Road Trip Stop #1: Asheville, NC
First Stop: Asheville, NC
I drove down the night before and found a place to park and set up camp just north of town right on the parkway. It was absolutely beautiful watching the sun rise over the valley of the mountains and drinking coffee. Just after sunrise I started my ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway up to the top of Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi river. The valley was covered with clouds and it looked like a big lake. The ride was just over 50 miles and well over 6,000 feet of climbing. Check out my ride on Strava here.
After the ride I needed some food. Sam from Liberty Bicycles recommended Doc Brown’s BBQ. It was fantastic, it’s a bit of a drive from downtown but well worth the trip. More coffee was needed for the mid-afternoon slump so I went to Izzy’s Coffee Den and relaxed for a bit before heading out for a night in Downtown Asheville.
My vegetarian buddy, Sebastian, from Reser Bicycle Outfitters in Cincinnati is a regular to Asheville and recommended Plant for some vegan and vegetarian fare. I am an omnivore but do love a plant based meal, especially after the meat induced coma I entered after Doc Brown's. I finished the evening off with a few phenomenal beers from Wicked Weed Brewing. The Coolcumber was perfect for a warm summer night!
Asheville is a great place to visit! The mountains are breathtaking and the food and drink options downtown make it a great place to get away for a long weekend.
John K.
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