WANDERLUST WEEKEND

Where can you enjoy a plethora of locally owned businesses with a funky, bohemian vibe set against the backdrop of beautiful blue-tinged mountains? West Asheville in western North Carolina offers miles of leisurely walking on a flat stretch of land overlooking the vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grab your walking shoes and get ready to wander through flea markets, boutique shops and a variety of independently owned restaurants and bars serving craft cocktails and artisan meals.

Here’s what the perfect weekend in Asheville can look like:

FRIDAY: First of all, sleep in. Nothing opens in West Asheville before 8 a.m. Start your weekend off with some spice at Battlecat Coffee with a Mexican Mocha — dark chocolate, espresso, steamed milk and a hint of cayenne pepper. In the back of this artsy cafe, complete with mismatched chairs and comfy, second-hand couches is Tiger Bay Café, which serves tasty breakfast burritos and Cuban-inspired breakfast sandwiches.

If you’re ready to walk, take a right onto Haywood Road and continue for about a tenth of a mile until you reach the triangular intersection of Westwood Place, across from Hot Stuff Tattoo Shop. Stop to peruse some vinyl at Harvest Records and then cross the street for a lovely little nook of shops in a historic building.

Bagatelle Books is a quaint second-hand bookstore with rare finds, carefully curated and organized into easy-to-browse categories. You can find vintage children’s books with alluring well-preserved covers and hand-tipped illustrations or a bargain book on a quirky subject you never knew you needed to read about, like Appalachian storytelling.

Just next door is Flora, a magical botanical experience for the senses. Imagine walking into a fresh blend of lush green plants hanging next to one-of-a-kind farmhouse-style decorations, artisanal candles and herbs galore. It also houses Forage, a tiny coffee shop where you can sit and soak up all the earthy scents blending together in harmony. Take another left onto Haywood and walk about 100 feet to Whist, where you can find unique gifts, cards and art supplies to bring home as souvenirs. Everything from pop culture art to hand-stitched embroidery kits will entice you to indulge your creative side. Careful, you can lose hours in this store just gazing at all the original artwork and colorful displays.

Grab your walking shoes and get ready to wander through flea markets, boutique shops and a variety of independently owned restaurants and bars serving craft cocktails and artisan meals.

Ready for lunch? Try Sunny Point Cafe, a 10-minute walk across the interstate bridge. Pause to view the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains on both sides before arriving at the shaded courtyard, where you can rest on a bench enjoying organic coffee while waiting for your table to be ready. The Southern comfort food is worth the wait; try the black bean and cheddar omelet or the chicken and waffle sandwich if you’re feeling extra hungry.

You can continue left on Haywood Road by walking five minutes toward downtown West Asheville and visiting Provisions, an upscale version of an old-fashioned mercantile store, and Reciprocity, a resale boutique with handpicked women’s clothing and accessories. Or you can take a well-deserved nap and gear up for a fun night out!

For dinner, try WALK, West Asheville Lounge and Kitchen, located at 401 Haywood Road. You can enjoy an open-air window seat that overlooks all your pedestrian travels from earlier while sipping on local beer or a craft cocktail and feasting on their delicious super queso or pulled pork sammies.

Across the street is Fleetwood's, a rock-n-roll wedding chapel that also contains a vintage shop, bar and event venue that offers karaoke nights, concerts and comedian showcases. Cap off the night at the Whale, a craft-beer collective with outdoor seating and a nauticalthemed atmosphere.

“WALK, WEST ASHEVILLE LOUNGE AND KITCHEN

ENJOY AN OPEN-AIR WINDOW SEAT WHILE SIPPING ON LOCAL BEER OR A CRAFT COCKTAIL.

SATURDAY: We’re going to take it slow today, since you saw, and walked, so much yesterday. Begin the day with a unique breakfast experience at Taco Billy, located around the corner, to the left and down the hill from yesterday’s Battlecat start. Taco Billy offers organic and vegan creations such as the “Support Group” taco with cumin sweet potatoes, pecan and black bean hummus, roasted pepitas, avocado, spinach and coconut crema, all on a house-made plantain tortilla.

Walk downhill toward the French Broad River and enjoy the scenery from the bridge as you enter the River Arts District. The RAD, as locals call it, has an industrial, artsy feel complemented by the everchanging, gorgeous graffiti decorating the buildings lining the Asheville Greenway. Take your time exploring the local artist studios and catch a glass-blowing demonstration on Second Saturdays each month.

Read this article and more: https://thetravelintel.com/articles/ wanderlust-weekend-walking-tour-of-west-asheville

Read more articles from Tonya Clanton https://thetravelintel.com/pro/20210226131415 You might choose to rent a paddleboard, tube or kayak at Asheville Outdoor Center, or continue on foot along the well-paved and pedestrian-friendly Asheville Greenway lining the river banks. Stop for a beer at the Wedge Brewery, downstairs from the art galleries, or continue your walk to its second location along the greenway and next door to even more art galleries, antique shops and restaurants such as 12 Bones, a local smokehouse that was graced by former President Barack Obama. At night, check out the Grey Eagle Tavern and Taqueria for authentic and fresh LatinAmerican cuisine and a concert, with both local and national acts. Or, you can experience more of the art scene with a trip just across the street to the Magnetic Theater, which hosts diverse plays, variety shows and dance troupes. SUNDAY:

We’re heading back to Haywood Road to relish in a luscious brunch at Tastee Diner, a 1950s-themed restaurant where breakfast is served all day. They also have crispy fried chicken, burgers and “adult shakes,” like the “Get Up/Stand Up” coffee and Bailey’s or “The Elvis” with peanut butter, banana, vanilla ice cream, bacon and bourbon.

Walk off that delightful meal with a trip to any of the outdoor flea markets that line Haywood Road on Sunday afternoons, such as ones outside the Whale and Fleetwood’s that you got to know Friday night. Next, slow down even more to explore the West Asheville neighborhood gardens. An official guided stroll happens each September, but just by heading down Virginia Avenue in downtown West Asheville, you’re sure to find many meandering options to view these beautifully kept gardens from the shaded sidewalks of historic neighborhoods. I hope you’ve enjoyed your slow-paced walking tour of West Asheville, or as the locals call it “Best Asheville.”