Asheville Adventures (part 1)

What’s up, world!? This post is actually a week after the fact, but last week was piled with interviews galore, so I didn’t have time to write something in almost-real time.Ā If youĀ follow me on instagram, you probably saw the pictorial version, kindasorta!

Before I start in on that, I have another Balance Bar giveaway to share with you, so make sure you get to the bottom of this post!

If you missed out on the Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch giveaway last time, I have goodĀ news! This time around, we’re celebrating fall withĀ 4 different varieties (Peanut Butter, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch + Balance Bites)!

But first, you get to find out why I’ve been lugging a stash of em’ along with me (hint: it’s from all the crazy travels I’ve been going on lately!)!

My AI in North Carolina ended with my interview on the 6th, so I decided to go on a mini-vacation in between interviews to…Asheville!

Every friend I’ve had who’s ever been to Asheville has told me that I’d really like it, and I’m undecided as to whether or not they secretly think I’m a hipster, or just that I’m artsy. I would take the latter as a compliment.

Since I have yet to meet a single blog friend, I asked JulieĀ beforehand if she’d be around, but she was away for that weekend (noo! I hope you had fun though! <3 ). She gave me an awesome list of inexpensive and delicious places to check out, so I bookmarked them all on Yelp and went on my way!

I foundĀ Bon Paul & Sharky’s HostelĀ on AirBnBĀ for ~$25/night (check out my review here)! For dinner, I hit up a food truck (El Kimchi–check out my review here!) that was camping out nearby, and struck up a conversation with a guy from Boston who was also hanging out at the hostel. We ended up talking til 2 a.m., at which point I figured I should probably get the hecks to sleep.

BPShostel

It is probably a good thing that I’m such a heavy sleeper, because theĀ loud snorer in the adjacent bed didn’t keep me from falling asleepĀ (one of the other girls threw a sheet at her somewhere in the night, and then felt really bad about it in the morning), and the couple next door in the private room having really loud furniture-moving sexy-times didn’t affect me either. (Yayuh.)

The next morning, we decided to go explore the River Arts District together since I had zero rain gear for my initial plans to go hiking. We popped into a bunch of different studios and talked to a lot of the local artists.

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Jonas Gerard’s studio.

jonasgerard

We stopped by White Duck Taco Shop for lunch (check out my review here!), and although I’d left a note to try out the Duck Mole taco…but found that I could not, because White Duck Taco Shop’s logo looked a little too much like Littlefoot (one of my pet duckies). :[

whiteducktacoshop

Bangkok Shrimp + Pork Belly tacos!

whiteducktacoshop1

Banh Mi Tofu + Jerk Chicken tacos!

There was also a little bakery attached to one of the galleries, so I got us dessert!

Molasses Ginger Cookies!

Molasses Ginger Cookies!

My friend dropped me off at The Chocolate FetishĀ while he went to find parking, so I got a truffle for myself, and a bag of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans for my apartment-mate since her birthday was coming up. :] (Check out my review here!) She was super awesome company while we were doing our rotation together, and I’m really glad I met her! :] Mayhaps we’ll even end up at the same residency next year?! (We have a mutual top-choice program.)

chaimoontruffle

Chai Moon Truffle!

We walked around downtown and checked out several shops, including Ten Thousand Villages, and a couple craft stores.

Two of the staff from BPS worked at Nine Mile (check out my review here!), whichĀ happened to be on my list anyway, so that’s where we went for dinner! The food was super tasty!

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Nine Mile, their signature dish!

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Raggy Road!

Now that I may or may not have made you super hungry, I have some delicious snacks to offer you in the form of Balance Bars!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ve mentioned in the past how much I love and adore the Cookie Dough and Chocolate Mint flavors, but peanut butter is almost always a win in my book, and this was no exception!

Balance BarsĀ are my go-to snacks whenever I’m on the road, which is…a lot of the time these days. They follow the 40-30-30 nutrition principle (40% total calories from carbs, 30% from protein + 30% from fat). :]

I keep a stash of them in my car, and they help to curb my hunger until I make it to my next food destination (because I plan my travels around food–don’tjudgeme).

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Linking this post up with Erin @ Her Heartland Soul for Weekend Snapshots!


  • Have you ever been to Asheville?!Ā I need to go back someday (hopefully soon)! *-*
  • If you had a studio, what would it look like? :O
  • Have you ever tried Balance Bars?

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow! <3

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/asheville-adventures-part-1/

66 comments

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  1. $25 a night in the USA is an awesome deal. Way to go, finding a way to have additional adventures on a tight budget. The place we’re going for our anniversary is $20 a night, but it’s in Malaysia, of course, so it’s a little easier to find cheap places to stay, although it’ll definitely be a no-frills kinda place. The tacos look good, though I’m a little unadventurous and typically stick with chicken tacos.

