones BBQ opened its taproom and event space in 2019, providing a unique backdrop for a variety of gatherings and showcasing two of Asheville’s favorite things: BBQ and beer. The large Taproom boasts 15 draft beers, cider, wine & seltzers—with a 15-barrel brewhouse on display—while a dedicated space can be closed off for private events of up to 50. The property also has outdoor seating and allows live music. The full 12 Bones menu is available to guests, including pulled pork and chicken, racks of ribs and homemade sides like corn pudding and jalapeño cheese grits—and a catering manager can help customize the menu. Rental rates start at $300/hr. Please contact catering@12bones. com for a personalized quote.
THE ARGOT ROOM AT JARGON
717 Haywood Rd, West Asheville
The Argot Room is an intimate and funky chic space opened by West Asheville’s beloved Jargon restaurant, which is known for its dynamic New American cuisine showcasing seasonal and local ingredients. The space can host 45 guests, making it ideal for small receptions, rehearsal dinners and birthday parties, and is instantly welcoming with cool decor and even small sitting areas. Event menus will closely replicate the restaurant’s offerings, which change with the seasons, and guests can work with the Argot Room’s dedicated event coordinator to plan the details. The rental rate is $500, and catered dinners range from $40 to $75 per person with beverages charged separately.
AURA SANCTUARY
717 Haywood Rd, West Asheville
This one-of-a-kind space, coming online in the spring of 2026 and accepting reservations now, is housed within the beautiful walls of an old church that’s been renovated floor to ceiling for gatherings of all sizes. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Asheville, it offers over 7,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a large sunlit multipurpose room for ceremonies or receptions, and an outdoor courtyard that can accommodate wedding arches, lounge seating, fire pits and food trucks. There are also smaller rooms for guest check-ins or cocktail hours. Aura Sanctuary does not provide catering or beverages, but welcomes all vendors and has a fully equipped chef’s kitchen. Pricing starts at $200 per hour for intimate gatherings, and $3,000 for full-day rentals.
THE BARREL HOUSE AT WICKED WEED
147 Coxe Ave, South Slope Asheville
Offering one of the largest event spaces in downtown Asheville— accommodating up to 125 for seated dinners and up to 250 for cocktail receptions—The Barrel House was once the barrel aging room for the popular Wicked Weed Brewing and still holds its R&D and pilot brewing system. The Barrel Room has been used as a venue for Asheville food festivals, and hosts several other events throughout the year, from birthday parties to wedding receptions. They offer various food options to fit your needs and, of course, award-winning beers, wine and liquor. Prices vary depending on the date, but typically range from $2,500 to $8,500, with an adjoining outdoor space that can be included.
LA BODEGA BY CÚRATE
32 S Lexington Ave, Downtown Asheville
La Bodega is a multifunctional space, ideal for hosting corporate events, rehearsal dinners, speaking engagements or live music. With large windows offering natural light over two floors and a flexible layout, the space can host up to 90 people seated and 125 for a standing reception on its second floor. La Bodega’s inhouse catering and bar service is an extension of the offerings from James Beard Award–winning Cúrate, offering Spanish cuisine—such as classic tapas and popular pintxos—all curated by Chef Katie Button. La Bodega also offers unique interactive experiences, such as sangria making and jamón carving.
THE VENUE
717 Haywood Rd, West Asheville
Located in downtown Asheville, The Venue is a popular event space for locals and visitors. Its two floors—rentable separately or together—offer three distinct areas, accommodating intimate gatherings or events of 450+ across both levels. Exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and original tiles give it character, and guests enjoy the outdoor balcony overlooking the street. Known as a wedding venue, it also hosts corporate events and community gatherings. It provides full bar services and a commercial kitchen for third-party caterers.
