Asheville Accolades

Asheville has been recognized for its splendors by dozens of magazines, websites and publications in recent years. Accolades range from the designation by Frommer's as one of a dozen top travel destinations in the world to recognition for the Asheville area arts community, outdoor adventures, cuisine, organic and vegetarian eats, and much more.

Ground Level Media Latinx

15 Best Places To Travel In The South This April

Southern Living - March 18, 2024

"By April, spring travel season is in full swing. In the South, the last dredges of chilly winter weather have disappeared, and it’s full steam ahead to explore in the warm sun. If you’re itching to pencil an April getaway onto your calendar, let this list help narrow down the endless options of places to go."

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Vortex Donuts

21 Surprising Southern Cities To Visit in 2024

Wealth of Geeks - January 1, 2024

"The South is a blanket of diverse cities that are unique in their offerings. These dynamic southern cities are full of adventures, from cultural gems like museums to food tours that'll satisfy. The South is full of surprises in every metro area, and we're sharing the best Southern cities to visit in 2024 that will surprise you. They're up-and-coming destinations that will keep your travel itinerary full."

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Waterfall

Travel + Leisure Readers’ 15 Favorite Cities in the United States of 2023

Travel + Leisure - August 8, 2023

"While the return of international travel took center stage in 2022, by no means did U.S. destinations fall to the wayside. T+L readers were equally drawn to the buzz and vibrancy of cities spanning from San Diego, California, to Alexandria, Virginia — no passport required. While warm-weather hot spots throughout the South were ranked most popular, voters also headed up to the Northeast and the Midwest"

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Three Region Photography Wedding Shots

These Are the 7 Hottest Honeymoon Destinations of 2023, According to Pinterest & Zola

Purewow - April 28, 2023

"One of the most fun things about getting married (besides saying “I do,” to your one and only, of course) is the honeymoon. For a week (or maybe two!), you and your lover have what seems like all the time in the world. But where do you go? All-inclusive resort? Sicily (or somewhere less crowded)? If you’re still wondering how to spend your honeymoon, search no further. Zola and Pinterest recently released a joint 2023 wedding trends report, and the data speaks for itself. Here are the top seven honeymoon destinations, from charming Southern cities like Asheville and Charleston to far-flung locales like Casablanca and Croatia."

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White Water Fun

LEADING PLACES: THE 100 MOST LOVED TRAVEL DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Tourism Sentiment Index - February 2, 2023

"These Leading Places are the 100 most loved destinations, based on annual data from 2022, according to what people really feel."

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Asheville Wicked Weed

The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2023

Travel + Leisure - November 17, 2022

"With much of the world reopened, 2023 is shaping up to be the year travel officially bounces back. We made our list of the 50 best destinations for 2023 a little differently this year: We asked Travel + Leisure's editors where they want to go in the months ahead."

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A lighted display at Winter Lights the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC

12 Amazing Christmas Destinations in the USA

Wander Tooth - November 9, 2022

"Are you thinking of doing things slightly differently this year? Even though nothing can compare to cozying up at home during the holiday season, there’s something enchantingly magical about spending the Christmas holidays elsewhere. If you’re considering planning a vacation, what better way than by visiting unique destinations that dress up in colorful twinkling lights and take their holiday cheer and festive spirit to the next level?"

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Family Fun in the Winter

40 of the Prettiest American Towns to Visit During the Winter

Town & Country - October 19, 2022

"There are towns across the country that look like picture-perfect postcards in the wintertime, whether it's due to a light dusting of snow, historic architecture, dramatic landscapes, or a combination of all three."

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Asheville (Fall)

The 7 Best Fall Travel Destinations

Fare Compare - August 1, 2022

"Whether you're a nature lover, someone who wants to be near the water, or are craving a truly off the grid experience, there's something for everyone on this list. Read on for our top seven fall travel destinations around the United States."

