Trip to Asheville this week

[PastorBran]

Be careful at the brew pubs...I'd rather meet Mr. Trooper speeding!

 

[Jhalko]

Dang it all this Asheville talk, now I need to start planning my spring trip. Luckily my folks are driving out here next week so I'll have them deliver some local brew as my Xmas present!!!

 

[Perfection]

I was born and raised in Asheville. Couldn't live there as an adult but it's so great to go back and visit.

I'll emphasize some of the places listed. You've gotta try Wicked Weed Brewery, best beer on the planet IMO (and good food). Oyster House in West Asheville is a neat little brewery also.

Restaurants - Lunch - 12 Bones Smokehouse, Chorizo, Tupelo Honey, Franks Pizza. Dinner - Curate, Bouchon, Zambras.

The parkway is a must, try heading up towards Craggy Gardens / Mount Mitchell.

Madison County is also beautiful as mentioned. Growing up my family had a log cabin between Trust and Luck, just over Doggett Mountain. Good memories.

Enjoy.

 

[USMCASA]

^nice to see another Raleigh area person on here. Last time I was up there taking the wife to the Biltmore and visiting relatives in Fairview we went to the Lobster Trap. The food there was very good. If you have the time too check out Lake Lure and the area. Awesome roads if you have a motorcycle or a sports car. Took my Z up there and loved it.

 

[PearlWhite4R]

Went to Wicked Weed for Drinks and dinner with the wife and then to French Broad Chocolate Bar for dessert. Amazing dinner. Wife said we can head out to Pisgah National Forest and Pisgah Brewing tomorrow. She's making me a real happy man. 4runner averaged 15.5 mpg up here going 80 until we hit the hills.

I like Pisgah Brewing, Wicked Weed, Burial, Oskar Blues (in Brevard, far but Pisgah is awesome!! Go tool around in that national forest on the gravel roads!), Highland, and a bunch of others. Lots and lots of good beer here. Go to Thirsty Monk for a starting point. They can guide you around the world with their tap and bottle selection.

 

[SCA]

This was in the Citizen-Times (Asheville newspaper) just a few days ago.

Asheville, WNC, Upstate SC breweries: the complete list: Asheville, WNC, Upstate SC breweries: the complete list

 

[Yinzer]

Bumping an old thread because I am headed to Asheville as well and wanted to get into some mild trails, hopefully with good views (going with GF)

Recommendations? Update of Hurricane Creek?

 

[brianrride]

Great reply and thanks!! Will use this info on future trips!!

Go to the South slope for some new breweries. Tons and tons of breweries!

There is a brewing Co Op where anyone can show off their recipes and ability. Some really amazing beer there (can't remember the name).

I like Pisgah Brewing, Wicked Weed, Burial, Oskar Blues (in Brevard, far but Pisgah is awesome!! Go tool around in that national forest on the gravel roads!), Highland, and a bunch of others. Lots and lots of good beer here. Go to Thirsty Monk for a starting point. They can guide you around the world with their tap and bottle selection.

Dig a bit and find something that suits you for food, but beware of yelp. You can pay to have your rating improved on that app, so don't believe their recommendations (list by rating only) and you have to read between the lines on the reviews.


Hole doughnuts in W. Asheville.

Check out 12 bones for BBQ.

Go to Sunny Point for Breakfast. It is worth the wait.

Buiscuithead gets mixed reviews, but people eat it up.

9 mile for spicy rasta hippie food that is excellent.

The Hop has an ice cream tasting room, not sure if it is open, across the street from Hole.

Ultimate Ice Cream is excellent, and it is sold around town and at their shops.

The Admiral for casual fine dining (might be hard to get a table though).

King James Public House is killing it in the reviews and everyone loves it.

Bread and coffee at Dough

Ben's tune up for drinks and a cool atmosphere. They tore half the roof off an old garage, and build big bonfires and have a huge christmas tree. Skip the food.

Chocolates and stuff at Karen Donatelli, and French Broad Chocolate Lounge (they just reopened, so may be some growing pains at the new location).

Corner Kitchen is pretty good, and the bakery across the street is good.

You have to go to the Grove Park Inn. They make you pay to get in on the weekends or something this time of year. Call them.

Go in there and get a coffee or a drink (table service on the patio is awesome but pricey!!!) and go sit on the patio. Best view in town. The hotel is an icon. If you can park for free (I think it is Sun-Thu??? Call and ask I guess) it is basically free. Go relax up there on a nice day. The spa is the best in this part of the word, but $$$$.

Mellow Mushroom is a chain. People freak out about it, but if you want pizza, go to Marco's on Merrimon.

Go to these neighborhoods if you have time (no particular order):

River Arts District

West Asheville

Brevard/Pisgah Forest/Dupont

Biltmore (love it, more than you can see in a day or two or three)

Biltmore village (for walking around and taking in the atmosphere on a nice day, good shopping for the ladies).

