The Best Books to Read Before an Asheville Trip
- Updated: 04/08/2024
- Janice
I have taken two trips to the Asheville area. My most recent visit was for a friend group getaway to connect with one of our own who had recently moved to town. I keep returning to Asheville and its mild climate for the outdoors, the arts, and the food. Plus, getting there is an easy and quick trip from my hometown of Chicago.
For Asheville, like all my travel destinations, I always look for books to read linked to the location. Connecting my reading to travel—whether the books are fiction or non-fiction—provides more depth to my experience and helps to transform my way of seeing the world. An unexpected bonus is that choosing books linked to place also helps to expand my reading repertoire. I share my top Asheville picks and include resources on where to discover more Asheville-related titles below.
Table Of Contents
Fiction Picks
Look Homeward, Angel: A Story of The Buried Life, by Thomas Wolfe. A rewarding, though lengthy read, this semi-autobiographical book from Wolfe, whose character of Gant—believed to be the author—is set in a fictional town representative of his hometown of Asheville.
The coming-of-age story takes place in the early 20th century following Gant from birth to graduate school in Boston at Harvard, all while painting a memorable portrait of a North Carolina family. Also available as an audiobook.
Time Is a River, by Mary Alice Munroe. Set in the mountains outside Asheville, this book follows the story of Mia Landan, who leaves Charleston behind to heal from cancer treatment and a broken marriage. She settles in a neglected family fishing cabin in a remote location owned by her fly-fishing instructor.
There is reason for the neglect, and Mia gets pulled into its complicated past stretching back nearly 100 years when she uncovers the long-deceased journal of the original owner. Also available as an audiobook.
Non-Fiction Picks
Lady On the Hill, by Howard E. Covington. In this highly-rated book, learn the history of how the Biltmore came to be—and the personal and behind-the-scenes struggles in making it one of the most visited homes in America.
The book offers an illuminating history to absorb before a visit to the estate. Also available as an audiobook.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Read this autobiographical tale of Bryson’s personal attempt to tackle all 2,000+ miles of the famed Appalachian Trail to get in the spirit of your own Blue Ridge ramble. Terrific as an audiobook.
I am a big fan of guidebooks and love to read them before my trips for the deep and detailed insider knowledge they provide about a place that is often difficult to duplicate from internet research alone. Here are three great suggestions that focus on the Asheville area.
Amazing Asheville, by Lan Sluder. Written by an Ashville native with 20 best-selling travel and retirement-relocation books under his belt, the book provides a helpful expert and independent opinion on what to do—and where to go—during a visit to Asheville.
If you are looking for a more updated guidebook from a recognizable series, go with this Moon Asheville guide. Additionally, you will get coverage of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which makes for a great add-on visit to Asheville.
Five Star Trails – 35 Spectacular Hikes In The Land Of The Sky, by Jennifer Pharr Davis. The author is another Asheville native and a record-setting through-hiker of the Appalachian Trail who has logged over 14,000 miles on North American trails.
The book provides helpful and detailed information for more hikes than you could dream of doing during your visit, and it will help you find your perfect path for outdoor exploration. The impressive author also founded and runs the highly rated Asheville-based Blue Ridge Hiking Company, offering private and group hiking tours.
Books For Kids
The Serafina Series, by Robert Beatty. This award-winning mystery series is designed for readers in grades 3 – 7 and takes place on the Biltmore Estate during the Gilded Age. The story focuses on Serafina, a young girl who lives secretly in the estate basement and is the daughter of the maintenance caretaker.
And if your child loves the Serafina series, check out this related fantasy collection based in the Great Smoky Mountains—Willa of The Wood, also written by the same author, Robert Beatty.
Where To Find More North Carolina Books
Find more suggestions for what to read before your trip by exploring this list of Western North Carolina picks from Asheville-based Malaprops Bookstore for more excellent recommendations. Or visit the Uncorked Asheville website for their list of “Eight Must-Read Books Set in Asheville, NC.”
For book lovers visiting Asheville drop by Battery Park Book Exchange, where in addition to browsing their highly-rated pre-loved literary collection, you can enjoy wine, champagne, espresso, and wine-bar-style light eats in dog-friendly digs. And depending on the day, live music as well. Check out their Facebook page for the most up-to-date entertainment schedule. Another good resource for finding books by location is searching Goodreads for “books set in (destination)”. Find “books set in Asheville” on the Goodreads website here.
Related Reading for an Asheville Trip
If you are traveling to the Asheville area, check out these related articles to help you get the information you need to plan your best visit.
Love to travel? Sign up for my monthly Gather & Go Travel Discovery Newsletter and get a free trip budget calculator.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me.
Instagram...
love this info?
And receive our FREE Budget Trip Calculator.
2 Responses
Christine, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment! And you are welcome! I discovered your blogs a year or two ago and repeatedly use them as a resource. Love Asheville and love reading!
Thank you so, so much for the shoutout! I appreciate it! I’ll have to read “Time is a River.”