![Man standing on top of the mountain relaxing and enjoying beautiful summer mountain landscape. A panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains from the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Near Asheville.; Shutterstock ID 1907256715; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: destination
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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)…
Top picks from our travel experts
From hiking trails to brewery tours, the 17 best free things to do in Asheville
Asheville
Henry VIII called hops ‘a wicked and pernicious weed’ that ruined the taste of beer. His subjects kept quaffing it anyway – just like the lively crowd in…
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
Commanding sweeping Blue Ridge views, this titanic Arts and Crafts–style stone lodge harks back to a bygone era of mountain glamor. Each of the 36ft-wide…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
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…
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from Asheville
![A close-up shot of two mid-adult women sitting down together outdoors to enjoy a sandwich and warm drink in New York City, they are laughing and smiling.
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new york state, new york city, downtown district, tourism, tourist, travel, travel destinations, journey, friendship, togetherness, 30-34 years, caucasian ethnicity, warm clothing, smiling, happiness, market - retail space, small business, city life, consumerism, customer, food, lifestyles, retail, only mid adult women, take out food, adventure, exploration, arts culture and entertainment, cultures, laughing, street, street food, fast food, outdoors, communication, freedom, cheerful, business finance and industry, adults only, eating, celebration, indulgence, raclette, humor, fun, positive emotion, enjoyment, relaxation, reunion - social gathering, Two People](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2023-11/GettyImages-1129579786-RFC.jpg?w=780&h=425&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
- Festivals & EventsThe best times to visit Asheville: a year-round guide to what's happening in "Beer City"
May 26, 2022 • 8 min read
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- ActivitiesFrom hiking trails to brewery tours, the 17 best free things to do in Asheville
Sep 22, 2021 • 8 min read
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