As I mentioned in my July R.E.P.O.R.T., I recently took a little road trip to Asheville, NC, to marry two of my best friends.
I have to admit, I wasn’t super excited about the idea of driving at first – and I think most of this is because the last time I drove through those parts was in January of 2021, when I was moving to South Carolina, and the weather had not been in our favor. But it ended up being slightly cheaper (and much more fun) to spread the drive out over a few days and get to spend some time exploring.
Here’s the breakdown:
Day 1: Driving to Nashville
It was approximately 10 hrs to Nashville, and along the way we passed through some notable towns, including Memphis (with the doors LOCKED) and Little Rock.
Day 2: Nashville
We got a place near Broadway and were able to walk up around Broadway with ease.
In the few times I’ve been over the years, so many places have gone up while others have transformed. It’s surprising to see how much change can take place in such a small area. The music was great, and the people watching was somehow better. It’s crazy how easy it is to lose several hours, getting lost in the music.
My favorites on this trip were: Posty’s, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk (always), and Jon Bon Jovi’s place.
Day 3: Nash to Nooga
Because we went back and forth on when we were leaving and what our plan was, we hadn’t quite ironed out which days to take off. So this was a working day for us. We landed at Ugly Mugs in the cutest neighborhood ever. When you’re able to get off Broadway, Nashville has so many fun areas to explore.
Once we got to a good stopping point, we headed south to Chattanooga.
We took two insanely beautiful detours along the way: Sewanee, The University of the South and Foster Falls.
Days 4+ 5: Chattanooga
I’d been wanting to go ever since I heard about it. It’s been noted as one of the best outdoor destinations in the U.S., and it totally lived up to it.
Unfortunately, these were both working days and it was pretty rainy + cloudy in the evenings so we didn’t get as out there as we’d like. The highlights were:
- Ruby Falls – there were signs all along the highway, so we decided to check it out. It’s a waterfall within the mountain. You take a tour through the cave, and it was really cool. Nature is neat.
- Niedlov’s Cafe & Bakery – we ate here twice in one day, btw.
- Sunset Rock – this was the most convenient, short hike for a very rewarding view. You can drive just down the street to pay $30/person to view the Seven States lookout, or you can do it here for free. And because I grew up in one of the largest states, being able to see 7 states at once broke my brain, and I was obsessed with it.
- Clumpies – I don’t know why this is the name… but holy cow this was some seriously good ice cream.
Day 5: Chattanooga to Asheville
This drive from Chattanooga to Asheville was something out of a dream.
We pulled off at any scenic point we could and watched hundreds of people rafting over the rapids. If you’re able to put the spooky Appalachian lore aside, the Blue Ridge Mountains are jaw-dropping.
But no words could describe the excitement I felt when we finally made it to roadside boiled peanuts and peaches. It was doubled at the grand reunion when I got to see my friends at the cabin.
Days 6-8: Asheville
We found the best A-frame outside of town and it was the best place to catch up.
We would go in and out of Asheville for meals, shopping, and errands, but we were fortunate enough to spend time in the area we stayed. The most magical moments from the trip were:
- The 10 Acre Garden – the people, this garden… had such a huge impact on our trip. We built our dear bride’s bouquet here, and it was nothing short of magical.
- Luminosa – the best service and meal I’ve had in sooooo long. They were so accommodating to our celebration, providing a hand-written card and a free dish with each course.
- The Devil’s Courthouse – holy scenery! It’s only ~1 mile hike total, but the views were actually so insane. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives I’ve been on, and this lookout was out of this world.
Day 9: The Return
Wish this was more exciting, just a looooong day in the car.
Nashville > Chattanooga > Asheville
Interested in taking this trip? You can use my Nash, Ashe, and Nooga map, where I saved all the pit stops, restaurants, and must-sees.
Shut Up Madi 