During your pregnancy, you’ve been busy nesting in preparation for your baby’s arrival, going to countless appointments, attending the classes, reading the books and enjoying showers in your honor! Whether you’re local or visiting Asheville, here’s a pretty rad list of 5 Fun Things Pregnant Women should Experience in Asheville!
1. Eat all the Ice Creams!
Now is the time sis — Live. It. Upppp! Lucky for you, Asheville has some pretty amazing Ice Cream shops and I’m here to share a few of my favorites with you (in no particular order):
The Hop
A household name among Asheville locals, everyone loves The Hop! The Hop makes high-quality, delicious, handcrafted dairy and from-scratch vegan ice cream in Asheville, with four locations in WNC! The dairy and non-dairy flavors in each of The Hops’ locations are collaborative, locally-influenced, rotating regularly and seasonally! The OG (and my favorite) location is the Merrimon Ave location which also houses POP Bubble Tea as well!
Whit’s
Whit’s is my absolute favorite custard shop in Asheville! What sets Whit’s apart is (in my opinion: The Whittie) and also that their flavors are made fresh on site! In addition to their signature Flavor of the Week, they also churn our Vanilla and Chocolate throughout the day. They also offer many quality, fresh topping options for you to create your own unique flavor. You have to try a Whittie while you’re there — two giant, soft cookies, sandwhiched around incredibly tasty frozen custard flavors!
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Most people visit French Broad Chocolate Lounge for their artisan, handcrafted chocolates but hear me out: French Broad Chocolates make the most incredible handmade chocolates, cakes, desserts and ice creams! Both locally beloved and nationally recognized, French Broad Chocolates has provided the people of Asheville with a haven for indulgence since 2008 and there’s a reason for that longevity! Go ahead and see for yourself! xo
2. Flaunt that Precious Baby Belly in a Cute Swimsuit!
If you’re reading this in the summer time (first: lucky you! I always wanted to be pregnant in the summertime so I could flaunt my baby belly in a bikini! I’m low key jelly!) Luckily these mountains have no shortage of places to cool off in the summertime! Here are a few ideas:
Carolina Hemlocks
Now that we’re best friends, I’m going to share a very special, long kept secret with you! My late mother used to take my brother and I swimming here when we were kids, so this one holds a very special place in my heart! This beautiful camp ground, located at the base of mount Mitchell, in Burnsville (about 45mins from Asheville) has the most beautiful, clean, crisp, refreshing mountain waters to take a dip in during the peak of summer! This camp ground is home to one of the coolest swimming holes in WNC!
The Jewish Community Center Pool
If you’re more of a pool deck kinda gal and want to stick a little closer to town (I feel that too!), I recommend the JCC Summer Pool Membership or a Punch Pass (you can get 10 visits to use throughout the summer if you don’t think you’d use a full on membership!) It’s a beautiful, modern, clean pool with lifeguards and families and it’s a super friendly community of people who swim there! My family has maintained a membership here for at least the last five years and we love it!
NC Outdoor Adventures
If you’re a little adventurous and spending an afternoon on a river with friends appeals go you, I recommend tubing with NC Outdoor Adventures in Burnsville (about 45 minutes north of Asheville). I recommend this one because (unlike the French Broad River in Asheville), this one is actually really clean! They have tube and gear rentals, you can sit back & relax while you make your way down the river! The staff will drop you off at the put in and pick you up at the end to bring you back to your car! Don’t forget sun protection, hydration, snacks and WATER SHOES!! I also only recommend going after we’ve had plenty of rain to ensure there aren’t any super shallow spots that you may have to get off your raft to walk through (which could be slippery & dont forget your water shoes)… There’s a cool spot about halfway down to get out and swim, it’s fairly deep, maybe 5-7ft or so and the staff usually meets you there to check in on you and they bring some snorkle gear to use there as well!
*You can check NC Recreational Water Quality here: NC Environmental Quality
If you’re reading this in the winter, you might book yourself a facial or massage at Grove Park Inn so that you can take advantage of their beautiful indoor swimming pool while you’re there as well! 😉
3. Treat Yo Self — 5 Fun Things Pregnant Women Should Experience in Asheville
Treating Yo Self had to make the list of 5 Fun Things Pregnant Women should Experience in Asheville! Yep, you heard me! Treat Yo Self, Girl! You deserve it! Luckily, Asheville has no shortage of awesome wellness options! Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of some wellness activities (and my go to providers) to give you everything you need to pamper yourself while pregnant in Asheville!
