Four Reasons Why Asheville, North Carolina is a Special Travel Destination

Back in August of 2014, my other half and I decided to spend a weekend in the mountain city of Asheville, North Carolina. We stayed in a suburban motel and were most focused on the idea of spending a day at the Biltmore Estate, and the buildings and grounds of the George Vanderbilt family’s 8,000 acre spread certainly offered a feast for the senses. Yet, when we decided to also spend some time checking out the rest of what Asheville had to offer, we were blown away, particularly by the city’s vibrant and charming Downtown area. So, a year later we decided to splurge and stay at the trendy Hotel Indigo within walking distance to all of the hipster merriment that makes Asheville one of the hottest tourist destinations in the Southeast.

Asheville certainly holds a number of individual attractions worth visiting, but the most special thing about the city turns out to be the city itself. It’s a quirky spot of deep blue in a sea of red; the freak flags really fly here, and I say that in a spirit of love and admiration. If you appreciate off the beaten path places where the finer things in life are served up with a side dish of eccentricity, Asheville is your kind of town. You owe it to yourself to come and stay there for at least three or four days and devote the bulk of your time to eating, drinking, people watching, and enjoying the views in a place where Mother Nature and the built environment come together in perfect harmony. Rather than offering a rundown of what to see in Asheville, I would like to focus on making the sale of why it’s such a wonderful oasis.

The Mountains
Asheville is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, and the historic Blue Ridge Parkway winds along the city’s outskirts. There is just something extra special about having the cultural amenities of an urban area but also the beautiful horizon always within your gaze. One day during our stay we drove a few miles down the gorgeous highway to Craggy Gardens for some hiking and a picnic lunch. The views are stunning, and the location is still close enough to town to not get too off-track from the goings-on there. Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River is not too far away, though we saved that detour for a future trip.  If you are one of those serious adventurers who buy fancy gear at REI and likes to sleep under the stars, there are certainly endless options for you in the Asheville region. Yet, if you are like me and just want little three or four-hour adventures outside before you go back to a comfortable hotel room, there are also plenty of places to get that fix.

The Architecture
Downtown Asheville offers some of the best-preserved  concentrations of Victorian and Art Deco structures in the nation. In some respects, this reality began as a happy accident of sorts. The mountain city spent a good bit of the 20th Century plagued with economic busts that lasted longer than their preceding booms. Right about the time most American cities embraced the prosperity of the 1950’s and 1960’s by “renewing” their urban cores to become more like the suburbs, Asheville found itself a bit too cash-strapped to follow that path.

There were some close calls in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but by then the powers that be started to embrace a very different kind of redevelopment tied to the arts, culture, and sustainable living. Granted, plenty of places have gone the route of historic preservation in recent decades, but Asheville somehow ties it together in a way that makes a casual city stroll uniquely approachable and festive.

The People
Speaking of festive, Asheville lives up to its stereotype for being a bit off its rocker, but that’s a good thing. It’s a very safe and welcoming place, so don’t think of it as “I’m going to get mugged” kind of crazy. Rather, think of that odd relative in your extended family who you really love but who marches to the beat of a different drummer, and just think of place with civility and grace where that relative would feel welcome with open arms. Think of that relative having friends as eccentric as they are, and that’s Asheville.

From George Vanderbilt to the current crop of Millennials who make the North Carolina mountains one of the “it” places to be, Asheville maintains a track record of colorful transplants from other places putting their resources into living a life of creativity and beauty. The trustafarian identity, while not completely unique to Asheville, certainly shapes the vibe of the place.

I realize that no place is perfect, but from what I see as an outsider looking in, this diverse group of rebels and dreamers seems to have built a community that actually practices what it preaches. I have received warning that Asheville–like many cities tied to tourism–offers that awkward combination of high housing prices and a shortage of well-paying jobs. Yet, I can attest that it’s at least a fun place to visit and maybe consider relocating to if I ever win the lottery.

The Food
I don’t make a practice of speaking in the vernacular of texting and social media, but OMG! If you appreciate fresh ingredients, craft beer, and the idea of dining out as an event rather than merely a means of filling the stomach, Asheville is like Heaven! Granted, I know that the local and organic food movements have swept many urban areas across the United States in recent years, but Asheville is an epicenter of this welcome development. The actual city of Asheville has roughly 100,000 or so residents, but the range of culinary choices make it seem like a much bigger place.

I can’t even begin to provide a rundown of all of the eateries worth visiting, as I can only touch on the highlights. For carnivores, 12 Bones Smokehouse serving up shoulder after shoulder of the region’s iconic pulled pork barbecue, does indeed live up to the hype, from my experience at least. If meat is not your thing–or like me you embrace the movement of eating at least one vegetarian dinner each week–Laughing Seed Cafe proves that eating with the planet in mind can still feel scrumptious and hearty. Also, If you want to experience the definitive Southern breakfast in a setting that oozes warmth and charm, begin at least one of your days in Asheville at Early Girl Eatery.

Bottom Line
There are plenty of helpful travel guides and similar resources out there. My intent is not to take on that role here; I can simply confirm that Asheville is a very special getaway location. It is a nice break from normalcy and conventionality. Make those vacation plans now!

Some Asheville Scenes