A “Corner Market” That Feels Like Coming Home
Walking into Hygge Markets you will be surrounded by warmth and comfort. Born & raised in WNC, the family that is Hygge, understands the true meaning of community. Explore this unique local shop overflowing with mountain made art, photography, snacks and drinks. From oils and seasonings to local meat and produce. Whether you are a local or visitor, Hygge Market feels like coming home.
Events & Pop-Ups
Asheville Artists & Makers
Grocery Delivery
Local Food & Gift Baskets Ready to Go Meals Made by Local Chefs
188 Coxe Street, Asheville 828.284.2848
Award-winning signature dishes from North India
A Tapestry of Life and Land
How the land of Western North Carolina shapes the experience of everything and everyone who comes here.
WRITTEN BY ADAM COULTER
Situated in the ancient Appalachian Mountains, Western North Carolina is a land of unique character and rich biodiversity—a stunning tapestry of beauty that offers thrilling outdoor experiences, from hiking to paddling, alongside acres upon acres of farmland where local food is grown as well as wine grapes and Christmas trees.
Here, the French Broad River flows north, defying the typical southward trend, while Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, stands above 6,000 feet. The region is home to rare species like the Weller’s salaman-
der, found around Grandfather Mountain, and the sunset-red Gray’s lily, North Carolina’s only native lily pollinated by hummingbirds.
Varying elevations, ranging from 1,000 feet below sea level to more than 6,000 feet above it, contribute to the remarkable biodiversity. This, coupled with our region’s climate, allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops.
Fruit trees, medicinal and culinary herbs, cut flowers, root crops and annual crops like tomatoes and peppers all benefit from a long, warm growing season, winter dormancy and ample rainfall.
The view from Mt Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Historically, the Cherokee here grew corn, beans and squash—known collectively as the “three sisters”—and intercropping techniques allowed them to thrive. The corn stalks supported the beans as they grew off the ground while the squash leaves covered the soil, reducing weeds. Strawberries and medicinal herbs were important crops as well and were often dispersed throughout the region to other indigenous nations.
Commercially, our region has been known for tobacco, apples, Christmas trees and forestry.
A common thread that unites the people of Western North Carolina is an enduring love of the land.
Tobacco, as we know it today, was introduced to Western North Carolina in the early- to mid-1800s by European settlers and was largely concentrated in what is now Madison County. By the 1890s, and into the 1910s, interest in tobacco as a cash crop began to increase and became a way to lift families out of poverty. Though most tobacco farms were small, the product played an important part of the South’s economy in the early decades of the 20th century. In the 1990s, when major lawsuits were filed against tobacco companies, the farmers in the region started to shift to other crops.
Our state has also become known for its wine. The Biltmore Estate winery holds the honor of being the most-visited winery in America,
while Polk County, in our southern foothills region, has a long history of grape growing and winemaking. Meanwhile, Henderson County, just south of Asheville, leads the state in apple production, and visitors will find acres of beautiful orchards, but it too is expanding into the grape growing and winemaking industry.
To the north, Ashe County is North Carolina’s top Christmas tree producer, with approximately 12,000 acres planted with 20 million trees. In fact, a Christmas tree from North Carolina has decorated the White House in Washington, D.C., 16 times since 1966 with a tree from Avery County claiming that honor in 2024.
The farms of Western North Carolina are known for growing apples and Christmas trees, among other popular crops.
Asheville is also home to the Western North Carolina Farmers Market. Built in 1977 on land previously owned by the Biltmore Estate, this state-owned farmers market is a large complex with indoor and outdoor market stalls where vendors offer local produce, value-added products, plants and canned goods year round.
There are also many smaller tailgate markets in the area, providing the opportunity for consumers to establish relationships with local farmers and ask questions about the produce they grow and sell. Many farms offer roadside stands or U-pick options for seasonal crops like apples, berries, grapes, peaches, strawberries, pumpkins and other vegetables. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) harvest subscription programs, meanwhile, allow consumers to buy shares in a farm’s harvest, ensuring fresh produce and other value-added items. A large number of local restaurants feature dishes made with locally sourced ingredients while many grocery stores and bakeries offer artisanal goods created from regional products.