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Jared Kay Art Gallery Shoots

The 10 Best U.S. Cities to Visit for Art Lovers

Yahoo - August 10, 2022

"No matter how bustling it may be, a city can feel pretty hollow if it's short on the creative amenities that give it a soul. For many places, this can mean having a variety of top-tier dining options, or enough establishments that make it easy to have a memorable night out on the town. But it's often a city's relationship with art that can set it apart as a truly unique destination. And whether it's world-class museums or a vibrant street art scene, sometimes that's all the excuse you need to plan a trip. Read on to see which U.S. cities are the best bets for art lovers."

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this year’s top US destinations for foodies

Small Towns, Big Flavor: Yelp Names 2022 Foodie Cities

Yelp - June 29, 2022

"Looking for inspiration for your next summer travel getaway? We’ve compiled a list of the top trending destinations for foodies across the United States. This year, Asheville, NC and the Hawaiian Islands top the list alongside cities like Charleston, SC, which is home to Michelin-starred and James Beard Award winning restaurants."

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Family Time in the Mountains

12 Of The Best Spots For A Family Mountain Vacation In The US

The Family Vacation Guide - March 12, 2022

"The United States has some of the most beautiful places to vacation—from white sand beaches to bustling cities and quaint mountain towns. Planning a trip to the mountains with your family is exciting, and you’re bound to have the time of your lives."

Read the The Family Vacation Guide article
outdoors

Ten Best Cities to Travel Solo in the US

DL Magazine - January 21, 2022

"Solo traveling offers you the ability to go where you want, when you want, and wonder about the world on your own without having to worry about your companions."

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The 35-foot Fraser Fir is the centerpiece of the Christmas at Biltmore celebration

The 10 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina

Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide - November 18, 2021

"Whether you’re traveling to the North Carolina mountains to visit family, pick out a favorite tree from one of the local Christmas tree farms, or simply explore the myriad small town Christmas events the area has to offer, there’s really no place like Western NC for the holidays."

Read the Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide article
Modest Walkway

The Most Charming Christmas Towns Across America Are Full of Holiday Cheer

Yahoo.com - October 26, 2021

"You'll feel like you're stepping into a Hallmark movie by paying a visit to one of the best Christmas towns in the USA."

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beer

The Best Oktoberfest Destinations in the South

Southern Living - October 7, 2021

"October also brings—you guessed it—countless Oktoberfests to cities and small towns around the South. The festivals in the South were inspired by the first ones, autumn celebrations held in Germany during early fall to commemorate Bavarian culture, food, and beer from local brewers."

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Scenic Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Best Cross-country U.S. Road Trip Itinerary: Southern Route

Travel + Leisure - July 30, 2021

"Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is the quintessential mountain town with gorgeous vistas and a rich history. For a short visit to Asheville, start by hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail before checking out the shopping at the historic downtown Grove Arcade. Be sure to save time to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Parkway is known for showcasing the serene beauty of North Carolina."

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Family hiking Black Balsam

9 Last-Minute Summer Family Getaways in the U.S.

AFAR - July 29, 2021

"In western North Carolina, Asheville wins for its laid-back vibe, charming downtown, and arts and music scene. And with the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its backyard, Asheville is a choice base for exploring the surrounding nature. Or take a day trip to the small town of Black Mountain, with its vibrant Main Street lined with breweries, cafés, and bookstores."

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Hi Wire Beer Flight

The Best Cities in the World for Beer Drinkers

Money - July 14, 2021

"Not only did Asheville, North Carolina, have the highest concentration of breweries with 2.8 per 10,000 people, but it’s also recognized as having the most breweries per person in the whole of the United States."

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Couple Hiking at Black Balsam at Sunrise

Get Out, Drink Up, and Celebrate in These Gay-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations

Thrillist - July 7, 2021

"The perfect mix of nature and city, Asheville provides a peaceful sojourn for any style of honeymooners, whether you’re itching to barhop, hike, tour galleries, or shop at any number of LGBTQ-owned stores. A vibrant blue haven, the city feels effortlessly funky and cool, like a mini Portland without even trying."

