Western North Carolina

Western North Carolina

Elle & Matt
This Guide shares delicious places to eat & drink, how to stay active like a local, and our other top recommended places to stay & visit in the Asheville, Old Fort, Black Mountain & Mills River area.
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Our Home Base in the Pisgah National Forest  

Indigo Nature Retreat
@livininluna
This is the perfect place to call home if you're visiting this part of the state. Located in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest, Indigo Nature Retreat offers tiny cabins for individual stays, a main house for a more luxurious experience, and newly added creekside cabins that boast a forest getaway you must experience yourself. The venue also rents entirely for you to host your own gathering and retreat - contact us or the venue directly for more information on availability & pricing!
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Our first visit to Indigo Nature Retreat was in August 2021, after we happened upon it while googling places to go on a personal retreat. My partner & I were both navigating life post-divorce and beginning a life together, were both self-employed, and needing a quiet & safe place to go and figure some things out ... you know, life. 

Since then, we've come back at least seven times - once hosting our own self-discovery retreat last year for 6 people, and most recently, to venue-sit while the owners are on vacation.

With the extended stay, we've had the great opportunity to not only call Indigo home for the summer, but we've also been fortunate to meet some locals, explore more of the surrounding areas, and host all of the incoming guests at Indigo. 

If you're thinking about visiting this area, hosting your own retreat, or simply want to learn more about Indigo, please reach out to us - we love sharing these places & helping you create the perfect retreat or vacation for yourself. 

^ View from the Tiny Cabins at Indigo Nature Retreat. Our van, Luna, next to our Tiny Cabin, DreamWeaver :) 

So Nice We Went Twice

.....or more.

Staying in the WNC area for 4 weeks was life-changing to say the least - the energy of the people, the mountains & forest, and everything in between served us very well. Having extended time allowed us to become regular visitors at our favorite spots. 

With so many new places to visit, I often choose to explore some new but to re-visit places I love. Below are our faves, including notes for each one. 

PS - we'll include some of these spots on our Date Day Guides (forthcoming!) because what is a date day itinerary if not filled with your favorite places & people to visit!?

Black Mountain

WNC Outdoor Collective
@livininluna
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Black Mountain Yoga
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Kundalini Yoga & Gong Bath with Jill Phoenix Sauna & Cold Plunge after breakfast
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Four Sisters Bakery
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Old Fort

Hillman Beer
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Asheville 

Asheville Yoga Center
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DJ's Pickles
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WNC Farmers Market
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Eat-Drink-Shop 

Black Mountain

Louise's Kitchen
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cup of jomo
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WNC Outdoor Collective
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Dripolator Black Mountain
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Kilwin's Black Mountain -Chocolates, Fudge and Ice Cream
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Take A Hike Outfitters
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Epic Cycles
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Mills River

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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Excursions & Other Adventures

...including some overnights 

Mt Pisgah Campgrounds
@livininluna
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Pisgah Inn
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Pisgah Inn Country Store
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Blue Ridge Parkway
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Mount Mitchell State Park
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elle & Matt
Hi, we're Elle & Matt! We are life coaches, retreat facilitators, yogis, endurance athletes, and recovering perfectionists living in our element with our van, Luna. We're on a journey to redefine success, continuously transforming, evolving, expanding, and learning. Living intuitively & intentionally with a mobile-ish lifestyle, we’ll share our favorite places that help us say “yes” to ourselves and “yes” to life while living & working on the road. ✨💛
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