    1. Being able to scout out potential places beforehand on Airbnb definitely helped a lot! I think my parents just traveled through Malaysia a couple days ago! :O

      It’s hard to go wrong with chicken tacos! :]

  2. I love balance bars especially cookie dough :).

    It is so cool that you visited Asheville. I’ve always wanted to go back and I haven’t been since I was a kid. You got a great deal on the room too with the hostel and saved some $$ with food trucks and cheap eating. We have White Duck tacos here in Charleston- the Asheville location expanded here, and they are pretty good!
    Amy Lauren recently posted…Weekly Rundown: November 9-15My Profile

    1. Cookie dough is my favorite too! :] I’d love to go back to Asheville again to visit as well. <3

      That's awesome that they expanded over there! :D I loved that they had so much variety!

  3. See, that’s why I don’t miss roommates. I hear EVERYTHING. It helped as a mom, but now I don’t want to know what my kids are up to. ;-) Looks like you made the most of Asheville!
    Coco recently posted…My Birthday Gift To YouMy Profile

    1. hahaha, completely understandable! I hadn’t lived with anyone in years, but I’ve been spending the better part of this year crashing at friend’s places and living in student housing, so the being able to fall asleep through everything thing has been super helpful!

  4. I LOVE ASHEVILLE.
    If only we could find a way to move there….
    CARLA recently posted…We cant make timeā€¦My Profile

    1. Ah, I’d love to move there too! They say the cost of living there’s getting really expensive though. :[

  5. I plan everything around food – no judging, i’ve yet to have a balance bar, or go to asheville, I love the texture and color of those paintings, and as for your ability to sleep through loud noises, that is quite a talent!
    Amber recently posted…ļ»æIsolator Fitness – Colored Meal Prep Containers ReviewMy Profile

    1. hehehe, I’m glad I’m not the only one!

      The sleeping thing definitely ended up being a super useful talent! :D!

  6. Ahhh!!! I can’t tell you how happy I am that you liked Asheville and had a good time. I’m such a fan of my town :-)) White Duck Taco is one of our go-to places! And yes that duck logo makes me sad too!
    I’m so sad I missed you and hope you come back again one day! :-) Can’t wait to read the rest of the recap.
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Fashion Friday- Teal Formal DressMy Profile

    1. I can definitely see why it is! It reminds me of the NC version of my undergrad town (which I loved and adored).

      I’m super sad that I missed you too, but I really hope to come back to visit again–hopefully we can meet up then! :D

  7. So glad you got to get in a little vacation time with all those interviews. Looks like a fun trip too (minus the snore person) even though it didn’t bother you:)
    I’ve heard a lot of great things about Asheville, its on my one day visit list for sure!
    Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Do You Need to Thank Your Followers? Join Us For The Next Holiday Giveaway HopMy Profile

    1. Thanks! I was so glad I got to fit in that trip too! :] I hope you get to visit it sometime! I wanna go back!

  8. Love me some balance bars, especially the Bare ones. It has been too long since I’ve been to Asheville–the last time I was there was during the Biltmore Horse Show a few summers ago. I loved that town! Loved seeing your pics too!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Coaching, Margaritas, and Candied Bacon: Weekend Highs and LowsMy Profile

    1. I love the Bare ones too! :D That’s awesome that you got to be there during the horse show! I didn’t end up going to the Biltmore estate, but it was fun exploring everywhere else! :]!

  9. Duuuuuuude I’m pretty close to Asheville – I would have come with you! I LOVE Asheville.
    Nina @ Hugs and Lattes recently posted…Helping the WorldMy Profile

    1. Aww, darn! I wish I’d known! I would love to go back someday! *-* I’ll have to let you know if I get a chance to do that! :D!

  10. That art studio looks amazing and fun! Don’t even get me started on the food, because it’s after 8 at night and I haven’t had supper and I famished lol XD
    Channing recently posted…Olympia Provisions: American Charcuterie (Cookbook Review)My Profile

    1. Oh no! I’m so sorry, haha. I hope you got something to eat! <3

    • Liz on November 17, 2015 at 2:29 am
    • Reply

    Love seeing you enjoy my hometown! I love it and miss it so much!
    Liz recently posted…Todayā€™s #HolidaySweat Prompt isā€¦.My Profile

    1. It’s such an awesome place! <3!! I really hope to get to go back to visit again someday!

  11. I live in Atlanta and I always see commercials for Ashville. “Ashville is calling,” is what it says. Seems like a great place to visit. Those taco look mighty tasty!
    Shana Lee recently posted…PMA FRESH SUMMIT , Pure Flavor and a Spinach & Tomato Frittata!My Profile

    1. Ah, I hope you get to go there sometime! :D It’s definitely an awesome place!

  12. One of my best friends moved to asheville for nursing school a couple of years ago. I’m in Richmond VA so I’m not tooooo far away. I can’t wait to go for a visit!
    Liz @ I Heart Vegetables recently posted…Easy Cookie Dough Ice Cream PieMy Profile

    1. Ahh! I hope you write about it if you do go visit! :D I’d love to vicariously live through someone else til I get to go back again!

