As I mentioned in my post yesterday - I had an absolutely wonderful time in Asheville. It was so good for my soul to get out of Charlotte and for me, nothing compares to being surrounded by mountains. The pace of my life thus far this year can be be described as frantic. I've been wracked with worry and fear and stress and you name it. But I put all of those emotions on hold and just really let myself relax and enjoy my time in Asheville.
I could tell you all about it, but instead I thought I'd take a 'show-and-tell' approach and share some pictures!
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| As I mentioned on Friday, I opted to go the vrbo.com route and my apartment was so cute and cozy! |
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| The views were absolutely stunning. My iPhone does not do it justice. I can't wait to go back when I am able to hike as there are some great hikes in the area with great views! |
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| After a delicious dinner on Friday night, I treated myself to a specialty cocktail (champagne with a sugar cube soaked in bitters) at the bookstore/wine bar. It was SUCH a cool place. There was a guitarist performing and he played anything from Beethoven to The Beatles. It was AWESOME. |
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| I had already indulged quite a bit, but couldn't resiste the temptation of trying this specialty chocolate shop. I selected 6 salted-caramel chocolates which I savored for several days! Not pictures is the melted chocolate ganache drink I sipped on while listening to a jazz trio. |
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| On Saturday morning, I hit up the farmer's market and then went to a cute coffee shop called "Old Europe" that reminded me of a French coffee shop as they had classic french pastries such as pain au chocolate and croissants! They had some gluten free pastries but I resisted as I was saving my appetite for lunch! |
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| I had lunch at this adorable placed called "Tupelo Honey Cafe." They had an awesome gluten free menu. I had a grilled cheese and tomato soup - not really 'summer' food, but I rarely encounter gluten free sandwiches so I had to have this. It was so good, and I sat next to the nicest couple. |
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| On Saturday night I treated myself to dinner at 100% gluten free restaurant. The menu was awesome. I decided to go with an appetizer, salad, and dessert so I could try a couple of things. My appetizer was fried green tomatoes. They were SO good and the plating was really beautiful. |
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| My salad course was a kale salad that had been mascarated in lemon juice to tenderize it, and was mixed with some nuts and cranberries and manchego cheese. It was SO good, and light enough so I would have room for dessert. |
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| The dessert was amazing. I had the pot de creme which was infused with mint and served with salted chocolate bark. It was divine. |
So there you have it! It looks like all I did was eat, and I guess that is partially true, but I did walk around quite a bit (but not too much, I am still being careful with my stress fracture recovery). I also was able to kayak on the French Broad river which was so much fun. The river runs along the Vanderbilt's property, so I got to see the Biltmore estate from afar. I can't wait to see more closely in August!
Since Asheville is only 2 hours from Charlotte, I know I will be back multiple times. I have a lot on my mind these days so slowing down and putting some of my worries on pause was just what I needed.
When was the last vacation that you went on that you really let yourself relax?
25 comments:
I'm so glad you had such a good time in Asheville! When I visited my sister there we did most of the things you just wrote about--proof that we're destined to be friends :)
So glad you enjoyed Asheville! I can't wait to visit I've heard such good things. And it's a nice bonus that they're so gluten free friendly!
Wow, that food looked and sounded awesome! And your room was so nice, too! It sure was different than the usual motel room so I am sure you enjoyed your stay there!
Wow those mountain photos are beautiful and look at all that yummy food! :) I'm glad you had such a good trip! I am not relaxing at all in this trip but in Maine I definitely relaxed. So necessary sometimes but now I need it again!
Oh, Lisa -- this is GREAT! I was there long ago (mostly just to Biltmore and Grove Park) and am eager to return someday. I'm hoping next summer when we visit Rick's dad, I can head to Asheville for the day while he does his guy thing. I hope by then you will have moved north but if not, we can meet up there!
After you talked about the book / chamagagne bar I totally added Asheville to a potential list of spring break ideas and found a cute cottage to rent ahaha.
That dessert and the salted caramels look divine. YUM. Glad you were able to relax and enjoy yourself. It's hard to shut our minds down sometimes.
