Airstream Basecamp: Camping at Sideways Brewery & Farm
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First and most importantly, we’re fresh off our most recent adventure in our Airstream Basecamp, and we’re in the middle of a debate. I want to name it The Big Tuna (because it looks like a tuna can) and my Star Wars-loving husband wants to name it the Millennial Falcon. Leave your vote in the comments!
Where did you go?
We booked our first Harvest Host stay with Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah, North Carolina, just outside of Brevard.
What’s a Harvest Host?
Harvest Host is an app/program where you buy a membership and get to park your RV at more than 1,506 bespoke locations around the country, including wineries, farms, distilleries, and breweries.
You request to stay in advance (no random drop-ins, please), enjoy your stay for 24 hours (don’t overstay your welcome, no one likes a squatter), and don’t forget to show your appreciation by supporting your host’s business with a purchase or three.
What’s Sideways Farm & Brewery?
We picked Sideways Farm & Brewery for our first Harvest Host experience in the Basecamp because Logan loves breweries, I love farms, and Sideways is the best of both worlds and located an hour from our place in the mountains.
Let’s start with the beer.
The craft brewery is known for creating small-batch, limited release, artisan ales. All of their beers are available in a 750ml bottle, which they maintain is perfect for sharing. Sideways beers all contain local, seasonal ingredients and gain their carbonation from wildflower honey!
My favorite (though Logan loved it too) was Brew 106, the Lime Leaf Farmhouse Ale, which contains locally grown Kaffir Lime, malt, hops, and honey. It tasted like sophisticated sunshine in a bottle.
A close second was Brew 101, the Forbidden Lager. This crisp, dry lager is made with black rice, known as forbidden rice, and features a savory smokiness from Stjordal smoked salt.
Now, let’s talk about the farm.
This urban micro-farm specializes in wildflowers (we were totally there in the wrong season for that, so obviously, it’s on my list to go back this summer), honey, and local eggs. They also have several sheep, goats, ducks, and chickens! Sideways Farm & Brewery’s heart and soul lies in connecting with their local community, which makes me love them even more.
How was it staying at a brewery?
I loved it. Our hosts were so warm, welcoming, and engaged. We were also the only people staying that weekend, which I liked way more than being packed in between other RVs like little metal sardines. Sideways Farm & Brewery is only a short drive from amazing hiking and the charming town of Brevard, as well.
24 Hours at Sideways Farm & Brewery, a Harvest Host Stay
**Please note, we visited Sideways Farm & Brewery during the winter and during the pandemic. Please confirm their offerings, events, and hours before your stay, as things will hopefully be a bit brighter by the time you read this.**
Check in at noon on Saturday.
Sideways Farm & Brewery is currently open Monday through Thursday for to-go purchases, and they’re pouring in the taphouse Fridays (4-8:00), Saturdays (12-8:00), and Sundays (12-6:00). Checking in at opening on Saturday will allow you to really make the most of your stay.
Then, grab a brewski and some lunch.
Sideways Farm & Brewery has a rotating schedule of delightful food trucks, and we were lucky enough to hit Feta Flav, which I knew I’d love by the name, let alone the fact that they had mushroom gyro options and Greek fries.
After your lunch, go see the goats.
They’re very social goats, actually, and their antics were by far our favorite part of the trip. If you’re there during flower season, make sure you pick a bouquet or cup for your RV. When it’s not a raging pandemic, Sideways also offers tasting tours, so we’ll definitely be back to take advantage of that option as well.
Take a hike.
A huge part of the appeal of Sideways as a Harvest Host was their proximity to some of my favorite hiking in the Asheville area. Make sure you’ve downloaded All Trails on your phone, and check out the Hub and Pisgah Tavern, an incredible mountain biking and outdoor store with an attached eatery and bike rentals on your way into the Pisgah National Forest. Turkey Pen Gap Trail is a challenging 7.1 mile trail, Triple Falls Trail is fabulous if you like waterfalls, and Moore Cove Falls is worth the drive on a hot day. If you’re looking for something short but still worthwhile, the Andy Cove Nature Trail should be on your list.
Kick back and relax.
Once you pull the leaves and twigs out of your hair, head back to Sideways Farm & Brewery. Take advantage of their intriguing menu of creative ales, grab dinner at the food truck (remember, supporting the small businesses that host you is key to Harvest Host), and peruse their selection of locally made pottery. Chill by the fire until they close at 8, but don’t forget to buy some of their farm fresh eggs for your breakfast - you won’t regret it.
Hit the hay early.
My husband was snoring loud enough to blow the top off the Basecamp by 9 pm, but I loved having some downtime to relax. Logan had recently purchased a Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, which is an intriguing and wild ride for some evening reading. Ever wondered how to escape being buried alive? Ever pondered how to best fight off a shark attack? This is the book for you.
Get your butt out of bed early.
Plan to get up and get going; you’ll want to honor the 24-hour time limit, and the brewery opens at noon. We made some strong hot coffee with our trusty French press, some incredible scrambled eggs (there is something about making your eggs within sightline of the chickens that laid them that makes them extra tasty), loaded the dog in the Tacoma, and headed for another morning of hiking.
Pack up and hit the road.
Once we packed up the Basecamp, we went into downtown Brevard. Sideways Farm & Brewery didn’t happen to have a food truck that Sunday, and I was famished. Hell hath no fury like a hangry woman post-hike. We hightailed it into Brevard and hit Sully’s Steamers for the cheesiest, meltiest, most naughty bagel brunch to-go sandwiches you could ask for. If you’d rather do lunch on the trail, the Food Matters Market & Cafe is fabulous and close to the hikes I mentioned. Dolly’s Dairy Bar is a post-hike guilty pleasure in warmer weather!
Make a point to hit the stores in Brevard; they’re adorable, quirky, and oh-so-charming. The White Squirrel Boutique has a giant white squirrel sculpture that’s highly Instagrammable, Logan loved Blast from the Past, and I’m still a sucker for a good toy store, so I loved O. P. Taylor’s. Gravy and Nest are also really lovely spots and well worth a wander. If you’re still in adventure mode, make a point to duck into DD Bullwinkel’s for more outdoor gear, an exceptional array of maps, and a beer bar. And if you’re not the one driving, end your trip by ducking into Oskar Blues' Brevard location.
What were the gear MVPs of this trip?
Hands down, the collapsible dog water bowls. We haven’t yet mastered the thermostat on our camper, so we nearly roasted ourselves and the dog at one point in the night, but the space is too small to leave a water bowl out when the camper is occupied. The clip makes the collapsible water bowl super easy to attach to your backpack (or if you’re a nerdy helicopter dog mom like myself, your purse) and go. These are also ideal for hydrating your floof in the car.
We were also so happy we brought things to entertain ourselves while we kicked back and relaxed. A deck of cards, a Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, or a game of Exploding Kittens will go a long way during chilly winter nights.
Finally, we were camping in the dead of winter, so our sustainably made beanies and Logan’s portable propane heater were clutch. Though it may seem but basic, that propane heater throws off 15,000 BTUs.
Finally, I’d be remiss not to end this post with a heartfelt thank you to our warm and welcoming hosts at Sideways Farm & Brewery. Thank you for having us. We will absolutely be back this spring!
See ya on the road less traveled,
