Asheville area
Around Asheville area
Photo: Bill McMannis · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · North Carolina · 519k people
Asheville area
Locals say Western North Carolina · “The Land of the Sky”, “Beer City USA”, “Paris of the South”
Where the mountains meet the arts.
Mountain TealAutumn Orange
Welcome to Western North Carolina, where the mountains meet the river and the beer flows freely. Whether you're here for the trails, the art, or the food, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors and good times. Come on in and make yourself at home.
Clubs for Asheville area
No clubs for Asheville area yet.
The room
Asheville area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Asheville's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Asheville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Asheville area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic highway with overlooks and hiking.
- Mount Mitchell State Park Highest peak east of the Mississippi.
- Biltmore Estate Historic mansion and gardens open to the public.
- Pack Square Park Downtown park with fountains and events.
- River Arts District Concentrated area of artist studios and galleries.
- The Orange Peel Iconic music venue in downtown Asheville.
- Outdoors Hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Outdoors Kayaking on the French Broad River
- With kids Visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center
- With kids Explore the Asheville Museum of Science
- Evenings Craft beer bar hopping in South Slope
- Evenings Live music at The Orange Peel
- Locals love Breweries and taprooms
- Locals love Art galleries and studios
Through the year
- Asheville Beer Week May A weeklong celebration of local craft beer in May.
- LEAF Festival Spring and Fall A music and arts festival held in spring and fall in Black Mountain.
- North Carolina Apple Festival September A harvest festival in Hendersonville celebrating apples each September.
- Asheville Food and Wine Festival June A culinary event featuring local chefs and wineries in June.
- Asheville Fringe Arts Festival October A multidisciplinary arts festival in October.
Asheville enjoys a mild mountain climate with four distinct seasons. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal with mild temperatures and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “The Parkway”
- The Blue Ridge Parkway
- “South Slope”
- The brewery district in downtown Asheville
- “The River”
- The French Broad River
- “WNC”
- Western North Carolina
Getaways
- Waynesville A charming mountain town with a historic Main Street.
- Brevard Known for waterfalls and the Pisgah National Forest.
- Marion A small town with access to Lake James and the Blue Ridge.
- Greeneville Historic town in Tennessee with Andrew Johnson sites.
Local flavour
Teams
- Asheville Tourists High-A (MiLB)
- UNC Asheville Bulldogs NCAA Division I
- Asheville City SC USL League Two
Eat and drink
- Craft beer Asheville is known as 'Beer City USA' with over 50 breweries.
- Biscuits and gravy A Southern staple, often elevated with local ingredients at farm-to-table spots.
- Mountain trout Fresh from local streams, often served in regional restaurants.
- Cheerwine A North Carolina cherry soda, widely enjoyed in the region.
Where people go
- Blue Ridge Mountains The defining landscape, with hiking, waterfalls, and scenic drives.
- Blue Ridge Parkway A scenic highway that locals use for recreation and commuting.
- Breweries and taprooms Asheville's craft beer scene is a major cultural hub.
- Art galleries and studios A thriving arts community, especially in the River Arts District.
- Farmers markets Local produce, crafts, and community gathering spots.
Heritage and traditions
Asheville is proud of its mountain setting, vibrant arts community, and historic architecture, blending Appalachian heritage with a progressive, creative spirit.
This time of year in Asheville area
- Leaf peeping October Fall foliage draws crowds to the Blue Ridge Parkway; peak color usually in mid-October.
- LEAF Festival May and October A global music and arts festival at Lake Eden, with workshops and camping.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — Getting ready to do something
Festivals
- Shindig on the Green July–August Free outdoor old-time and bluegrass jam on summer Saturday evenings in downtown Asheville.
- Mountain Dance and Folk Festival August The oldest folk festival in the US, featuring Appalachian music and dance.
- Goombay Festival September Celebrates African American and Caribbean culture with music, food, and crafts.
- Asheville Fringe Arts Festival January Bold, experimental performances in alternative venues across the city.