The last time I relaxed was when we went to Mexico for our honeymoon. It took me a day to relax and let go of everything but by Day Two I was loving every minute of it. We are working on planning a small and affordable getaway in October and I'm really excited to have something to look forward to.
I love friend green tomatoes and it's been far too long since I've had them. So cool that the entire restaurant was GF. Asheville looks gorgeous and the food looks amazing!
I desperately need a relaxing vacation. I was thinking the other night that my trip to WI really wasn't bad, but definitely didn't feel like a vacation (as you know from hearing me go on and on about it.
It looks like you had a great weekend! I think it's great that you took time out for yourself :)
Oh my gosh, this trip looks like perfection - coffee, reading, good food and time alone. ANd the apartment is adorable.
Nice! I knew you would appreciate the NC mountains. They aren't the Rockies, I know. But the views and atmosphere, and the small mountain town feel that they create are really special. Get some girlfriends to go with you next time.
Tupelo Honey is wonderful. Most of the downtown restaurants around there are pretty good. One of the guys that I own the mountain house with is a lawyer in Asheville, and Kelley's mom spends her summers in Maggie Valley, about 30 minutes on the other side of Asheville. We get out there to visit them a few times over the summer when we need to get out of the heat here, usually in August. You've got to go see the Biltmore house! The french influence is quite obvious.
I'm so glad you had fun. I knew there would be one part of NC that meets the Lisa Seal of Approval.
Sounds amazing! I love little weekend getaways like that! The last time I felt really relaxed was when Eric and I went camping for a night at the beginning of the month (that was before our air mattress deflated though). It's been a pretty busy summer for us but the busy things have all been good things so I can't complain too much!
Sounds like you had a great trip and it certainly looked delicious too! :)
It makes me so happy to know you had such a good time in Asheville. I absolutely love that it hosts multiple gluten free restaurants, not just restaurants with a couple GF options. Great to hear this trip was a highlight for you and so glad to know you'll be back next month!
It looks like you had a fabulous time! It must be awfully nice knowing that you have a mini-giveaway spot relatively close. All the food looks delicious, and I can't even decide on my favorite...maybe the kale salad though. It just looks so interesting. And yeah for the weather working out to go kayaking!
I love those green walls! I really relaxed when I went to Mexico in March. It was soooo nice!
I'm so glad you found such a fun and welcoming weekend spot! The food looks amazing. That will be a fun town to return to: bike, kayak, run (eventually), shop, read, eat! Sounds amazing and so close to you!
It looks like you had a great weekend! I love all the food pictures. :) How awesome finding GF eats was so easy in Asheville!
The last time I felt truly relaxed on a vacation was during my cruise at the end of April. Nothing in the world relaxes me like a cruise.
Wow! That looks amazing! Sounds like Ashville has a lot of really cool restaurants. That book bar sounds so cool.
I adore salted dark chocolate. That looks heavenly. I also love kale salad - I make a salad with kale soaked in lemon juice with a little wasabi.
Those mountains looks so vast, cool, and peaceful! That will be so neat to return to and hike. Especially in the fall when all the leaves are turning!
How did you like fried green tomatoes? I've been intrigued to try them - as I love tomatoes.
I'm so glad you had a good time - I LOVE Asheville! We always hit up the breweries, which I know aren't your cup of tea, but have also been to some of the same places. Next time, you should try Laughing Seed Cafe - an entirely vegetarian restaurant with GF options.
Oh the view!!! I adore the mountains!!! I am so glad you escaped for a few days!!! Asheville is definitely a goodies place as is Charleston!!!
That sounds like an amazing weekend and JUST what you needed. So glad you had such a good time and what a find to have so many gluten free places! Can't wait to see more posts about it :)
It looks so pretty, and all the food looks delicious! Pretty neat that such a lovely place is only a couple hours away. You can get away any weekend you need to :)
Everything looks so great! It seems like you had a great time eating and reading and enjoying a great city! That sounds like my kind of weekend. Now you just need to get that foot better so you can throw some hiking into the mix! And then let me know when you are going back so I can join you!
I want to replicate that Kale salad. What else was in it? It looks light but yummy!
Looks like you had the perfect little getaway. I'm looking forward to checking out Ashville with you in a few weeks.
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