We at AskAsheville.com were honored to be the official host of the Travelocity Roaming Gnome during his wonderful roam around Asheville. The goal was to show him the best our beautiful city has to offer — from the mountains to the breweries, and the local eats to the local arts scene. In just a few short days, we and our pointy-hatted friend wandered everywhere. He experienced Mountain View massages, toured the Biltmore Estate, tasted as many pints as humanly (and gnomely) possible, stuffed his face with liquid truffles and duck tacos, and even learned to skateboard (kind of). Here are just a few highlights from his whirlwind adventure. First he soothed his weary hat at the Omni Grove Park Inn Spa.

Then took the Architect’s Tour at Biltmore Estate, and got a crash course in shooting sporting clays and casting flies.

He scarfed down scrumptious breakfasts at Tupelo Honey Café, Biscuit Head and the Red Stag Grill.

Drooled over the lobster corn dogs at Rhubarb, devoured chipotle blueberry ribs at 12 Bones Smokehouse AND annihilated the Wild BBQ at Plant Restaurant. (He’s a gnome of many tastes obviously.)

Then he washed all that dinner down with dessert at French Broad Chocolate Lounge and topped it off with a heaping scoop of salted caramel at Hop Ice Cream.

He acted as a muse at Jonas Gerard Fine Art Gallery.

And attempted pottery at The Village Potters.

He hunted wild foods with Alan Muskat, “philosoforager” extraordinaire of NoTastelikeHome.org.

And got an exclusive invite to check out Thrashville.org’s 3,000 sq. foot hand-built skate bowl.

He sipped everything from saisons to IPAs at Burial Beer Co., Highland Brewing, Wedge Brewing, Green Man Brewery, Wicked Weed and Hi-Wire.

He went backstage with MOD SUN and D-Why at the legendary Orange Peel.

Took in the fresh mountain air at Pisgah National Forest.

Then freshened up at the Grand Bohemian.

And somehow during his busy schedule, he even managed to deliver the weather (drizzly) with Sadie on 105.9 The Mountain.

All in all, we helped show the Roaming Gnome as much of the beauty, charm and vitality that our city holds as we could muster. And while he was here, we got to see sides of Asheville that surprised even us. Which is why when it came time for him to depart, we waved goodbye with a tinge of sadness. We’ll miss that 2-foot-tall bearded fellow and his zeal for travel, but we know adventure beckons him on.

So with that we say, “Best of luck, little buddy. May the road treat you kindly, the beer be cold, and the wind forever be at your back.” You can keep up with all the Roaming Gnome’s future travels on Instagram and Twitter.

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