8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Asheville This Fall

When I visited Asheville, NC last fall, I was completely blown away by the mountains, the art, and of course, the beautiful fall foliage. It’s where I really fell in love with hiking. An ideal balance of city and country life, Asheville is perfect for introverts and solo travelers who want to be alone in nature all day and then go to a brewery at night. And if you’ve ever imagined yourself to be the mysterious, quirky main character that many people don’t understand, but the ones who get you, get you, Asheville may be your spirit city. Last year I remember thinking that I hoped I could visit every fall. This year I decided to switch it up, but I’m missing that strange, charming town tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I decided to put together a list of why you should visit Asheville this fall.

1. You should visit Asheville this fall to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway

The fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway are out of this world. Asheville has one of the longest foliage seasons ranging from September to mid-November, peaking around mid to late October.

The entire BRP is 469 miles long. It’s up to you how much driving you want to do and which direction you want to go. You really can’t go wrong with either direction (north or south). No matter where you go along the BRP, you’ll come to some breathtaking overlooks covered in reds and oranges for the fall and of course that iconic blue fog.

2. To hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway (and beyond)

Now we’re talking. Even better than the driving is the hiking. Get out and stretch your legs on shorter trails such as Craggy Gardens, or plan an entire day doing “the big one,” Mount Mitchell–read all about my experience here.

Word to the wise, if you’re planning on doing a specific hike on the BRP, do not rely on your GPS. Don’t fret, though, the parkway is quite easy to navigate. Look for the mile marker numbers—the highway runs from north to south with the smaller numbers to the north increasing as you go south. And if you go the wrong direction, like I often do, it’s as simple as turning around.

Here are some of my favorite hikes near Asheville. I plan to do a post just on the hikes near Asheville, but for now, click on each one for more info:

Graveyard Fields, (waterfalls!) Milepost 418.8

Craggy Gardens, 364.41

Waterrock Knob, 451.2

Rattlesnake Lodge trail,374.4

Bailey Mountain (located in nearby Mars Hill)

Sams Gap (also in Mars Hill)

3. To hear some great music

The music scene is thriving, and that’s yet another reason why you should visit Asheville! You can expect to hear some talented, offbeat artists. For example, last Halloween I saw a Black Sabbath parody band called Mac Sabbath. The band dresses up as McDonald’s characters and plays such fast food-themed hits as “Frying Pan” (“Iron Man”) and “Pair-a-buns.” Go look up their music!

Notable Venues

Fleetwood’s Chapel Music venue, bar, thrift store, and wedding chapel, Fleetwood’s sets a prime example of how to really have it all. This is Asheville’s answer to the drive-thru chapels in Vegas.

27 Club Home to music and fun events such as Drunken Spelling Bee and punk karaoke, you really can’t go wrong stopping in here for a show, event, or just to have a drink and a look around.

Salvage Station. This place legit used to be a salvage yard, and you can still find remnants of its past, such as an antique truck with Salvage Station painted on it. Today it hosts headlining bands as well as lesser-known bands.

The Grey Eagle. This is where I saw Mac Sabbath. It’s located in the very cool River Arts District downtown. It’s Asheville’s longest-running music venue and even has a taqueria. 

The Odd. Formerly known as the Odditorium, if you’re looking for a dive bar with food, music, open mic nights, and more that’s, well, odd, here’s your spot. 

4. The weather

Do you love fall weather? Picture strolling along a trail, sipping some coffee or cider in your favorite hoodie while you marvel at the changing leaves and think about which brewery you’re heading to that night. That’s Asheville fall for you. The air is crisp but not cold, and it rarely snows before January. Most days I wore either a long-sleeved shirt or a hoodie, and I was there late October to late November.

5. The Comedy

The comedy scene in Asheville is small, hilarious, and of course, a little weird. And because it’s small, the community is pretty tight-knit. I was at an open mic night just to watch where I met a few of the local comedians and stumbled into some sort of feud—I may have to make a post about that! That being said, there are many spots where you can get your comedy fix.

My favorite was LaZoom Tours. This is a comedy bus tour of Asheville. You’ll notice their purple bus when walking around downtown, and you won’t be able to help wondering what it’s all about.

On the City Comedy Tour, you’ll spend 90 minutes riding around Asheville. You’ll stop at a few significant sites and learn about some of the city’s history—all while being wildly entertained! Seriously, the actors were hilarious.

