Best Ways to Relax in Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
We’re coming to the end of that long summer stretch between July 4th and Halloween, when there’s hardly a holiday in sight, and let me tell you folks, I am feeling it. The metaphorical dogs are barking. My gas: spent. My bones? Weary. You get the picture.
If you too share my exhaustion, a trip to Asheville may just be the thing for you. Historically, those with the means and good sense to do so have sojourned to Asheville seeking the healing powers of the quiet life, and fresh mountain air, two things that my hometown possesses in abundance to this day.
In short, if you’re ready for a real vacation, and I mean the kind where you’re asleep for at least half of it, then I invite you to read on, and discover five of the best ways to relax in Asheville.
Don’t run away! Trust me: exercise can be relaxing.
If you pick the right trail, that is. I used to hike a route called Hard Times in the NC Arboretum, back when I was I was young and sprightful.
But now my calves complain and my shoulders are tenser than a guitar string; your mid-twenties can do that to you. So if I’m looking for a relaxing hike, one of my first thoughts is the Arboretum’s Bent Creek trail.
Drive past the main parking, take Greenhouse Way on your right, and follow it to its termination at said greenhouse. From there, walk down Wolf Branch Road, follow the sound of water, and you’ll find yourself on the shady banks of the Bent Creek itself, bubbling alongside an easy, mainly-flat trail.
If you’re looking for a similar experience up in the Blue Ridge proper, I’d suggest Graveyard Fields. It may be a further drive out from town, but it’s one of the most famously beautiful (and relaxing) drives around, with spanning views of the mountains.
Graveyard Fields is similar to the Bent Creek trail in that it mainly follows water, and long sections of it are made more traversable via wooden planks. And if a true plunge into nature is just what the doctor ordered, then visit in mid-to-late August to join in the yearly wild blueberry harvest, a local tradition.
Once you’ve garnered a good ol’ lather from that hike, there’s no better way to cool down than to visit one of Asheville’s finest spas. And if that’s what your heart truly desires, then you’ve got your pick of the places.
For newcomers to Asheville, I recommend a visit to the Grove Park Inn. They’re one of Asheville’s pricier spas, but also happen to be located in a historic mountain resort, nestled in its subterranean hollows, like a grotto of legend.
It’s a monumental experience. Certainly one for the books. But if you’ve visited the spa at the Grove Park Inn before, and are interested in exploring what other spas in Asheville have to offer, then I recommend Shoji.
This Japanese-style spa is unique among spas in Asheville, surrounded by forest, with its soaking-tubs situated to offer you an unbroken view of nature. Pair this with a menu full of hot teas curated by our local Dobra tearoom, and you’ve got yourself a real hidden gem of a place to relax in Asheville.
Speaking of hot tea and relaxation, you’re never going to guess what I’ve got cooked up next. Unless you’ve read this blog before. In which case, you already know.
I’ve been going to Dobra for time immemorial, like the migratory crane who visits Mexico every winter, for mimosas and sunbathing. I’ve always assumed that’s what the cranes were up to.
Anyways, when it comes to relaxation in Asheville, one of my favorite things to do has been to grab a good friend or to, journey on to Dobra, and settle into an afternoon of excellent tea and even better conversation.
Their downtown location has always been my favorite, on account of its bead-veiled backroom, where Ashevilleans sit on raised diases like wise-men of yore. These wise-men are usually enjoying tea cakes and cookies. Just to complete the picture for you.
Dobra’s West Asheville location is always a good runner up, and their newest East Asheville spot pairs great with a visit to the WNC Nature Center. Suffice to say, no matter which part of town you find yourself in, you’re never too far away from a relaxing spot of tea at my favorite Ashevillean tea room.
Once you’re truly ready to let go of life’s worries, there’s no better way to enact your newfound non-attachment than by taking a float down the French Broad River, which winds its way through Asheville like a life-giving vein. Or if that metaphor is too visceral for you: it’s a river. They’re relaxing enough on their own.
One of my prime suggestions for this endeavor is always Zen Tubing, as their south Asheville send-off point sits just ten minutes away from Asheville Cottages. Taking one of their tube-float tours of the river is just as easy as booking online, showing up at the spot, and letting the water take you on its way. It hardly gets more relaxing than that.
Of course, this is definitely something for the warmer months of the year. If you’re looking for some winter-time relaxation, I’d advise you to read one of these.
I for one would just about need a holiday from my holiday with all these great things to do. I’m something of a homebody, in fact, and so to me, relaxation can be as simple as settling down with a home-cooked meal made from farmer’s market finds, putting on a film, and letting the night pass lazily on by.
Which is exactly the kind of night you can find here at Asheville Cottages. With fully furnished kitchens, all-encompassing media-player setups, and a grill out back, here you’ll find all the comforts of home in the delightful reaches of the Blue Ridge mountains, plus a hot tub and heated bathroom floors. I for one don’t have either one of those things back at home. And so if I was looking for relaxation in Asheville, I’d stay right here.
Businesses Mentioned
Spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn
(800)-438-5800
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
Shoji Spa & Retreat
(828)-299-0999
96 Avondale Heights Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
Dobra Tea
(828)-575-2424
78 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (Downtown)
1011 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805 (East)
707 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 (West)
Zen Tubing
(855)-936-8823
1648 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
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