#I can take my Venus plus on hikes and exploring and to wonderful places!! we can go to museums and cafes and concerts!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rememberthattime · 5 years

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Chapter 48. Athens

I didn’t plan on writing a post for this short work trip. I was only in Athens for five days, and three of those were filled with meetings... but it was the other two days that make this trip worth remembering. Yes, Athens itself is nice — I’m writing this from a cafe, sipping a coffee frappe with my zucchini fries. That wasn’t the best part though. What makes this short trip so special is the reminder it provided: a reminder of Chelsay and I’s past weekend adventures, and just how far you can go with two days in Europe.

Upon arrival in Athens, I received an immediate reminder of the “particularities” required when traveling in Europe. Simple task: I needed to get from the airport to my hotel. Problem: I had forgotten the travel skills Chelsay and I had built up from our time in London: always have cash, never rely on others, and plan alternatives. It took me four attempts before I successfully caught a ride. Eventually I made it to the hotel, where I was reminded why these “particularities” were worth it. From my hotel’s rooftop, I quietly looked across Athens: the birthplace of civilization, with a history and culture you couldn’t find on any other continent.

Because Chelsay and I had previously visited Athens, I wanted to get into some "deeper cuts" for this return trip. From researching, the Kaisariana Monastery was #1 on my list. Perched in the hills outside Athens, Kaisariana would be a quiet reprieve from the touristy city center. Now, I could have taken a cab, but walking only took an hour. We were well into winter in Sydney, and because it was 80+ in Athens, I decided a hike in the warm weather would be nice. This was absolutely the right call. Walking through the Athenian neighborhoods was like visiting an alternate dimension. The city had been built by and for humans, but there was just a different take on what a home, shopfront, and street should look like. This is the beauty of Europe: every city is SO unique, and their architecture, people, and culture are evidence that each developed independently over time. Although Athens certainly isn’t as pretty as London or Paris, it’s uniquely Greek.

With no set route, I was essentially just wandering in the general direction of the monastery. I’m a sucker for parks, so this flexible approach allowed for off-road detours. My Google Maps app reassured me that I was still going the right direction, though dense trees meant I couldn’t tell exactly where I was heading. What Google Maps doesn’t tell you is gradient, and the over hanging trees meant I couldn’t tell how much further until the path flattens out. I knew I’d been going up for awhile, and also that I was thoroughly sweaty, but I was shocked when I finally popped out of the tree line... How did I get this far!? From well above Athens, there was a river of white washed buildings flowing into the Aegean Sea. I could barely see the Acropolis poking out from the urban sprawl. For reference, my hotel was at the base of the Acropolis, and somehow I’d walked well beyond the fringes of civilization.

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This was a phenomenal view, but it was also a reality check: where the hell am I? I need to find this monastery.

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My search quickly turned into a Lake Bled-level fight to find the walking path. I hopped through prickly bushes, bounded from boulder to boulder, and braced myself along the edge of a quarry rock face. My legs were getting cut up, and I’m pretty sure the “path” I was following wasn’t a path at all... It was just a dried creekbed. Rather than going towards the monastery, I decided it was best to just find civilization first and follow paved roads from there. After a precarious descent, I finally emerged from the forest, scratched and sweaty, but ultimately appreciative that this route provided such unique views of Athens. Now following more established paths, I found the monastery easily. I’m actually not even sure it was THE monastery I was looking for, but it was religious looking and tucked away in a forest, so it checked all the boxes. That said, it didn’t seem like locals had trouble finding it: as I walked in, a community service was taking place. I tried to blend in, but a couple things were working against me: (1) I was extremely sweaty and my legs were cut up from the “hike”. (2) I was wearing a RVCA shirt... apparently not many of Nordstrom Racks around here. (3) I was the only visitor under 60. (4) I was also the only visitor that didn’t speak Greek, which the locals quickly figured out as they offered me snacks. This was their monastery, so although I poked around for a bit, I mostly stayed out of the local’s service.

My next destination was another “deeper cut”: the Athens Olympic Complex. Athens hosted the Olympics in 2004 (and also around 2800 years earlier). In the modern version though, the 2004 Olympics were billed as a Coming Home experience. To host the festivities, Athens built state-of-the-arts Olympic parks and stadiums at an expense of around Euro 4B. That may seem large, but I just looked up the costs of Beijing and Sochi: Euro 50B each! Now the reason I looked all of this up was because I’d assumed the cost of the 2004 Olympics was crippling, and part of the reason the country continuously seems to be on the brink of bankruptcy. As I walked the now decrepit venues, it was easy to reach this conclusion. What was once a grand exposition, hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world, was now just an unkept field of trash and cracking concrete. I could imagine the bustling crowds making their way through the cutting edge complex, but just 15 years later, there were weeds growing out of the basketball stadium’s roof.

