Ask any NCer—during the fall, Asheville is the place to be. A year out from Hurricane Helene, the WNC city is on the up, ready to welcome fall foliage chasers and brewery bums back to the Land of the Sky. But don’t just take it from me—Reader’s Digest just named Asheville the “Nicest Place in America.”
Flashing back, after floodwaters parted, Asheville gem Grand Bohemian Lodge—located in the then-devastated Biltmore Village—got right to work revamping and renewing the iconic hotel, and is now ready to tuck in tourists and locals alike. The rustic 19th-century hunting lodge-inspired design and handcarved woodwork had me feeling as if I just kicked off my boots from a hunt in the European countryside. Not to mention the luxurious-yet-cozy ambiance serves up the perfect backdrop for a couples getaway, girls trip, staycation or even solo leaf-peeping excursion.
Here, a handful of highlights from my stay at the Lodge, plus some must-see’s in the “Nicest Place in America.”
Peak Week Fall foliage tends to peak in color around the end of October, with higher elevations reaching full vibrancy a little beforehand. Regardless—if you head to the hills anytime during autumn, the vibrant views will not disappoint.
Take a Hike Getting your hands (and boots!) dirty on a hike should be a top priority in the Land of the Sky. I’ve always been partial to the wide-open spaces of Bearwallow Mountain, which is just a ~40-minute drive from the Grand Bohemian. For other paradises found nearby, try Craggy Gardens, Black Balsam Knob (or any segment of the Art Loeb Trail, really) and Looking Glass Rock. And if you want to skip the elements but still bask in Appalachian glory, try a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or a glass of wine at Stone Ashe Vineyards.
Eye for Art Asheville art is a must-see, and in the Lodge and city alike, it’s not hard to find. Paintings, paper sculptures (think the likes of Jean Claude Roy and Charles Clary) and jewelry adorn the walls of the Grand Bohemian Gallery—windowshopping is encouraged, but all the work is up for grabs if you fall hard for a piece. To boot, colorful canvases across the entire Lodge will line your walkabouts.
A Little R&R Switch on Do Not Disturb and indulge in a day of self-care at the in-house spa, where you can laze the day away with a facial, massage (don’t sleep on the drying brushing op) or a full body ritual. You are on vacay after all!
Eat Your Heart Out Don’t fret about reservations or whether to Uber or drive to a nearby resto. The Grand Bohemian levels up locally at on-site Red Stag Grill, serving up steakhouse faves and Appalachian eats for breakfast, brunch and dinner in a suave, hunting-inspired atmosphere. Waffles, avocado toast and acai bowls graced my breakfast table, and for dinner, the tartare and scallops paired with wine (pregamed with an Aperol spritz, natch) was a no-brainer. Pro tip: Any steak on the menu is well worth the splurge.
While Red Stag Grill has delish ops for days, the local restaurant scene calls—and you should answer. Find foodie heaven at Neng Jr’s, Chai Pani and Mother—and if you’re willing to commit to a drive a little further away, West First Wood-Fired in Hendersonville is unmatched for its pizza and salads.
Like Hopscotch’s less edgy, flowy-skirted and flowery sister, Iron Blossom Music Festival continues to shine a spotlight on local indie and folk bands while always tapping a few bigtime acts to end the night—and it reigns as a must-attend for any indie or folk fans in the Southeast.
At just three years old, this RM pick for fests worth traveling for has already blossomed into a one-of-a-kind event, avoiding the long lines, drama and price point of a bigger op while still hosting big names worth drama—NTM it’s just a 2.5-hour drive from the Cap City. Here are some festival highlights to browse while you pen your wishlist for next year’s lineup.
Rain, Rain, Here to Stay Guests were evacuated not once, but twice from the fest on Saturday, with Medium Build sneaking in a set between the two delays. But true to the festival’s happy-go-lucky nature, guests were unfazed and danced in the rain, some barefoot. Even after both evacuations, the energy didn’t end, it just moved—breweries and bars surrounding Midtown Green were buzzing with damp and smiling festival goers.
Indie Sleaze Is So Back Vampire Weekend showed out to headline Saturday night with a greatest hits setlist, oozing the sleazy aesthetics of their heyday ~15 years ago. The undeniable charm of Ezra Koenig plus the nostalgia of “A-Punk” live? Unmatched.
Vampire Weekend
…And Indie Folk Never Left Folk had a field day with the rest of the lineup. From The Lumineers to Boone-based Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Chapel Hill-based Watchhouse, it was an indie fanatic’s dream. Athens-based Futurebirds lead the fest towards alt-country horizons while Improvement Movement slung dad rock with a touch of soul. In short, a wide range of boxes were checked when it came to genre. And the sole lineup lowlight? Alt trio Khruangbin’s cancellation. Maybe next year…
A Hop, Skip and a Jump The aptly-named Iron and Blossom stages were in perfect proximity to each other—if you camped out between the side-by-side stages, you could catch every set. And even so, fest goers hopped between the stages, so sets were never overly congested. Sticking with the drama-free nature, you could wrangle a spot close to the barricade at both stages, so long as you rolled up by 2 or 3pm.
