30 Reasons to Visit Asheville

Located in the mountains of northwest North Carolina, Asheville has become a draw for young and old alike. Known for the architectural masterpiece that is the Biltmore House, this charming southern city has much more to offer.

The section of the Parkway along the Blue Ridge Mountains offers opportunities for viewing waterfalls, easy to strenuous hikes, and charming spots like Little Switzerland. Head to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center for a guide to a plethora of adventurous choices for all ages.

Home to more than 35 craft breweries, Asheville is known for its beer. You'll find everything from the big daddy, Sierra Nevada, to micro-basement breweries like Blue Mountain Pizza. Walk the streets of the city and you'll run into Wicked Weed Brewing with its full restaurant, tasting room, bottle shop and original 15-barrel brewery. Highland Brewing Company, Asheville's oldest original brewery, opened in 1994 before Asheville was cool.

A favorite of locals, the Malaprops Bookstore and Cafe has been independently owned for more than 30 years. The meaning of the name Malaprops…"Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound." This is a wondrous space for book lovers.

Located in Weaverville, next to Asheville, Blue Mountain Pizza is known for its pizza and small-batch craft beer. American and Belgian style beer is brewed under your feet, in the basement, and can be taken home in your own growler. Local entertainment is offered nightly offering traditional mountain music along with open-mic night.

While in Weaverville, check out the award-winning Well-Bred Bakery & Café, where you'll find an amazing array of bakery items to satisfy your sweet tooth. Also located in South Asheville's Biltmore Village, they also offer vegan and gluten-free options as well as salads and lunch options.

Slightly north of Asheville you'll find yourself driving past Beaver Lake, surrounded by a two-mile walking path leading to the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. If weather permits, this is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air, if you need a break from mountain hiking.

If you're in the Asheville during the winter you can Ski the Wolf, just 40 minutes away at the Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. Stay a few days at the Bald Mountain House B&B or the Buck House Inn on Bald Mountain Creek for a romantic getaway close to the slopes. This area also provides a vastly different experience in the summer with mountain hikes leading to a segment of the Appalachian Trail on Bald Mountain.

Every Friday night, in the center of town's Pritchard Park, a gathering of all manner of drums happens in the circular amphitheater. Hundreds of people come together for a heart-pounding symphony of rhythm, including all ages from young children to the elderly. Spontaneous dancing usually takes place as the beat takes over the senses. Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate or just watch and let the wave of sound take over.

Built in 1913, this historic, architectural masterpiece sits on the western-facing slope of Sunset Mountain, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Asheville. The Omni Grove Park Inn boasts a world-class spa and golf course, blending the old charm with the new. Even if you aren't staying there, it's worth a visit to explore the lobby flanked by huge fireplaces and their many restaurants and lounges while taking in the view.

If you find yourself downtown looking for a quick bite, at a reasonable price, head to White Duck Taco Shop for an amazing selection of tacos and beverages. With choices such as Thai Peanut Chicken, Bangkok Shrimp or Duck with Mole, to mention a few, you won't walk away hungry. Add a Fresh Lime Margarita and you're set. This restaurant can also be found at the River Arts District and in the South Asheville area of Skyland.

On North Market Street in downtown Asheville lies the historic Victorian home of writer Thomas Wolfe. This is the childhood home he wrote about in Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe was buried at the local Riverside Cemetery in the Montfort Historic District and once stated that the city had given the best building site in town "to dead people."

The history of the Reynolds Mansion could fill up a book. In 2009, Billy Sanders and Michael Griffith purchased the run-down mansion and spent several months restoring it to its former beauty. As a bed and breakfast, guests will enjoy a step back in time, not to mention a glorious breakfast featuring eggs from the backyard chickens and honey from Billy's beehives, also on property.

Farm-to-table dining takes on a new meaning when your server brings in eggs from his own chickens! This is what you'll find at Glass Onion, a special restaurant located in Weaverville. Having traveled to the Asheville area from the Hamptons, the head chefs bring their talents to this friendly, eclectic town using organic, sustainable foods from local growers.

One can hardly walk a block in downtown Asheville without running into a chocolate shop. The big daddy of them all is French Broad Chocolate Lounge offering everything from house-made ice cream to cookies and cakes to Liquid Truffle sipping chocolate. Continue to sate your chocolate cravings at The Chocolate Fetish, for an assortment of truffles and handmade artisan chocolates. Kilwins and Chocolate Gems will round out your sweet temptations tour.

