Things to Do In Asheville

Since the beginning of the year I have traveled to seven states in five months. Three of the seven are states I've never been to before - New Mexico, North Carolina, and South Carolina. My goal is to visit all 50 states before I'm 50. I've defined visiting as at least spending one night, not just driving through or having a connecting flight. So far Bryan and I have been to 20 states together and I've been to an additional 11. 

Earlier this month we crossed North Carolina off the list with a visit to Asheville, NC. I've heard so many wonderful things about this area so when I found out that I had to travel to Charlotte for work, a mini-trip to Asheville was a must. And double bonus - my 29th birthday and Independent Bookstore Day both fell right in the middle of it all! Special thanks to my friend Beth (here's what a real blog looks like) who armed me with a TON of suggestions of places to go! 

1. Take advantage of Airbnb or any of the inns/B&B's in the Montford Historical District

After making the beautiful two hour drive from Charlotte to Asheville we arrived at the Airbnb we rented which was located in the Montford Historical District. It reminded me of a house that would have been in Stars Hollow. It was a little bit of a hike to downtown Asheville, but completely beautiful.

At night the porch had a pretty string of lights that outlined everything.

2. Enjoy the tapas at Cúrate

Our first of many meals was at Cúrate downtown. We tried a variety of different things, but the most interesting thing we had was dessert. Fried eggplant drizzled in wild mountain honey with rosemary ice cream. Differently delicious. I don't think I have any pictures of the food because it was too dark. And also because I eat faster than I take pictures.

I think this was at 9:30pm - the place was packed!

3. Biscuits for President!

If April was the month of the burrito, May is definitely the month of the biscuit. I had quite a few of these delicious baked goods while in North Carolina. If biscuits were running in 2016 I would totally vote for them. Unless they were running against burritos, but really if that was the case what does it even matter? The world would be a more delicious place. It would literally be the only win-win in political history. I mean, I'm guessing...I slept through a lot of history class.

West End Bakery & Cafe - Veggie sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there are free biscuits at the Tupelo Honey Cafe.

4. Indulge your sweet tooth.

If it's not obvious, I gained 700 pounds on this trip. To be fair, we did a ton of walking. To be honest, it was mainly walking to get more dessert.

Double D's Coffee & Desserts - a double decker bus that serves coffee and desserts (in case you couldn't figure that out)

I'm pretty sure everyone who works in Asheville is in their early 20's. Or homeless. Or both.

Not embarrassed to admit that this is the only reason we took out cash for this trip.

I only made three references to the Knight Bus from Harry Potter, I swear.

It was a million degrees on the bus, so we enjoyed our coffee drinks in the little garden next to the bus.

Time it took to finish the drink: 10 minutes. Time it took me to stop talking with a lisp because my tongue was frozen: about an hour.

In my head I know this place is called French Broad Chocolate Lounge, but I keep referring to this place as French Bread Chocolate.

See what I mean? Everyone is so young here. I've become very observant in my old age.

Bryan was amazed at the salted caramel liquid truffle.

5. Sit at the bar at Wicked Weed Brewery

I swear this is the last food related item on the list. Wicked Weed was the number one place people recommended to us when we said we were visiting Asheville. Bryan enjoyed his beer and I enjoyed the atmosphere and their wasabi and ginger popcorn.

6. Marry someone strong so they can carry all your books. Not that you're not strong enough to hold your own books, but then you'll have two arms to pick out more books instead of one. 

Let me just start off number six by saying that Bryan had already gotten me an amazing birthday present before we left for Asheville. He knew I was obsessed with the Penguin Drop Caps Series and decided to, you know, buy them all for me No big deal.

Best. Husband. Ever.

So you would think after all 26 books I wouldn't need to buy more books, but that's where you're very wrong. I'm sure Bryan thought that this amazing gesture would mean that he wouldn't have to lug my books around Asheville because I wouldn't be getting any books in Asheville.

Disillusioned.

Battery Park Book Exchange at Grove Park Arcade - how could you not go into a bookstore with a giant moose head?

It was a maze of books!

Malaprop's Bookstore 

Such a fun way to spend Independent Book Store Day. And I got a free tote bag!

7. Don't puke in the rental car.

There's a definitely a theme with the trips we've taken in 2015. Eat a lot, drink a lot, buy a lot of books (that Bryan will carry), and then go on a long drive and see some nature. The only difference with this trip is the road we took, Blue Ridge Parkway, is extremely windy and I get motion sick very easily. However, I will say the views at each overlook are beautiful.

 

Things to Do in New Mexico | Santa Fe and Albuquerque

I love to discover new things when I'm on vacation. I learned a lot while taking a mini-vacation in New Mexico last month; but I think the most important thing I discovered was that I would like to come back in the next life as a burrito. Maybe it's because when we got to Santa Fe it was snowing, but all I kept thinking about was being wrapped in a warm tortilla, covered in melting cheese, and smothered with red and green chile. Picture me sitting on a warm plate underneath a heat lamp just enjoying life. Seems like the life for future me.

