Girl's Trip to Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is located about 130 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina and 240 miles from Raleigh, North Carolina, where each of the state’s two major airports are located. A regional airport also services Asheville. If traveling from out of town, I do recommend renting a car especially if you plan on visiting the nearby mountains. For first-time visitors, I suggest staying Downtown, where restaurants and shops can be reached by foot.

Downtown hotel recommendations include the Kimpton Hotel Arras or The Restoration (a brand new boutique hotel). If interested in staying closer to the Biltmore Estate, the Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa is also an excellent choice.

Use your time on Day 1 to explore Downtown by following the Urban Trail. This walk will enlighten you with the history of the area while making sure you see all the local sites like Pack Square Park, the Grove Arcade, Maker’s Market and the Asheville Art Museum.

Wind down your day with a casual dinner on the patio at Wicked Weed and then head over to the Pillar Rooftop Bar on the top floor of the AC Hotel to watch the sunset over the mountains while sipping tasty cocktails. You and your girlfriends will sleep soundly after a full day of travel and your initial immersion into alluring Asheville.

Get an early start today with a tasty breakfast at Honey Tupelo, the flagship spot for Southern fare located right in Downtown. (Splurge on the biscuit because you’ll walk off those calories today, promise and make sure you have reservations because this place gets busy).

Drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains Visitor Center, a place to get your bearings and talk with the locals about your goals for the day. My friend and I wanted to experience “America's Favorite Drive” to look out upon sprawling vistas and do some light hiking. The options for these mountains are limitless but distances are far so take that into consideration while determining what you want to see and do. Once you are on the parkway, take note that there are no gas stations so fill up before you head out.

After spending time in the mountains, head over to the Biltmore Estate, the 250 room jaw-dropping chateau of the Vanderbilts, one of America's early tycoon families of the Gilded Age. You do need reservations for a guided tour of the mansion but if that’s not your jam, simply buy garden tickets and be transported into the splendor of renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead’s mastery. My girlfriend and I spent hours meandering these breathtaking gardens before hopping into the car and making our way to the wine tasting room at the Historic Biltmore Village on the other side of the estate. Here you can find plenty of restaurant choices that appeal to all styles and tastes. To cap off the afternoon, indulge in a treat from the Creamery.

The day isn’t yet done for you and your girlfriends. For dinner, choose between Curate for Spanish tapas or Cucina 24 for refined Italian fare in a contemporary setting. Both are excellent and you really can’t go wrong. Again, reservations are a must.

After all that tasty food of the past few days, start off with a brisk walk along the French Broad River in the Arts District, about a 10 minute drive from Downtown.

You’ll find plenty of cyclists, runners and dog walkers along this peaceful stretch of the river’s bank. The River Arts District is split across a few areas and consists of art galleries, food trucks, breweries, coffee shops and restaurants.

My girlfriend and I enjoyed the working studios and galleries of hundreds of artisans starting with those closest to the river before popping around to the other areas.

Depending on your pace, you could easily spend all day in this area. For dinner tonight, check out Chestnut, a new American eatery situated in restored 1920s digs.

I hope you and your girlfriends enjoy Asheville as much as we did. I’d love to help you make the most of your few days and help you plan the perfect girlfriend’s getaway.