Mother's Day idea: This Western NC city named best in South for mother-daughter weekend

Asheville has topped Southern Living's list of 10 Best Southern Destinations for a Mother-Daughter Weekend away just in time for Mother's Day.

Writers at Southern Living professed their love for the city in the recent evaluation, stating that "few mountain destinations have quite the hold on us that Asheville does" and calling it an ideal place for a mother-daughter getaway.

The list suggests checking out Asheville breweries and exploring the Biltmore Estate. They also mention scenic views, antique shopping trips and farm-to-table meals, all against the Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop.

What to do in Asheville

Southern Living writers made some more specific suggestions on entertaining options for a trip to Asheville in the top 10 list. Attractions they deemed worth checking out this time included The North Carolina Arboretum, River Arts District and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It's not the first time Southern Living has offered a list that included Asheville. In fact, a previous list gave 40 different options for best things to do in Asheville. Here are the top five attractions mentioned in that article that weren't already included in their mother-daughter specific options:

• Marquee

• The Mountains-To-Sea Trail

• Distillery tours at Chemist, Eda Rhyne, Asheville Distilling Co, Cultivated Cocktails, Rye Knot, Dalton or Oak & Grist.

• The South Slope Mural Trail

• Well Played Board Game Café

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Where to eat in Asheville

Suggestions from the top 10 article on good eats in Asheville were Cúrate, White Duck Taco, Chai Pani and Buxton Hall Barbecue.

As for their list of 40, top five food and beverage recommendations (not including anything already mentioned) were:

• Doughnuts at Hole Doughnuts or Vortex Doughnuts

• Chocolate at French Broad Chocolate, The Chocolate Fetish or Asheville Chocolate

• Cultura

• Rhubarb

• The Double Crown bar

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Where to stay in Asheville

Lodging recommendations were some classic favorites including The Inn at Biltmore Estate, Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville and The Omni Grove Park Inn.

There were a few more options on the top 40 list including The Foundry Hotel and The Restoration.

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The full list best southern cities for a mother-daughter trip

1. Asheville, North Carolina

2. Bentonville, Arkansas

3. Charleston, South Carolina

4. Covington, Louisiana

5. Dahlonega, Georgia

6. Greenville, South Carolina

7. Lexington, Virginia

8. The Palm Beaches, Florida

9. Savannah, Georgia

10. St. Augustine, Florida

What day is Mother's Day this year?

Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, the date is Sunday, May 12.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville NC No. 1 in South for Mother's Day weekend away