To make it even better, you can purchase alcohol at their location and take it on the bus. The bus also stops at a brewery where you can get more.

In addition, they also have a Ghost Bus tour! Perfect for spooky season.

6. Why you should visit Asheville – Because your dog will love it too!

Asheville is one of the most dog-friendly places I’ve ever been. I walked with Elgie into a coffee shop, not knowing if they even allowed dogs, and they pulled out a dog bowl from behind the counter and filled it with water for him! Several of the downtown shops have dog bowls in front of them, and some even have “shop dogs” keeping watch.

Honestly, unless it’s a fancy spot (or there’s a sign on the door), you can probably bring your dog in! Additionally, I didn’t find any hikes that weren’t dog-friendly. Elgie hiked everywhere with me except Mount Mitchell, but only because that one was too long for him.

7. The Art

The amazing art is one more reason why you should visit Asheville. You’ll find unique street art all over town. One notable spot is Chicken Alley–marked by a giant rooster.

But Chicken Alley has a grisly past. Legend has it that it’s haunted by the ghost of a doctor who was brutally murdered there. There have been reports of people seeing a man wearing a tall hat carrying an old-timey doctor’s bag.

Be sure to walk through Momentum Gallery too. I stumbled upon it. It might not be haunted, but it’s an enormous art gallery and there are some exquisite pieces in there!

8. The Buskers

Asheville has amazing street performers who really help set the scene. Just imagine walking through this unusual, art-filled town with some great music in the background. You’ll hear all kinds. All you have to do is follow your ears in whichever direction speaks to you. And when you find a performer who stops you in your tracks, just pause and enjoy.

Honorable Mentions

Here are some places and experiences that are iconic Asheville–I just didn’t get to go. Next time!

Christmas decorations at the Biltmore. Any time is a good time to check out the Biltmore, Asheville’s signature mansion, but for Christmas they really go all out with the decorations. The holiday decor goes up in early November each year (November 3 in 2023).

Breweries. Asheville takes their beer very seriously. I went to a few cocktail bars but did not get around to exploring the breweries. You’ll see signs around the bars such as “You’re in Asheville. Don’t order a PBR.”

Farm tours. Check out the cute farm animals and buy some local farm fresh goods. There are several farms to tour just outside of Asheville.

Where to stay in Asheville

It depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re a nomad on a budget you can find better deals on longer-term housing outside of Asheville but still close to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I stayed in an AirBnb in nearby Mars Hill, a small mountain town just north of Asheville. I was looking for a quiet, budget-friendly place to stay long-term, and I found it there. Other honorable mentions– Weaverville (very nice downtown area) and Marshall (small town known for its art).

If you want to get away from it all look at Mars Hill. It’s about 20 minutes north of Asheville and is a charming small town with a cute downtown area. It has a brewery that’s housed in an old theater, a few nice restaurants, a Waffle House, and Bailey Mountain Preserve, a great hiking spot that’s never crowded.

If you want to be in the middle of it all stay in downtown Asheville! You won’t be far from the Blue Ridge Parkway should you want to go sightseeing, and you’ll be right in the middle of breweries, coffee shops, and haunted chicken alleyways…

Is Asheville a good place for digital nomads?

Yes! It consistently makes top 10 U.S. lists for digital nomads thanks to its fast internet, friendly people, and bustling atmosphere. There’s even a Meetup group called Asheville Digital Nomads. I went to their Halloween event where a few folks dressed up as Gnome-ads!

Is Asheville a good place for introverts?

It’s perfect. You can recharge your introvert batteries with solo nature hikes, and if you’re feeling social, check out a brewery or tour.

What should you pack for Asheville?

For fall, pack layers, especially if you’re hiking. I would pack a hoodie, boots (don’t forget the hiking boots!), sneakers, a leather jacket, pants, and a few short and long-sleeved shirts. Plus a hat and gloves in case it gets chilly. You likely won’t need a winter coat, but you’ll want to be prepared with plenty of layers in case of a cold snap.

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What do you think? Does Asheville sound like your kind of place?

Let me know in the comments below if you would visit or have visited Asheville!

Final thoughts on why you should visit Asheville this fall

Asheville is a small, peculiar city nested in the Blue Ridge Mountains that I think everyone could enjoy–especially digital nomads, foliage enthusiasts, art lovers, beer lovers, and hikers, Its natural beauty will leave you gaping in awe, and its quirky charm will leave you smiling.