Downtown:

Go downtown and just walk around and shop. Park in a parking deck, walk from Orange Peel down to almost the interstate, take a left, go downhill to Biltmore and Lexington (walk up and down both if you can), swing over to Thirsty Monk, back past Pritchard Park (crazy drum circle filled with freaky freakys on Fri night) and get over to the Grove Arcade. Pack Square is worth a look. Downtown should take a day to cruise that whole area.



PM me if you need anything here! Have a blast!

 

[T4RZAN]

Bumping an old thread because I am headed to Asheville as well and wanted to get into some mild trails, hopefully with good views (going with GF)

Recommendations? Update of Hurricane Creek?

Ran it last Monday. All clear. Water was at a solid level since it had just rained and was still coming down while I was out there. Nothing crazy though. Trail was rough in spots but nothing hard.

 

[blue$]

Some great recommendations.

Living in the area, surrounded by the beauty of Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest, I feel very fortunate indeed.

(Not to mention all the excellent craft beer and ale.)

And a 4Runner to boot!

Life is good.

 

[Slowgoat]

Great reply and thanks!! Will use this info on future trips!!

I am honored that this list is still being used!

It’s a little outdated and they lose businesses every year in the slow season (Jan-Mar).

Dough and King James are gone and Marcos is 828 Pizza now because of a trademark dispute. They have been open forever, but some crappy national chain with the same name came into town. Don’t even attempt to eat at the Marcos chain crap restaurant.

I don’t live there anymore but keep up pretty well, so with any of these check them out first.

Restaurants:

Buxton Hall BBQ (they sell out, and save room for dessert), Chestnut, Bull & Beggar, Cúrate, Limones, Sovereign Remedies, OWL bakery, Hole Doughnuts, Karen Donatelli,

The Breweries are always amazing there!

Wicked Weed sold out to Budweiser and people are super butt hurt. Be aware of this and you’ll be just fine. A lot boycott it now. Funkatorium is owned by them also and is all sour beer. (I like the sours now but it took a while. They can clean your palate after a bunch of IPAs, etc.!)

Burial, Catawba, New Belgium, Green Man, Hi-wire, Oscar Blues (in Brevard).

Sierra Nevada built a world class brewery. It is beautiful and also worth the trip. First class all the way!

Highland (separate from the others and a pain to get to. They are very nice folks though and I love their stuff. They started the whole brewery thing in Asheville. They have a rooftop bar that is pretty nice in the afternoons and a big field with families and bands in the evenings).

Like I said, a lot has changed but use this list plus the original probably can get you pretty far.

You can go into the Thirsty Monk and drink one of a thousand beers they have on tap and in bottles in there and probably get steered in the right direction when you first get into town. The locals are super fun and friendly and will definitely let you know what has gone up or down in quality.

Please Let me know too what you find!

Have a blast!!!

 

[mgproudfit]

Bumping an old thread because I am headed to Asheville as well and wanted to get into some mild trails, hopefully with good views (going with GF)

Recommendations? Update of Hurricane Creek?

Just ran it last weekend. Overall pretty mild. Had 2-3 pretty legitimate obstacles but nothing a minor lift wasn't able to handle. We took HC up to Max Patch Bald. GORGEOUS views from up there. Highly recommended. Pics and link to trail route below.

Some of you asshats saw my pics on FB or the gram, but thought Id post here as well. Went down to the TN/NC border and hit up Hurricane Creek Trail up to Max Patch Bald in the Appalachian Mts. It was a GORGEOUS day and we setoff around 7:00am, got to the trail around 9:00am, and proceeded to do offroad/trail driving for about 3hrs before slabbing it back to Knoxville. Had a BLAST and the 4Runner did great. Met up with a 1997 Lexus LX470 and 2007 FJ Cruiser. All similarly modded.

Route
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Trail entrance
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Further into the trail
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Another trail picture
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Old ass bus deep in the woods
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Crossed this creek. Was about 18" deep and 15' wide
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

First "Summit" we came to at top of Hurricane Creek
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Same location
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

From there we did a bit more (about 3 miles) of trail riding before dirt-roading it to Max Patch Bald which was GORGEOUS. Again, beautiful day. Really had a lot of fun. New VIAIR pump worked great as well.

Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

People camping up on MPB
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr

Flying kites
Off roading by Matt Proudfit, on Flickr


Link to trail map. I came from Knoxville so just ignore that part.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WNCPraTFxEM-kpb3xKoaj5AvVZZ4_yAk&usp=sharing

 

[Cymon]

Bumping an old thread because I am headed to Asheville as well and wanted to get into some mild trails, hopefully with good views (going with GF)

Recommendations? Update of Hurricane Creek?

Thanks for bumping this thread, we'll be up there end of July, driving the Blue Ridge on our way up to Maryland to visit family. Post up how everything goes!

 

[Carolina Roscoe]

I Highly recommend going to the Sierra Nevada Brewery up there. The facility is amazing. You can do a tour (either self of guided). They have a restaurant and a very nice bar.