More and more travelers are discovering America's smaller cities. Many of these destinations are just compact enough not to be overwhelming but they still offer a great variety of things to do. They also tend to be much more affordable than more famous cities like New York or San Francisco. For the price of a basic hotel room in Manhattan, for instance, you can stay in one of the charming Asheville NC inns and explore one of America's hidden jewels.
Asheville is just over 130 miles from Charlotte, which lies to the southeast, and a little more than 200 miles from Atlanta, which lies to the southwest. Located near North Carolina's western border, the small city is surrounded by mountains, with the Great Smoky Mountains in the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the east. The city lies at the point where the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers meet.
The Cherokee were the first people who lived in the area while the first settlers of European origin moved in during the late eighteenth century. In 1797 the burgeoning town was named Asheville, after North Carolina's governor at the time, Samuel Ashe. The town remained quite small until the arrival of railway lines in the 1880s, which in turn brought textile mills and other industries to the area. The early twentieth century saw the settlement grow into a city but the Great Depression brought extreme economic hardship.
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.
Any time of the year is a great time to visit the region with its mild climate. Summers are humid and warm but not unbearably hot. In winter you may experience some snow but not nearly as much as destinations further north. In fall, the colors of the foliage rival those of New England but temperatures are much more pleasant.
Asheville has a small airport and there are flights from a number of major cities. You can also come in by car or bus, which has the added advantage that you get to enjoy the stunning scenery. Accommodation is plentiful and you'll find some wonderful inns located in historic old mansions full of Southern charm.
Asheville is just over 130 miles from Charlotte, which lies to the southeast, and a little more than 200 miles from Atlanta, which lies to the southwest. Located near North Carolina's western border, the small city is surrounded by mountains, with the Great Smoky Mountains in the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the east. The city lies at the point where the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers meet.
The Cherokee were the first people who lived in the area while the first settlers of European origin moved in during the late eighteenth century. In 1797 the burgeoning town was named Asheville, after North Carolina's governor at the time, Samuel Ashe. The town remained quite small until the arrival of railway lines in the 1880s, which in turn brought textile mills and other industries to the area. The early twentieth century saw the settlement grow into a city but the Great Depression brought extreme economic hardship.
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.
Any time of the year is a great time to visit the region with its mild climate. Summers are humid and warm but not unbearably hot. In winter you may experience some snow but not nearly as much as destinations further north. In fall, the colors of the foliage rival those of New England but temperatures are much more pleasant.
Asheville has a small airport and there are flights from a number of major cities. You can also come in by car or bus, which has the added advantage that you get to enjoy the stunning scenery. Accommodation is plentiful and you'll find some wonderful inns located in historic old mansions full of Southern charm.
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