ASHEVILLE

Last December, we ventured up to one of our favorite cities in North Carolina for a little Christmas getaway. The fall had been especially stressful, and Asheville is the place we go when we need to fill our lungs with fresh mountain air and fill our mouths with fresh and exciting cuisine. I had been dreaming of a stay at The Grand Bohemian Asheville for years, so when we booked our trip a few months prior, I shamelessly did a happy dance across the living room floor. Honestly, the anticipation of this trip got me through some insanely busy times in November, when work consumed my weekends and the grind was all too real during the week. Finally, when the day came for us to pack up and head towards the Blue Ridge Mountains, I was like a little kid on Christmas morning. I think I let out an actual squeal when we pulled up to The Grand Bohemian and I looked up at the absolute beauty that surrounded us in Biltmore Village.

The Grand Bohemian Asheville is a boutique hotel with character unlike anything I had ever experienced. The lighting fixtures alone will take your breath away. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with delicious hot chocolate, stunning decor, and exceptional service. From there it just got better and better. Our room overlooked Biltmore Village, which was outlined in Christmas lights that glowed beautifully each evening outside our window. It was pure magic, truly! The spacious, spa-like bathroom features an incredible soaking tub, which I spent a ridiculous amount of time relaxing in.

That night, we decided to make our way around Biltmore Village for some Christmas shopping, which was full of life since the Christmas tree lighting was happening as soon as the sun went down. It was so beautiful to watch, and the entire village looked absolutely picturesque under the warm glow of the lights, which outlined the top of each and every shop and home. While we were going in and out of the stores, we came upon a man selling hot chestnuts (seriously), and I had a mild freak-out because I felt like I was in Christmas town and the joy was just a little overwhelming. As soon as we bought our chestnuts, carolers appeared dressed in Dickens-era costumes (seriously), and Josh had to ask me repeatedly to calm down because I was scaring the children (I have an intense obsession with Dickens’ A Christmas Carol). The Christmas vibes were strong, and it didn’t help that I had ingested at least 4 cups of hot chocolate in the lobby of the Grand Bohemian before we left. The caffeine combined with the Christmas vibes were rapidly turning me into Buddy the Elf.

Waking up to this view our first morning in Asheville was something I will never forget. We took our time getting ready, and then headed downstairs for a delicious breakfast at the gorgeous Red Stag Grill. Make sure you order the Bohemian Coffee! I’m still having dreams about this glorious hot beverage. It tastes just as good as it looks!

What are my recommendations for a December day spent in Asheville? French Broad Chocolate Lounge should be your first stop. I know, I’m basically eating all the time and encouraging you to do the same, but you’ll thank me after you try anything off the menu at French Broad. The liquid truffle pictured below is the stuff dreams are made of!

Next up: Curate Spanish Tapas Bar. Do it. Sit at the bar, order some drinks and several small plates of delicious authentic Spanish tapas. We cannot wait to go back and continue tasting our way through the amazing menu!

A visit to Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium is a must in Asheville! The vibe there is everything we love about the city, and the sours are tart, refreshing, and plentiful.

After a long day of eating our way around Asheville, we decided to come back to our room at the Bohemian, get in our sweatpants (we had been eating all day), and order cheeseburgers from the Red Stag Grill downstairs (yes, we were still hungry). Those amazing burgers paired with fries and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation turned out to be the perfect combination for an unforgettable evening. In fact, it was one of our favorite moments from the trip!

The next morning, I ordered waffles, ate them in bed, and tried to savor the last few hours of the trip. They were so good that I forgot to share. Sorry, Josh!

After reluctantly packing our suitcases, we headed home. Asheville, you were glorious. It was so hard to leave, but we will be back. Thank you for giving us a Christmas adventure that we will never forget!