Need a little R&R this winter season? For me, yes, always! Hi everyone, Jess here, dishing out some of my favorite stays around Asheville.
For me, there is always a good excuse for a little getaway, a change of scenery, or a switch up of the routine – always does me good. I also love that stay-cation’s are not some big vacation you have to pour time into planning and dish out money to get there. It’s so easy and could only be a couple days or one night to just hit the restart button on life.
Bed and Breakfast stays are my little treasures I collect memories from. They are usually my go to for a little get away around the area. Luckily enough, Asheville is surrounded by B&B’s. If my calculations are correct there are about 50 B&B’s in 28 miles of Asheville. I love how each place is so genuine, beautiful on the inside and out, and offers such unique stays. Waking up to a delicious breakfast right downstairs isn’t so bad either.
My husband and I stay at a different Bed and Breakfast each year, and not intentionally either. It’s not something we have planned a while in advance, it’s usually a spur of the moment idea. Either we both get this urge for an adventure in the midst of the winter months, or for a special event like my birthday in January.
So I’ll share with you the Bed and Breakfasts we have enjoyed around Asheville, and encourage you to seek an adventure of your own!
This is The Wildberry Lodge in Leicester, about 15 miles outside of Asheville. It’s so fun to pack up your car for a special night or two away and drive only 20 minutes to your vacation destination and your there! Best road trip in my opinion. This B&B is the perfect country setting for relaxation and unwinding. Up on top of a big hill sits a beautiful, grand log cabin overseeing a valley full of green pastures sprinkled with cows underneath.
A gentle gaze forward, the Smokey Mountain range sits to meet your eyes and be admired. The construction of this house is brilliant because when inside the view is still the main focus. The living room is partly made of floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sun in and set the view center stage. The property offers lots to do like hiking from the Lodge to the ridge or cozy up to a fire pit outside. Though, my favorite activities were inside, away from the cold since our stays are usually in winter.
We played all types of games in their dedicated gameroom, complete with pool table and bar. We relaxed in their infrared sauna, something I always make sure is in our room, and spent time in the Jacuzzi.
The Innkeepers, Ken and Glenda are so welcoming into their dream home and proud to tell you how they helped to build this majestic cabin of theirs. This stay truly alludes to a home away from home feeling.
Next up is The Albemarle Inn, a place dear to my heart. From the first moment of arriving at this property on a work-related visit I was impressed to see how elegant and proud this 1909 restored Greek Revival mansion is. Hidden amongst the trees and disguised within a residential community, it’s almost as if it’s just waiting to be discovered. The tall white columns bracing its large stature and staircase leading up to the porch and its grand entrance and balcony over-seeing it all, it’s almost a dream. I couldn’t help but to think this is the perfect looking southern house, nestled between those two wise old pine trees. I would like to drink sweet tea on its porch during summer in a floppy sun hat, and I don’t even like sweet tea.
The gardens out front are gorgeous in the spring and summer, making it the perfect spot to spend a sunny day. The road trip to get here from Asheville is even better; I believe you wouldn’t even get three full songs in on the radio before you arrive at your stay. The Albermarle Inn is located in the residential Grove Park District of Asheville, which is right outside the action of the city. I love this because if you want to take advantage of all the many great restaurants in Downtown for dinner the city is at your fingertips. A stay here is not complete without the mouthwatering breakfast prepared by Innkeeper, Rosemary or the charm of her husband and fellow Innkeeper, Fabrizio. Rosemary is an award-winning baker and it transfers beautifully in her cooking. With eleven rooms to choose from we ended up in the Royal Hideaway. Why, you may ask? The Jacuzzi in the room, duh. Alas, I must admit another reason this B&B is dear to my heart, I got married on those grand stairs leading onto that romantic porch, to fill just one more of my fantasies (read about it here).
The latest Bed and Breakfast we stayed at is The Arbor House of Black Mountain. Oh, how I love Black Mountain, the cozy little town in the mountains. The B&B is a beautiful lake-front view house with again an impressive front porch (why is this always my favorite thing) and A frame characteristics. The Innkeepers Theresa and Jim provide a comfortable stay along with great conversations. If you want to take advantage of Black Mountains abundant hiking options, they know them well. Since it was winter for our stay, we spent time around the indoor fireplace complimented with sips of wine.
For dinner we went to FRESH, a wood fire pizza place in town and ventured to Lookout Brewery across the street for a brew. Back at the B&B, we walked around Lake Tomahawk which is surrounded by a clear view of the ‘seven sisters’ mountain peaks, famous of Black Mountain. Among the five suites to choose from, we choose the Lookout Suite and I bet you know why by now.
As you can read I highly encourage a stay-cation for the sake of your health! A couple days away from the routine really brings fresh perspective and rejuvenation to life. My favorite ways to accomplish this is a stay in a Bed and Breakfast where breakfast is served to you in a cozy environment with no need to wash the dishes or make your bed! There really are so many places and things to do around Asheville, do you have a favorite stay-cation? Tell us about it in the comments!