This is why I’d assumed the Olympics were a budget busting expense, but at 1/10 the cost of Beijing or Sochi, these games were actually relatively affordable. What’s more: at least according to the government, Greece actually pulled a profit from the games. This makes for an interesting investment: I’m sure these stadiums were built with future intentions, but even only as temporary structures, the host city still came out ahead... I’m not so sure the same can be said for Sochi.

Back to my exploring though. I’d now been walking around in the sun and heat for over three hours, and was exhausted. I nearly passed out on the train back to the city, but managed to make it to shady Cafe Melina for a reprieve. Here, I ordered two of Chelsay and I’s Greek favorites: zucchini fries and a coffee frappe. I relaxed for an hour on Melina’s shady outdoor patio, and actually started this post while sipping my second frappe.

Revived, I was ready to continue my EUReunion, starting with the tiny lanes of Anafiotika. Anafiotika, which means little Anafio, is braced up against the Parthenon’s surrounding hillside. Anafio is a Greek island in the Cyclades (same as Santorini), and when the Anafioan people moved to Athens, they decided to build a neighborhood that reminded them of their old home. The result is a little slice of the Greek islands in the bustling city.

You might remember that I was very sweaty from my “hike” earlier, and that situation hadn’t taken care of itself. I decided it was time to head back to the hotel and shower, but not before stopping in Monasteraki Square for an obligatory gyro.

After a long rest in my air conditioned room, I decided to head on a city tour hosted by none other than Chelsay and I’s ol’ European go-to Rick Steves. Now, we’d already done this audio tour the last time Chels and I were in Athens, so I went a bit off script this time. While Rick made some corny jokes about the Parliamentary guards, I slipped into the royal gardens for a trip down memory lane. I routinely skipped through parts that required me to walk a long distance, and equally paused when I found a nice bench. One of these breaks was actually the highlight of my weekend. In our 2016 Greek adventure, Chelsay and I spent the last night of our trip at an outdoor restaurant in this small, charming, and most importantly, shaded square. Rick’s tour took me back through this same square, and I decided to relax on one of the benches. I took in all the hustle happening around, but was protected under the overhanging trees. I ended up staying on that bench for an hour (longer than the entire Rick Steves audio tour itself), and wrote most of the first half of this post. Although Athens doesn’t come close to challenging Paris as the best European city, this small park could at least contend with the Luxembourg Gardens.

That night, I wandered around a new neighborhood, Psyri. This place was hip, grungy, but gentrified: kind of like an Angel equivalent in Athens. It’s another example of a deeper cut, and a reminder of how many unique experiences are waiting for Chelsay and I in Europe. The next morning, I’d booked a ticket to visit the Acropolis. Before the trip, I wasn’t sure if I’d visit the Parthenon again, but I’d already covered so much of the city in my first day. Plus, it’s not like you can come to Athens and NOT visit the Parthenon. It’d be like going to Paris and not visiting the Eiffel Tower... unthinkable. I’ve been to Paris about 8 times and visit its glittering light show every time. Anyway, the Parthenon is just as impressive the second time. This place is 2500 years old! Sure it’s been through a few pillages and rebuilds over time, but much of today’s structure is the SAME marble those PRE-Jesus builders hauled up the Acropolis hill. It was probably sourced from the quarry I almost fell into during my “hike”.

Having visited before, I took this trip at an especially relaxing pace. I appreciated subtle features in each relief or pillar crown, and equally, enjoyed people watching. These visitors were so excited to see the structure - they’d be staring up in an, not paying attention to where they were walking, and slipped all over the smooth rock walking paths. It made me wonder whether ancient Greeks took spills during their Panhellenic parades. Those togas wouldn’t do much to protect you...

After the Acropolis, I didn’t have much else to explore, so I decided to relax in the warm weather. I stopped in at an outdoor bar called six d.o.g.s, who’s hidden courtyard, tasty frappe, and strawberry smoothie helped me relax before my meetings.

I’m now off to my meetings, the whole reason I came to Athens. Although these past two days exploring “deeper cuts” were fun, the most exciting part was that it reminded me how easy unique escapes are in Europe, and a preview of Chelsay and I’s weekends to come. What a teaser for my next post! Oh, by the way, the hotel for my work meetings was ridiculous.

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itswanderfulph-blog · 5 years

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A 3800 PHP ($73) Trip to Cagayan Valley (3 Days 2 Nights)

I’ve always wondered how it would feel to reach the tip of Luzon or to visit the farthest island down south. I’m from Luzon but south part of it so I’m kind of living in the middle part of the Philippines (not really middle I know, but you get my point), and reaching the farthest parts of this beautiful country is something I’ve been dreaming of. And because of pagiging kaladkarin, I was able to tick one of the two from my bucket list: REACHING THE TIP OF LUZON!