- Asheville Food and Wine Festival March Tastings and chef demos highlighting local cuisine and Southern wines.
- North Carolina Apple Festival September Held in Hendersonville, celebrating the region's apple harvest with a street fair.
Landmarks with a story
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial The boardinghouse where the author grew up, now a museum and literary landmark.
- Basilica of St. Lawrence A stunning Spanish Renaissance-style church with Guastavino tile vaulting.
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, where the poet and his wife raised goats.
- Grove Park Inn A grand Arts and Crafts hotel that has hosted presidents and celebrities since 1913.
- Vance Birthplace Birthplace of Zebulon Vance, Civil War-era governor, with a log cabin and farm.
- Flat Rock Playhouse The State Theatre of North Carolina, a summer stock theater in a historic village.
Food traditions
- Mountain trout dinner Fresh rainbow trout from local streams, often served with grits or hushpuppies.
- Biscuits and gravy A hearty Appalachian breakfast staple, often with sausage gravy.
- Ramps Wild leeks foraged in spring, celebrated at local festivals and served in many restaurants.
- Apple butter making A fall tradition in Hendersonville, where families slow-cook apples with spices.
- Cheerwine A cherry-flavored soda born in North Carolina, often paired with BBQ.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and old-time music Rooted in Appalachian tradition, with weekly jam sessions and festivals.
- Craft pottery and ceramics Mountain potters continue a heritage of functional and artistic stoneware.
- Weaving and fiber arts Traditional Appalachian weaving, baskets, and quilting are celebrated at the Folk Art Center.
- River Arts District A former industrial area now home to dozens of artists' studios and galleries.
A little history
- Pre-1500s–1830s Cherokee presence
- 1797 Asheville founded as 'Morristown'
- 1880s Railroad arrives, opening the mountains to tourism
- 1895 George Vanderbilt builds the Biltmore Estate
- 1913 Arts and Crafts movement flourishes with Grove Park Inn
Rivalries
- UNC Asheville vs Western Carolina College basketball rivalry between mountain schools.
- Asheville vs Greenville (SC) Friendly competition for best mountain city.
- Game day Asheville Tourists baseball
- Game day UNC Asheville Bulldogs basketball
- Outdoors Hiking to Craggy Gardens
- Outdoors Kayaking the French Broad River
- With kids Folk Art Center
- With kids Asheville Art Museum
Locals speak with a Southern Appalachian accent, often dropping the 'g' in '-ing' words and using mountain terms like 'holler' for a valley. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to' frequently, and locals pronounce 'Asheville' as 'ASH-vil' (not 'ASH-uh-vil').
Only here
- The Biltmore Estate, America's largest private home, sits right in Asheville.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway ends at the Great Smoky Mountains, with the highest mountain east of the Mississippi nearby.
- Asheville's River Arts District is one of the largest concentrations of artists in the Southeast.
- The Basilica of St. Lawrence features a self-supporting tile dome by Rafael Guastavino, a Catalan architect who settled here.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Asheville' as 'ASH-vil' – drop the 'e'.
- Expect winding mountain roads; give yourself extra time to get anywhere.
- Traffic on Tunnel Road and I-26 can be heavy, especially during leaf season.
- Embrace the layers: mountain weather changes quickly, so dress in layers year-round.
- Try local craft beer – Asheville has more breweries per capita than almost any US city.
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Areas in Asheville area
Nearby
Every areaSylvaNorth CarolinaMountain air, Cherokee spirit, small-town warmth.Polk CountyNorth CarolinaA gentle slope of Southern mountain lifeFranklinNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains sparkle with gemsMarionNorth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the riverGreenvilleSouth CarolinaA waterfall downtown and mountains on the horizon.NewportTennesseeWhere the mountains meet the riverBurnsvilleNorth CarolinaMisty peaks, quiet hollows, and mountain time.SenecaSouth CarolinaWhere the mountains meet the lakes, and every day feels like a getaway.
Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.