Cool Asheville Stories

There's something special about Asheville, and the world is just beginning to discover it.

Discovery, inside and out

This thriving mountain city features a funky and eclectic downtown, 30-plus art galleries downtown alone, a burgeoning culinary scene, a thriving live music scene and, of course, the awe-inspiring scenery of the Appalachian Mountains.

Top 8 Sunset Spots in Asheville, N.C.

Top 8 Sunset Spots in Asheville, N.C.

The Best Places to Catch a Scenic Sunset The Blue Ridge Mountains offer some of the best vantage points to watch the sun drop below the peaks in a splash of color. People travel from all over the world to see the nightly show. We asked our social… read more

Asheville, N.C. is Bee City USA

Asheville, N.C. is Bee City USA

Honey Bees Make Life Sweeter in the Mountains Asheville goes by many names, including Land of the Sky, Paris of the South, Beer City USA and also Bee City USA. That's right—Bee City, as in honey bees. Honeybee (apis mellifera) by Eran… read more

Mountain Sounds, Legacy of Dulcimers

Mountain Sounds, Legacy of Dulcimers

Locally Crafted Instruments Lend Melodies a Blue Ridge Ring Enthusiasts of Appalachian music are likely familiar with the whimsical sounds of dulcimers, instruments that have a rich legacy tied to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jerry Read Smith, a local… read more

11 Waterfalls Near Asheville, NC

11 Waterfalls Near Asheville, NC

Waterfalls for All Occasions With hundreds of beautiful cascades near Asheville, where do you begin? Here’s a quick sampler to get you started. These 10 locations represent a diverse range of options, so there’s something for everyone.… read more

Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain

Based on Asheville-area native Charles Frazier’s best-selling Civil War-era novel "Cold Mountain," you can visit the real Cold Mountain in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Find out how to plan a daytrip to Cold Mountain.… read more

Hunger Games

Hunger Games

The curtain went up on Asheville with the premier of the highly anticipated film, The Hunger Games , which opened in spring 2012. Shot on location in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, the movie showcases both the area's natural beauty… read more

Where to See the Monarch Butterfly Migration in Asheville

Where to See the Monarch Butterfly Migration in Asheville

Shortly before fall in Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains, thousands of Monarch butterflies pass through the Asheville area as they migrate south to Mexico. The butterflies travel more than 2,000 miles on their journey, and we're fortunate… read more

A 60-Foot Natural Waterslide & Other Water Adventures

A 60-Foot Natural Waterslide & Other Water Adventures

10 Ways To “Wet” Your Appetite for Fun While you’ll find many beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls to see in the mountains, we suggest doing more than looking. Experience them first-hand with a variety of options. From high… read more

Asheville's Busking Scene Keeps Music in the Air

Asheville's Busking Scene Keeps Music in the Air

Street performers from around the world bring their talent to Asheville When Peter Levitov blows into his homemade didgeridoo, an ethereal throbbing sound from the Australian aboriginal instrument echoes through downtown Asheville. A moment later, a… read more