Above is a map of Luzon which, of course, I screenshot-ted lol from google images and edited through paint. Haha. But that tip is what I’m talking about! Traveling all the way from Laguna to that part of the map is tiring. Just by looking at it, you know it would consume so much time, energy and money but believe me, it’s worth every single minute and effort of your life!

Let’s lay down everything you need to know about transportation to Tuguegarao which will be the jump start of your trip to this awesome destination. You have two options: one is riding a plane to Tuguegarao thru Cebupac. Rates would vary depending on the date you will be booking your flight. I would suggest you choose this first option if you have very limited time since the flight would only be for an hour and 10 mins. It would save you so much time which you could use to explore the province.

But if you’re like me who doesn’t care about time and wants to experience all the hustle and bustle of commuting, then choose option B: the bus. Just to set your expectation, the bus ride would be for more or less 12 hours. Much cheaper but definitely much longer.

DAY 0

We arrived at Victory Liner in Kamias at around 10PM and was waiting to book for a ticket when we learned that the next trip was scheduled at 6AM. That was way out of our plan.

Tip: Book your tickets ahead of time especially if you’re going there on a holiday.

We asked for other routes but it would take so much more of our time and 12 hours was all we had alloted for the travel to Tuguegarao. Fortunately, Jac Liner, which is just near Victory Liner in Kamias, also has trips going to Tuguegarao. The seats aren’t as spacious as Victory Liner, but it would do for spontaneous travelers. A ticket would cost you around 650-700php ($13.49) one way. Make sure to bring food with you during the trip because it would really be a long travel. There will be a series of stop overs but since we traveled at night, we consumed it mostly for sleep for the itinerary the next day.

This was us on our way to Tuguegarao. I look like I’m already tired but the trip wasn’t even half there yet. LOL

DAY 1

We arrived in Tuguegarao and awra na agad us. We were so eager to start exploring! We just had a quick breakfast before we headed to the first stop. There’s a Chowking near where you’ll get off from the bus. There’s also Jollibee so a quick fix for your food would not be a problem.

1ST STOP - CALLAO CAVE

From where you’ll be eating, you can ride a tricycle going to another tricycle terminal which will bring you to Callao Cave. Fare is for 20php. From the terminal, there are other modes of transportation going to Callao Cave but it’s very seldom. Best option would be to rent a tricycle. Fare would be much higher (in our case, 200php each and we were 3 so total of 600php) but the travel time would be for around 30 to 40 mins and the place is not that accessible. So the amount I paid is actually just fair.

Other fees you need to pay when you arrive at the venue would be:

Entrance Fee - 20php

Bangka Rental - 40php each

Tour Guide - 100php each

It’s actually really cheap when you’ll have this view after:

2ND STOP - PANSIT BATIL PATUNG

After exploring the whole cave, we went back to town to eat their famous pansit batil patung.

Don’t be deceived by its looks. This serving is actually for 3 people!

After trying my best to eat the whole plate, we decided to spend the night in Sta. Ana, Cagayan since we need to leave very early in the morning for the next stop. We were able to get a very cheap hotel for 1500php a night for 3 people: Eden’s Lodging Hotel. you can check their facebook here for details and pictures of the rooms.

Day 1 Expenses

Chowking breakfast - 120php

Tricycle to terminal of Callao Cave - 20php

Tricycle to Callao Cave - 600php (max of 4 people) ; 200php each

Entrance in Callao Cave - 20php

Bangka - 40php

Tour Guide - 100php

Ref Magnet (because you know) - 50php

Water - 20php

Pansit Batil Patung - 90php

Mt Dew - 32php

Tricycle to Terminal of Sta Ana - 10php

Van to Sta Ana - 180php

Eden’s Lodging House - 1500php ; 500php each

TOTAL: 1382PHP - $26.83

DAY 2

We woke up extra early since we needed to travel to the port of Sta. Ana where we will be riding a more than an hour boat ride to Palaui Island! We left the hostel we were staying at 4 in the morning and rode a tricycle going to the port. Tricycle ride will cost you 50php each (not bad for the distance you’ll actually travel). Once we arrived, we went to an office which handles tours to Palaui Island. The boat trip will cost you 850php back and forth. Quick reminder: since it’s located at the tip of Luzon, the boat ride will be challenging. The water’s not calm so you have to anticipate rough waters and high waves, but the people driving the motorboat are skilled so you’ll be able to reach the island safe but wet.

Wasn’t able to take much photos during the boat trip because I was scared that my camera would get thrown off the boat or I would get thrown off the boat. lol

After an hour of rough boat ride, we arrived in paradise. The local tour guide gave us a quick orientation about the history and topography of the island.

It is also with them that you need to pay 70php environmental fee and 100php each for the tour guide.

The view once you get off the boat.

And the hike begins. We did not have the proper footwear for this trip. We just had slippers and the bad news was it just rained so the hike was more challenging than what we expected. We badly wanted to see the famous Cape Engano Lighthouse which was used by early Filipinos to welcome incoming ships from the north.

