Winter Weekend Getaways
Who doesn’t enjoy a little weekend getaway? We’ve compile a list of some of our favorite weekend trips that are within driving distance from Birmingham or Montgomery, AL.
Nashville, TN
Distance from Birmingham: 3 hours
Distance from Montgomery: 4 hours
Consider a weekend to the Music City! Just a short drive will get you to a city bustling with live music and rich in history.
Any trip to Nashville isn’t complete without learning about Nashville’s music influence. Some must stops are Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Grand Ole Opry.
The local suburbs are happening with great local boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants making it exploring the neighbors a must! Grab a drink at Whiskey Kitchen, enjoy a burger at Burger Up, visit Reese Witherspoon’s popular clothing boutique Draper James. (Don’t forget to take a selfie in front of this famous Nashville mural!)
For a night out on the town, check our the famous Broadway Street. You’ll find a mix of Lower Broadway, honky tonks and live music!
Asheville, NC
Distance from Birmingham: 5.5 hours
Distance from Montgomery: 6 hours
Asheville is a treat of a town with a walkable downtown filled with unique restaurants, live music, and craft breweries.
Start with dinner at one of the unique restaurants in just about any category you can imagine, catch some live music at Jack of the Wood (their bluegrass on Thursday nights is incredible), and don’t forget to explore Asheville expansive craft brewery scene.
Aside from the downtown area, most people come to Asheville for the awe-inspiring Biltmore Estates. Biltmore offers different packages including the estate itself, the 8,000-acre grounds, and the pristine winery. Visiting during the holiday season gives you a chance to see the estate fully decked out for the holidays, a special treat that many come specifically to see.
Before you head out of town, don’t forget to take advantage of the Blue Ridge Mountains that Asheville sits next to. To enjoy the breathtaking scenery, hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway and settle in for an impressive ride.
Mentone, AL
Distance from Birmingham: 2 hours
Distance from Montgomery: 3 hours
Wanting to getaway somewhere in Alabama? Consider Mentone, Home of Cloudmont, the southernmost ski resort in the U.S., this stood-still-in-time type of place is the perfect mountain-draped destination to unplug in the northern backcountry of Alabama.
Must see attractions are the historic Mentone Springs Hotel and St.Joseph’s on the Mountain.
Wanting to take it easy and relax? Spend the day shopping and enjoying lunch at the Log Cabin craft village. It is a favorite paired with the neighboring Moonlight Bistro or whimsical Wildflower Cafe.
To spend time enjoying the beauty that Mentone has to offer, a hike to DeSoto Falls is a must.
Gatlinburg, TN
Distance from Birmingham: 5 hours
Distance from Montgomery: 6 hours
Start driving east and you’ll end up at the stunning Great Smokey Mountains.
A winter must-do in the Smokies is visiting Ober Gatlinburg – home of a Gatlinburg amusement park and ski area. For the non-skiers, there are other fun things to do like ride the ski lifts, alpine slides, tubing, ice skating, and a warm cup of hot chocolate, of course.
Gatlinburg is an outdoorsmen dream! You have ample choices of places to hike, lookouts to stop at, horseback riding, grill out and more! A right of passage when visiting Gatlinburg is to drive (or bike!) through Cade’s Cove near Townsend for a picturesque drive to some of the area’s most popular sights.
If the weather is too cold to bare, you still have many options of things to do like visit museums, dinner and comedy shows, outlet shopping and more.
Loved your winter getaway so much and thinking about making a permanent move there? Contact an ARC agent today to help make the transition a smooth one!