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Craggy Overlook

11 Perfect Weekend Getaways in the U.S. and Around the World, According to Travel Advisors

Travel + Leisure - June 28, 2021

"Rent a log cabin near the blue ridge parkway only 20 minutes from downtown. Drink incredible craft brews at Iconic breweries — Fat Tire and Sierra Nevada — listen to local music, shop in the river arts district repurposed from old factories, and dine in some of North Carolina's best restaurants."

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Woman kayaking on lake with dog

The Best Dog-Friendly Vacations in the U.S.

Booking.com - June 22, 2021

"Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville in North Carolina is well-known for its arts scene and is home to the River Arts District, an area that allows people to visit studios, partake in an art class, or enjoy something to eat. To make sure your pup is enjoying their vacation time too, Asheville has lots of dog-friendly hikes making it the highest scoring city for this metric. It also takes second place overall scoring 86 out of 100, making it one of the top destinations to visit."

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A beautiful summer sunset view at Max Patch near Asheville, NC

21 Great LGBTQ Summer Destinations

TravelPulse - June 20, 2021

"If hiking and waterfalls are your cup of tea, look no further than Asheville, which has turned into a fun artsy center amidst North Carolina’s western mountains. Embraced by LGBTQ travelers for years—not to mention making multiple lists of best places to retire—you’ll never tire of the city’s numerous foodie spots and microbreweries. What’s more, the whole area is served by an expansive network of Bed & Breakfasts, giving couples a romantic getaway option."

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Downtown Asheville, N.C.

The 9 Best Girlfriend Getaway Destinations in the U.S.

Family Vacation Critic - June 14, 2021

"Asheville is the artsy city known as the “Paris of the South”, thanks to a lively restaurant and culture scene. Stroll the River Arts District to see hundreds of Asheville artists at work and buy treasures to take home. Immerse your crew in glass-blowing, jewelry making, photography, or pottery workshops."

Read the Family Vacation Critic article
Family Friendly Hikes

15 Best Places to Hike

wildandtrekking.com - May 16, 2021

"Asheville is surrounded by two hallmark features of the Appalachian Mountains – Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This area boasts the most ecologically diverse forests in North America, mountains with huge vertical relief, stunning viewpoints, the famous Appalachian Trail, unique wildlife and much, much more."

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A photographer at sunset along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC

10 Beautiful North American Mountain Destinations You Need to See

USA Today 10 Best - May 14, 2021

"Asheville has a unique, quirky personality. It may be known for Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the U.S., but there’s much more to Asheville than that. In and around town, outdoor enthusiasts will find enough trails, rivers, cliffs, and ski runs to occupy weeks of vacation time."

Read the USA Today 10 Best article
Couple Dancing at Drum Circle

31 Romantic Getaways Around The World

Women's Health - March 29, 2021

"This Appalachian city has got it all for a chill weekend with your favorite plus one: breweries, farm-to-table restaurants, hippie vibes, the works. Walk the impressive grounds at the Biltmore or take a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway, and feel free to scream-sing your song along the way."

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Couple at Sunset Terrace at the Omni Grove Park Inn

The 10 Best Honeymoon Destinations in the USA

Oyster - March 26, 2021

"Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this vibrant city is best known for its ample hiking and biking opportunities — plus its burgeoning craft brewery scene. No trip here is complete without a visit to The Biltmore: The expansive mansion is set on over 8,000 acres of land. Here, you’ll also find an on-site winery, museum, and library, the latter of which features a curated collection of books from George Vanderbilt."

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Outdoor Dining

17 Spring Break Road Trips 2021 | Spring Breaks Close to Home

Reader's Digest - March 24, 2021

"Fun fact: 50 percent of the U.S. population lives within 600 miles of Asheville—so Atlanta isn’t the only city with easy access to this mountain town. (We’re talking to you, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh, Louisville, and Greensboro.) No matter which direction you drive from, you’ll be treated to scenic mountain vistas that allow you to enjoy the journey as well as the destination."

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Family Hiking at Black Balsam

Top spots for socially-distant, family-friendly weekend getaways: North Carolina, Montana

USA Today - March 16, 2021

"You can also enjoy the views with a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are a number of sky-high overlooks outfitted with picnic tables and grills where you can break for lunch. Before you set out, Asheville Picnic Co. or the Bodega on Broadway can help fill your basket with a selection of locally prepared eats."

