May 23

My First Blogger Meetup

Last November, I ran off to Asheville, North Carolina for two days (you can read about em’ here and here)…

The last time I was there, I knew of one blogger in Asheville (Julie!), but I was unfortunately arriving at a time where she wasn’t free. She was awesome enough to give me a fat list of suggestions on things to do while I was there. (Thank you! :]) I only made it through about half (if even), which gave me an excuse to return–it’s such a neat town!

Join @fairyburger on her travels through #Asheville! (#foodadventures galore!) #AVL #travel

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Trish (one of my grad school friends) and I started planning a mini road trip a couple weeks back because she’s playing State Bingo and I’m celebrating my almost being done with medical school (and school in general) forever.

We decided to stick to the east coast, so I coerced her to go to Asheville with me! The weather forecast was somewhere along the lines of partly cloudy to scattered thunderstorms, so our drive definitely reflected that.

 

When we reached Asheville, we…made a u-turn so that we could stop at the Whit’s Frozen Custard (review here!) that we’d accidentally driven past. Their flavor-of-the-day/week = Pistachio Almond and Chocolate-Covered Strawberry!

waltsfrozencustard

For dinner, we went to Nightbell–the food was delicious! We were trying not to stuff our faces too much because we had a class scheduled afterward…

thenightbell

My two favorites were probably the Deviled Egg (I need to figure out how to recreate that!) and the Steak Tartare. (Check out my full review + more photos on yelp!)

Then we headed to…Aerial Space! If it sounds at all familiar…it’s because I’ve been there before. Trish had never taken an aerial arts class before though, so I dragged her with me!

Part of the way through the lesson, our instructor asked me if I was the one who’d written a really nice review about them (that’d be me!), and when I nodded, she exclaimed, “So that’s why you look so familiar! Thank you so much for writing that! It was really nice of you! You’re the first image that pops up when you search, ‘Aerial Space Asheville!'” (I’m famous, you guys! :O )

We had a really fun class, and I got to try the aerial hammock and the trapeze for the first time! :]


We had grand plans to walk around downtown that evening…but we ended up being lazy and bumming at the Airbnb we were staying at for the night.

airbnbasheville

I won that bag in a pull-up contest that I randomly entered a couple years back! :D

The next morning, we went to Asheville Community Yoga (review here!), a gorgeous donation-based studio with super nice and knowledgeable instructors. I actually wanted to come here the last time I went to Asheville, but I unfortunately got distracted with the other billion things I ended up doing. Better late than never though!

We did a Gentle Yoga class, which was indeed very gentle, and is probably the closest that me and my type A self has ever come to actually meditating.

Between yoga and lunch, we made a quick stop at Second Gear, a store that sells second-hand outdoor gear. I wanted to browse around and buy the entire store, but since I’m moving again soon, you’ll be happy to know that I exercised restraint.

I met up with Julie and Rebecca at Luella’s Bar-B-Que (review here!) for my first blogger meetup! :D! It was so awesome to actually meet them in person! I feel like sometimes, my friends in the blogosphere (or friends who read my blog) know more about what’s going on in my life than my “IRL” friends. Tis a strange thought, but I can definitely see how that happens! I was a genius and forgot to take pictures of anything other than our food…so there’s that…

luellaspulledchickenplate

We didn’t get to stay for too long in Asheville, but it was definitely a ton of fun! There were a lot of places I still want to visit, so I guess that just means I’m going to have to come back again–no complaints there! :P

  • Have you ever been to a blogger meetup?
  • Do you plan your travels around food? (For me, it’s food, outdoor explorations, and fun fitness classes. :]!)
  • How many states have you been to? (I think I’ve been to 22…)

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/first-blogger-meetup/

47 comments

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  1. I’ve met a couple bloggers in real life–the ‘blogging world’ is a funny-but-cool one, and it’s nice when blogging-meets-real-life once in a while! Sounds like a pretty fun little road trip! My sister and I are planning a getaway next month–sometimes you just need to celebrate with a little bit of travel and fun! :)
    Rachel G recently posted…Lost and Found: The Tale of a RingMy Profile

    1. I definitely agree! :] I hope you have an awesome time next month with your sister! :D

  2. I can’t believe what you are doing on that aerial hammock! Very impressive. I have also been to one meet-up and I can hardly wait to go to another. Such fun meeting new people that understand what we do.
    Susan recently posted…Party Focaccia BreadMy Profile

