Last weekend we set off to Asheville with two dear friends. Our plans centered around the Asheville Half Marathon and scoping out the area for a potential future place to live. As we made our way northwest from Florida, we were graced with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
We had a day and a quarter to acquaint ourselves and observed much:
- Modern, hippy mountain town
- Clean & green with recycle bins next to nearly every trash can.
- Tourist/hospitality-centered economy. Great customer service was abound.
- Dog-friendly.
- Vibrant craft brewery scene. Interestingly, downtown was fairly quiet and serene despite it being St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
- Thriving local food movement.
- Passionate long-term residents. Statistics indicate ~1/4 of locals are over 65. We met many who have called Asheville home for decades.
- Sense of safety. People seem to live and let live, though, local law enforcement was present and even patrolled on foot.
- Personal responsibility is still a thing (Sliding Rock).
- History. The beautiful Biltmore Estate was constructed in 1895 and is the largest private residence in the country. The Grove Park Inn was also recommended by locals for its ornate design and is touted to have the best sunset view in Asheville.
The half marathon offered incredible sights on the Biltmore grounds. It catered to more of a sightseeing style of running than competitive, which was fine with us. There was minimal crowd support and even opportunity for spectating, giving it an exclusive feel. Heck, all of us in the car had to present tickets at two check-in points driving in. The swag was high quality – a St. Patrick’s Day spirited dry fit T-shirt by Brooks, a neck warmer, finisher medal that doubles as a coaster and a pint glass.
Would we like to live there? Absolutely, though it hasn’t shaken our wanderlust spirit. There are still so many other places we’d love to experience as temporary residents. Asheville offers a funky scene with a great balance of urban and nature-filled living that supports a health-conscious and minimalist lifestyle.
Stops we enjoyed:
- Salsas
- Bebette’s Beignets & Coffee
- Farm Burger
- Well Played
- Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen
- Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway