Asheville, NC

November 8 - 14th

We heard from many of our East Coast friends that Asheville had to make our list of stops. We are so glad that we made the trip inland! From the Smokey Mountains to the trendy Brewery and Restaurant scene downtown, we truly enjoyed this hidden gem of the South.

Rain, rain, go away! The only downside to our trip to Asheville was the fact that it rained almost every day were were there. Another RV-ing secret - when you expect wet weather, try to find a campground that has concrete pads! The flowing mud, leaves, and unrecognizable campground sludge really can get annoying when you are attempting to keep the outdoors...outdoors. One of the main attractions in Asheville is mountain biking. Unfortunately, mountain biking isn't great when it's raining heavily. Thankfully, the weather cleared on our last two days, and we felt comfortable getting out on the trails. The biking is a little different here (than Bend), though we really enjoyed the added challenge of a river crossing along the way.

Even though it was a 30 minute drive to town (RV parks do not exist in the city limits), we really enjoyed spending some time finding good food and beer/cider in Asheville. Unlike most of the surrounding area, Asheville takes COVID social distancing measures very seriously. We were beginning to wonder if COVID existed in this part of the country. This, along with a bountiful selection of eateries and breweries, really made this a fun place to visit. We were absolutely baffled to learn that Asheville has a smaller population than Bend! We guessed that the difference is the two Interstates that flow through Asheville, in comparison with lonely HWY 97 going through Bend.

Though the weather just wasn't cooperating, we did make the 1+30 drive to see Smokey Mountain NP. With all the moisture in the air, we had a first-hand opportunity to see why the mountains are called the Smokies. A gray mist blanketed the valleys between mountain peaks. The highlight on this short visit was seeing the Appalachian Trail, and hiking it for a very little bit before returning to the car.

In another life - one, where we live on the East Coast, we agreed that Asheville would be a top contender for a Bend-like existence. Next time though, we will hope for drier weather!

Asheville Photo Album