Once you reach half of the hike you’ll have this majestic view:

At that moment, I just felt so lucky to be witnessing this beauty!

The entrance to the lighthouse.

Finally! After an almost hour of hike, we arrived here. And the bonus part was, we were the only people.

Now this was already breathtaking, but the view on the other side was much more than what we signed up for this trip.

Just casually sitting down and letting everything sink in. This is why I feel in love with discovering different places in the Philippines. When you think you’ve already seen everything, you’ll be surprised at how much more there is to see and explore!

Stayed here for hours when we decided we had to check one more hidden gem in this island before we head back.

Trail back down.

Don’t get tips from me about trekking and hiking. I’m not the best person to give advice. LOL

After 20 mins of trekking, this welcomed us!

And of course, we can’t leave without taking a dip!

After a whole day tour in the island, we went back to our hostel. It was ‘leg day’ for us since we had to hike to the top of the island to see the famous lighthouse and to witness that breathtaking view, plus that waterfalls! Before we hit the sack, we went out to get some dinner. There are only a few stores near our hostel but we really didn’t mind because we just wanted something to eat and then sleep immediately. If you’re someone who really needs full meals, you can bring canned goods with you, or ask the hostel if they can cook for you. There’s also a restaurant nearby but it closes early.

Day 2 Expenses

Tricycle to Port - 50php

Boat ride - 850php (285php each)

Environmental Fee - 70php

Tour Guide - 100php

Tricycle back to Eden’s Lodge - 20php

TOTAL: 525php - $10.12

DAY 3

We woke up early the next day to commute going back to Tuguegarao. We needed to catch a van trip going to a friend’s house to get some free lodging and food. Sa buhay ngayon, importante ang mga ganitong bagay. Haha.

Before the trip, we decided to have brunch first. Rode a van back to Tuguegarao and another van to Piat, Cagayan where our friend lives. Spent the whole night there and decided to go back to Manila early morning the next day.

Day 3 Expenses

Brunch - 120php

Van to Tuguegarao - 180php

Tricycle to terminal of Piat - 20php

Van to Piat, Cagayan - 70php

Tricycle to termina back to Manila - 20php

Bus to Manila - 700php

Bus to Laguna - 71php

Jeepney - 8php

Tricycle to home - 20php

TOTAL: 1,209php - $23.30

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE WHOLE TRIP:

3,816php - $73.54

This trip will always be one of the most memorable for me. Got to tick this off my bucket list plus only spent less than what I usually spend on my trips.

#cagayanvalley #cagayan #callaocave #palauiisland #travel #explorethephilippines #itsmorefuninthephilippines #travel guide #travelguide #cagayantrip #cagayan trip #budget trip #budgetarian #lostinph

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charllieeldridge · 4 years

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21 Best Things To Do in Asheville, NC

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and located along the French Broad River, Asheville just might be the most beautiful city in the United States.

Take in the views of the city from the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and you’ll quickly see why it’s referred to as the Land of the Sky.

There are numerous things to do in Asheville and for such a small city, it really packs a punch when it comes to activities on offer.

Hiking in the mountains, feasting on southern cuisine, relaxing in hot springs, and sampling craft beer are just a few of the things you won’t want to miss.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Ashville over the last decade, and in fact, my wife and I got married and had our honeymoon in here! It’s easily one of my favourite cities in the USA and a place I always look forward to visiting.

In this Asheville travel blog, I’m excited to share some of the best activities, attractions, and places to visit in the city!

1. Visit the Biltmore Estate

A visit to the Biltmore Estate definitely deserves the top spot on this list of things to do in Asheville.

This historic mansion was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Vanderbilt. It’s a great example of the Gilded Age and an absolutely stunning place to explore.

The Biltmore Estate is actually the largest privately-owned home in the US.

It features an astounding 250 rooms and is surrounded by picturesque gardens, ponds, and a lovely conservatory full of various plants and flowers.

After touring the estate and the grounds, be sure to drop by the winery. You can take a tour of the underground cellars, sample several different types, and pick up a bottle of your favourite wine to take home.

You can visit the Biltmore Estate every day from 9AM to 5PM. Tickets cost $70 for adults and $35 for youth with a free audio guide.

Pro tip – if you book your tickets at least a week in advance, you save $10! It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown to reach the estate, which you can find on the map here.

⇒ See Also: 15 Denver Attractions You Don’t Want To Miss

2. Take a Walking Tour

Whenever I’m in a new city, I love going on a walking tour to get to know the place. Asheville is a small city and is very walkable, so you can easily explore downtown on your own two feet.

Thanks to Explore Asheville, you can choose between two excellent self-guided walking tours of Asheville. They have an urban trail as well as an architecture trail that you can follow.

Both have interactive and printable maps, and the urban trail even has an audio guide as well.

