North America

Asheville, NC
Food & Drink 

 Restaurants & Cafés 

 

 

 12 Bones Smokehouse (River Arts District) 

 

 

 White Duck Taco Shop (Downtown) 

 

 

 Neng Jr.’s (Filipinx‑Appalachian fusion, West Asheville) 

 

 

 The Admiral (small‑plates bistro, West Asheville) 

 

 

 Wild Ginger (Vietnamese, West Asheville) 

 

 

 Bull & Beggar (brasserie, River Arts District) 

 

 

 Limones (Latin‑inspired, downtown) 

 

 Five Points Restaurant (classic diner breakfast, north of downtown) 

 Ultra Coffeebar (RAD café) 

 Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop (retro lunch spot, Brevard) 

 

 Deserts & Bakeries 

 

 French Broad Chocolate Lounge (desserts, downtown) 

 

 Sunshine Sammies (gourmet ice‑cream sandwiches, downtown) 

 

 Hole Doughnuts (West Asheville) 

 OWL Bakery (artisan pastries, West Asheville) 

 

 Cocktails 

 

 

 The Golden Pineapple (cocktail bar, West Asheville) 

 

 

 Breweries 

 

 

 Wicked Weed Funkatorium (sours brewery + kitchen, South Slope) 

 

 

 Burial Beer Co. (brewery + kitchen, South Slope) 

 

 

 Highland Brewing (east Asheville; taproom with food trucks/kitchen) 

 

 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom (Mills River) 

 Turgua Brewing (Fairview) 

 Wedge Brewing Co. (brewery with food trucks, River Arts District) 

 

 Hikes / Walks 

 

 

 Catawba Falls Trail – 3 mi RT (or 3.5‑mi loop), moderate. Leads to a 100‑ft cascade in Pisgah NF; lower trail and new footbridges are open , but the upper‑falls platform/Wildflower spur remain closed for repairs. 

 

 

 Daniel Ridge Loop Trail – 4‑mi moderate loop near Brevard with the 150‑ft Daniel Ridge Falls (aka Tom’s Spring Falls); trail is fully open post‑Helene. 

 

 

 Moore Cove Falls Trail – 1.4‑mi easy out‑and‑back in Pisgah, ending at a 50‑ft falls you can walk behind; reopened and considered family‑friendly. 

 

 

 Rainbow Falls Trail (Gorges State Park) – 2.5‑mi moderate RT to a 125‑ft free‑fall waterfall; the park and trail reopened on Nov 1 and are now open . 

 

 

 Graveyard Fields Loop (Lower & Upper Falls) – 3.5‑mi moderate loop off the Blue Ridge Parkway with two waterfalls, high‑elevation meadows, and summer blueberries; trailhead is open , but some Parkway sections closer to Asheville remain closed, so check detours. 

 

 Glassy Mountain Trail (Carl Sandburg Home NHS) – 1.3 mi one‑way (2.6 mi RT), moderately steep; climbs from the historic farm to sweeping summit views. The site’s trail network has reopened. 

 

 Asheville Botanical Gardens Loop – 0.5‑mi easy urban loop showcasing native plants and a creek; garden trails reopened after Helene, though some cleanup continues. 

 

 

 Arts & Crafts 

 

 Explore the River Arts District – wander working studios, watch pottery or “make‑your‑own” glass ornaments at the North Carolina Glass Center.  

 Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild) – browse galleries of Appalachian craft and catch free daily artist demonstrations on the Blue Ridge Parkway (open 10 a.m.–5 p.m.).  

 

 Scenic Drives & Viewpoints 

 

 Blue Ridge Parkway drive (US‑276 ↔ NC‑151 segment) – a crowd‑light stretch reopened after Helene; gives access to overlooks such as Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam.  

 

 History 

 

 Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site – tour the poet’s farmhouse, visit the goat farm, or stroll the gentle Glassy Mountain path; most grounds reopened in December 2024. 

 Thomas Wolfe Memorial – guided house museum downtown; listed by NC DNCR as OPEN for visitors during recovery. 

Gatlinburg, TN
Tours 

 Spooky 

 

 The Witch Tour: Appalachian Mountains Ghost Tour 2023 - Sevierville (viator.com)