My History as an Asheville Resident
When I think back to the period when I lived in the city of Asheville, there were lots of highs and lots of lows.
The first time I learned about this Western North Carolina city in the mountains was in the year 2015, while we were living in the New York City area, sick of the day-to-day grind of life there and careers devoid of passion. My husband Jim wanted to pursue a career in beer so we began researching a new place to live so he could pursue that passion. Names like Portland, Denver, and San Diego were all possibilities, but Asheville ultimately stood out. It had the most breweries per capita out of anywhere in the US and it had one other advantage that determined its final placement as our number 1 spot: driving distance to our families living in the northeast.
I thought I was ready for it. For the mountains, the fresh air, and a slower paced lifestyle, and I sought out new adventures, so we moved in the summer of 2015.
Then the reality set in.
I couldn’t walk to bars, restaurants, or shops. There were no subways or light rails. When I walked out the front door, there wasn’t excitement and energy and action like I was used to the previous 12 years of my life living in cities with 8 million people.
Instead of being surrounded by people, I felt like I was now surrounded by 8 million trees. The only thing I could possibly walk to without getting in a car was a dirt trail to a hike, and I didn’t really enjoy hiking. I worried we had made a terrible mistake. But I had to make the best of it.
Fast-forward to six years later and the rewards were worth the risks. My husband secured a job at a growing brewery and we moved to a larger city, Charlotte, as he was promoted, then to an even more exciting opportunity in New Orleans where we live now.
But in Asheville, we met lifelong friends, and that in turn has given us lifelong memories. So as I planned my road trip itinerary, I decided to carve out four full days there to spend time with those friends and to reflect and reminisce about my life there while I called it home.
A Newfound Appreciation
Since I’ve lived there, the city has grown significantly. In a little less than 10 years, from the census in 2010 to the one in 2019, the city grew by almost 10,000 people. Approximately 90,000 people now live here.
Even without googling population statistics, I noticed the growth as I encountered traffic coming into town on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of summer (not even peak tourist season which is the Fall when the leaves change), and as I observed all the new construction throughout the city.
Walks & Hikes
I thoroughly enjoyed the morning walks with my dog Barley to explore various coffee shops around the neighborhood I stayed. One morning I walked along a new greenway in the River Arts District about a mile and a half to get to a coffee shop between various warehouses and art studios. The greenway is built for walkers and bikers and you can walk along the French Broad River on either side. It was a great walk, and flat, too, and this greenway did not exist when I lived here. There’s so many urban planning and design projects that are taking place throughout the city, and that makes me so excited to see.
My view of hiking has evolved significantly over the years, and during this visit, I was excited to hike and to take in the nature outside in a climate much cooler from the hot, humid, six months of summer that I now experience living in New Orleans. One afternoon my friend Natalia and I, accompanied by our two large dogs, hiked the Looking Glass Rock hike in Brevard. A 40-minute drive from Asheville, it was an almost 7-mile hike up 1,700 feet with amazing views in Pisgah National Forest.
A Laid Back Vibe
I love the relaxed feel of Asheville and the number of breweries, coffee shops, and artists workspaces. Though I’ve discovered that life in the mountains is not the best geographic fit for my tastes, I know it has a lot to offer. I understand why so many people are passionate about this lifestyle, and this stop of the road trip helped me to take in the city from a brand new perspective.
Reflecting and Reminiscing
Six years ago, I can confidently say that my husband and I never would have imagined starting a journey in Asheville that’s now led us to New Orleans, Louisiana.
This part of the road trip allowed me to take a deep breath, immerse myself in the nature and the beauty and just simply smile. I am proud of all the new ventures we’ve jumped into headfirst every step of our journey.
When we moved from Asheville five years ago, I didn’t turn my head to look back. I raced to get out. But this time, I took it all in, looking backward and forward, with a new sense of peace and fulfillment in my heart.