If you’d prefer to go with a guide, you can sign up for the Tip-Based Asheville Walking Tour.

This excellent walking tour is about 2.5 hours long, taking you through downtown Asheville while covering all the highlights and insider tips on where to eat and drink (plus, some samples along the way). The cost is based on tips, so whatever you feel is appropriate.

3. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway

If you’re wondering what to do in Asheville, just jump in your car and take a cruise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This National Parkway and All-American Road is part of the Appalachian Mountains and one of the most scenic drives in the country.

The Blue Ridge Parkway actually stretches through both Virginia and North Carolina. It’s 755 km (496 miles) long and is full of viewpoints, hiking trails, historic sites, and so much more. This is one of the most incredible places to visit on your trip to Asheville.

Every time we have people come to visit when we’re in Asheville, one of the first things we do is head out for a drive on the Blue Ridge. These amazing views really never get old, so I don’t mind going back every time we’re in town.

4. Climb Mt. Pisgah

As I mentioned, there’s a lot to see and do along the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the best things to do in Asheville NC is hiking up the trail at Ms. Pisgah, which is easily accessible via the Parkway.

It’s about a 45 minute to hour-long hike to reach the top of Mt. Pisgah. While it’s not exactly an easy hike, it’s not too difficult. The hike is about 1.2 miles (1.85 km) to the top and there are plenty of places to rest along the way.

There’s a large TV tower at the top and an observation deck. From here, you can enjoy some of the best views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the city off in the distance. You can find the trailhead for Mt. Pisgah on the map here.

⇒ See Also: 21 Fun Things To Do in Detroit – An Insider’s Guide

5. Dinner With a View at Pisgah Inn

After hiking up Mt. Pisgah, you’re sure to work up an appetite. While you can certainly bring a picnic lunch to have on the Parkway, my vote goes to enjoying a meal at the nearby Pisgah Inn.

Grab a drink and head out to their observation deck while you wait for a table. They have plenty of rocking chairs where you can kick back and soak in the amazing views.

Having eaten here several times, I’ll give my recommendations for the fried green tomatoes and the walnut crusted mountain trout.

They’re open from 11:30-4 for lunch and then again from 5-9 for dinner. You can get directions and find the Pisgah Inn on the map here.

If you’d rather be up in the mountains than down in town, you might want to look into booking a room here. It’s pretty awesome when you can wake up and have the Blue Ridge Mountains right outside your window!

6. Play Disc Golf

If you enjoy the great outdoors, one of the top things to do in Asheville is playing a round of disc golf.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, it’s just like golf but with a frisbee instead. The goal is to get your disc into a basket with the least amount of throws, and you can use a variety of different discs in the process.

The biggest difference between disc golf and regular golf is that it’s almost always totally free! That’s the case at nearby Richmond Hill, an excellent course and local hangout. Get directions and find the park on the map here.

If you’ve never played disc golf before and don’t have any gear, there are plenty of shops in Asheville where you can pick up a starter kit.

For about $10, you can get a driver, a mid-range disc, and a putter. Just try not to lose them on your first round. Most people write their name and phone number on discs as a precautionary measure.

⇒ See Also: 21 Top Things To Do in New Orleans

7. Feast on Southern Food

Asheville is home to plenty of amazing restaurants of all different styles. If you’re travelling here for the first time, I recommend sticking mostly to southern fare. After all, you’re in the south even though the State is North Carolina!

For brunch, a solid choice is Biscuit Head. Their slogan is “put some south in your mouth” and that’s exactly what you’ll do here. Choose your favourite biscuit (I love the pulled pork) and top it off with their various jams and butters.

One of the best restaurants in Ashville, in my humble opinion, is Home Grown. This local eatery serves local food cooked by local people, so you know your money is going right into the local economy when you eat here.

I personally love their Redneck Pot Pie or buttermilk fried chicken. You can see Home Grown and much more in our “Streets, Beats & Eats” video on Asheville.

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8. Drink Local Craft Beer

Asheville has been named Beer City USA on several occasions. There are over 40 breweries and beer pubs here in total! As such, sampling local craft beer should be high atop your list of things to do in Asheville NC.

Walking around Asheville, you’re never too far from a brewery. Some of the best places for a beer include Asheville Brewing Company, Burial, and Green Man. The best way to find your favourite brew is ordering up a flight to sample 4-5 different styles.

While they’re not exactly microbreweries, it’s also worth it to visit the Asheville locations of New Belgium and Sierra Nevada. The former has a scenic location right along the French Broad River, while the latter is a bit of a hike as it’s out by the airport.

If you want to take a tour of either, be sure to sign up well in advance! I’ve been to a lot of breweries, and these are two of the best I’ve ever seen.

9. Visit a Few Museums

If you’re downtown and aren’t quite sure what to do in Asheville, why not drop into one of the city’s museums for a bit? Whether you’re interested in art, science, or even pinball, there’s a museum for you here.

