Self-Care
Seoul2Soul Massage Therapy – A massage with Lynn is one of the best gifts you could give yourself. Deeply intuitive and nuanced, Lynn can customize your massage to fit your unique needs and preferences (see her services page to learn more). Her natural oils, soothing ambiance, and healing hands will help you sail into a blissful, elevated state as your body is guided into realignment.https://www.s2smassagetherapy.com/
Southern Glamour Nail Salon is a small, female & family-owned business smack dab between the two Barkwells locations. Sommer offers one of the very few all-organic lines of polishes and gels and her services are highly professional, personable, and affordable. We can’t recommend her enough! https://southern-glamour-nail-salon.business.site/
Fountain of Youth Day Spa – If you’re looking for an all-inclusive spa experience, this is a certified Green Day Spa including services like therapeutic massage, facials, waxing, and relaxing foot soaks. They were also voted first place in the Best of Blue Ridge Community Choice awards in 2020! https://www.fountainofyouthnc.com/
Sensibilities Day Spa – Take pampering and rejuvenation to the next level while you’re on vacation. This is an organic, wellness-centered spa just one exit up from Barkwells Asheville. The spa is located in the LEED certified (for sustainable building design) Hilton hotel in Biltmore Park and uses all organic and natural care products for their services, which include skin care, waxing, massage, body treatments, and nail services. They are Living Wage Certified and have a special Cause for Celebration package that donates to the Asheville Humane Society! https://sensibilities-spa.com
Ware – Ware is a sustainable lifestyle store in Asheville that offers zero waste products, a refill station for bulk home care and personal care products, and information about living with a smaller footprint for our community. They aim to be a reliable resource for sustainable essentials: Sometimes it’s locally made, sometimes it’s recycled, sometimes it’s vegan, sometimes it’s reusable, sometimes it’s all of those things. https://www.wareavl.com
The Asheville Art Garden – This is a gallery, garden, and event venue that provides a combination of local artwork and greenery – two of Asheville’s greatest points of pride. Peruse the artwork or attend an event in this space for creation, expression, and education near downtown Asheville. https://www.artgardenavl.com/
WNC Agricultural Center – Just up the road from Barkwells Asheville is the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. With annual events ranging along arbor and herb festivals, wool expos and holistic popups, horse racing, consignment sales, and much more, it’s always interesting to see what’s happening right around the corner if you’re looking to get out for a fun afternoon. See their events page here: https://www.wncagcenter.org/events
River Arts District – Come visit one of the cornerstones of Asheville’s incredible art scene. The River Arts District hosts studios, galleries, events, and visual escapes into an optical wonderland. Read a recent article from Explore Asheville on how to best spend your time strolling through the RAD, and visit their website: https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/
Ten Thousand Villages – Shop with intention in downtown Asheville for ethically-sourced handcrafted wares. As a pioneer of fair trade, every purchase and donation you make directly impacts the life and community of its maker in a developing country. https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/asheville
Local Cloth – Visit the studio of this nonprofit dedicated to building and sustaining the community and economy of the local fiber industry. Through classes, events, and craftsmanship by artisans around the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can thread together an experience in history, art appreciation, and Appalachian cultural exploration with a visit to the Local Cloth. https://localcloth.wildapricot.org/
East Fork Pottery – East Fork Pottery is a destination for those who appreciate quality ceramics and supporters of sustainable businesses. They are a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified, and actively strive to incorporate values of equity, sustainability, and compassion in their business model. Several Barkwells guests have made it part of their regular agenda to stop by East Fork any time they’re in town. https://www.eastfork.com
Outdoor Adventures
Lazy Otter Outfitters – Our very own Barkwells neighbors, Matt & Leslie Evans, are the owners of this wonderful outfitter. Spend your afternoon gliding leisurely down a lesser-trafficked section of the French Broad, kick it up a notch with adventure tubing, or paddle up to the Sierra Nevada brewery just around the corner from Barkwells, all with the gear and support of Lazy Otter. Barkwells staff took an outing with them last summer and gave them 18 thumbs up! https://www.lazyotteroutfitters.com/
Navitat – The place to go for a unique mountainscape adventure! Navitat offers zipline “eco-journeys” and guided RTV tours that shadow ziplines for those who prefer the ground. They are tree-centric in the way that Barkwells is dog-centric. And as such, they care deeply for the environment in which they work & play. They have invested in extensive site management, such as removal of invasive and exotic plants, and rehabilitating trees affected by invasive species. The are the “official Squirrel-Approved Adventure!” https://navitat.com/asheville-nc/
Riveter – Just up the road from Barkwells Asheville (across from Sierra Nevada Brewery) is a unique indoor/outdoor adventure space. The Riveter welcomes guests to rock climb in their gym, bike under their bike park canopy, or sweat all the stress away in their yoga studio. The Riveter has made sustainability a cornerstone of its business model – minimal waste, rain harvest, farmland conservation, energy efficient building materials & design, just to name a few. See their website for all of the details about their green practices and opportunities for adventuring! https://www.riveternc.com
Curtis Wright Outfitters – Get intimately acquainted with the animals of this region with local guides and experts. Wade into the freshwater mountain streams for a day of fly fishing, take a leisurely float down the river, or learn about the ancient practices of falconry with majestic birds of prey. Curtis Wright, co-owner and falconer, was extremely educational and entertaining during a 2-hour session with his feathered warriors pictured here. Check out a full list of opportunities here: https://curtiswrightoutfitters.com
WNC Nature Center – Located in East Asheville, the WNC Nature Center connects humans to the flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachian mountains. Visit the wildlife park with over 60 species of native animals like otters, red wolves, and bears. With educational sessions and play centers throughout, this is a fun and engaging option for a family outing whose costs also benefit the habitats and conservation of WNC. https://wildwnc.org
NC Arboretum – Visit North Carolina’s state arboretum right here in your backyard (well, technically in Pisgah National Forest)! And their backyard is a 434 acre public garden with miles of trails, cultivated gardens (including a stunning Bonsai garden), family friendly nature activities, and an educational center. Be sure to check their calendar for special events hosted throughout the year, though any time is a wonderful time for a visit with the trees. https://www.ncarboretum.org
Carolina Memorial Sanctuary – Did you know that the trails directly across the creek behind Barkwells Asheville are actually a public park? Not just any public park; partnered with Conserving Carolina, the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary is the first conservation and green burial sanctuary in North Carolina. Dedicated to conservation, education, and creating a compassionate space for all beings, it’s a perfect spot for a quiet, contemplative walk with loved ones (two- and four-legged alike). Learn more about the park at https://carolinamemorialsanctuary.org.
We hope this two-part series has contributed to your enthusiasm to return not just to Barkwells, but to the region as a whole with all that it has to offer by way of culture, nature, pleasure, and enrichment. We have just scratched the surface with a sampling from each green category, and would be delighted to hear how YOU spend your time while you’re here! Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page! And see you soon!
