Toronto, Canada

Downtown Toronto Weekend Getaway

We love Asheville and have made quite a few trips over the years, exploring the different parts of the town and surrounding areas with friends and family. It never gets old and there are always new discoveries to be made.

This past weekend we were invited to stay at the Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown located in the heart of Asheville where there is so much to see and do! We spent the weekend on foot exploring food, drink, art and more.

We were lucky to stay in the hotel’s Bridal Suite and it did not disappoint! The room was gorgeous, with various jewel shades of pink to dark rose, and floor to ceiling windows with amazing views of the city and the mountains. Even the bathroom had mountain views! I felt like it was quiet, comfortable and a nice place to relax after walking the city all day.

Breakfast is included in the stay, with coffee and grab and go items, making for an easy start to Saturday’s adventures. Sunday we had the most amazing brunch at The Montford, the rooftop bar at the top of the Hyatt Place. It’s first come first served so I would recommend getting there when they open because its a small space and with COVID-19 they have even less seating in order to properly social distance. It’s open to the fresh air and you can sit on the patio or in the open air bar area. The service was fantastic and the food was delicious. I definitely recommend doing brunch here if you can, especially if you are staying at the hotel. Sunset views are another option for the Montford but you definitely have to get in line early or make your plans around the wait. I think the secret is out about this gem!

I’ve shared here on this page, some of the places we visited on this particular weekend. We have so many favorites in Asheville and its hard not to always revisit them but we also like to discover a few new places with every trip to keep it fresh. It is overwhelming the amount of choices and you definitely won’t lack for things to see, eat, drink and do!

“I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.”

— Kendrick Lamar

We visited the Asheville Art Museum for the first time this weekend, and it was wonderful. I absolutely LOVE art museums, so I was excited to see this one. Loved the current exhibits and the galleries as well as the cafe and rooftop patio (hidden gem!). You can get tickets and schedule your visit online.

We are also BIG fans of Forestry Camp, part of the Burial Beer family and it has a very cool history regarding the men stationed here that helped construct the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. This was part of FDR’s New Deal legislation during the Great Depression, employing thousands of young men to work on environmental conservation projects. If you are a craft beer fan and love well crafted dishes, this place is so worth the visit, but make sure you make a reservation. Same with Benne on Eagle, another fantastic dinner spot in downtown Asheville (walkable from the hotel). Great food and you will need a reservation there as well. Another fun discovery for us was H&F Burgers, right next to Wicked Weed. We had the best service, outdoor seating is available and probably one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. We were lucky to have patio dining weather all weekend and it was truly a wonderful escape in the NC mountains.

“The fact that over 50 per cent of the residents of Toronto are not from Canada, that is always a good thing, creatively, and for food especially. That is easily a city’s biggest strength, and it is Toronto’s unique strength.”

— Anthony Bourdain