Prepare to be Amazed in Asheville, NC

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Deep in the western side of North Carolina lays the Blue Ridge Mountains, and within this amazing mountain range lives the small city of Asheville. With its population within city limits being just under 90,000, it is easy to deem it too small for your attention; however, Asheville holds so many surprises that not even all locals know about it, making it the ideal vacation spot for people of all ages.

Hiking

Since Asheville is a mountain town, it is easy and encouraged to take advantage of the nature that surrounds the downtown. The famous Blue Ridge Parkway, which covers over 400 miles of road from North Carolina into Virginia has some truly spectacular lookouts that will blow you away. Simply take a drive, stop as many times as you please, and you can enjoy all that the mountains have to give without breaking a sweat.

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However, if hiking peaks your interest, you have come to the right place. There are so many hiking trails of all levels within a relatively short drive from the city center, making it very accessible. One of the best hikes to do is the Black Balsam Knob. This trail is located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is full of natural balds, or areas where there are no trees to obstruct your view of the mountains. The first bald is only half a mile from the parkway, but there are hikes that are 5-mile loops. Whatever level you can commit to, the Black Balsam Knob has a trail for you.

Culture

Downtown Asheville is full of interesting architecture and history. Stop by the Black Mountain College Museum, a tribute to the Black Mountain College which was an alternative arts school opened from 1933-1957. This college displays the art from the archives of the college, as well as artists who attended the school during its opening.

An unusual spot to check out downtown is the Woolworth’s Counter, which is located inside the Woolworth’s building, now called the Woolworth’s Walk. This historic building has retained its functional lunch counter and also added over 100 booths for local artists to sell anything from furniture to paintings.

Beer

Asheville is known for being “Beer Town USA”. It has more breweries per square mile than anywhere else in the country, including big companies such as Sierra Nevada and New Belgium. There is also a myriad of local breweries scattered throughout downtown, the River Arts District and the West Asheville neighborhood. Some of the best include the Wedge, Highland Brewing, Twin Leaf and Hi-Wire. Asheville is famous for hoppy IPA style beers, but you can truly find any type of beer you’d like at any of the breweries.

Food

Asheville has a high level of cuisine mostly focused around using local sustainable products. One of the best places to go is Cucina 24, an authentic but modern Italian restaurant that uses fresh ingredients to create unbelievably delicious dishes. Another incredible choice is Curate, a tapas restaurant that is an accurately genuine tribute to Spanish cuisine.