The Asheville Art Museum has recently had some major renovations and is bigger and better than ever!

It’s open from 10-5 Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 on Sunday. It’s totally free to visit, but donations are very much appreciated. You can find the museum on the map here.

Just a block away, you’ll find the Asheville Museum of Science. They’ve got lots of cool exhibitions and displays that are fun for all ages. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 10-5 and from 1-5 on Sunday and costs $7-8 to visit.

If you love a good retro pinball machine or video game, you’ll definitely want to check out the Asheville Pinball Museum.

For $15, you can play as many games as you want on their 80+ machines. Hours vary depending on the day, but they’re typically open until 9PM. Get directions to the museum here.

⇒ See Also: How To Spend 24 Hours in New York City

10. Explore the RAD (River Arts District)

For art lovers, one of the top things to do in Asheville NC is visiting the RAD (River Arts District).

Hundreds of artists have galleries and studios in this area along the French Broad River. It’s a really fun place to explore for a while, especially on the weekends.

On the second Saturday of each month, the RAD is a very lively place. There are demonstrations, workshops, wine tastings, live music, and a lot more. There’s even a free trolley that you can ride as you bounce around the different venues.

Whether you’re interested in painting, ceramics, photography, or jewelry, you’ll find something to enjoy in the RAD.

While you’re over here, be sure to drop in another excellent local craft brewery — Wedge. You can find the River Arts District on the map here.

11. Fun on the River

Speaking of the French Broad River, there are lots of fun things to do there. Well, at least during the warmer months. There’s not much going on in the dead of winter…

One of my absolute favourite things to do in Asheville is tubing down the river.

The best way to enjoy the Homer Simpson of water sports is by signing up with this tubing experience. It’s like a floating pub crawl!

I won’t’ give it all away, but it’s a lot of fun and you can also bring your own beverages to put in the onboard cooler. Click here for details.

If you’d prefer a bit more activity than just lazily floating down the river, you can also rent a kayak or a SUP (stand up paddleboard). There are a few different places that rent boards as well as tours you can sign up for to get out and enjoy a day on the river.

12. Listen to Buskers

Walking around downtown Asheville, you’re sure to hear a lot of music. Some of it may be coming out of shops and bars, but more often than not, it’s actual musicians jamming in the street!

It’s very common to see people “busking” on the streets of Asheville. Busking is when you play music in public and simply open your guitar/violin/keyboard case to take tips from passersby.

The various musicians busking around downtown Asheville really add to the eclectic atmosphere of the city. If you enjoy the music, stop for a while to listen and toss a few bucks in to show your appreciation.

13. Day Trip to Hot Springs

If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned R&R on your trip to Asheville, then you may want to add in a day trip out to the town of Hot Springs, NC. It’s not just a clever name, as the small town is home to some amazing hot springs.

It’s about a 45-minute drive from downtown Asheville out there, and it’s well worth it.

The Hot Springs Resort & Spa has amazing mineral baths and spa services. After a busy couple of days exploring the city, a nice massage and a soak in the hot springs is just what you need.

The resort has a variety of different options, so be sure to check their website for details.

Just be sure to book in advance, as it’s a popular place. They also have several different choices for on-site accommodation if you’re interested. You can get directions to the Hot Springs resort on the map here.

⇒ See Also: 27 Top Things To Do in Chicago – The Ultimate List For Travellers

14. Join the Friday Drum Circle

One of the coolest things to do in Asheville NC, for both visitors and locals alike, is joining in the weekly drum circle. People of all ages and backgrounds come out to enjoy this fun and free event.

The drum circle goes on every Friday at Pritchard Park downtown. People usually start showing up around 5 and it gets bigger and bigger until the whole park is packed with people drumming, dancing, and singing.

Even if you don’t have a drum of any kind, it’s a good time. You can just dance to the music and enjoy connecting with people. Once the drum circle wraps up, you’re smack dab in the middle of downtown Asheville on a Friday night.

⇒ See Also: Top 10 Best Bars in Chicago – A Guide To The City’s Nightlife

15. Shop at the Grove Arcade

If you’re looking to do a little shopping before you leave Asheville, be sure to swing by the Grove Arcade downtown. This building has a very interesting history, which I recommend you read before going there!

At the Grove Arcade, you’ll find a very diverse array of shops, including the Batter Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, Nutz About Fudge, the Woodrow Instrument Company, and much more.

In addition to all the great shops inside, there’s also the Outdoor Artists Market. You’ll find paintings, clothing, jewelry, and local honey, among other things. The Grove Arcade is open from 10-6 Monday-Saturday and noon-5 on Sunday.

16. Treat Yourself at the Grove Park Inn

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, a trip out to the Grove Park Inn is a must when visiting Asheville. In case you were wondering, yes, it is the same Grove who started the shopping arcade.

