I learned how to travel, and road trip, from my mom. The year that I graduated from High School, my mom took my brother and I to Australia to explore, road trip, but most importantly to see where her mother (Nanna) came from.  We flew into Melbourne, drove south to the Mornington Peninsula, back to Melbourne, to Canberra, then to Sydney. We stopped for a night on the road to Brisbane, then continued on to Surfers Paradise, and then finally to Brisbane.

Throughout, we found our hotels as we stopped driving for the day, walking in and inquiring after a room when we found a spot we liked the look and location of.

Day Two // Asheville North Carolina

Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t just wing and prayer it, as we knew by what date we’d reach different stops along the way, but the day to day, we figured it out as went. And by doing so, maintained the flexibility and spontaneity that go hand in hand with road tripping.  If you want to take a side route and check out something that looks interesting, you can. Find a town that you want to explore more in? Great. Find a place, get a room, get to exploring. It’s one of the most freeing and exhilarating experiences you’ll ever have. There’s great freedom in not having concrete plans.

I had initially built in a couple of extra nights for Alicia and as we drove for just that reason. If we found something that we wanted to do that we hadn’t planned on, we were good. If we were having fun somewhere and weren’t ready to leave by the time that we had though, we were good to say.

Little did I know that it would be the first night that we would play that trump card. As we sat out back of the Brew Station with our seriously kick ass Air BnB Host Torii and pup extraordinaire Harlow, she asked if we’d stay the next night as well, so that we would all have time to actually hang out, as she had prior plans that night. Alicia and I looked at each other, both nodded, and said yes.

We were so glad that we did.

If you want to read more about our first day driving click [here]

Breakfast at the Early Girl Eatery

After being in the car for seven or so hours that first day, once our heads hit the pillows, we were out. Sleeping with the window cracked for the cool mountain air flowing in, aaaaaamazing. The next morning, we got up, dressed, and headed for Early Girl Eatery to get breakfast, on the recommendation of friends that had lived in Asheville before moving back to Portland.

From what we’d heard, there would be a line out the door, and likely around the block. (Ever seen the brunch episode of Portlandia? Yah. Like that.) Only there wasn’t. We walked in, were seated, and got down to it.  (the biscuits and jam were to die for good). As we chatted with our server, he gave us a variety of recommendations of where to go that day, as we explored, and drew us a map to his favorite antique store, telling us that if we didn’t know where we were going, we’d not find it on our own, but that we had to check it out.

We finished breakfast, poked around in shops and galleries as we worked our way through the directions that he’d given us, and fell in love more and more with Asheville as we walked. The shops, the energy of the town, the tea (!!!), the galleries, while reminiscent of Portland, held a magic all their own.

We made our way to the antique shop, poking around, calling each other over when we found something that we thought the other would not want to miss, and each ended up taking home a few pieces that called to us.

Lexington Ave. Brewery

Across the street from the shop sits Lexington Ave. Brewery, THE place to have a beer and bite to eat while were walking around , or so we’d been told by every shop keeper and proprietor we’d chatted with that day.

Sit down in the soft summer afternoon and have a beer? Duh.

We found a table just inside the door, parked it, and scanned the beer list, bites, we decided, we’d hold off on, as we were both still real full from breakfast (which in all fairness happened sometime around noon. Our bodies had needed to sleep more and longer than we had realized).

Couple of beers in, we both looked at each other, and agreed that while we wanted to keep going, and keep exploring, that we were better off heading back to Torii’s to stretch out, and give ourselves some down time before we headed out for the night.

Tacos at The Grey Eagle Music Hall

A friend of Torii’s birthday was that day, and to celebrate, it was dinner and drinks at the Grey Eagle. I asked the bartender if I was allowed to photograph the inside of the music hall, as well as the restaurant, the answer? Go back to the kitchen, stick  your head in, and ask for Russ. He’s the owner, and he’ll be able to answer that for you.

Russ, as it turns out, was happy to let me photograph the space, and was also willing to sit down with me, raise a glass (or three) with me, and talk food, life in Asheville, and what all goes into running the Grey Eagle. (which is three business’ rolled into on. The bar. The restaurant. And the music hall.) As the night wore on, I headed back outside, to sit, laugh with new friends, eat the best chorizo tacos I’ve had, and soak in the late June night as the fire flies twinkled and blinked in the massive oak tree that towers over the patio.

We closed the place down, and went to bed that night with full bellies, nourished souls, and happy hearts.

Want to work with me? hello@cookeatexplore.com