There are so many B&B's nestled in and around the city of Asheville, you'll have trouble choosing just one. The Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association includes more than a dozen of the finest in the area, where you'll be pampered in a relaxed setting and treated to a phenomenal breakfast in the morning. These Inns are so proud of their morning culinary repertoire that they have published a cookbook, Morning in the Mountains, so you can take home some of their famous recipes.

Just about every downtown corner comes alive with the sounds of local buskers creating beautiful music or perhaps street magic performances. You might see Abby, the Spoon Lady, performing with Chris Rodrigues in front of the Flatiron sculpture on Wall Street, or a motionless statue coming to life in Pack Square.

In the mood for traditional Spanish cuisine? Curate, which means "cure yourself" in Spanish, offers the traditional tapas bar experience in the heart of historic downtown. Chef Katie Button was a finalist for the Rising Star Chef of the Year James Beard Award in 2014. She and her husband also own Nightbell, an "American restaurant focusing on local Appalachian ingredients."

Within an hour of the city, the Blue Ridge Mountains offer up several state and national parks. Chimney Rock State Park poses a different experience for each season. The Pisgah National Forest includes mile-high peaks and waterfalls. And don't forget white water rafting in the Nantahala National Forest.

An art deco building in the middle of town, which used to be home to the S&W Cafeteria, now houses the Greek restaurant S&W Artisanal. The ground-floor café offers traditional Greek comfort food, while the mezzanine is reserved for a bar and fine dining.

Farm-to-table dining is a way of life in Asheville and once a year, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) celebrates the region's farms and creameries with a weekend tour of at least twenty fruit and vegetable farms, creameries, vineyards and orchards. The tours provide a great education for kids and adults, alike, while offering interactive activities to keep all engaged.

Built by the creator of the Grove Park Inn, E. W. Grove, in 1929, the Grove Arcade has undergone many changes of ownership over the years. Now historically renovated, the Grove Arcade has reopened to the public with boutique shops and tasty dining options. This beautiful building is yet another example of the unique architecture Asheville has to offer.

Every city worth its weight in sugar has a signature donut shop. (Think Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland). Asheville proudly offers up sugary confections at its own Vortex Doughnuts tucked away on Banks Avenue. Their product is handmade daily, using ingredients supporting local farmers and suppliers. Coffee choices are amazing.

Located in the middle of town, the Asheville Pinball Museum is worth a stop, even if you only want to walk through, which is free. But it will be difficult not to be tempted to try your choice of 75 pinball and classic video games, all covered by one charge.

The Mast General Store was once known to sell everything from cradles to caskets. In addition to well-known brand names on clothing and shoes, this is also a great place to bring the kids for a super selection of old-time toys and candies. This is also the perfect location to shop for stocking stuffers and other seasonal items.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Sandburg lived in Flat Rock just outside Asheville. His home is now a National Park site, with 264 acres of ponds and hiking trails along with a thriving goat farm which includes descendants of his wife, Lilian's, original herd.

Located in yet another historically important piece of architecture, the Woolworth Walk art arcade houses a gallery full of works by local artists. Potters, photographers, woodworkers and jewelry art are just a few of the media found here alongside a fully-operational soda fountain built to resemble the original Woolworth luncheonette.

If you want to show your kids a dose of what life was like in the early nineteenth century, head over to Weaverville and visit the Zebulon Vance Birthplace pioneer farmstead. Free guided tours are offered of the main house where the kids will learn what it was like to be the one who had to empty the "pee pots" from under each bed every morning.

While walking the streets of the city you might look up and see a nun running across a parking lot, jumping onto a big purple bus full of raucous laughter. Yes, that's Asheville, and the bus belongs to the LaZoom City Comedy Tour. (That black habit is really worn by a bearded comedian.) Lots of themes from which to choose including a comedy beer tour and something appropriate for the kids.

Along a one mile stretch of the French Broad River, adjacent to the city center, lies the River Arts District comprised of 22 former industrial and historical buildings. More than 200 artists work in these studios and sell their wares to the public. There are numerous cafes along with Wedge Brewing Co., located within the district. 12 Bones Smokehouse is a local favorite for North Carolina barbeque.

One of the most popular attractions in Asheville was built by George Vanderbilt in 1895. The Biltmore House and Gardens are now open to the public, along with shopping opportunities at the Antler Hill Village and their popular winery. Don't miss the Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition running from May 17 to October 7. Large-scale glass sculptures will be displayed throughout the property with a special evening installation, lighting up the gorgeous colors of Dale Chihuly's art.