Futurebirds
Hometown Heroes Leaning into local, Richmond and Virginia artists reigned. Richmond-based Holy Roller lit up the stage with grooves and a Western aesthetic. And hailing from Shenandoah Valley just north, folk trio Palmyra garnered a huge crowd at the smaller stage—one that didn’t shy away from singing along. In true Iron Blossom fashion, the group’s Mānoa Bell tapped barefoot along to the beat as he strummed the double bass. Overall, the songs of the Southeast shined.
Stone fruit may be heading out of season, but the time is always nigh for Peach Pit’s velvety rock ballads. And right on beat, the foursome is toting their indie repertoire to Raleigh for a night at The Ritz Oct. 3.
The group’s occasionally psychedelic and always sonically wealthy songs sell heartwrenching ballads of longing and loss disguised by a cloak of upbeat riffs. Hyper-specific lyrics detail niche experiences—“I think they’re like 95% real names and real people in real stories,” says vocalist and guitarist Neil Smith—but still ignite a sense of relatable nostalgia in listeners. Peach Pit makes it easy (and enjoyable) to walk in their shoes.
The Vancouver group’s ~decade of discography jumps between genres, leaning into a distinctly folkier sound on their third album From 2 to 3. “We made that third record over the pandemic, but once we got to play those songs live, we realized it was harder to have moments in the set that were full of energy,” maintains guitarist Chris Vanderkooy. After two years of silence, Peach Pit flipped the script with Magpie, a record filled with more energy and a messier rhythm—translating into a brighter stage presence.
Leaning into that buoyant presence, band members can often be spotted far off the stage during their sets, surfing the crowd. “The ability is in the moment,” notes Vanderkooy. “You have to crawl down into the crowd and make it happen.” And even when their feet are firmly planted on the stage, their movement matches the high energy sound heard once again on Magpie.
Using that newest record to nod back to their first days as a group, Magpie was paired with awkward-on-purpose portraits of the four (think an ’80s JCPenney photoshoot) sporting turtlenecks, wraparound sunnies and all-too-forced poses.
“We were just trying to take some really fun-to-look-at photos more than anything,” muses Smith. “As far as the turtlenecks and the sunglasses go, we used to wear the same outfits every single show and a turtleneck was what I wore.” And their fans don’t mind dipping their feet in unconventional attire. Read: The look now serves as outfit inspo for audience members, who often come boasting similarly entertaining getups.
That unserious attitude resonates with Peach Pit. “We’re, just like always, just having a fun time on tour,” maintains Smith. “It just feels like the best job ever.” So, head to The Ritz this weekend for an unseriously fun set.
Reacquaint yourself with the square scarf, the accessory seen everywhere—rivaling “it” shoes and bags at fashion weeks and becoming the new shorthand for style fluency, even. It’s a tale (er, style) as old as time: Bandanas and scarfs were sported by Old Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn circa the ’50s and ’60s, and their versatility lives on today—with styling ranging from “la dolce vita” to “yeehaw.” Here’s how to wear the cult buy and where to find it locally.
The whispers of a recession are echoing everywhere. Financial news outlets caution the economy is “on the brink”—and the warning signs may go beyond red numbers and Wall Street panic. Some argue the recession indicators are strutting down runways and roaming city streets during fashion week. The resurgence of late 2000s and early 2010s style may not just be a blip in the fashion cycle—but a telltale sign of an economic slump.
Predicting the economy is a big ask for a Balenciaga Le City Bag or peplum top, but trends and themes that gained traction during the 2008 recession are creeping back into the mainstream.
Take the rise of business casual during the Great Recession (ask any millennial), both at the office and at the club—think blazers, pencil skirts, etc. It wasn’t an accident or random style choice either—when wallets are tight, investing in a versatile wardrobe is far more practical than separate looks for work and play.
Sound familiar? Enter the “office siren” or Officecore. Beyond practicality, there’s psychology: Looking like the ideal employee—even to the point of romanticizing the workplace—makes sense during economic turbulence or a tough job market, especially for 9-to-5ers and LinkedIn warriors. Stella McCartney even described her autumn/winter 2025 collection as curated for “laptop to lap dance”—proving the work-hard, play-hard mindset is definitely back on the catwalk.
Another hallmark of the Great Recession’s stylebook: quiet luxury. Born from tighter budgets and mass appeal, flaunting logos was a big no-no—instead, it was all about leaning toward polished and understated ’fits that left people wondering, “Is that Quince or The Row?” Now, that minimal aesthetic is seeing a mod revival from streets to social feeds, thanks in no small part to influencers like Sofia Richie Grainge.
Other so-called “indicators” like the hemline index—the theory that skirt lengths rise when the economy prospers and drop during dips—are less clear-cut. (Case in point: last summer’s white maxiskirt craze, though miniskirts and microshorts are still holding their ground.)
Perhaps these shifts in style don’t map directly onto the Dow Jones, but they reveal insight into what we choose to invest in during uncertain times. And let’s be honest: Shopping trending purses is far more fun than tracking financial forecasts.