    1. Thank you! It was so much fun! :D

      Agreed! I’m going to be moving soon to a new place and I thinkkk I’ll be a lot closer to bloggers there (definitely the case if I’m comparing it to here!), so I’m hoping to do more of em’ in the future too! :]

  3. So much good food! Ugh, can I please have that BBQ!?

    1. I’d totally send some over if I hadn’t eaten it all! :O!!

    • Biana on May 23, 2016 at 9:14 am
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    I’ve wanted to do aerial classes – looks like so much fun! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston

    1. Ah, definitely try it out if you get the chance to–it’s so much fun! :D!

  5. I just went to my first blogger meet up last week. It was so fun! Asheville is awesome, isn’t it? If you had come 1.5 hours east, you would have come to Charlotte, where I am! Looks like you had a great time :)

    1. Yay! That’s awesome! I wish I’d discovered your blog earlier! I was actually pretty close by (in Concord) doing a rotation for 2 weeks last November! :O

  6. I wish I could have gone to lunch with you all. I am so spoiled by having some of my closest blogger friends here, and even then it can be difficult to meet up! It is always the best when you finally get to meet the people that you already know!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Warm Weather? It RocksMy Profile

    1. Ahh, I wish! My other hopeful blog meetup location would definitely be in Chicago! There are so many cool people there (especially you :D )! I wonder what it’ll be like in New Jersey? I don’t think I know any bloggers in that area, but there’s gotta be some (and definitely in New York)!

  7. Asheville is on the top of my list of places to visit!!! I’m going to bookmark this post for when the time comes : )

    1. Yay! I have two more Asheville posts at the bottom of this one if you need more ideas! :P I hope you get to go sometime–it’s such an awesome town!

  8. You always have fun, I’m jealous! Hah. Asheville is a lot of fun and it’s gorgeous out there. I’ve never been to a blogger Meer up, but I’d love to. Maybe I should host one around my town.
    Leslie recently posted…Say Goodbye “The Crafty Side Of Sarcasm” & Hello To Namaste & Eat CupcakesMy Profile

    1. haha, I gotta squeeze it in wherever I can! I love your new blog name! <3

      That'd be so cool! I think there are a good number of bloggers in the Raleigh(?) area! :O

  9. Such a fun meet up!! I met up with Tiffany (Endless Bliss) & Erica (Coming Up Roses) in Nashville in March and absolutely loved it!! It’s crazy how blog friends turn into IRL friends. :)

    1. Agreed! :D I definitely need to do more of these!

  10. Ooh wow, I’ve never done a blogger meet-up, but I’m hoping to, Lord willing, someday! :))) What was the best part of the meet-up? :) How can we ALL get together? :)
    Emily recently posted…Why I Don’t Like the ‘Healthy’ LabelMy Profile

    1. I think it’s super cool to finally get to meet people that you’ve “known” for what feels like ages, hehehe. :] That would be so darn cool to all get together! Destination blogger meet-up!? :P

  11. SO fun!!! You’re going to meet me soon ;) more fun!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Baba Ghanoush HummusMy Profile

    1. Yayyy! I’m so excited to meet you! :D!

  12. That is so fun! I’ve only really met a couple of my blogger friends when we’ve been in the US on trips as I haven’t really connected with too many Australian bloggers (they all seem to be really competitive and in it for themselves and have no interest in making friends – which sucks!) but most of the time I see the same faces when going to events.

    Your little trip sounds like so much fun! That aerial arts class looks so cool!
    Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Healthy Chicken and Dumpling SoupMy Profile

    1. Aww, that sucks! I’m sorry to hear that–I wish people understood that it’s completely doable to succeed without tearing others down. :/ If you ever come to the east coast, it’d be awesome to meet up! :D!

      It was definitely a ton of fun! I love Asheville! <3

  13. Oh my gosh how fun!!! I laughed when I read the part about your blogger friends knowing more about you than your real life friends. Just the other day I was out to dinner with one of my friends and since we only get together once a month the first questions are, what’s new.. I accidently answered, not much more than what I put on the blog, she laughed and said, oh yeah you blog, LOL
    I’ve never met any of my blogger friends in real life, though I am hoping when I get back into traveling for races I will run into a few at the starting lines.
    I bet it would be a lot of fun to do a meet up like you did!
    Can I just say, the photo with the lush green tree’s on those hills, gorgeous! I think I would like Ashville:)

    1. hahaha, it’s a very real thing! :o Not too many of my friends in real life follow my blog, so I tend to just give em’ the highlights of my life (I see them about once a year, so our catch-up sessions are usually whilst embarking on indoor cooking adventures! :O )

      That would be really cool! I’d love to meet up with more bloggers, and since I’m moving to NJ soon, I like to think that there’ll be more of a chance for that!

