Are you familiar with hygge? The Danish word roughly translates to “warm coziness” and has been a design and health + wellness trend in the US for a few years now. With an emphasis on “enjoying the little things” like comfy clothes, warm socks + blankets, and steamy mugs of tea, it’s easy to see its appeal.
Pro tip: it’s pronounced “hoo-gah.” Keeping that in mind, here are 23 ways to get hygge with it locally this year.
1. Enjoy some hot chocolate. We love the maple + smoked salt liquid truffle from French Broad Chocolate (10 S. Pack Sq.) and the Nutella hot chocolate from 10th Muse Comfort Food (1475 Patton Ave.)
2. Hit the road and revel in the lovely sights, because we live in an outrageously gorgeous place.
3. Take a nice hot bath. Make it even better by tossing in a fizzy, therapeutic bath bomb from Franny’s Farmacy.
4. Light a candle. We particularly like the hand-poured, small-batch, soy-based ones from Elder & Co., who donate a portion of their proceeds to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
5. Live out your lavish lifestyle fantasy with a visit to the largest private residence in the country, the luxe Biltmore Estate.
6. Cook something amazing, preferably something indulgent that takes a while to prepare, like soup, stew, or lasagna. Not sure where to start? Consider a cooking class from The Asheville Kitchen, whose offerings range from French macarons to dim sum.
7. Get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and learn how to identify edible plants in the woods with a foraging tour from No Taste Like Home.
8. Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing. We are especially fond of the offerings from Spiritex + Hazel Twenty.
9. Marvel at the majesty of nature when you catch a sunrise or sunset.
10. Take a nap. Hit up Nest Organics for all your bedding needs.
11. Snuggle up with a locally-penned book. Need some recs? Check out our list of local books.
12. Have a picnic. Too cold outside? Do what Editor Brook used to do with her daughter when she was tiny: have a floor picnic. It’s exactly like it sounds — spread a blanket, set out some food + napkins, and enjoy a leisurely meal on the floor. And if you don’t want to prepare it yourself, let the folks at Asheville Picnic Company or the Rhu do the work for you.
13. Boost your health + happiness with a physical group outdoor activity like yoga, through Asheville Wellness Tours.
14. Get an art fix. Whether you want to saunter around Blue Spiral 1 + Haen Gallery or take in an exhibit from Asheville Art Museum or Center for Craft, art is a powerful way to experience the slow-paced comfort of hygge.
15. Catch a movie from Grail Moviehouse. Don’t forget the Poppy’s Popcorn.
16. Admire our feathered friends at the tranquil Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary.
17. Don’t let chilly temps stop you from enjoying an al fresco meal — check out the city’s eateries with outdoor heaters.
18. Relax and listen to a local podcast. Check out our favorites.
19. Recharge at the Asheville Salt Cave.
20. Meander through a used bookstore. Yes, we love our local independent booksellers that traffic in new titles, but there’s a sense of adventure at used bookstores, where you never know what you’ll find. We’re especially fond of Downtown Books & News and Mr. K’s Used Books.
21. Share your love with a furry friend by volunteering at an animal shelter, like Brother Wolf Animal Rescue or the Asheville Humane Society.
22. Fuel up for winter with some of the city’s best soul-soothing soups.
23. Revel in the verdant goodness of plants at Asheville’s best indoor plant shops. And bring some home while you’re at it.
