My wife suggested it this weekend and I haven't spent much time there, but when I started looking at my schedule it looks like the best week I have to take off this summer is just around the corner, so we are going to plan this trip quick.
I have reserved a room at the Marriott Courtyard, the Renaissance was full, I needed to get a place quick and options were limited, let me know if there is a place that shouldn't be missed, and I'll check it out.
I know this town has been up here a few times, but I didn't really pay attention because it wasn't high on my list of places I wanted to go, but at this moment in time it makes sense for a quick short vacation with the kids.
So what I'm looking for are suggestions for:
Hikes
Tours
Restaurants
Breweries
Areas of town to walk around
Scenic drives
Anything else you'd suggest not to miss, but remember I'm hauling an 18 month old and a 3 year old, that limit my exposure.
As you might recall I have property in Shelby which is about an hour from there and head up at least once a year usually twice. As far as alcohol the previous posters mostly have you covered, Wicked Weed is not only my favorite brewery in town but my favorite that I've been in person (and I always incorporate breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries in my trips) just ahead of Victory in PA. So that's a must. My second through fourth favorite alcohol stops are not breweries but 2) A cidery (Urban Orchard), 3) a sakery (Blue Kudzu although to my horror I see it closed last month so you've missed out), and 4) a distillery (Troy and Sons). The rest of the breweries I would rank 5) Burial, 6) Oysterhouse (great home brewed oyster stout and ale, something tough to come by, it's more of a seafood place than brewery but worth the stop), 7) Highland, 8) Hi-Wire, 9) LAB, 10) Wedge, 11) Oskar Blues (not technically in Asheville but close), 12) Green Man, 13) Thirsty Monk (for their proprietary beers, they just started and are still amateurs but the bar is fantastic for Belgian and other craft brews...I'd just probably skip their own offerings), 14) French Broad, 15) Biltmore Brewing, 16) One World Brewing, 17) Asheville Brewing, 18) Altamonte Brewing and 19) Twin Leaf.
Even the worst of the breweries in Asheville is still pretty good and better than Sweetwater (where I just went on the 4th) and Cigar City imo. Some are pretty close together and an easy walk so even though I don't really like Asheville or LAB, they are pretty close to Hiwire, Burial and Wicked Weed and may be a mile hike roundtrip. Highland is good but nowhere near anything other than Troy and Sons so I usually skip it.
Sierra Nevada just opened a taproom and brewery a couple of months ago in Asheville but I havent been yet and New Belgium will be opening "soon" with no date other than 2015 I believe.
As far as food, I haven't found anything incredibly amazing yet in Asheville. Lots of good B+ options, but I haven't found anything worth raving about (unlike the beer, cider, whiskey and (unfortunately now gone) sake). I've been to every place previously posted and my assessment is...all B+ places. If I had someplace better IN Asheville I'd offer it, but I don't. Definitely skip the BBQ in Asheville. Compared to the places around it in the Piedmont or Western areas of NC it is %*%*.
The best hike near Asheville and debatably in the entire MidAtlantic (other than Assateague/Chincoteague and maybe some walks along OBX like in Kill Devil Hills or Jockey Ridge) is about an hour from Asheville at DuPont State Forest. Just large spectacular waterfall after waterfall.
If you don't mind making a short jaunt over to Shelby (about an hour) although you can stop at Chimney Rock and Lake Lure along the way to make it a full day outing, then the best BBQ in the nation per the big Guns and Gardens online poll tournament is Red Bridges BBQ in Shelby. My extended family prefers the brother's place also in Shelby Alston Bridges but both are excellent and Red Bridges is open Sunday (ask for the "brown", the Piedmont version of burnt ends). In either case get the banana pudding and a Cheerwine to go with your "brown" sammie topped with red slaw. Also in/near Shelby are the two best wineries East of the Mississippi not in Canada or New York in Owl Eye Winery (nice full scale winery) and Bakers Winery (lower rent looking).
I'll post more later If you want.