      I think you would too! It’s such a wonderful town! <3

    • Darcy on May 23, 2016 at 10:02 pm
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    aerial class?! I want to go to one of those! Googling it asap to see if there’s one near me!!
    http://www.amemoryofus.com

    1. Yay! I hope you find someplace close to you! It’s so much fun!

  15. Isn’t Asheville AMAZING?! I live about an hour-ish away and it’s so nice to get away to a town that has things (like yoga and delicious food!) The mountains in this region are just so gorgeous too. I’ve never done a blogger meet up, but I’d love to one day. The conferences are all a littttttttle too pricey for me right now.

    1. So very much agreed! It’s such a beautiful place! I’m hoping that there will be medical conferences there that I can attend so I’ll have an excuse to go back again…

      I feel ya! I’ve never been to a blog conference, but since I currently still have no income (ah, med student life), it probably won’t happen anytime soon. Someday!!

  16. Asheville looks awesome. I tried Aerial yoga in London and loved it. It’s an awesome core workout and lots of fun. I’ve never done a blog meet up but I plan on hooking up with one of my Instagram followers, he’s always super nice and reposts all of my posts. It’s always fun meeting different people.

    1. I haven’t done aerial yoga yet, but I bet it’s a lot of fun! I hope you have fun hanging out with your IG follower! :D He sounds like such a nice soul!

  17. Some of my best friends are bloggers!! I LOVE meeting new ones too! :) As a matter of fact, 3 of my bridesmaids are girls I met through BLOGGING! :o! It’s so easy to weed out the people you know you might not get along with ha ha ha!
    GiGi Eats recently posted…Crushing On A CuisineMy Profile

    1. That’s so awesome! :D! Blogging is definitely an easy way to weed em’ out! :P

  18. Your blogger meet-up sounds like it was so much fun! Also, Asheville looks so gorgeous and green!

    xo Brie
    Brie recently posted…High Neck Maxi DressMy Profile

    1. It’s definitely a super pretty place! :]!

  19. So awesome to finally meet! I was sad we didn’t get a picture either. Glad you guys had fun in Asheville.
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Fabulous Father’s Day GiveawayMy Profile

    1. I guess it just means I’ll have to come back again at some point! :D! Then I can check out the other half of that list you gave me! ;P

  20. I’ve never done a blogger meet up–it sounds like fun! My travel doesn’t “revolve” around food, but I certainly make it a priority when I travel. For example, I like to scope out the best eats and food to try in the area. I think I’ve been to 15 states! Wow I need to start adding to that list!

    1. haha, I definitely love checking out the best eats in town when I’m in a new place too! :] I want to start adding to my State Bingo “list” too! :P

  21. I love Asheville!!! It’s been far too long since I’ve done a meet up, but I love them. One of my best friends is a blogger from Switzerland. Iv’e been to see her once and she’s been her twice. I’m about to see her in Italy this fall!

    1. That’s so cool! I don’t think I have any blogger friends outside of North America, but ah, Switzerland! <3 Such a gorgeous place!! I hope you have fun in Italy! <3

  22. first of all CONGRATS AGAIN :) it’s been so cool to “follow” you through your journey – and you travel so much! 22 states…i think i have under 10 – I DO plan around where I CAN safely eat…so not as fun ;P

    1. Thanks so much, Amber! <3!!

      Ah, but just as vital! I'm glad they're getting somewhat(?) better about offering more gluten-free foods that you can safely eat now though? :O!

  23. I’ve never done a blogger meet up, not enough of y’all live in Canada! And those that do seem to be farrr away!

    Maybe I’ll need to drive down to New York State… that’s pretty close… hey, don’t you know someone who’s gonna be working there soon?

    ;)
    Laura recently posted…Friday Wine Down!My Profile

    1. obviously you’re in Jersey but NYS is in the middle! Don’t be shellfish Farrah!

    2. hahaha, NJ is definitely close enough to NY! I would gladly come up to New York!! :D I’ve actually been wanting to go to Toronto to visit a childhood friend I haven’t seen in like…8 years. It’d be awesome to meet up with you! :D!

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