By Jennifer Glatt, hospitality media strategist and curator of the Mint Pillow newsletter, writing for Lake.com. A quick note on this one: this is Jennifer’s own stay, in her own words. She’s a travel and hospitality writer we partnered with, and she experienced French Broad River Farms firsthand — the porch mornings, the trail, the rafting, all of it. The story is hers; we’ve simply given it a home here. Every impression below is her honest, first-person account.
There are some places I won’t travel to in the summer, but Asheville, North Carolina? I will always say yes to a trip to Asheville. When the mountains are calling, I must go.
My husband and I scheduled the three-night Asheville riverfront vacation rental getaway to beat the heat and humidity of the coast, with no real plans other than to make the most of the mid-year break. From the NC coast, a drive of five and a half hours deposited us at French Broad River Farms, a 50-acre expanse deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. Just 20 minutes from Downtown Asheville, we felt a world away from everything–in the best way.
Home Sweet Blue Heron Hideaway
We turned left onto the gravel road that wound downward through the property, nudging left at the pond, then uphill again. It’s easy to feel lost in the trees, but once we found the wooden welcome bear at the top of the driveway, we pulled in with excitement. From the front, it looks like a quaint, modest yet contemporary house in the woods. Walking past the front door to the yawning expanse of the wraparound back porch—the rush of the French Broad River getting louder with each step—and I found myself exhaling a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Two rocking chairs and a hanging basket swing face the river, where the rapids chatter nonstop. Oak, maple and birch trees stand tall, enveloping the house and providing a verdant backdrop.
Inside was a cozy retreat, with an open-concept kitchen and living area full of windows, a bedroom complete with comfy king-sized bed, and a small bathroom. Minimally but thoughtfully decorated, the overwhelming feeling that came to mind was “private.” Other than the river noise and the birds, there was no noise. This place is the epitome of the word “hideaway.”
We had brought a few provisions—cheese, watermelon, easy proteins and some wine—but were pleasantly surprised to find a freshly baked focaccia on the counter and chilled wine (and glasses!) in the fridge waiting for us. Two s’mores kits were also provided for the fire pit on ground level. After setting our bags down and taking a quick walk-through tour, we took our food and wine and stayed late into the evening on the porch, watching the fireflies emerge from the brush as dusk settled and relaxing to the rush of the river.
A Morning Hike
What do you do when there’s nothing you HAVE to do? Explore.
After making good use of the farm fresh eggs left in the fridge for us and coffee on the porch as the sun fully came up, we put on our hiking boots, grabbed our backpacks, gave ourselves a good spritz of bug spray (kindly provided by the host) and set out to wander. From the house we picked up a well-marked trail that headed toward the train tracks and the river. Along the way we found small waterfalls and huge feathers. On our return, we took in visits with the alpacas, donkeys, and goats in their pens, waved to the dogs, and as we headed back to the house, stopped to watch a deer notice us, tilt its head quizzically, and scamper back into the woods.
Into Asheville: Where There’s No Wrong Place to Eat
Every “where should we eat in Asheville” query included Cúrate in its results list, so I made reservations, tempted by the tapas and the flavors of Spain. We sat at the bar and, as is often the case with tapas, overordered. We started with cold glasses of albariño and Croquetas de Temporada (creamy fritters), accompanied by manchego cheese and olive oil. The Ensalada followed with gem lettuce, pistachio vinaigrette, idiazabal cheese, citrus, olives and crispy shrimp, and then the Arroz Del Día, (the paella of the day). Next time we’ll simplify and order the Cúrate Experience, a seasonal prix fixe menu of traditional Spanish dishes hand-selected by co-founders chef Katie Button and Félix Meana, and its accompanying wine pairing. Sadly, we had no room for dessert.
Our second night in town we noshed at Bargello, the onsite restaurant at Kimpton’s Hotel Arras. The Mediterranean coastline-inspired menu was phenomenal and the wine list extensive. (Don’t miss the house-made bucatini cacio e pepe!) But beyond the menu, the service was impeccably gracious and generous, and I would return in a heartbeat with this restaurant at the top of my list next time. You’d truly never know it was situated near the hotel’s lobby.
A River Runs Through It
One of the world’s oldest waterways, the French Broad River is a lively character in Asheville’s story, and truly the heartbeat of the city. Though roads are fully reopened and the city is back on its feet following 2024’s Hurricane Helene, tourism is still down overall in Western North Carolina, according to our river guide at French Broad Adventures. As we paddled a five-mile section of the river to enjoy the whitewater rapids and the surrounding Pisgah National Forest, he shared stories of rafting the French Broad’s riverbed and how he’s seen it change over more than 20 years. (When he’s not working, he’s rafting for fun; I’m not sure we could have found a more knowledgeable guide!)
The adventure company is full-service, offering half or full-day trips with snacks or lunch, and other adventures including canyoneering, mountain biking and zip lining. A sundries store sits at base camp should you forget any essentials. (Tip: Bring your own water shoes or they are available for borrowing or purchase at the store.)
Staying a Little Longer at an Asheville Riverfront Vacation Rental
After two activity-filled days, I wondered if maybe we could extend our visit to enjoy the solitude of the porch just a bit longer. Though I was disappointed to find the house was already booked for the evening, it made perfect sense. Next time I’ll stay longer and build in more time for doing absolutely nothing. Peak leaf-peeping season might be the perfect time to return.