Despite the region’s agricultural success, nothing prepared anyone for the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Between September 25 and September 27, 2024, Asheville received nearly 14 inches of rain. The French Broad River crested at over 24 feet while the Swannanoa River crested at over 26 feet before naturally converging with the French Broad just southwest of downtown Asheville. Unprecedented damage occurred not only to Asheville but throughout the region, drastically altering the soil profile, soil structure and the natural course of some waterways, in some cases reducing usable land and raising concerns about future land use. Despite record flooding in 1916 and 2004, Hurricane Helene’s impact on flooding, farmland and forests surpassed any storm in Asheville’s history.
But even though storms may come and rivers may flood, a common thread that unites the people of Western North Carolina is an enduring love of the land. This deep affection finds its truest voice in a single word that defines Western North Carolina for what it truly is to those who love it here: home.
Unique Treats & Delicious Eats
Hey Chickadee serves up Honey Creemee—our homemade soft-serve with local milk and honey—plus Brazilian French Toast and delicious seasonal eats. Just a 5-minute walk to Osceola Lake, it’s the perfect stop to grab food for a picnic or refuel after a hike. Unique flavors, fresh ingredients—fuel your adventure with us!
Open Friday and Saturdays, from April to November 159 Osceola Road, Hendersonville | heychickadeenc.com | Free Parking & Dogs are Welcome
The Mountains Are Calling
Four Stunning Hikes Within an Hour’s Drive of Asheville
WRITTEN BY LINDSEY BARR
Western North Carolina is a hub of outdoor recreation. With over 1,000 miles of trails within an hour’s drive of Asheville—offering waterfalls, mountain views, quiet forest paths, wildflowers, and fall foliage—there’s likely a perfect hike for you to explore and enjoy!
Please note: All of these areas were impacted in some way by Hurricane Helene. Hikers may see trail work, re-routes and downed trees on some of these trails.
DUPONT WATERFALL LOOP
A beautiful loop in the “Land of the Waterfalls”
Best For: waterfalls, large groups
Drive Time: 1 hour each way (near Brevard, NC)
Hike Distance: 3 miles easy-to-moderate loop
Parking: Park at the DuPont High Falls Visitor Center on Staton Road
The trail departs from the east side of the High Falls Visitor Center parking area. You’ll follow a narrow forested path before arriving at a trail intersection with two wide gravel trails. Take the leftmost trail to hike the Triple Falls Trail. Continue straight at the intersection with the High Falls Trail to see Triple Falls. You can view the waterfall from the Triple Falls Shelter or lower from the observation area; at publication time, the stairs to the base of Triple Falls were closed due to Helene. After leaving Triple Falls, hike toward the Visitor Center. At the first trail intersection, take the left fork for the High Falls Trail along the river. Pass the trail to the base of High Falls (a great way to cool off on a hot day) before arriving at the High Falls viewing area. Continue uphill to Triple Falls Trail, then return to the parking area. To extend your hike, take the Covered Bridge Trail after High Falls to walk to the Covered Bridge. This bridge was originally built as the entrance to a housing community (plans for this community were scrapped when Friends of Dupont saved the forest from development and it became a state forest).
CATAWBA FALLS
An easy hike to a spectacular waterfall close to Asheville
Best For: waterfalls, families with kids
Drive Time: 30 minutes each way (near Old Fort, NC)
Hike Distance: 2.25 miles easy out-and-back or 3.5 miles
moderate loop
Parking: Park at the Catawba Falls parking area
This hike begins to the right of the bathrooms at the west end of the parking area. After entering the woods this hike follows a mostly flat trail along the Catawba River. Along the way, you’ll see the remains of several stone buildings and a dam wall. The hike crosses the river a couple times before arriving at Catawba Falls, an impressive 100-foot cascade. An observation tower opened in 2023, providing safe viewing of the upper falls. Return to the parking lot along the same trail or follow the new Catawba Falls Loop Trail from the top of the observation tower to extend your hike to a 3.5-mile moderate loop.
