Any Way You Like It...

Back in March of this year I was lucky enough to spend some quality time in a super cool house with some of my favorite people in the world.  And it just happened to be in Asheville, NC where I've found myself more and more as late.  Now, I'm not planning on moving there or anything (Portland, Maine and Bellingham, Washington have been my dream I-want-to-go-to-there-for-a-long-time spots) but I've found myself just randomly researching places to eat or things to do or maybe a show or something.  Anything to get up to the mountains where it's cooler and to give myself a change of scenery.  To add even more fuel to the visit Asheville fire, I now have two of my dearest old friends living up there!  Those are the best reasons to visit, am I right or am I right?

I was scheduled to visit those same dear friends last Monday with my visit lasting til Wednesday and while I got in a good 24 hours of time I, unfortunately, ran into some complications with my Airbnb (a pipe burst and flooded the whole place...yikes!) which shortened my visit by a whole day.  Boo!  But, hey, you roll with the punches.  So even though I made a long list of things to see and do, I only did a small bit of them.  Next time I'll finish it up because there will be a next time in the very near future.  Darn tootin'!

By the way, 'any which way you like it' is Asheville's motto.  Fits.

Food & Drink  
Of course I'm going to start this list with food and tea and bakeries and stuff.  Duh.

Dobra Tea House - Having been to their downtown location and having enjoyed a huge pot of Lapsang Souchong all on my own, this was one of my first stops for energy lifting.  Between the brew and the super food bowls (like the Westside Bowl featuring yummy things like homemade kimchi) and the matcha cheesecake, I rolled out the door in the best way possible.  Also good for gluten-free vegan friends, which I have.  Yay!

Rosetta's Kitchen - With my friend's vegan roommate joining us for dinner, we opted for this locale even though the menu is pretty similar to where I currently work.  In fact The Grit was the inspiration for this restaurant although the tastes do vary a good deal.  Service was quick and super friendly, and the vegan queso dip made my mouth very, very happy.  While I did not drink any booze stuff, others in my party did and they were making lots of groans of satisfaction.  Kombucha and alcohol combined apparently make some swoon worthy / excellent cocktails.  I'd go back here again for the atmosphere since it didn't really feel like you were in touristy downtown.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge - I read a lot of books set in the Regency era of England (yep, I do and it's a now-not-so-secret-indulgence) so when my friend Cater recommended, or demanded *cough*, that we stop by this place for some sipping chocolate I said 'oh, hell yes'!  We didn't stop there, oh no.  We got chocolate peanut butter mousse, goat cheese and pistachio cheesecake, and salted caramel ice cream so we could have the biggest sugar rush in the history of the world.  While I appreciate and love my little bakery, we are not fancy.  We are simple southern.  This is fancy stuff.  And sometimes I wish I could make this kind of dessert and have UGA students and punk train kids and weird locals eat it but I don't think the majority of them are interested in paying $5 for a small serving of gourmet confectionary delight.  So, I guess I'll just travel to Asheville and have the folks at French Broad Chocolate Lounge make it for me.

Biscuit Head - With one friend leaving in the wee hours of the A.M. to lead a group of kids hiking into the mountains and me right down the street from the main drag in West Asheville, we knew that a trip to Biscuit Head had to happen.  Even though they opened 10 minutes late and we were on a major time constraint, we had a great time here.  The coffee is fantastically dark and strong, the biscuits are delicious and the people are quick to help/serve.  I didn't get in on the jam/butter bar because that is not my thing but it looked interesting and folks in line were eyeballing it like crazy.  The addition of friendly finches on the back porch just added to the appeal.

Pampering & Healing

Asheville Salt Cave - Oooooh, this was awesome.  So awesome. This is the only Salt Therapy center in the United States made of all natural materials. The cave is made of salt, wood and water. The walls, ceiling and floor are covered in salt rock crystals weighing 6 ounces to 300 pounds each. They use two natural ionizers which feed the cave and make it a virtual sterile environment. The cave is a unique micro-climate, like those found in nature,  and it is sustainable and growing. No other salt therapy center in the United States can make this claim.  The amount of health benefits from the salt cave is staggering and I was excited to have a chance to do a little purification and to help my sinuses a bit.  I treated my friends to a visit and we all snoozed while laying on blankets and listening to a small waterfall.  BLISS.  We awoke refreshed and with clear sinuses and a craving for sipping chocolate.