Read the USA Today article
Good Vibes Mural

11 Spots to See Incredible Outdoor Art

Our State Magazine - March 16, 2021

"Don’t be fooled by its size — within the River Arts District’s two square miles, you’ll find more than 165 artists and crafters at work. Make sure you take a look at the buildings themselves, too: Huge, colorful murals have turned the neighborhood into an outdoor museum."

Read the Our State Magazine article
Craggy Pinnacle Sunrise

The Best Places to Travel in April

Travel + Leisure - March 2, 2021

"Spring is a wonderful time in western North Carolina, with trees and flowers in bloom, the Blue Ridge Parkway a bit less crowded, and the waterfalls flowing. The weather is ideal for a hike along one of many trails near Asheville or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Biltmore Estate, Asheville's prime attraction, offers hiking trails for all fitness levels, bike paths, and horseback riding."

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Downtown Asheville Skyline with Rhododendron

Best Destinations in the United States - Travelers' Choice Awards - Tripadvisor

TripAdvisor - February 1, 2021

"If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Asheville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries."

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Goldenrod and Mountain Views Near the Blue Ridge Parkway

America's Best Mountain Towns

Travel + Leisure - January 29, 2021

"Surrounded by North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville combines outdoor adventure with quirky mountain town charm. The city has a vibrant art scene — downtown Asheville is packed with galleries and boutiques — and it's surrounded by great hiking trails."

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Asheville Sunset Skyline

10 Best Small Cities in America to Visit

Society19 - January 4, 2021

"this city with a bohemian spirit has become a hub for beer aficionados. Almost 50 beer companies, including New Belgium, Wicked Weed, and Sierra Nevada, have breweries in Asheville. Positioned close to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail, Asheville is not just known for its beer culture, but its many cultural events, and festivals. With a population of only 459,585, Asheville’s Downtown Art District is home to many galleries, museums, and perfect for hearing local musicians play to eager crowds."

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LGBTQ Couple at Smokey Park Supper Club

Top 21 LGBTQ Travel Destinations for 2021

TravelPulse - January 5, 2021

"Set amidst the bucolic mountains of western North Carolina and bisected by the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville is a progressive center of queer life for this area of the country. Enjoy exceptional cuisine, great microbreweries, quaint shopping and plenty of hikes in and around the city. As a bonus, the incredible Biltmore Estate is located here, and the grounds are worth exploring any season of the year."

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Asheville Skyline at Holidays

26 Charming Christmas Towns You Have to Visit in the U.S.

Prevention - December 21, 2020

"Asheville is a great place to visit any time of year, but it’s extra special during the holiday season. Indulge in holiday shopping, the Winter Lights display at the North Carolina Arboretum, and take a tour of the iconic Biltmore estate while it’s decorated for Christmas—the 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees won’t disappoint."

Read the Prevention article
Beer Flight

Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2020 Edition

Smart Asset - December 9, 2020

"Asheville, North Carolina makes the top 10 of this study yet again. The city has the second-highest number of breweries per 100,000 people in the study. There are 26 total breweries in Asheville, the 16th-highest figure in this metric across the 384 cities we analyzed."

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Christmas Lights at Biltmore

Where to Go for Christmas: 23 U.S. Cities Full of Holiday Cheer

Conde Nast Traveler - December 8, 2020

"Asheville is easily one of the country's best places to spend Christmas, offering all the light displays and holiday shopping—not to mention the perfect tucked-away location in the Blue Ridge Mountains—any vacationer could wish for."

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Winter Sunrise over Downtown Asheville

The Friendliest Cities in the U.S.: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards

Conde Nast Traveler - November 30, 2020

"Asheville's biggest claim to fame is undoubtedly the Biltmore Estate, a legendary mansion that happens to be the largest home in the United States. But in recent years, downtown Asheville has become a draw in its own right as a hub for friendly creatives. There are a high number of studios and galleries where you can meet local artists and artisans (and shop their wares), plus a growing live music and performing arts scene."

