MOUNTAIN OASIS

Before most people knew what farm to table meant, Asheville's creative chefs were partnering with local farmers to serve up innovative cuisine, earning it a reputation as a true "foodtopia." Many chefs, locals, and visitors know this mountain town as "Veggieville", as people will often pass on the pork barbecue for some tasty tempeh smothered in fresh organic tomato sauce--topped with Southern-style slaw, of course. With great outdoor activities, the historic Biltmore estate, and more microbreweries per capita in North Carolina than any other state, Asheville is more than just a foodie's paradise. The music scene in downtown Asheville is hot with a multitude of concert venues and outdoor summer music festivals, as well as a thriving arts culture and mountain crafters. Whatever your interests--hiking, lounging, eating, or drinking--Asheville has it all.

Originally published in VegNews


AuthenticEats

With the bounty of local produce and plentiful vegetarian options, come to Asheville prepared to eat your way through town. At Rosetta's Kitchen, we're torn between the Buddha Bowl, filled with sea vegetables, grilled smoky tofu, and sweet tahini-barbecue sauce, or the Family Favorite, a hearty entree with peanut butter-baked tofu, smashed potatoes, and sauteed kale. Open since 2002, this natural-foods cafe hosts benefits, art shows, and live music to round out the welcoming, creative atmosphere.
*116 N. Lexington Ave., rosettaskitchen.com


EcoHotels
Green-leaning accommodations options abound in Asheville. Downtown's Hotel Indigo features water-saving technologies, green cleaning chemicals, energy-efficient lighting. Less than ten minutes south of downtown, the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park was among the first hotels in the nation to install a solar water-heating system, along with other green initiatives like special parking for hybrids and an alternative fuel shuttle.
*Hotel Indigo, 151 Haywood St., hotelindigo.com
*Hotel Asheville Biltmore Park, 43 Town Square Blvd., hilton.com


SweetTreats
Chocoholics rejoice: Lucious vegan truffles in flavors like strawberry balsamic, fig and port, and pomegranate ginger are worth the trip to French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Head over to The Hop Ice Cream Café and indulge in a vegan ice cream sundae with homemade rotating flavors like bluberry amaretto, pistachio, or lavender.
*French Broad Chocolate Lounge, 10 S. Lexington Ave., frenchbroadchocolates.com
*The Hop Ice Cream Café, 640 Merrimon Ave., Suite 103, thehopicecreamcafe.com


BeerintheUSA
Ready for a cold one? You've come to the right place, since Asheville has a thriving craft brew-pub scene with plenty of brewery tours for those who love hops. Sip a made-in-house Green Man Stout while munching on a tasty hemp-nut burger from Jack of the Wood pub. Visit the tap room at the Pisgah Brewing Company in nearby Black Mountain for organic ales.
*Jack of the Wood, 95 Patton Ave., jackofthewood.com
*Pisgah Brewing Company, 150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain,NC, pisgahbrewing.com


GreatOutdoors
Nature lovers will adore hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, biking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, or water rafting on the French Broad River. Or breeze through the trees in a canopy tour with Navitat Canopy Adventures. Seeking a little om time to yourself? Stretch into your best downward-facing dog at the plethora of yoga studios in town, or head to the Asheville Community Yoga Center for free classes.
*Navitat Canopy Adventures, 242 Poverty Branch Rd., Barnardsville, NC, navitat.com
*Asheville Community Yoga Center, 8 Brookdale Rd., ashevillecommunityyoga.com

SeasonalStreetFood
For a quick bite on the go, stop by VegHeads Vegetarian Drivethru for its signature Korean barbecue tempeh wrap, vegan Caesar salad, or locally brewed kombucha. Opened in a former burger joint, husband-and-wife team Ryan Jeffries and Nicole Diamantis launched the healthy on-th-go restaurant as an alternative to fast food for busy families. It's Asheville's first vegetarian drive-thru, but hopefully not the last.
*705 Merrimon Ave.

BeautifulBiltmore
A visit to Asheville wouldn't be complete without heading to Biltmore, the sprawling historic home and estate of the Vanderbilt family. The Biltmore's 125,000-acre grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, creator of Central Park in (New York City. The house and grounds tours are well worth it, but so is a stop at the most visited winery in the United States right on the estate itself). For those seeking a little extra adventure, book an off-road Segway tour or rent a bike for the afternoon. And don't miss the more than 250 varieties of rosses in the stunning Biltmore Gardens.
*1 Approach Rd., biltmore.com

LocalLove
Locally sourced ingredients are the highlights at the Laughing Seed Cafe, where delicious choices abound including the raw spinach-pesto manicotti, pistachio seitan marsala, and crispy jalapeno onion fries. Sunday brunch offers tempting meals like tempeh with root hash or Tofu Benedictine, a twist on eggs Benedict, served with seitan sausage over grits. Originally started as a lunch counter a the local YMCA, owners Joan and Joe Eckert moved to Asheville's historic Wall Street area in 1993 to serve an eclectic international menu.
*40 Wall St., laughingseed.com

Lynn Seldon lives on the coast of North Carolina, but heads west to Asheville as often as possible. Find out what he's up to at lynnseldon.com.