Second in a series about day trips from Davidson.
One of the gems of North Carolina is within a two-hour drive of Davidson: Asheville. For some of you, Asheville might seem like just another town. For others, it might be home. But for anyone who likes to walk around exploring bookstores and eating really great food, Asheville is worth a Saturday away from campus. If you have time, leave on a Friday afternoon to enjoy the nightlife and stay through Saturday to explore the city.
Asheville has become one of my favorite places to stop on road trips through the state. Here are some of the best spots I’ve discovered.
Downtown – Wander through the streets of downtown Asheville with your eyes and ears open. You’ll come across musicians on the streets and see lots of interesting people. Have your phone ready to take pictures of the giant flat iron (across from the Flat Iron Building) and other statues.
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Early Girl Eatery – As soon as you get into town, make a beeline for one of the best meals in the city. You’ll probably have to wait to be seated, but please trust me, it’s totally worth it. My favorite dish is the fried chicken, which comes with a biscuit and two sides (creamy mac & cheese and grits for me). Their burger is also delicious, as are their desserts and cocktails.
- Malaprop’s – If you can see through the haze of your food coma, shuffle on over to a celebrated indie bookstore, which often hosts book signings that are worth the drive up into the mountains on their own. With staff recommendations, signed copies, and lots of shelf talkers, I never leave the store without a book (or two or three). The store’s café has delicious lattes that you can sip on while you browse.
- French Broad Chocolate Lounge – Since this bakery is open late into the night, there is often a line to get into the lounge, but boy does that pay off. From cider ice cream floats to highland mocha stout cake to ice cream to sipping chocolate—you’ll be grateful that the line buys you time to decide what to order.
- Biscuit Head – Who knew that doughnut biscuits were a thing? Or bananas foster jam? This popular breakfast spot offers a lot of variations on the basic biscuit. The huge biscuits (called cat-head biscuits because they’re the size of a cat’s head) allow you to sample all of the exotic jams on offer. Their mochas are also yummy.
- Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar – Located in the popular Grove Arcade, this bookstore has so many hidden nooks and tucked-in seats that you’ll want to move in. Whether you come for the used and new books or the wine and coffee selection, you won’t regret it.
Two more restaurants to try – Sunny Point Café in West Asheville is a local hot place for breakfast. You’ll have a chance to explore the area’s bookstores and music shops while you wait for a table.
Tupelo Honey Café (two locations in Asheville) is one damn good Southern restaurant.
And one place I want to visit the next time I’m in town: the aSHEville Museum, a women’s cultural museum that highlights the stories of both local and global women, right in the heart of downtown.
So journey up into the Blue Ridge Mountains the next weekend you’re free, and enjoy this vibrant city.
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