🌟 Weekend Getaway near NC | 2-Day Trip to Asheville

Celebrated my birthday with a weekend trip to Asheville—just a 3.5-hour drive from RTP! Here’s my recap of eats, drinks, and fun: 🍽️ Restaurants & Bars 1️⃣ Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas An Asian fusion spot with some decent dim sum options. ✅ Shanghai soup dumplings and beef noodle soup are safe picks. ❌ Chicken feet were just okay, and wontons weren’t worth it. 2️⃣ The Montford Rooftop Bar Located on the 8th floor of our hotel—great bar food! Loved the fried chicken and fries (especially the dipping sauce 🍟), plus nice views. 3️⃣ Posana Beautiful atmosphere, but dishes tended to be overly salty. Not my top recommendation. 🏞️ Things to Do 1️⃣ Biltmore Estate Ticket prices: Grounds-only access: ~$60+ per person Castle entry (must arrive before 3 PM): ~$90+ We arrived just a few minutes late, so we explored the gardens and winery instead. 🍷 Biltmore Winery offers complimentary tastings—5 samples per person! Definitely worth it. 📌 Pro tip: Make reservations early—they fill up quickly! 2️⃣ Shoji Spa & Retreat About 20 minutes from downtown, nestled in the mountains. ♨️ A popular spot —serene setting, but the water isn’t natural hot spring (still relaxing!). ⏳ 30 minutes in the tub is plenty. 💆 Highly recommend booking a massage afterward—we tried the 60-minute Zen massage. So relaxing! 👙 Bring your own swimsuit, and maybe an extra towel or robe (theirs can get soaked). Perfect mix of relaxation and exploration—highly recommend for a weekend escape! #DukeUniversity #WeekendGetaway #NorthCarolina #UNC #NCState #RTP #Asheville #Biltmore #TravelNC #HotSpringRetreat #FoodAndTravel