My first travel donut review is Vortex Donuts in Asheville, North Carolina while visiting family. Their location is in the trendy South Slope neighborhood just south of downtown. Inside is certainly hip but also welcoming, like you are allowed to hang out while you read or work on your laptop. The are large windows facing the street, great for people watching when the tourists are in town.
We tried the namesake Vortex donut and an Espresso donut, both cake donuts. They also sell Yeast Donuts, helpfully each in their own labeled case. The flavors offered by style appeared to be the same, so you could get a chocolate glaze in either cake or yeast (or both if you promise to exercise). Their donuts are made with GMO-free organic ingredients, I think there were vegan options available too. My Vortex donut is cinnamon sugar dusted with a chocolate drizzle. Perfect balance of C/S to donut and the chocolate had a nice snap to it and was delightfully sweet. My mom's Espresso glazed donut uses espresso beans from a local coffee shop. It had a great flavor, not too coffee-y and no bitterness to it, went really well with her latte.
Everyone should visit Asheville, if you like Seattle you will love Asheville. And while you're enjoying the mountains, breweries, and award winning restaurants while exploring the trendy neighborhoods you will have to stop by Vortex Donuts for a well earned treat.