E.W. Grove is known as the “father of modern Asheville.” He was a self-made millionaire who moved here in 1910 and opened this grand inn soon thereafter. A hundred years later, and it’s still going strong as one of Asheville’s premier resorts.

Even if you don’t splurge on a room at the inn, it’s well worth it to pay a visit here.

Book yourself a nice spa treatment and then grab a hand-crafted cocktail and a bite to eat at their Sunset Terrace Lounge, or choose one of the many other options for wining and dining.

⇒ See Also: 21 Best Places to Eat in Chicago – A Guide For Foodies

17. Take a Hike

By far one of the most popular things to do in Asheville is hiking.

If you’ve got your own wheels and are willing to drive 45 minutes to an hour outside of town, you have tons of options for excellent hiking trails.

In addition to the aforementioned Mt. Pisgah trail, other great options include Catawba Falls, the Devil’s Courthouse, or Max Patch. A hike to the latter can be rewarded with a trip to the hot springs, as it’s a pretty short drive between the two.

There really are tons of options for hiking in Asheville with varying difficulty and distance from town. Just check this awesome Asheville trail finder to figure out which option is best for you!

18. Explore the North Carolina Arboretum

Another fantastic choice for spending time outdoors in Asheville is the North Carolina Arboretum. Here you’ll find some lovely cultivated gardens, a bonsai exhibit, hiking & biking paths, and much more.

It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially on a nice day.

Actually, the arboretum is also a solid choice in the colder months thanks to the Winter Lights display they put up. The place really turns into a winter wonderland from late November until the end of the year.

The arboretum is open from 8-7 in the fall/winter and from 8-9 in the spring/summer. They don’t charge an entrance fee per person, but rather charge a flat fee of $14 per vehicle to enter. You can find them on the map here.

⇒ See Also: Chicago Architecture River Cruise – A Guide For Travellers

19. Go on a Ghost Tour

One of the spookiest things to do in Asheville is going on a ghost tour. Haunted Asheville has a few different options for chilling, thrilling tours that are fun for the whole family.

On their classic walking tour, you’ll learn the stories behind some of Asheville’s most haunted spots from a resident ghost expert. Tours usually run at 8PM and sometimes there’s another one at 9. Tickets cost $23 for adults and $15 for children 9-14, while those under 8 go for free.

Another option is their Biltmore Village Mystery Tour. Apparently, you learn about a kangaroo that appeared from another dimension on this tour. Sounds cool to me!

⇒ See Also: Where To Eat in Meredith New Hampshire: A Guide To The Best Restaurants

20. Sundowners at Sky Bar

After a busy day of exploring Asheville, there’s no better place to watch the sun go down with a nice adult beverage than SkyBAR.

Grab a cocktail and take in the amazing views from this rooftop bar, and you’ll see why Asheville really is the Land of the Sky.

While there are some quality beer and wine choices on the menu, this place is all about the cocktails. I personally recommend their Mixed Berry Mule or the Peach Ginger Whiskey Sour. You really can’t go wrong with any of the options.

SkyBAR is located in the historic Flatiron Building in downtown Asheville.

Half the fun of visiting there is going up in the old school elevator, which still requires an operator. They open at 5 during the week and an hour earlier on the weekends.

21. See a Show

No matter what night of the week it is, there are plenty of shows going on in Asheville. Take your pick between theatrical performances, stand-up comedy, live music, and more.

The live music scene is one of the things I love the most about Asheville.

The city has several venues that range in size and style, so you get all sorts of different acts coming to town. Some of the best places to see music here include the Asheville Music Hall, Salvage Station, and the Orange Peel.

Be sure to check the calendar and see what’s playing when you’re in town.

During the warmer months, you’ll also find many different outdoor events and festivals happening in Asheville.

One such festival is Shindig on the Green, which takes place all throughout the summer at Pack Square Park. There are free shows most Saturdays as well as lots of informal jam sessions and other fun things going on.

Now You Know What to Do in Asheville NC!

Well there you have it. I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at one of my many homes away from home.

Asheville is such a cool city with so much to offer, whether you’re into the great outdoors, epic adventures, the arts, or just chilling out. Whatever you do, there’s always lots of amazing beer, food, views, and music!

Images in this article courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

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jerserry · 5 years

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First I want to thank you for Connie to let me join her guest blog post series. So today I gonna share about the hidden gems of Kuala Lumpur, which my favorite beautiful and incredible place. So let get start x

I found a beautiful and natural jungle in the city, the name is called “Taman Eco Rimba Kuala Lumpur” is my first-time visit and was so amazing, you can just walk around inside and entrance are free! We come to visit on Sunday (a lot of people) so I recommend coming on a weekday, then you can have the time to take so many beautiful nature pictures x Also, this is near the Kuala Lumpur Tower. I remember when we at the second level, we will definitely saw the beautiful view from Kuala Lumpur Tower. Is just worth it for the viewing! Definitely one of my favorite place for a visit, look at the beautiful pictures, how could you skip it, When you visit Malaysia?

