Having grown up in Connecticut, I always chuckle over the Hartford references in Gilmore Girls (if you know, you know). I even went to Smith College like Emily. However, these days, Tom and I live in Asheville, NC, which exudes major Gilmore Girls vibes.
From small-town charm and historic inns to gorgeous bookstores and an artsy, quirky atmosphere, these are the top things that make Asheville like Stars Hollow. See Kirk everywhere, get coffee from Luke, borrow a spa robe, watch kitschy theater, and eat all the desserts.
As an Asheville local, my travel guides are highly curated and authentic. See all that you can do in Asheville, NC for Gilmore Girls fans, avid hikers, and foodies. I’m pretty sure Lorelai and Rory would love ordering food from our favorite Asian restaurants while watching a great movie to spark even more of Rory’s wanderlust. All photos are my own. 💜 Christine
Quaint Downtown With Buskers
Downtown Asheville is full of unique retail boutiques, historic buildings, delicious and award-winning restaurants, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, and gorgeous hotels with rooftop bars overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s the perfect spot to grab brunch, hit the weekend farmer’s market, and window shop. Spot old churches and the occasional knitted flying pig on a lamppost with a bubble machine (a scene that convinced me to move here!).
Downtown Asheville, like Stars Hollow, has buskers and a drum circle. You might catch a street performer rapping about you or writing a poem on demand. If you are familiar with LaZoom, a nun or ladybug might just be chasing a purple bus down the street. Kirk, is that you?!
Not to mention there are loads of historic, spooky ghost stories, coffee shops, wine bars, and tree-lined streets. Pop into the Historic Grove Arcade. Pack Square Park – our version of a town green – hosts festivals and is perfect for a city stroll with a vegan donut. Lorelai would buy everything at Old Europe Cafe and French Broad Chocolate Lounge.
Cozy Coffee Shops
Coffee, coffee, coffee! Lorelai’s, we got you! There is no shortage of coffee shops across Asheville, and while I may not have found a brooding Luke, I’m pretty sure Rory and Lorelai would most love Pollen for those gorgeous flowers, cookies the size of your face, and gourmet coffee. Sorry, Max, I like these flowers (and Luke) more.
Rowan exudes charm, and for more coffee shops like Luke’s Diner, try Double D’s, Ultra Coffeebar, High Five Coffee, Odd’s Cafe, or The Rhu (many make for tasty breakfast spots). I also love Dripolator, and French Broad Chocolates has affogatos and dairy/vegan hot chocolate.
Beautiful Bookstores
While I don’t share Rory’s appreciation for the classics, I champion her love of reading. Asheville is a book lover’s dream, and the area boasts the coolest bookshops.
Head to Downtown Asheville’s Battery Park Book Exchange for used books and literary-themed cocktails. Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe showcases local authors and has a great translated literature section that would certainly impress Rory. Afterward, Rory might even head to Pack Memorial Library for a book sale in their tiny bookstore.
✨ If you have time, take a road trip to Hendersonville’s The Book & Bee to see their bookish steps with a pot of tea. I love Black Mountain’s Sassafras on Sutton. Nearby Greenville, South Carolina’s M. Judson Booksellers is one of my favorite bookstores in the area for new releases, author events, and a Gilmore Girls-worthy cafe – with you guessed it, more coffee!
Storybook Inns, Bed & Breakfasts, & Hotels
Looking for Sookie and Michel? Having grown up in New England, I’m obsessed with quaint historic inns and charming hotels. Top places to stay around Asheville like Stars Hollow’s Dragon Fly Inn, include:
- The Inn on Biltmore Estate or Village Hotel (be sure to read our Biltmore Estate guide as passholders)
- Blind Tiger Asheville
- Peri Social House (Black Mountain, NC)
- Black Walnut Bed & Breakfast
- 1898 Waverly Inn (Hendersonville, NC)
- The Restoration Asheville (because of that entrance!)
Like Lorelai and Emily, enjoy a spa day at The Omni Grove Park Inn. Just don’t steal the bathrobes… I also love Wake Foot Sanctuary and the Asheville Salt Cave & Spa, two great rainy-day activities.
Tight-Knit Community
Living minutes from Downtown Asheville, Tom and I experienced Hurricane Helene. The news never quite did justice to the devastating damage and trauma the area faced. However, Asheville’s residents pulled together, and we have endless heart, resilience, and community. While Asheville is bigger than Stars Hollow, I think even Doose would be proud of our “small,” quirky, and powerful community.
You won’t see a better example of this than in Asheville’s River Arts District, much of which fell victim to the French Broad River’s quickly rising waters. This area is making a strong comeback, and I highly recommend visiting for artist studios and shops, street fairs and festivals, community events, hopping breweries, the RAD Riverwalk, street art/vibrant murals, and French Broad Chocolate Factory (you know those Gilmore Girls love their desserts!).
A Small “Town” With Mountain Magic
The moment our plane flew over those Blue Ridge Mountains back in 2019, I knew that Tom and I needed to move here – and so we did, just two months later. (You can read our blockbuster itinerary here.)
Similar to the cozy New England backdrop of Stars Hollow, Asheville boasts the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway – perfect for fall hikes and scenic drives – along with multiple charming neighborhoods and mountain towns.
For top nearby small towns like Gilmore Girls – with gazebos, white steeple churches, and antique shops – head to Black Mountain, Lake Junaluska, Waynesville, Blowing Rock, Hendersonville, Hot Springs, Mars Hill, Marshall, Weaverville, and Brevard.
Within Asheville, don’t miss the best neighborhoods like RAD, Montford, North Asheville, and West Asheville. Rory would love the Little Free Libraries everywhere!
We cannot leave out an homage to Miss Patty. Asheville and its neighboring areas are filled with community theater and off-Broadway shows. Think the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, HART Theatre in Waynesville, and the Flat Rock Playhouse. In Greenville, we love the Peace Center (you know Rory would love Hamilton). From May to October, the Montford Park Players host Shakespeare in the Park under the stars. It’s amazing!
Ready To Plan Your Gilmore Girls Getaway To Asheville?
While Stars Hollow is a fictional place, Washington Depot, CT is said to have influenced its vibes the most.
I might be biased, but for towns like Stars Hollow, Asheville has the cozy inns, charming downtown, and community with heart and personality. Add in the unique Blue Ridge Mountains, decadent desserts, and coffee, coffee, coffee, and you have the ultimate Gilmore Girls getaway.
Before You Go: What To Read & Do Next
Best Museums In Asheville For History Lovers
Area Attractions For First-Time Visitors