    • Renata on November 17, 2015 at 9:26 am
    • Reply

    I love the Balance Bar Chocolate Mint Cookie the best! Thank you for the assortment to try!

    1. That’s a good one! :D Thanks for entering, and best of luck to you! :]

    • Sarah N on November 17, 2015 at 9:37 am
    • Reply

    I can’t wait to try the cookie dough.

    1. Thanks for entering, and good luck! :]

  13. Oh wow – what a studio! And those truffles – yumo!
    Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Lime Yogurt Custard In Delicata Squash BoatsMy Profile

    1. Agreed! :D!

    • Dandi D on November 17, 2015 at 2:13 pm
    • Reply

    I really like the cookie dough flavor.

    1. Best flavor ever (in my clearly-not-biased opinion)! :D

  14. So jealous! Ashville is amazing (from what I’ve read and seen about it!) One of my top places to see!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Gluten-Free Gifts For The Newly Diagnosed CeliacMy Profile

    1. I think you’d like it a lot! :] I hope you get to go visit sometime!

    • Georgia on November 17, 2015 at 10:12 pm
    • Reply

    Id like to try Cookie Dough the most!

    1. That’s my favorite flavor! :D Thanks for entering + good luck!

  15. That art district looks so cool! I’ve heard AWESOME things about Ashville (mainly from Julie), and want to go to there.
    Jess @hellotofit recently posted…4 Ways to Have a Balanced ThanksgivingMy Profile

    1. I hope you get to sometime (TAKE ME WITH YOU <3)!!

    • Ray on November 20, 2015 at 5:11 pm
    • Reply

    Cookie dough sounds great!

    1. That’s my favorite flavor! :D!

    • Nicole on November 21, 2015 at 9:12 pm
    • Reply

    I’ve tried them before and really like them. There’s a chocolate peanut one that I love, but I can’t remember the actual flavor name

    1. Their Chocolate Peanut Butter one? :O I like that one a lot too! :]

  16. Love the Dark Chocolate Coconut Balance Bar!

    1. That’s an awesome flavor! :]

    • Elle P. on November 23, 2015 at 10:00 am
    • Reply

    I have had them many times, I like the mint cookie crunch best.

    1. That’s a good one! :D Thanks for entering, and good luck!

    • DJ on November 23, 2015 at 4:44 pm
    • Reply

    The Dark Chocolate Coconut sounds wonderful!

    1. It’s a good one! :D!

    • cyndi br on November 25, 2015 at 1:06 pm
    • Reply

    I have not tried these yet but I would go for the peanut butter flavor

    1. Peanut butter is a classic! :D

  17. I mostly want to try the Balance Bites – I’m trying to retrain my mind into healthier eating and those would take the place of those delicious little bite size snickers I love so much :)
    MaryAnne JK recently posted…Blender Babes Thanksgiving GiveawayMy Profile

    1. Ah, Snickers are a hard one to resist! Thanks for entering, and best of luck to you!

    • liz l on November 25, 2015 at 7:45 pm
    • Reply

    Yes I have- cookie dough is yummy!

    1. That’s my favorite flavor! :]!

    • amy guillaume linderman on November 25, 2015 at 9:55 pm
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    i’ve tried balance bars and love them, but have never tried the chocolate mint cookie crunch

    1. I hope you get to! :D Thanks for entering, and good luck!

    • Caroline on November 25, 2015 at 10:15 pm
    • Reply

    I really like the cookie dough, but then again I think that’s the only one I’ve tried :)

    1. It’s a good one!! :D

    • steph on November 29, 2015 at 11:54 am
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    I miss living near Asheville! I’m glad you found Akira and Cynthia’s ceramics/pastry studio. They are some cool cats :)

    1. They were awesome! I’m so glad I had a chance to visit there! :]

  18. I haven’t tried these before; would definitely be interested in the chocolate mint. So glad it looks like you enjoyed Asheville! It’s one of my all-time favorite places!!
    Sara recently posted…Out Came the Sun: Overcoming the Legacy of Mental Illness, Addiction, and Suicide in My FamilyMy Profile

    1. Mine too! I really hope I can go back to visit again someday!!

  19. OH man! Nine Mile is one of my favorite places! I always bring people there when they come to visit. Can you believe that I haven’t tried White Duck Taco Shop yet? It’s been on my list since before we moved here in September. There are so many good places!!

    I know this comment is VERY late, but glad you had fun!
    Rosey Rebecca recently posted…Let Them Eat CakeMy Profile

    1. It was so good! :D And ahhh, you gotta try that place out! They have so many delicious taco options! <3

      Not at all! :] Thanks for seeking it out! I need to go on more food adventures over there again someday! I didn't get to visit all the places I wanted to go to! :P

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