By Last Updated on January 19, 2022
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I’m sure Kurt Vonnegut was speaking directly to us when he said, “You can’t just eat good food. You’ve got to talk about it too.”
My husband and I love to discover new restaurants, pick different dishes off the menu, and discuss the entire experience. Sharing our foodie passion with great friends who enjoy dining as much as we do only added to the fun (and the number of dishes to try). That’s why we invited our buddies to join us for a long weekend in an area known as “Foodtopia”– Asheville, North Carolina.
There would be other things to see and do, of course. The guys wanted to golf, and my friend and I were dying to visit The Biltmore Estate. Everyone wanted to work off those incredible meals hiking on the trails just outside the city. So, we were thrilled to find a VRBO listing with two bedrooms and two separate bathrooms within walking distance of the downtown shops and restaurants. And excited we’d be able to spend three nights in this wonderful place.
A Fabulous Loft in the Heart of the Downtown Asheville
As soon as we pulled up to the building, we were fortunate to find street parking. The lockbox held the keys, and we climbed two sets of stairs to the second floor. The loft looked exactly as pictured in the listing. The living space was open and spacious, and the large windows facing the street let in tons of light.
The description mentioned that it was professionally decorated. I was happy to discover that the décor was funky and relaxed, with gorgeous furnishings and hardwood floors. The cleaning crew had just left, and the unit was fresh and bright.
Open Kitchen and Living Room
This lovely vacation rental was a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. The first bathroom was directly off the kitchen. The full bath was all white with subway tile, a shower, and a pedestal sink. It was modern and everything seemed to sparkle.
The kitchen was open and well equipped with modern appliances. It had a coffee maker, which was vital because our group lives on coffee. Every other amenity was included for those who choose to make meals. We didn’t plan to use the pots and pans during our trip, but if we had, the kitchen had everything we’d need.
A high-top table with four chairs was situated in the dining area. I loved the compact table because it was functional but left plenty of room to walk around.
The living room had a cozy seating set-up with books, a television, a gas fireplace, and a basket of blankets. I really liked that homey touch. We could hang out and chat in that cozy space, and if anyone felt a chill, they could snuggle under a blanket. It was warm in September, so we had the air-conditioning on. The guys preferred to keep the temperature low, so my friend and I used the blankets to stay warm.
A Comfy Two Bedroom in the Heart of Downtown Asheville
We found the loft the perfect-sized space for two couples.
The first bedroom had a comfortable queen-sized bed and dresser with a closet. The décor on the wall was a nice touch, and the color palette was neutral. There was a lovely area rug in the bedroom space so that feet didn’t touch the wood floor beside the bed.
Further down the hall was a king-sized bedroom with an ensuite bathroom behind sliding wooden barn doors. The bathroom included a shower-tub combination and a pedestal sink. There was plenty of storage for personal items, and I appreciated the hooks on the wall for towels. The king suite was a larger room than the queen with a dresser and a lovely rug.
One added plus was the washer-dryer combination in the unit. This came in handy when our friend stained his shirt and needed to wash it. I brought detergent, and we took care of it right away, but there was also a supply included in the washroom.
You Can’t Beat This Downtown Asheville Location
The best aspect about this vacation rental was the location. You could park your car and walk to some of the best dining and shopping options Asheville has to offer. Next door was a fantastic modern diner called The Med. The booths are old-school, and the eatery offer delicious (and filling) scratch-made breakfast and lunch. We stopped in early and fueled up before our morning hike.
Alongside the street next to the loft, you’ll find some eclectic boutique shopping. Taking a left out of the loft and (walking west) a few blocks up College Street and stroll straight into downtown Asheville. Here you’ll find excellent eateries like Chai Pani, Tupelo Honey, or Isa’s French Bistro. There are vintage clothing stores, home décor shops, and lots of unique shopping in this area.
If you like a quirky experience, you can play pinball or video arcade games on vintage machines at the Asheville Pinball Museum. No need for quarters here. You can play to your heart’s content for one entrance price.
Fun Activities Just a Short Drive Away
The Biltmore Estate is a mere ten-minute trip by car from the loft. My girlfriend and I spent four hours exploring the estate and the gardens. We also enjoyed the wine tasting at Biltmore Vineyards included in our ticket price. The home, completed in 1895, is breathtaking, and the views from of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the terrace are equally incredible. If you love historic homes, this is a must-see in any season.
If you’re a golfer, The Omni Grove Park Inn has a Donald Ross-designed golf course played by some of the greats, including Jack Nicklaus. While you play, you can admire those amazing Blue Ridge Mountain Views.
There are many ways to explore nature trails in the forests and parks within a 30 to 40-minute drive from Asheville. The four of us enjoyed our visit to DuPont State Recreational Forest, where visitors can take their pick of several easy to moderate hikes to waterfalls.
Check out this Southern Living featured waterfall tour with a naturalist
We trekked to High Falls and Triple Falls – easy walks that took about two hours round-trip. Both waterfalls were spectacular, especially Triple Falls, because you got to experience three waterfalls in one stop. As a bonus, scenes from two of our favorite movies were filmed at Triple Falls, The Hunger Games and The Last of The Mohicans.
We didn’t even scratch the surface of all the things to see and do in Asheville. So, we all agreed to return soon and rent this phenomenal loft again in the heart of downtown.
What do you think?