By Sawyer Serdula ‘23
You’ll always remember your first time in Asheville, and whether it’s because of a campus tour, or perhaps a weekend vacation to our mountain town, there’s plenty to do here. Of course, when there are so many things to do, how can you decide? These are my top picks for activities that aren’t too tourist-y and will actually make you feel at home in AVL.
A staple in my weekly routine is visiting the North Asheville Tailgate Market on Saturday mornings. The greatest thing about this farmers market is that (other than all the amazing vendors), it’s actually located right here on our campus. In the parking lot near Owen Hall, vendors show up at 8 a.m., ready to sell their fabulous wares. If you’ve never been, then my suggestion for getting the best of the best is to get up early! This is a general rule amongst my friends, because we would die over some of the bakers and their pastries at this market, and we’re not about to miss them. Other than pastries, there’s plenty of fresh produce, cheese, prepared food, and goods to check out. Also coffee, if early mornings aren’t your thing.
Generally speaking, true music lovers aren’t strangers to Asheville’s concert scene, but if it’s your first time, don’t worry. Asheville is known for its small and intimate concert venues, and we host musicians from across the popularity spectrum. This past year saw Mitski’s North America tour start right here at the Orange Peel. Our mountains have also seen acts like The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Post Malone. But the true experience is queuing up for an artist you’ve never heard of before, and making a night out of the wild card concert. The most iconic venues for small shows are, of course, The Orange Peel, Rabbit Rabbit, and Salvage Station, but you don’t have to go far to find local house shows or gigs in breweries.
This has become sort of a proto-tradition for my family anytime they come up to visit me, and that is to visit La Bodega by Curate. By all means, Curate is one of the best (and hardest to get into) restaurants in Asheville. So if you can’t get a reservation, or don’t feel like an entire fancy meal, La Bodega is a great middleman. In the back of their main restaurant, La Bodega has prepackaged food from their regular menu, including the pan con tomate, their gazpacho, and their meatballs (all necessities!). They also have an entire wall of fancy little accoutrements from Spain, namely some nice olive oil, hot sauces, and other additions to your homemade charcuterie plate. But what’s even better about La Bodega is that you can get a pared down lunch menu that’s still just as good as the regular Curate menu. This is a must if you (or your parents) consider yourself a foodie. Just make sure your paycheck goes through before making the trip!
All of these activities can very easily fill your trip to Asheville to the brim, but there’s always more to do and discover here! After you’ve seen the Biltmore and shopped at the Grove Park Inn, stroll the streets of the River Arts District and wander into the stores around Broadway. You truly can’t go wrong however you decide to spend your weekend here.
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