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Another hidden gem in Kuala Lumpur are one of the favorites that I used to visit all the time. Which is called “thean hou gong temple”. Plus if you look for instagrammable pictures, here is it. Actually, I will recommend coming at night, cause at night view is more magical (especially in our Chinese new year) is just so an enchanting sight to behold.

In addition, Thean Hou Temple is a popular wedding venue for local Chinese in Kuala Lumpur. So I often see a lot of people coming to the wedding or engagement ceremony. You also can often see both devotees and visitors burning joss sticks kneeling in prayer and placing offerings at the feet of the statues.

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Sekeping Serendah Retreat here is another hidden gems, but in Selangor (Rawang) which from Kuala Lumpur to there will be need around 45 min. But I think is really suitable for someone who always looking for camping or enjoys nature travel. (so that why I included in this article, just in case)

But one of the things is since this is nature travel so here the things are the Mobile service reception and the signal could be awful, but is depended on the luck, some people might still get the signal as well, but I think when you start a new journey especially the relaxing travel you should not focus too much on your phone, instead should focus the jungle and relax. So you can have more activity like bbq, swimming, waterfall, hiking, or just walking around the jungle. Oh! Yay! If you always look for instagrammable pictures I pretty sure at here is what you look for it. Experiencing nature is always magical and wonderful things.

Picture from sekeping serendah

I hope you guys enjoy the “hidden gems in Kuala Lumpur” and explore my favorite place x If you already been to my list, also welcome to leave a comment what do you think about it? Are you enjoying all those places? Anyway if you have any question about it, you can ask me anytime. Also, if you want to share your or get involved in the hidden gems series, you can always send an email for Connie! Email: [email protected] Blog: https://www.earthtoconnie.com/

follow Connie: facebbok / pinterest / instagram

首先，我要感谢康妮让我加入她的客座博客系列。所以今天我将分享吉隆坡隐藏的宝石，这是我最喜欢的美丽和令人难以置信的地方。所以让我们开始吧

我在这个城市找到了一个美丽而自然的丛林，这个名字叫做“Taman Eco Rimba Kuala Lumpur”，这是我第一次参观，真是太棒了，你可以在里面走走，入口都是免费的！我们周日来访（很多人）所以我建议在工作日来，然后你就可以有时间拍这么多美丽的大自然图片x 此外，这是在吉隆坡塔附近。我记得当我们在二楼时，我们一定会看到吉隆坡塔的美景。值得观看！绝对是我最喜欢的地方之一，看看漂亮的照片，当你访问马来西亚, 你怎么能不参观它?

吉隆坡另一个隐藏的宝石是我过去常常访问的最爱之一。这被称为“thean hou gong temple”。此外，如果你寻找一些美丽的地方拍照片，这就是你正在寻找的地方。实际上，我会建议晚上来，因为夜间观看更神奇（特别是在我们的中国新年），这是一个令人着迷的景象。此外，Thean Hou Temple是吉隆坡当地华人的热门婚礼场地。所以我经常看到很多人参加婚礼或订婚仪式。你也可以经常看到奉献者和游客都在焚烧香烛，并在祭品的脚下放置祭品。

Sekeping Serendah Retreat这里是另一个隐藏的宝石，但在雪兰莪（Rawang），从吉隆坡到那里将需要大约45分钟。但我认为非常适合那些一直在寻找露营或享受大自然旅行的人。（这就是为什么我也把这个列入这篇文章在内，以防万一你想去些大自然的地方）但有一件事是因为这是大自然旅行，所以这里的东西的电讯接收，信号可能很糟糕，但还是得看运气，有些人可能仍然可以得到信号，但我想当你开始一个新的旅程，特别是轻松的旅行，你不应该过多地关注你的手机，而应该集中丛林和放松。所以你在这里可以有更多的活动，如烧烤，游泳，瀑布，徒步旅行，或只是在丛林中散步。哦!好极了！如果你总是寻找美丽的地方拍照片，我很确定你在这里寻找到。体验自然总是神奇而美好的事物。

我希望你们喜欢“在吉隆坡隐藏的宝石”，并探索我最喜欢的地方x 如果您已经到过我的列表，也欢迎发表评论您对此有何看法？你喜欢这些地方吗？但无论如何，如果您有任何疑问，可以随时问我。此外，如果您想分享或参与隐藏的宝石系列，您可以随时发送电子邮件给康妮！电子邮件：[email protected] 博客：https：//www.earthtoconnie.com/

关注康妮：facebbok / Pinterest / Instagram

Thanks for reading x Until next time

Good Day Love, Jess

Hidden Gems in Kuala Lumpur First I want to thank you for Connie to let me join her guest blog post series.

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