Here's the best deal for discounts at the top local restaurants in Asheville. The Asheville Passport features coupon tickets worth up to $600 in buy-one-get-one savings at 41 Asheville Independent Restaurants. Cost for the set of BOGO…
The ornate Jackson Building is perhaps the most beloved skyscraper in Downtown Asheville, located at 22 S. Pack Square along Pack Square Park. The 13-story Neo-Gothic style skyscraper was completed in 1924, the first skyscraper in western North…
John Rock in the Pisgah National Forest is a wonderful five-mile loop hike with a good climb that affords wonderful valley and mountain views, including neighboring Looking Glass Rock, from the smooth rock summit. The John Rock trail is easy to…
There are many waterfalls near Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina, that are easily seen and enjoyed. Many of these are located along US Highway 64, the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. Here are our eight favorites in the area:
Dry Falls…
Deep Creek is our favorite hiking area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as it offers a big variety of scenery, including three waterfalls. Located just a few miles from downtown Bryson City, Deep Creek is a popular summer spot for…
Masterminds, a big budget film with a long list of stars, filmed in the Asheville area during summer 2014 for release on September 30, 2016. Originally called "Loomis Fargo," Masterminds is an action comedy directed by Jared Hess and produced by…
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals, located at Milepost 331 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Little Switzerland and Spruce Pine, introduces the treasures found in the state and the local Spruce Pine Mining District through interactive displays…
The beautiful Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville in Biltmore Village was conceived and funded by George Vanderbilt from neighboring Biltmore Estate. It was to be the central focus on the village. The Church and Parish Hall, designed by Richard…
Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains has an elevation of 5,920 feet, making it the highest grassy bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The mountain is one of two grassy balds maintained in the range by the park service. The other…
We hope you got to experience the rare total solar eclipse in western North Carolina on August 21, 2017. We spent the day at PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute) deep in Pisgah National Forest near Lake Toxaway and Brevard. More than 1,…
Downtown Asheville boasts a colorful and eclectic mix of architecture. Styles include Neoclassical, Romanesque Revival, Art Deco, Beaux Arts, Gothic and Spanish Renaissance, with buildings and monuments designed by greats such as Douglas D.…
The challenging Art Loeb Trail is a 30-mile hiking trail located in Pisgah National Forest. The northern end is at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp near Cold Mountain, while the trail's southern end is near the Davidson River Campground, near…
The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) Terminal makes a trip to the North Carolina mountains very easy and convenient. The terminal has seven gates, so there's very little walking and nearby parking. It's one of the fastest growing airports in the…
To take a road less traveled, drive to Balsam Mountain via the Heintooga Ridge Road that starts at the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 458.2, just 11 miles from the south end of the Parkway. (Not to be confused with Black Balsam Knob, 38 miles…
Completed in 1909, the Basilica of St. Lawrence D.M. is one of Asheville's architectural treasures and spiritual anchors. Designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects of the Biltmore House, this Catholic church has…
Beacon Heights is a short one-mile round-trip hike at Milepost 305.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway offering a big pay-off with spectacular views from several rock platforms that you can explore safely. It's a best-kept secret for sure since most…
With so many remote areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests to explore, the U.S. Forest Service reminds visitors to practice simple steps to avoid black bear encounters. Bear sightings, while infrequent, are more common in spring…
Bearwallow Mountain is just 19 miles from downtown Asheville, on the way to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure (near Gerton). It's also just 16 miles from downtown Hendersonville and 10 miles from Chimney Rock and the Hickory Nut Gorge. Thanks to the…