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Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum

25 Best Places to Spend Christmas: The World's Most Festive Cities

Conde Nast Traveler - November 23, 2020

"Holiday spirit is serious business in the Blue Ridge Mountains town of Asheville. After all, the Biltmore opened its doors on Christmas Eve in 1895 and the annual decorations include 100 Christmas trees, 25,000 ornaments, 10,000 holiday lights, and 1,200 poinsettias. (Good luck deciding whether to take a daytime tour or visit on a candlelit evening.) Nearby, the Omni Grove Park Inn has been hosting its National Gingerbread House Competition since 1992. Plus catch Santa on the Chimney—yup, the big guy ditches his reindeer and goes rappelling in Chimney Rock State Park."

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Catawba Falls Trail Late Fall 2016

On the Road Again, Destinations to Fall for

VIE Magazine - November 1, 2020

"Asheville's potential knows no bounds when it comes to attractions, from the famous Biltmore Estate and North Carolina Arboretum to the Pisgah National Forest and everything in between."

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Max Patch in late fall 2016

14 Fall Foliage Trips to Plan Right Now Because Leaf Peeping Season is At Its Peak

Parade - October 19, 2020

"New England may get a lot of love in the foliage department, but contrary to popular belief, North Carolina is known for one of the world’s longest fall color seasons. And up and coming hotspot Asheville is smack dab in the middle of the kaleidoscope action—and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Weather experts have even predicted a longer, warmer fall with those covetable auburn hues transitioning later this year, so there’s still time to hit the open road."

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Biltmore

12 Idyllic Destinations to Spend the Holidays at This Winter

Veranda - September 10, 2020

"Asheville is consistently voted one of America's best food cities and even scored the #1 spot this year—perfect for a holiday weekend full of feasting and fun. The iconic Biltmore Estate is offering its fabulous Christmas at Biltmore experiences starting November 6, where guests can enjoy an estate tour in its bedecked glory, special candlelight evening events, and festive meals at the five restaurants on property. Plus, you're just minutes away from some of the country's most spectacular meals and hiking trails."

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Family hiking Black Balsam

Social Distance Travel: 4 Spots Where you can Stroll, Dine and Play

USA Today - September 1, 2020

"Capturing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is conveniently located in the center of the Eastern Seaboard. Asheville is known for natural attractions, and hiking trails, so consider a lesser-known path offering the chance to explore the mountain landscape with solitude on a trail less traveled."

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Downtown Skyline

9 Easy Weekend Getaways on the East Coast

BestLife - August 26, 2020

"Asheville is a hidden gem sandwiched between the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway. The city itself has attracted many movers and shakers, causing it to blossom into a verified food destination and craft beer hub."

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skyline

Gorgeous Small Cities and Towns Across the US

BuzzFeed - August 24, 2020

"If hiking is your thing, Asheville is the perfect city for your wanderlust soul. Get lost in the mountains and soak up Mother Nature in this quaint forrest city."

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Asheville Blue Ridge Mountains Fall

8 Beautiful Destinations to View Fall Foliage

AARP - August 18, 2020

"About 15 miles from downtown Asheville and the historic Biltmore Estate, quaint Black Mountain has a welcoming central square where you can sit and relax in rocking chairs (its motto is “the little town that rocks") or visit the many galleries and cafés that spotlight the talent and tastes of southern Appalachia. In fall, especially from mid- to late October, the area is awash in color, so you'll want to stay outdoors: Lake Tomahawk is a favorite picnic spot, and you have lots of choices when it comes to hiking, biking and birding trails."

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hiker on top of mountain in fall

10 Best Fall Vacations for Foliage Views, Fewer Crowds, and Stunning Scenery

Travel + Leisure - August 15, 2020

"Nestled in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has everything you could want in a fall getaway. The quaint downtown area is filled with unique shops, galleries, breweries, and restaurants, and you're almost guaranteed to see some local street performers as you wander around. Go for a hike in nearby Pisgah National Forest to spot beautiful waterfalls among the changing leaves, or take a scenic drive through part of the park to take in the beauty without working up a sweat."

