Isabelle & Charles
Isabelle & Charles
Things to Do
Free Time!
There is so much to explore in Asheville! It is important to us that our guests don't get caught up in the tourist traps so we've offered some of our favorite restaurants, activities, and hikes for you to enjoy in your free time!
Our Favorite Restaurants:
Breakfast
Lunch
mother bakery & cafe | south slope
Dinner
Tall John's
Our all time favorite restaurant (deep freeze martini *cough cough*). We suggest to drive there even though it doesn't look far it is a tricky walk. Explore Montford it has really cool houses and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Asheville.
Asheville Proper
Amazing restaurant where everything is cooked over open fire. If you are interested in coming here we suggest making a reservation far enough in advance, but they also have bar seating which is first-come first-serve.
OUR FAVORITE BREWERIES:
Downtown
Catawba Brewing Company South Slope Asheville
River Arts District
Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden & Distribution Center
One World Brewing West
Is located in West Asheville so its a short drive, but it's a great locals spot that often has live music and a large outdoor space. Sometimes has a food truck, but also allows you to bring food in from any other restaurant.
OUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL BARS
- The Restoration Hotel: downtown hotel with rooftop bar + basement bar with arcade/interactive games
- The Times: Coffee spot + full bar and swanky seating upscale. Will make any coffee drink boozy :)
- Capella on 9: AC Hotel downtown rooftop bar/restaurant take elevator to 9th floor
- Antidote: Gin distillery with upscale cocktails in the south slope among all the breweries.
- Storm Rhum Bar: Low key downtown bar and restaurant
- The Tiki Easy Bar: Really fun and cozy tiki bar behind Hi-Wire Brewery downtown. Go inside the brewery and follow the signs.
OUR FAVORITE HIKES
Easy/Moderate
- Craggy Gardens: Close to town but gets busy in the fall with tourists so try to get there before or by 9am.
- Rattlesnake Lodge: Close to town easy walk, generally does not get too busy, but the earlier the better!
- Daniels Ridge Loop: In pisgah national forest about 1 hour from town. A great loop hike about 5 miles with a low incline and a small waterfall. Not too busy and beautiful foliage in the Fall.
Moderate/Difficult
- Looking Glass Rock: About 5 miles with a fairly steep incline. Outstanding overlook at the top, but gets very busy with tourists & limited parking highly recommend an early start (9am latest).
- John's Rock: Similar to looking glass rock, but slightly shorter. Plenty of parking and beautiful overlook similar to Looking Glass. This is where we got engaged!
OUR FAVORITE OTHER THINGS TO DO:
Explore the River Arts District: This is one of our favorite ways to spend a free day. There are so many amazing artists in Asheville and a lot of them have their studios in our river arts district. Take an afternoon and navigate to "Foundy Street" and bop in and out of the studios! If you want to see a lot in one building go to the Marquee, grab a glass of wine or beer and walk around. Some of our favorite breweries and restaurants are close by so you can make a day out of it!
Asheville Sports Club: go online and reserve a pickleball/basketball court and enjoy some cocktails or beer while you play!
Sauna House: Go online and reserve a 2 hour block at the sauna house! Bring your bathing suit and shower shoes and enjoy the sauna and cold plunge! Located in the south slope so you can walk there if you're staying downtown.
Cruise The Parkway: It is the best time of year to be in Asheville and take in the season change. Take an hour or two to hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway and just enjoy the drive and the mountains that we call home <3.
North Asheville Tailgate Market
This Farmers market is every Saturday from 8am - 12pm
It is the oldest market in Asheville and definitely the most diverse with options! This market takes place on the UNC Asheville campus which also has pretty walking trails.
Asheville City Market
This is the downtown farmers market that happens every Saturday from 9am - 12pm. It is a great market to stop by if you are staying downtown and prefer to walk rather than drive.