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Asheville
The undisputed ‘capital’ of the North Carolina mountains, Asheville is both a major tourist destination and one of the coolest small cities in the South. Cradled in a sweeping curve of the Blue Ridge Pkwy, it offers easy access to outdoor adventures of all kinds, while downtown's historic art-deco buildings hold stylish New Southern restaurants, decadent chocolate shops, and the homegrown microbreweries that explain the nickname 'Beer City.'
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Asheville
Charmed by Asheville's natural beauty, shipping and railroad heir George Washington Vanderbilt II decided to build a summer home modeled after three…
Asheville
The glass-fronted West Wing is a showstopping introduction to this downtown museum, which is looking sleek after a $24 million renovation that added 70%…
Asheville
Part gallery, part store, and wholly dedicated to Southern craftsmanship, the superb Folk Art Center stands directly off the Blue Ridge Pkwy, 6 miles east…
Asheville
A veritable time machine, this downtown treat transports gamers back to the much-lamented pinball arcades of yesteryear. With stock ranging from vintage…
Asheville
An incongruous survivor of old Asheville, this downtown clapboard structure was the childhood home of Look Homeward, Angel author Thomas Wolfe (1900–38)…
Planning Tools
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Day Trips
Wondering where to spend a day exploring from your home base Asheville? These are our 18 favorites.
Read articleTransportation
With a population just under 100,000, Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina. The city is tucked within the Blue Ridge Mountains and flanked…
Read articleFree Things to Do
The collegial spirit of Asheville is maintained in part by the many free activities offered across town, from public art and live concerts to trail-filled…
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Latest stories from Asheville
Activities
17 of the best things to do in and around Asheville, North CarolinaJul 17, 2024 • 7 min read
Festivals & EventsThe best times to visit Asheville: a year-round guide to what's happening in "Beer City"May 26, 2022 • 8 min read
ArticlesDigital detox in Asheville: how switching off my device helped me reconnectJan 18, 2022 • 6 min read
ActivitiesFrom hiking trails to brewery tours, the 17 best free things to do in AshevilleSep 22, 2021 • 8 min read
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