The first item I checked off my 2026 Western North Carolina (WNC) Bucket List was visiting Asheville’s Shoji Spa, a Japanese soaking spa.
You Don’t Need to Optimize a Sunrise
Sometimes a sunrise could just be a sunrise.
Grown Up Awards Mostly Aren’t Based on Merit
Awards are typically applied for, campaigned for, and often…paid for. Most are not based on merit alone.
The Omni Grove Park Buffet’s Desserts Are Worth the Price of Admission
The Omni Grove Park Inn’s seafood buffet is…a seafood buffet. The dessert selection, however, is fantastic.
Overheard in the Asheville Saunas, Part 3
More nonsense from the saunas of Asheville.
A 2026 Western North Carolina (WNC) Bucket List
An Asheville local’s 2026 Western North Carolina bucket list, featuring must-do hikes, weekend trips, food tours, and Blue Ridge experiences.
This Should’ve Been Overheard on Haywood Road
The following conversation wasn’t overheard on Haywood Road, but it 100% should’ve been.
Am I Asheville Fat?
A personal essay on being labeled “Boulder fat,” BMI misclassification, Ozempic, and how gay body standards thrive in progressive cities like Asheville.
I’m Now the Face of “Wholesome Masculinity”
When a stranger in Battlecat calls me the meme of “wholesome masculinity,” it sparks a snarky dive into stereotypes, masculinity buzzwords, and Asheville culture.
I Just Signed Up for the 2026 SAHC Winter Hiking Challenge
Discover how an Instagram scroll led me to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Winter Hiking Challenge 2026—and why I’m committing to 60 miles of winter hiking in the North Carolina mountains and Southern Appalachian trails.
AshevilleExplorer 