Wake Foot Spa & Massage
Carrying around extra weight is rough on your body and you, my dear have been doing some hard physical work during this pregnancy and you deserve to treat yourself in all the ways! As the name suggests, treat yourself to a mini escape with a lasting impression! When you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Asheville, NC — Wake Foot Spa is a no brainer with thoughtfully formulated herbal soaks and rejuvenating massages designed to de-stress and re-energize! Wake Foot Spa and Massage Sanctuary offers three different types of complimenting massage to their foot soaks with head, neck, and shoulder massage as well as hand and lower arm massage, and foot and lower leg massages!
Urban Exhale Massage Spa
At Urban Exhale Massage Spa, not only do they love to help expectant mothers find their balance, their skilled therapists will customize a prenatal massage that soothes and relaxes, while addressing the changing physical needs created by pregnancy. Performed on a specialized pregnancy massage pillow that allows the client to lay face-down, this massage strives to return each expectant mother to her happy place. This service can also be booked as a couples massage and their online booking is super convenient!
Hair & Makeup!
Girl, get your Hair & Makeup done for a date night out on the town! You deserve to look and feel beautiful! If glamming up does the trick, go ahead and book that for yourself! I’m linking here to a Blog Post I wrote on my weddings website about the Best Hair & Makeup Artists in Asheville (bc I get asked all the time for recommendations!)
HOT PRO TIP / BONUS: Complimentary Professional Hair & Makeup Services is included with your Creative Fee (as well as a Maternity Gown of your choice from my Client Closet) when you book your Maternity Portrait Session with me! You can learn more about Maternity Photoshoots in Asheville, NC here: Maternity Portraits in Asheville
4. Mama, Let that Baby feel the Beat!
Not only is dancing fun, but it’s also great exercise for you during pregnancy! Fortunately Asheville’s got a great music scene and some pretty unique options for places to shake that thang!
Visit the Pritchard Park Drum Circle
Every Friday night from Spring through late Fall in Asheville, something totally unique to this once artsy, eclectic, funk loving town happens… Dozens of local djembe drummers converge on Pritchard Park in the heart of Downtown Asheville, it’s the most fun, funky, unique, nostalgic thing! It’s the perfect place to cut loose, feel the beat and swing those hips in the streets! Although the circle primarily draws mostly tourists observing and dancing, the drummers are primarily locals! Trust me when I say that this drum circle holds a very special place in the nostalgic hearts of most Ashevillians!
Rabbit Rabbit or The Orange Peel
Owned by the same local company, both of these venues are Asheville touch stones that attract all kinds of bands from indy artists to nationally touring acts! The Orange Peel is an indoor venue on Biltmore Ave in downtown and Rabbit Rabbit is an outdoor venue on Coxe Ave in downtown Asheville. Check out their Events Calendars (both linked here) to see who’s playing and depending on your preference for indoor or outdoor, go catch a fun show and dance a little, would ya!?
The Grey Eagle or Asheville Music Hall
Although they’re both smaller, perhalps ‘lesser known’ venues, I can tell you that I have personally seen some of my favorite shows ever at these venues and have done an obscene amount of dancing at both! Check out their Events Calendars to see if there’s anything that peeks your interest (both linked here)! I can assure you, you will have so much fun dancing the night away at either!
5. Relax, Unplug, Go out in Nature!
Last, but certainly not least on the list of 5 Fun Things Pregnant Women Should Experience in Asheville, you might as well Get Out in Nature since you’re in this incredibly beautiful place! There are countless trails you could walk or bike, creeks you could sit beside or wade in, waterfalls to visit, trees to hang an ENO (made in Asheville btw!) in, rivers to float or even just mountain roads to ride, like the Blue Ridge Parkway! One fun thing you could do on the Blue Ridge Parkway while you’re at it is — shoot your Maternity Portrait Session with Asheville’s #1 Maternity & Newborn Photographer, Asheville Portrait Company! You can learn more about that here: Maternity Portraits on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC.
Thanks for Reading & Congratulations mama! xo – Brittany