Merry Christmas from Santa Fe (a distant cousin of Santa Claus)

We stayed at the Don Gaspar Inn

We spent four days in New Mexico and in that time I consumed roughly 8,000,000 burritos. You've got your breakfast burrito, lunch burrito, dinner burrito, dessert burrito, snack burrito, late-night burrito, 2:00pm burrito, the I'm-so-full-I-can't-eat-anymore-hey-is-that-a-burrito? burrito. Lots of burritos, guys. Lots. Besides eating a burrito, here are the other things I recommend when you're in this beautiful state.

1. Create Your Own Art Walk in Santa Fe

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The World's Cutest Docent. I want to be a docent when I grow up into a little old lady.

There are beautiful sculptures everywhere!

Wilford Gallery had the best sculpture garden.

2. Feel Like a Giant at Kakawa Chocolate House

Kakawa Chocolate House

They give out samples of all the drinks - so definitely try before you buy. Some are really delicious, some are spicy, and some tasted like soap. 

Cute little cups! Our afternoon treat was hot chocolate with chili and coconut sugar, bourbon caramel chocolate, and chili caramel chocolate. Yum!

To put this in to perspective, I'm basically the size of a cartoon character. Just imagine how small their cups were!

3. Shop Local

Local pottery store. I couldn't afford anything, but it was so beautiful.

Palace of The Governors

Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe

Bookworks in Albuquerque

4. Drink Local

Ohori's Coffee - Santa Fe

Marble Brewery - Albuquerque

Marble doesn't serve food, but they have local food trucks parked outside.

5. Order it Christmas-Style

The Shed - Santa Fe. Home of the hottest green chile known to man. 

Delicious breakfast burrito at The Plaza Cafe

Please don't judge - Cocina Azul

6. Toast Yourself for Climbing Up the Mountain (or you know, taking the 13 minute Tramway...)

Some may have chosen to make the long hike up the mountain. Others may have chosen to pay the $20 to be carried up the mountain. I was already 5,000,000 burritos in at this point of the trip, so taking the tram seemed the way to go. Sandia Peak Tramway

Treat yourself to a nice appetizer or drink at the High Finance Restaurant. You deserve it after those 13 minutes of standing.

The moment when I learned Bryan can't read.

7. Take a Moment to Enjoy the View

New Mexico is beautiful. There's no other way to describe the colors there.

We made a detour on the way to Albuquerque because we wanted to get closer to the mountain. We maybe saw two cars drive by the entire time we were there.

True story: ten seconds after we took this picture I looked down and realized that there were ants crawling all over my feet and the road. Sometimes enjoying the view from inside the car is nice too.

Let's Talk Books: An Untamed State

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay (5/5 stars)
What it's about: Mireille, her husband Michael, and their baby boy are visiting family in Haiti. As they back out of Mireille's parent's driveway on their way to the beach, a group of armed kidnappers swarm the car and take Mireille. For thirteen days she is held hostage by a group of men led by a man who calls himself 'The Commander'. As her husband pleads with her father to pay her ransom, Mireille attempts to forget the woman she used to be and struggles to become the person she needs to be to survive.

What I thought: This book consumed my life for two days. From the first sentence I was hooked into finding out what happens to Mireille. Gay's writing made me feel every hopeless moment of Mireille's thirteen days as hostage and every painful minute of her recovery. The structure of the book weaves between Mireille and Michael recalling past events from their relationship to their current day situation. Usually I find these back stories to be overdone and tiring, but like a boxer who needs a break between rounds I found myself needing some time in the corner to re-energize my heart before diving back into the main plot line. An Untamed State reminded me a little bit of Emma Donogue's Room, but with more detail into what happens after freedom (I'm sure that's in part to Room being told from a child's perspective). Gay did an excellent job describing how difficult and painful Mireille's life was after she escaped. An Untamed State is definitely not for everyone. I think the subject is difficult for...well, anyone human. It's still haunting me.

I Wrote Some Fitness Goals - No Joke

Is it weird to make fitness goals on April Fools' Day? Will anyone take me seriously? Will I take myself seriously? I will! I mean, I do! After a year of running a 5k every month I decided to take the winter off. I swore that I wouldn't run in the freezing cold. I told myself, "Self, no more running in the snow. You hate it." Too bad I didn't tell myself to stop ordering pad thai every week, but it is important to set realistic goals.

I got a Fitbit for Valentine's Day to help track my activity...or lack of activity. Yes, it took about a week to get that Fitbit song ("Well...earlyfit, latefit, rowfit, datefit, stairfit, weeeeeee, find your fit") out of my head. But now I'm keeping track of my steps, monitoring my heart rate, and (when I remember) entering my calories. It's definitely helping me make healthier choices. I was at the airport last month and decided to walk instead of using that moving walkway! Nevermind that I was walking to McDonald's to get a hash brown. Baby steps count as much as regular steps.

I'm starting fresh in April with a few goals to help get and keep me motivated.

April's Goals:

1. Walk 10,000 steps a day
2. Run 40 miles
3. Complete a 5k
4. Get out of the house when the weather is nice!
5. Stop eating like a Gilmore Girl

What are your goals for this month?