Asheville: A City of Art
If you are in need of an artistic escape this Spring season and long to be surrounded by beautiful mountains, colorful streets and delicious cusine, you need to book a trip to Asheville, North Carolina. Clayton recently took a trip to the art-filled city and we wanted to map out his trip and share with you his must-see stops!
The first place Clayton recommends stopping in for the art-lover in your group is The Haen Gallery. The location in the heart of downtown Asheville (they have two gallery locations in NC), has a mission of only exhibitng artists who share a keen appreciation of the natural world. Clayton has had several pieces displayed at the gallery; here his is pictured with gallery owner, Chris Foley in front of Clayton's most recent piece at Haen, "Lux". The gallery is free and open to the public; we highly recommend stopping by!
A day spent touring Asheville's incredible art scene would not be complete without having a bite to eat to fuel the rest of your day! The mountain city is known just as much for it's dining scene as it is for it's color and artsy-ness. If you're feeling adventurous and want to "eat like a local", we recommend venturing just 20 minutes outside the art-filled city to Waynesville, NC for a great list of craft beers on tap, 25 bottled beers and even their very own brew, the Punch In The Face IPA. Clayton recommends their Fish 'N Chips for a must-have entree!
If you'd rather stay within the Asheville city limits for lunch or dinner, we have a great recommendation. Clayton and his family are partial to Curate Tapas Bar located in the heart of Asheville's historic downtown district very close to The Haen Gallery on Biltmore Avenue. Built in 1927, the restaurant was once Asheville's bus depot for decades. The name of the restaurant, "Cúrate" means, "cure yourself" in spanish. Their belief is in sharing good food and wine with friends and family and curing yourself by being surrounded by fellowship and one heck of a tasty meal. Clayton recommends the cured meat dish, "Jamón Ibérico de Bellota" - 100% pure ibérico pigs, acorn fattened and free range, giving it a unique and exceptionally nutty flavor (A Gluten-Free item).
We'd love to hear about your favorite places and experiences in Asheville! Share with us your pictures, stories and memories and let us know if you get to venture to any of our favorite spots this Summer; we'd love to hear about your trip. Check back each week on our Facebook page for more reviews and insights from Clayton on his spotlight of the week for #SpotlightSunday.
