Asheville and its surrounding mountainous border has much to see and enjoy. But what if you only have $10.00 in your pocket to “enjoy” the sights, sounds, smells, and secret treasures? How would you spend $10.00 during one fun-filled afternoon? That’s the question we posed to local residents on a particularly snowy winter afternoon. Their responses varied, but seemed to fall into two major categories: (1)Eating and Drinking; and (2)Outdoor Fun. Let’s explore some of their responses.
• Leslie: “Visit the Farmers Market and follow with lunch at the Moose Cafe
• Karen: “Walk through downtown, making sure to stop at the drum circle. Follow this experience with a cold, local craft brew.”
• Carol: “Drive to Mt. Mitchell, take a hike, stop by the Folk Art Center, and grab a snack on the way home.”
• Pam: “Complete a walking tour of the downtown Asheville area followed by a taco from White Duck Taco on Broadway.”
• Abby: “Grab lunch or dinner at the Green Sage Cafe.”
• Bonnie: “Visit the North Carolina Arboretum ($5.00 parking) and take along a picnic lunch.”
• Kitty: “Rent a bike and explore local sites.”
• Rachel: “Eat brunch at Sunny Point Cafe and select the ‘build your own omelet’ option, starting at $8.00.”
Based on these responses, it’s safe to assume that Asheville has fantastic restaurants with reasonable lunch or dinner rates, and lots of outdoor activities to fill an entire day. From hiking and biking to brunch and brews, the area attracts visitors because of its diverse menu of enjoyable activities. Additionally, many of the activities detailed by our residents include “free stuff.” It doesn’t cost a dime to hike the parkway, roam through downtown Asheville’s art deco buildings, or enjoy an outdoor drum circle event.
But no list of Asheville activities is complete without a visit to the bookstores, even if you’re just browsing. Trust me, this nerdy, teetotaler blogger could spend days just roaming through Asheville’s bookstores with a cold lemonade in one hand and a European pastry from Old Europe in the other. From Mr. K’s Used Books, Music, and More and the faith focused Lifeway store to Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe and Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, you’ll find enough books, digital texts, and magazines to last you for years.
To continue researching other Asheville options, check out the rest of the AskAsheville site. Most importantly, have fun exploring this vibrant city and its surrounding beauty, with as little as $10.00 in your pocket!
Blog Post by Lori Brown