# Asheville, NC

## Food & Drink

### Restaurants & Cafés

- [12 Bones Smokehouse](https://12bones.com/) (River Arts District)
- [White Duck Taco Shop](https://whiteducktacoshop.com/) (Downtown)
- [Neng Jr.’s](https://www.nengjrs.com/) (Filipinx‑Appalachian fusion, West Asheville)
- [The Admiral](https://www.theadmiralasheville.com/) (small‑plates bistro, West Asheville)
- [Wild Ginger](https://www.wildgingernoodle.com/) (Vietnamese, West Asheville)
- [Bull & Beggar](https://www.thebullandbeggar.com/) (brasserie, River Arts District)
- [Limones ](https://limonesrestaurant.com/)(Latin‑inspired, downtown)
- [Five Points Restaurant](https://5pointsasheville.com/) (classic diner breakfast, north of downtown)
- [Ultra Coffeebar ](https://ultracoffeebar.com/)(RAD café)
- [Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop](https://rockysbrevard.com/) (retro lunch spot, Brevard)

### Deserts & Bakeries

- [French Broad Chocolate Lounge](https://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com/) (desserts, downtown)
- [Sunshine Sammies ](https://www.sunshinesammies.com/)(gourmet ice‑cream sandwiches, downtown)
- [Hole Doughnuts](https://www.hole-doughnuts.com/) (West Asheville)
- [OWL Bakery](https://owlbakery.com/) (artisan pastries, West Asheville)

### Cocktails

- [The Golden Pineapple ](https://www.goldenpineapplebar.com/)(cocktail bar, West Asheville)

### Breweries

- [Wicked Weed Funkatorium](https://www.wickedweedbrewing.com/location/funkatorium/) (sours brewery + kitchen, South Slope)
- [Burial Beer Co.](https://burialbeer.com/) (brewery + kitchen, South Slope)
- [Highland Brewing ](https://highlandbrewing.com/)(east Asheville; taproom with food trucks/kitchen)
- [Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Taproom](https://sierranevada.com/visit/mills-river/taproom) (Mills River)
- [Turgua Brewing](https://turguabrewing.com/) (Fairview)
- [Wedge Brewing Co. ](https://wedgebrewing.com/)(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.