As our one year wedding anniversary approached, Rufio and I decided we would make a tradition of celebrating each year of wedded bliss in one nearby domestic location and one international location. As an added bonus, we decided to take turns selecting the domestic destination and planning out the details, as a mini-surprise for the other. For year one, Rufio chose a town that appealed to both our individual interests and our interests as a couple; one renowned for its arts, culture, great outdoors, thriving craft beer scene, and most importantly, its love and obsession with man’s best friend.

Since we would be leaving our beautiful “daughter”, Maho, behind for our international trip, Asheville was the perfect nearby getaway – a city where we could hike, eat, drink, and even shop with our best four-legged friend by our side. We loved everything about this fun and eclectic city, especially how dog-friendly it is. Here is our account of a perfect weekend getaway in dog-friendly Asheville.

Day 1

Asheville is nestled between the borders of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, offering ample opportunities for hiking right outside the city. We kicked off our beer-centric weekend on a healthy note, with a brisk hike in the Nantahala National Forest. Maho romped through the woods off leash, looking like a black wolf back-dropped by mossy tree trunks and bubbling brooks.

After we spent the early morning connecting with nature, it was time to become acquainted with the city. Asheville is a proud purveyor of the farm-to-table movement, and the nearly year-round harvest seasons in the region means menus are always full of innovative takes on Southern classics. We fueled up for the day with a brunch on the patio at Posana, with Maho contently curled up under the table, eagerly awaiting any crumbs that might fall her way.

When we had our fill of local garden-fresh brunch fare, we began our hoppy journey. Asheville is known as “Beer City USA”, and for good reason. The city consumes the most craft beer per capita in the country, a result of being among the top in breweries per capita. Breweries across the country are known to be havens for dog lovers, and many of Asheville’s 26 craft breweries are no different. We enjoyed hop-forward IPAs from dog-friendly Wicked Weed and Green Man, either perched on patios under the bright spring sky, or holed up at the bar chatting with mustachioed brew masters.

Disclaimer: No Mahos were inebriated in the staging of this photo. 🙂

After a few beers, we spent time wandering the city, popping in and out of locally-owned boutiques, where Maho charmed shopkeepers with her best tricks. We took in the artsy culture the town is known for, enjoying live drum circles in Pritchard Park and admiring the work of local street artists at every turn.

After having our fill of quirky, hippie culture, it was time to experience the height of sophistication and luxury. The Biltmore Estate is one of the most historic, and largest,  homes in the country, and is by far the architectural crown jewel of the South. The expansive grounds and gardens of the Biltmore welcome dogs along the manicured paths, but no visit would be complete without touring the grand manor house. For this reason, self-serve kennels are available on site, where your four-legged friend can rest while you explore the grand halls, bowling alley, indoor pool, and 250 rooms of the Gilded Age mansion.

After we marveled at the opulence and grandeur of the house, we freed Maho from the kennels to explore the vast network of garden walks along the 2.5 miles of paths on the estate. Biltmore boasts an impressive Italian garden, rose garden, azalea garden, and the country’s first managed forest.

Our ticket included a free wine tasting at the estate’s winery, but after a long day of walking the town and the estate, we were famished. We skipped the wine tasting in favor of an early dinner in the hip River Arts District. This urban renewal project spans a mile along the French Broad River, where 22 industrial buildings have been converted into workshops for hundreds of local artisans, as well as restaurants and watering holes.

Once again, Maho was gleefully welcomed to join us on the patio. We enjoyed another contemporary, locally-sourced, Southern-inspired meal, surrounded by artisans crafting their wares in workshops lining the river.

Day 2

Asheville natives and visitors alike take Sunday brunch very seriously, evidenced by the many patios lining College Street and Broadway Street full of people and pooches enjoying bottomless mimosas and eggs Benedict. Easily the most popular spot in town is Tupelo Honey, offering made-from-scratch, locally sourced Southern staples like fried green tomatoes, fried chicken & biscuits, and shrimp & grits. Tupelo Honey became so popular in downtown Asheville, with hours long waits on weekend mornings, they opened outposts in cities all over the Southeast.

As many rave reviews as we heard, we just weren’t in the mood to wait around in line, so we took to the streets to find another dog-friendly brunch spot. We settled on Mayfel’s, a Louisiana-inspired kitchen that also boasts scratch-made, locally sourced dishes. Our Cajun-inspired meals were filling and delicious, and we loved that our menu arrived with treats for Maho.

The rest of the morning was spent popping in and out of boutiques and cafés, admiring the work of local artists, and of course enjoying one or two more craft beers before we hit the road back to Atlanta, all with our best friend right by our side. We loved Asheville’s charm, eccentric artsy vibe, and especially being able to spend so much quality time with Maho while enjoying the city. ♥

Sojourn Information

Tip: Many of downtown Asheville’s breweries, restaurants, bars, and shops will welcome your furry friend inside, but not all. Be sure to check with the establishment before you enter. Be on the lookout for water bowls placed outside the door, that is often an indication the place is dog-friendly.

Click on this map to explore many of the dog-friendly breweries in Asheville, along with other dog-friendly establishments and places to visit.

Sleep: The National forests hugging the outskirts of Asheville offer hundreds of charming cabins, boasting scenic mountain views for all budgets. Filter specifically for dog-friendly AirBnB rentals to narrow down your options to those welcoming your four-legged family members.

Maho, worn out after our day of fun, loved cuddling in the loft of our cabin in the woods.

Eat & Drink: Posana, Mayfel’s, Tupelo Honey, Bomba, Wicked Weed, Green Man, Oskar Blues. We also ate at a restaurant called Junction, but it has since been replaced by Vivian in the River Arts District.

Things to Do: Hike in the Nantahala & Pisgah National Forests, explore the history and grandeur of the Biltmore Estate, watch artisans hone their crafts, and take home some of their beautiful works of art, in the River Arts District.

Do you love taking your dog along on trips with you? Leave a comment to let us know where we should take Maho next!

Disclaimer: If you sign up with AirBnB and make a reservation using the link above, you will receive a $40 credit and I will receive a $25 credit, at no cost to you! As always, the opinions and recommendations presented in this blog are mine, and always an honest reflection on our experiences. Thank you for reading!