3 must-do weekends within 5 hours of Nashville

Whether you’re looking for an urban getaway or a mountain retreat, here are three destinations to consider for your next weekend.

1.Ashville

Niche In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the bustling town of Asheville is just under a 5-hour drive from Music City.

• Here’s how to spend a weekend in Asheville.

To stay: To try this beautiful condominium downtown for $175+ per night (for two people).

To do:

• Take the vibrant colors of spring at the iconic Biltmore House. The event, called “Biltmore Blooms,” runs from April 1 through May 25. Details.
• To see vibrant fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Jump onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and take it southwest to the Pisgah Inn.
• Visit one of the great breweries. On your big beer tour of Asheville, it’s worth stopping at New Belgium and Sierra Nevada.
• Finish your night at Ben Focus. DJ, sake, dance. It’s an atmosphere.

Eat:

• Order the Billie Holiday, the Billy Ocean or the Billy Joel taco from taco billy.
• To try fried catfish and cabbage or smothered pork chop Dumpster on EagleAsheville’s unmissable soul food restaurant.
• Get some Indian street food at Chai Pani.

Full guide to Asheville here

2.Atlanta

here’s how spend a weekend in Atlanta, four hours south of Nashville.

To stay: An Airbnb treehouse in southwest Atlanta built inside a 1956 Airstream has a private hot tub.

To do:

• Celebrate 10 years alternative and rock music at the Shaky Knees Music Festival. This year’s event runs from May 5-7. Details.
• head on in West Atlanta to see one of the city’s newest art museums and an escape room focused on the hip-hop subgenre: trap music.
• Have fun outdoors with the family at stone mountain park.

Eat:

• Eat on savory lemon pepper wings The bandoself-proclaimed as Atlanta’s first and only food museum.

• Try one of several homemade dishes like turkey meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, broccoli stew and the famous jerk chicken at Eat on Ponce De Leon Avenue.
• Enjoy live music and Latin cuisine like empanadas, paella and quesos espanolas at Luna Eclipse.

3. Brevard

Hidden at the entrance to the lush Pisgah National Forest, here are some things to see and do in Brevard, NC

To stay: Enjoy 180 degree mountain views in a two bedroom cabin just outside of Brevard.

To do:

• jam out during White Squirrel Weekend. This year’s event takes place over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28. Details.
• Find your next read on Highland Books. Pick up a holiday book at this nearly 50-year-old bookstore on Main Street.
• Go on a hike. I would recommend sticking with Gorge State Park to observe the waterfalls less than 30 minutes from the city center.

Eat:

Complete Brevard guide here