Alyssa Spa - I've been very much about the self-care lately, hence the whole running-exercising-massage-crystal-salt-therapy happenings 'round here, and I knew I wanted to treat myself to a pampering facial in Asheville.  I chose this spa based on some reviews from Yelp and the like, and Alyssa was nice enough to come in on her day off to give me one of the most relaxing experiences of my life.  I seriously glowed when I left and I felt like a million dollars without my makeup on!  And, no, this isn't sponsored but just a heads-up to a sweet lady who will make your skin happy.

Herbiary - In search of natural oils and specialty blended loose leaf teas, I wandered into this shop and spent a couple of hours browsing, reading, chatting with the owner, getting special blends created for me, and having an overall great shopping experience.  I almost never spend a lot of money in specialty shops but I made an exception here and racked up some serious damage (for me, like, $50 is serious so keep that in mind) but I smell fantastic and my tummy loves the new teas I got.

Cornerstone Minerals - My love and interest for crystals, stones and gems has been lifelong but it's only recently that I find myself looking to by them to promote healing, change, etc.  There's something comforting knowing you have power drawing stones wrapped around your wrist or a blood cleansing stone nestled in your pocket.  At least, for me it is.  This part of my life is still new and interesting and a bit personal but it's there and we'll see where it goes.  Even if you don't believe in the power that minerals can have I think most of us agree that they are beautiful to look at and fun to collect.  This store, Cornerstone Minerals, is informative and full of varieties - win!

What a lot to cram into basically 36 hours.  But what fun!  And since I didn't get to everything I wanted, I thought I'd share with you this:

The 'I'll See It Next Time' List Of Asheville & Nearby

Well-Bred Bakery (Weaverville location) - While they have a location in south Asheville, I've wanted to go see where the original started 14 years ago.  This place has been voted best bakery in Asheville for a number of years now and their baked goods list is classic southern goodness.  That Salted Caramel Turtle Cake has my mouth watering and it's always a nice change to try someone else's sweets.  That means it's truly a vacation then!

Grail Moviehouse - Right now this local theater is showing Absolutely Fabulous (which Athens isn't because WHYYYYY?), Tickled and a rerelease of Blood Simple which is the Cohen brothers first movie.  With great movies like that, some food treats, booze for those who want it and comfy seats, you have winner winner chicken dinner.

Helen's Bridge - This bridge has a lot of varying ghost stories attached to it - scorned woman jumping to their death in some form or fashion...happy stuff, I know - so I thought it would be interesting to stop by and take a peek.  There's a ghost tour in Asheville but I'd rather explore on my own.

Asheville Pinball Museum - Ok, a bit of weird backstory of my life.  When I was a young kid, think 5 or 6, I became addicted to the KISS pinball machine in the game room at our local Holiday Inn restaurant.  Yes, the Holiday Inn way back when had a restaurant.  Yes, it had a game room.  Yes, I'm talking about KISS the band.  It was the most badass pinball machine ever to this sheltered southern gal (dudes in makeup?  shutup what?!?) and I religiously fed it quarters every single Sunday evening when we ate at the hotel as a family.  I got to be pretty damn good at playing it too!  Even though I grew up and now don't play that much if it all, my love of pinball has never died.  So the idea of paying a one time fee to play all the games I want on any machine I want (and mayyyyyybe they have a KISS one OH MY GOD!?!) makes a visit to the Pinball Museum a must-do-if-I-can.

Judaculla Rock -  Judaculla rock is an outcropping of soapstone, covered with hundreds of ancient carvings. The origin and meaning of these carvings is unknown. Archaeologists think that they were carved over the course of several centuries, beginning about five thousand years ago. But according to one legend, these markings in this huge boulder are the handiwork of a giant.  Technically, this is near Asheville since it's about 40 minutes outside the city but I'm including it regardless because close enough!

Hot Springs - In Hot Springs, NC just north of Asheville you'll find, wait for it, natural mineral hot springs in which to soak and heal and sweat for an hour all while looking out over the French Broad River.  It's a 100 degrees in Athens but it promises to be rainy and cooler while I'm in the mountains so I may be able to stand the heat and be able to relax in the tubs without heatstroke if I go within the next month.  Of course fall and winter are the optimal times.  Can you imagine sitting in steaming hot mineral water while snow piles up around you?  Sounds magical!

Paint Rock - A spot where Native American pictographs have survived for over 5000 years.  It's also very close to Hot Springs, NC where I want to go and steam out some of those I-ate-too-much-on-vacation-and-even-before-that impurities.

Alright, any suggestions you'd like to add?  I know many of y'all have been to Asheville.  Share some thoughts, memories or ideas in the comments!