Things to do in Asheville
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Biltmore Estate
With 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces and a private bowling alley, the Gilded Age Biltmore Estate, is a veritable American Versailles. The country's largest private home and Asheville's number-one tourist attraction, it was built in 1895 for shipping and railroad heir George Washington Vanderbilt II, who modeled it after the grand chateaux he'd seen on his various European jaunts. Viewing the estate and its 250 acres of gorgeously manicured grounds and gardens takes several hours. There are numerous cafés, a gift shop the size of a small supermarket, a hoity-toity hotel, and an award-winning winery offering free tastings.
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Salsa's
This tiny, brightly painted joint serves amazing, mutant Latin fusion cuisine - think lamb empanadas with goat's cheese and banana salsa or crab-jalapeño-saffron-fennel egg rolls. Beware huge crowds, unreasonably spicy appetizers and unannounced substitutions, and always order off the specials menu.
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Chimney Rock Park
At Chimney Rock Park, a 20-mile drive southeast of Asheville, the American flag flaps in the breeze atop this popular park's namesake 315ft granite monolith. An elevator takes visitors up to the chimney, but the real draw is the exciting hike around the cliffs to a 404ft waterfall.
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Thomas Wolfe Memorial
Downtown, Look Homeward Angel author Thomas Wolfe's childhood home is now the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, displaying artifacts from his brief life.
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Rosetta's Kitchen
An institution among Asheville's dreadlocked set, where you can belly up to the counter for a bowl of peanut butter tofu (looks awful, tastes heavenly) at 2am.
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Early Girl Eatery
Order a tofu scramble or a plate of free-range roast chicken in this neighborhood café's sunny, crowded dining room, overlooking a small city park.
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Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe
Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe is beloved for its used books, cappuccino, and free wi-fi.
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Orange Peel
For live music, try the warehouse-sized Orange Peel for big-name indie and punk.
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Westville Pub
This is a good place to bond with local 20- and 30-somethings over a bottle of organic ale.
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Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
Catch a flick at the small theater inside this one-of-a-kind spot.
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