Tag Archives: Asheville North Carolina

Tupelo Honey

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Last week I found myself with a group at the Tupelo Honey location in Columbus, Ohio. This restaurant chain started with a single location in Asheville, North Carolina in 2000. There they gained a reputation for their farm to table scratch cooking.

Today, Tupelo Honey has locations in the south and far beyond, including in Yankee cities like Columbus and Milwaukee.

The food was plentiful and tasty. They are known for their fried chicken but they do have a couple of vegetarian and pescatarian options. I wanted a little more protein than I could get from the vegetarian dishes so I opted for a grilled salmon that came with roasted veggies and a delicious creamy quinoa. I need to reverse engineer that quinoa because it was the best I’ve ever had.

I also ordered biscuits with blueberry jam. They call them Biscuits For A Cause and the proceeds go to employee relief and development funds. That’s right, friends. I took one for the team and ate biscuits to help others.

The blueberry jam was delicious too.

The atmosphere and food were good and I would absolutely return sometime. Find a location near you and check out the menu here!

Also, if you read the name and immediately thought of the Van Morrison song – this is for you!

Framed

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This picture was made last May at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Asheville was in full spring bloom while it was still winter in the higher elevations. I got a kick out of seeing the weather changes as we traveled through the mountains but the lush flowers of the Biltmore gardens were positively thrilling.

There were a lot of people out that day so I was excited to frame a quiet view of the formal gardens through this window.

I suppose it’s true that the little things do make us happy.

A Single, Tiny Leaf

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Outside the Bonsai Garden at the North Carolina Arboretum, there is a sign that reads in part:

When you enter here, become small… Open your mind to the possibility that the greatest mysteries of life can be found in a single, tiny leaf.

Whoever wrote these lines deserves a raise because they spoke to my soul. I hope they speak to yours as well.

Vinnie’s

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If you’re in Asheville, North Carolina and craving some really great Italian, check out Vinnie’s. This locally owned restaurant has an old school vibe with classic dishes in a fun environment.

Red leather booths, dim lighting, a fabulous bar, and great music (think Sinatra and “Mack the Knife”) make for a neighborhood vibe that makes you want to linger. I almost expected to see some gangsters at a booth in the corner.

The owner and chef grew up in New York City, patronizing neighborhood restaurants that were known for their family recipes and warm atmosphere. When he realized that Asheville was lacking old school Italian, he opened Vinnie’s, placing as much emphasis on atmosphere as on the food.

The result is fantastic. The service was great, the portions huge and delicious.

We ate inside but they have outdoor seating too. Want to see the menu or learn more? Click here!

North Carolina Arboretum

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Visiting the North Carolina Arboretum was sort of an afterthought. We had spent the day exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and were looking for something interesting to do before dinner. This was on my list of interesting places and it was open till 9 p.m. so we set out for a much needed walk after a day spent largely in the car.

This 400+ acre arboretum has beautiful flower gardens and trails, offering something for everyone. There are lots of water features as well as nooks and crannies that feel like secret gardens and spaces to get lost.

Plus there are so many amazing sounds of birds, frogs and crickets that create a soundtrack like no other.

It’s paradise.

They do have an education center that was closed for a special event. There’s also a restaurant and bonsai garden that were already closed for the day. That was fine by me because we had a terrific time out exploring the pretty flowers and woodland trails.

Parking is $16 per car. You can get lots more information by visiting their website. I took so many pictures, you’ll likely see more here in the future.

If you are in Asheville, I highly recommend this place. It’s great for all ages and, if you take kids, look for the treasure hunt maps to help them stay engaged and on the lookout for interesting things!

The Grove Arcade

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America’s first indoor shopping mall still exists in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. It was conceived by selfmade millionaire E.M. Grove who envisioned this attraction as a means to invigorate the city’s downtown district.

Grove actually died in 1927, two years before his 267,000 square foot dream was completed. When it opened in 1929, original tenants included a beauty shop, cigar stand, a haberdashery, candy stalls, booksellers and office space.

It continues to serve as a gathering place with restaurants, shops, an art gallery and residences. In fact, it was a happening place when we were there!

The light is lovely, the architecture amazing, and we found some nice shops. My friend was most interested in one store that sold locally made arts and crafts but I was most taken with this shop that sells handmade hats and yarn.

The old phone booths are free of phones but serve as a hub for an ATM and facility information.

Here’s one more look at that gorgeous ceiling.

Want more information? Find a directory and full history here. Tomorrow I will tell you about the amazing bookstore we found!