Dear Friends,

It has been two years since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, and Asheville has stayed close to my heart ever since. I’ve returned a few times, written stories about the recovery, and watched a community that depends heavily on tourism work incredibly hard to rebuild.

The numbers put that struggle into perspective. Nearly 30,000 people in Buncombe County make their living through tourism. After Helene struck at the beginning of peak fall season, October 2024 hotel demand fell 36% from the previous year. Nearly 90% of tourism businesses had reopened by 2025, but many were still earning considerably less than before the storm.

So, if you’ve been wondering whether it is time to return to Asheville, my answer is yes!

I spent last weekend there just as the first crisp fall air arrived. The city felt lively and welcoming; restaurants were buzzing, and everywhere I went, I met locals who were genuinely happy to see visitors again.

I stayed at Firelight at Shope Creek, a women-owned and operated collection of Scandinavian-style luxury cabins surrounded by woods. I soaked in my private hot tub, relaxed in the barrel sauna, and went foraging with an expert who showed me edible and healing plants growing practically under my feet.

One of my favorite moments was also the simplest. I had a basket of locally sourced eggs, seeded rustic bread, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables from Asheville farmers' markets. Each morning, I cooked breakfast in my cabin, opened the doors to the cool mountain air, and watched fall begin outside. You know how much I love markets and cooking, so this was my kind of luxury.

I also had plenty of new experiences. I tried glass blowing for the first time at NC Glass Center and made my own ornament. I tasted single-origin chocolates while touring French Broad Chocolate's factory. I sampled what felt like an entire world of honey at Asheville Bee Charmer and stocked up at Spicewalla, which now has a huge downtown store and a new cookbook.

My friend and I also went vintage shopping. She scored cowboy boots while browsing Free & Above and Twice Round. Asheville is one of those places where you can walk downtown without much of an agenda and keep discovering something interesting.

And, of course, I ate! Jettie Rae's Oyster House reminded me that you can find seriously good fresh seafood in the mountains. Luminosa, which earned both a Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star in 2025, served some of the best pizza I’ve had lately. And Cúrate, winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality, is still such a fun place to linger over tapas and wine.

I also squeezed in some wellness at Asheville Salt Cave and Drip. And don't even get me started on the coffee shops. I may need another trip just to work my way through those.

What struck me most, though, was how connected Asheville feels. Someone you meet at one business knows the chef at the restaurant you visit that evening. A friend's husband designed the sauna you used that afternoon. You quickly realize that when you spend money here, it circulates through a very real community.

That is perhaps the best reason to visit Asheville this fall.

Go for the changing leaves and crisp mountain air. Take the kids for a weekend, plan a romantic cabin getaway, gather your girlfriends, or stay for a week and work remotely. While you're there, eat at local restaurants, buy from artists and makers, visit the markets, and talk to the people behind these businesses.

Asheville has recovered tremendously, but our tourism dollars can continue helping that recovery.

And if Asheville is on your fall list but you don't have time to research everything yourself, come talk to us. At Go Eat Give, we offer Zoom travel consultations where I can help you narrow down where to stay, where to eat, and which experiences are actually worth your time. If you want more help, we can plan the itinerary or handle the bookings too, whether you're heading to Asheville or halfway around the world.

Sometimes you just need someone who has already been there.

Happy fall travels!

Sucheta