Note: Hikers with physical mobility limitations can receive a free permit to access the High Falls Picnic Shelter and Covered Bridge by vehicle. Permits are timed entry and must be requested online at least 48 hours in advance of your visit.
LAUREL RIVER TRAIL
A flat riverside hike perfect for a hot summer’s day
Best For: wildflowers
Drive Time: 45 minutes each way (between Marshall, NC, and Hot Springs, NC)
Hike Distance: up to 7 miles easy out-and-back
Parking: Parking is in a gravel lot along the west side of U.S. Highway 70
From the southern end of the parking area, enter the woods on a wide gravel trail. The first mile is an old railroad bed, so the trail is wide and well-graded. After that, it becomes a narrower dirt trail with some rocky sections. This hike follows Big Laurel (popular with whitewater paddlers) until it intersects with the French Broad River. It also passes the remains of Runion, a logging town that was served by the railroad. There are several beautiful spots along the hike to take a riverside break for a picnic or to wade into the water. Because this is an out-andback hike, it can be shortened to whatever length works best for you.
Note: The first mile of trail passes through private property; do not go off trail in this section.
LOOKOUT ROCKS AT MONTREAT
A short hike to an epic mountain view
Best For: mountain views, sunset
Drive Time: 20 minutes (near Black Mountain, NC)
Hike Distance: 1 mile moderate out-and-back
Parking: There are two small gravel parking areas along Lookout Road in Montreat
This is the most challenging hike on this list, but the views are worth it! From the upper parking area, you’ll follow a wide trail uphill. Climb through a hardwood forest before arriving at an intersection with the Trestle Trail, an old railroad bed. Continue
TIPS FOR A GREAT HIKE
• Many trails and parking areas get very busy on the weekend and in the middle of the day. Avoid crowds by planning your hike for weekdays and/or early or late in the day.
• If a parking area is full, do not park along the road or block traffic in any way. Opt for an alternate hike.
• Practice “Leave No Trace” principles: Pack out all trash and take nothing other than photos and memories when you leave.
• All trails listed are dog friendly, but dogs must be kept on a leash and you must pack out all pet waste.
• Do not stack rocks! Western NC waterways are home to several rare species of salamanders, and stacking rocks can negatively impact their habitats.
• Weather in the mountains is unpredictable! Always carry a rain jacket and an extra warm layer, in case the weather changes while you’re hiking.
LOCATIONS
Brewpub
91 Biltmore Ave, Asheville
Our flagship location in Downtown Asheville of fers an award-winning restaurant, featuring local and seasonal ingredients, and a taproom pouring fan favorites and experimental releases.
Two dog-friendly outdoor patios, a wellstocked bot tle shop for souvenirs and swag, and free tours of the brewing process.
Funkatorium
147 Coxe Ave, Asheville
*Reopening in May
The Funkatorium is a mecca for sour beer enthusiasts, with a beautifully shaded biergar ten and a full menu for lunch and dinner.
Wicked Weed West
145 Jacob Holm Way, Candler
Our West Asheville production brewer y has a large taproom and outdoor patio, with a food truck for snacks and pub fare, and welcomes families and dogs.
Our founder, Robert Ingle, saw a need to invest in smaller towns and rural communities throughout the Carolinas that were being unsupported by large grocery chains. So, he opened the first Ingles supermarket in Asheville, North Carolina in 1963 working primarily with local farmers to get their product into the hands of consumers.
Today, we continue building on our founder’s ambitious dreams of supporting underserved and local communities, farmers, and producers. Together with our customers we proudly provide assistance to more local children and families, schools and universities, athletic and arts programs, and those hungry and in-need than any other grocery store in the southeast.
