There are plenty of American cities that have all the excitement of the Big Apple but are friendlier. They're cheaper too. Before you spend your hard-earned money on a gritty Manhattan hotel room, you may want to get a much more charming room in one of the lovely Asheville NC inns and use this as a base from which to explore a true American gem.
Asheville lies where the Swannanoa River meets the French Broad River in the western part of North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains are to the east of the city while the Great Smoky Mountains are to the west. Charlotte is about 130 miles southeast of this stunning little city while Atlanta is about 200 miles to the southwest.
The first inhabitants of the area were of the Cherokee nation. In the 1780s, people of European ancestry started settling here too and the town of Asheville was named in 1797. It got its name from Samuel Ashe, who was governor of North Carolina in those days. When the railways reached the little town in the last two decades of the 19th century, bringing industry with them, the local population rapidly increased.
The Great Depression hit the area very hard and the economy didn't show much growth until about fifty years later. However, the economic stagnation meant that there wasn't much new construction going on and today Asheville is famous for its Art Deco buildings. The city has also become a haven for hippies and artists, with many spas, unique stores, small independent breweries, theaters, music venues and art galleries.
Its location near national forests and parks means that the charming city is a great destination for nature lovers and active travelers. Whether you want to go on a nature hike, ride a mountain bike, glide above the forest canopy or go fishing, you can do it within minutes from downtown. A great day trip is to drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the scenery.
The friendly city hosts a variety of events throughout the year. These include music festivals where you can enjoy the sounds of the Southern Appalachian region, complete with banjos and fiddles. Arts festivals are popular too and in May there is a festival of mountain sports. For foodies there are festivals celebrating everything from organic produce to craft beer and herbs.
Even though the region is classified as having a subtropical climate, temperatures here are mild because of the mountain location. Summers are pleasantly warm without being nearly as hot as further south while winters may bring snow but are much less harsh than up north. A great time to visit is in the fall, when the weather is still warm and the colors of the foliage rival those of New England.
You can fly in from several larger cities, since Asheville has its own airport. However, it's well worth considering driving or taking the bus so you can appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery. Once you've arrived, you'll find a variety of accommodation options, including lovely mansions from the Victorian era that have been converted into inns.
Asheville lies where the Swannanoa River meets the French Broad River in the western part of North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains are to the east of the city while the Great Smoky Mountains are to the west. Charlotte is about 130 miles southeast of this stunning little city while Atlanta is about 200 miles to the southwest.
The first inhabitants of the area were of the Cherokee nation. In the 1780s, people of European ancestry started settling here too and the town of Asheville was named in 1797. It got its name from Samuel Ashe, who was governor of North Carolina in those days. When the railways reached the little town in the last two decades of the 19th century, bringing industry with them, the local population rapidly increased.
The Great Depression hit the area very hard and the economy didn't show much growth until about fifty years later. However, the economic stagnation meant that there wasn't much new construction going on and today Asheville is famous for its Art Deco buildings. The city has also become a haven for hippies and artists, with many spas, unique stores, small independent breweries, theaters, music venues and art galleries.
Its location near national forests and parks means that the charming city is a great destination for nature lovers and active travelers. Whether you want to go on a nature hike, ride a mountain bike, glide above the forest canopy or go fishing, you can do it within minutes from downtown. A great day trip is to drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the scenery.
The friendly city hosts a variety of events throughout the year. These include music festivals where you can enjoy the sounds of the Southern Appalachian region, complete with banjos and fiddles. Arts festivals are popular too and in May there is a festival of mountain sports. For foodies there are festivals celebrating everything from organic produce to craft beer and herbs.
Even though the region is classified as having a subtropical climate, temperatures here are mild because of the mountain location. Summers are pleasantly warm without being nearly as hot as further south while winters may bring snow but are much less harsh than up north. A great time to visit is in the fall, when the weather is still warm and the colors of the foliage rival those of New England.
You can fly in from several larger cities, since Asheville has its own airport. However, it's well worth considering driving or taking the bus so you can appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery. Once you've arrived, you'll find a variety of accommodation options, including lovely mansions from the Victorian era that have been converted into inns.
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