Girls trips are the BEST! It’s a fabulous opportunity to create fun memories and nurture your friendships. Plus, taking a girls trip is totally different from going on a family trip or solo trip. My besties and I like to try to take a trip each year. But, with lots going on in life lately, we hadn’t taken one since 2018. We brainstormed lots of ideas and then decided on Asheville, North Carolina, for this year’s fun trip.
Asheville Girls Trip
Overall, Asheville is a great place for a girls trip! There are a wide range of activities, dining options, and places to stay for everyone no matter what personalities or interests you may have to take into consideration. So, today I’m sharing a useful guide on how you can enjoy a girls trip to Asheville and make the most out of some time together with your best girl friends!
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Planning Your Girls Trip to Asheville
With it’s proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and being a walkable city (with lots to do), Asheville is located in Western North Carolina. The city has one regional airport to get in and out of for travel. The perks of a small airport – getting your bags takes such a short amount of time! It’s a quick drive to the downtown area, just 15-20 minutes depending on where you’re staying.
Day 1
For our first day, we wanted to get a quick hike in up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are a handful of great hiking trails just a short 30-45 minute ride away. Truthfully, we didn’t really plan anything out! We just got up, got ready and got hiking! With the uncertainty of what we’d be doing the other nights out in town, getting the hike in early was smart!
Even though our hike was short, we worked up an appetite! Our first meal in Asheville was one of the most highly recommended – Rock’s Hot Chicken Shack! As a chicken connoisseur, let me tell you how amazing it is! The joke of the trip is that they make about a half dozen of their own hot sauces and we thought they were all named the same thing! So, be sure to get the right amount of flame to your chicken!
If you’re interested in our workout looks, they’re linked above! But, most are from H&M or lululemon.
After walking around in town a bit to get the lay of the land (and to work off lunch!), we headed back to the Aloft Asheville Downtown, where we stayed for the weekend. More on the hotel below, but the quick highlight is that it’s walking distance from pretty much everywhere.
Dinner plans for the evening were at Asheville Proper. First things first – this place is cuuuuute! The cocktails are delicious and the tuna appetizer is so yummy! Our meals were good (a bit pricey), but the ambiance is so nice. From there we walked over a few blocks to The Times Bar, a trendy craft cocktail bar that we’d venture to at least one more time while in town. If you go to one bar – make it this place. From the drinks to the decor to the servers, it’s just so much fun. Word to the wise – get there on the earlier side as tables are scarce.
Day 2
Day 1 was fun, but day 2 turned out even better! With no itinerary, we got up at our own pace and headed over to grab some lunch at White Duck Taco Shop. You can order by the taco here and – spoiler alert – they are super tasty. There are some tables inside, as well as a patio out back where you can eat. Our timing turned out to be perfect – we got there just before a major lunch rush.
From lunch, we put the cities nickname, Beer City USA, to the test!
First stop – Green Man Brewery. With an outdoor sitting area upstairs and temperatures in the 70’s, we took advantage of the incredible weather to girl gab outside while we had a beverage. Then, we walked over to Burial Beer Co. On a gorgeous weekend, we had a bit of a hard time finding somewhere to sit! But, there are dozens of picnic tables and some creative alternative seating in old, converted Volkswagens. I would have liked to make it to Wicked Weed brewery too. But, the lines were out the door! Clearly it’s a popular spot for a reason.
After our second brewery, we walked back towards downtown and changed up the pace. An adorable bar with bar stool seating at big, open windows called our name! So, we spent the next couple of hours at 5 Walnut Wine Bar, the yummiest wine and cheese bar in the city. The people watching at this place is spectacular, second only to the delicious vino and local fare they serve. If I lived in the city, I’d surely be a regular here.
Originally, we had pretty fancy dinner plans for the evening. But, with an afternoon of adult beverages and some late snacks, we cancelled those plans and opted for an Italian meal instead. It wasn’t the most memorable. So, I won’t share details here, except to say that we immediately headed for The Times Bar afterwards (again)! Overall, it was a fabulous day.
As far as outfits go, most of ours were from Aerie and Abercrombie! They have the best bodysuits and cute skirts that are easy to throw on.
Day 3
Our last day of our Asheville girls trip in town, we got up early to head over to Sunny Point Cafe for brunch. Word of advice – get there when they open (or before)! The wait was about 45 minutes and we got there just after doors opened. But, it’s well worth the wait. The huevos rancheros (above) melt in your mouth.
After brunch, we headed back towards downtown Asheville to do some shopping. Countless boutiques line the streets. Have to say – we did some damage! My favorite stores include Nest Boutique, as well as X and Y. Y has the best souvenirs that aren’t cheesy! I found the softest Asheville tee here that I wear to bed all the time. It’s a great reminder of the trip. In general, the shop owners are all very helpful. So, if you’re looking for anything specific, be sure to chat them up! For gifts for kids, head over to Mast General Store!
Where To Stay In Asheville
There are lots of options for where to stay in Asheville. We decided on the Aloft Asheville Downtown because of it’s location, as well as the price. But, there are a handful of hotel options I think you should consider when taking a girls trip to Asheville.
For each place that you mention, include a link to the Google maps address at the bottom of the section. You can type “Get Directions” and hyperlink the address, or use the word “address” or even type out the address and link it to the Google maps location. If you know how to create an interactive Google map on your posts you can add that as well.
Aloft Asheville Downtown – Get Directions
I’ve been a fan of Aloft properties for years, staying at them in Texas, California and so many other places. So, when we saw this hotel was centrally located and at a good rate, we jumped on it! If you haven’t stayed at an Aloft, their hotels all basically look the same. Room size is pretty good and bathroom space is more than sufficient for 3-4 girls. The bonus about the Aloft Asheville Downtown is that it sits right between the area by all the Asheville breweries and the boutiques downtown for shopping (which is a must on any girls trip!).
Omni Grove Park Inn – Get Directions
This hotel looks like a little slice of heaven from the gallery online. Situated slightly outside of downtown Asheville, I’d say the Omni Grove Park Inn is better for a more laid back girls trip or even a couples weekend in the city. The best part of this property is clearly the views! It’s basically all mountains and lots of greenery. The only downside may be the short Uber or cab ride into town.
Where to Eat in Asheville
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack – Get Directions
Asheville Proper – Get Directions
White Duck Taco Shop – Get Directions
Sunny Point Cafe – Get Directions
Where to Drink in Asheville
5 Walnut Wine Bar – Get Directions
Burial Beer Co – Get Directions
Green Man Brewery – Get Directions
The Times Bar and Coffee Shop Asheville – Get Directions
If I’m being honest, Asheville, North Carolina, wasn’t at the top of my list for places to take a girls trip. But, it was so much fun! The fact that it’s easy to get around, coupled with the good food and fun shopping, make it a perfect spot for a (long) weekend with the ladies. We didn’t even do some of the more popular things, like visit the Biltmore Estate or go to any of the plethora of art galleries. But, our hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the brewery hopping were just the right activities for us. What are you waiting for? Head to Asheville for a memorable trip with the girls!