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skyline of downtown Asheville framed by rhododendron

26 Underrated US Destinations Everyone Should Visit in Their Lifetime

INSIDER - August 14, 2020

"Forget more popular cities like Nashville or Charleston — Asheville, North Carolina, is a gem if you're looking to explore the southern region of the US."

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Downtown Skyline

The Top 15 Cities in the United States

Travel + Leisure - September 8, 2020

"Travel + Leisure readers have a soft spot for Southern cities. Sure, they enjoy high-octane New York and amiable Chicago, but when it comes to naming the U.S. cities they most adored this year, travelers turned to smaller — though no less vibrant — towns on the lower half of the map. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value."

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Summer Skyline

The Best Small Cities in the United States in 2020

AFAR - June 23, 2020

"Resonance’s annual ranking considers factors such as a city’s diversity, variety of cultural attractions, outdoor activities, and nightlife to give a comprehensive view of what it’s like to visit and live in these places."

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Sliding Rock

7 of our favorite ‘secret’ swimming holes in the US

The Points Guy - May 27, 2020

"There’s no doubt that, for people who decide to travel this summer, there’s going to be a back-to-basics trend in the quest for fun. Road trips, RV rentals, national parks and the great outdoors are poised to be the destinations and trips of choice for many Americans who are ready to leave the confines of their homes over the next few months."

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Food Foraging Adventure

How urban foraging became the new way to explore a city

National Geographic - May 18, 2020

"FOR TRAVELERS STUCK at home, the world is a wonder to contemplate—alas from afar. But one of the key goals of sustainable travel—to eat local with a mitigated environmental impact—might not require much more than a walk around the block."

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Camping

Backyard Camping and other ways to fire up wanderlust at home

National Geographic - May 13, 2020

"HUMANS ARE NOMADIC by nature—we’re descended from hunter-gatherers, after all. But the COVID-19 pandemic means people, usually a wanderlusty bunch, are caught between lockdowns and cautious reopenings, between getting out and seeing the world and watching it go by from outside our windows or streaming on our screens."

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Ceramic artist Tristan Glosby works at the pottery wheel at Clayspace Co-op in the River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina.

An Inside Look at the Art and Artist of Asheville

AAA Talks - May 1, 2020

"Known for its vibrant arts scene, Asheville, North Carolina, is the ideal road-trip destination for those who want to spark their creativity. When self-isolation restrictions ease, make plans to head to this lively mountain town!"

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Stock food photo

Here’s Where Chefs are Eating After Quarantine

Chowhound - April 29, 2020

"It feels like forever since we’ve had restaurants in our lives, and, at times, it feels like it will be another forever until we get them back. But it will happen, and when it does, each bite of crusty bread and smoked salmon croquette set to the lively din of your favorite eatery will taste that much better."

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Skyline with Arras Complete

10 ways to get your travel fix from home

National Geographic - April 29, 2020

"Travel news is flying fast despite all the disruption, and there are still ways to feed our wanderlust, inspire future journeys, and contribute to global conservation. Here are some ideas you can take action on now."

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Downtown Skyline_Credit ExploreAsheville.com

Virtual Vacation: Take a Trip to Asheville, NC

Style Blueprint - April 15, 2020

"It’s one of the most popular destinations for a mountain getaway, and Asheville, NC, is no less beautiful just because we’re visiting it via a virtual vacation. Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers amazing views, cuisine, arts and so much more. Let’s take a look around this beautiful Western Carolina hot spot. Start with this quick video, and then check out five more amazing experiences only available in Asheville."

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Family Hiking at Black Balsam

Can't leave the house? Take the kids on a virtual vacation

Today's Parent - April 7, 2020

"Hands up if your kids have cabin fever? Being stuck at home on a normal day can be tough, but pair that with self-isolation and adventure-seeking kids and everyone’s likely craving a little escape. Thankfully, some of the most exciting destinations across the globe have your family covered. These virtual “field trips” are a great way to take a break from the day-to-day grind, and may even inspire you to start planning your next family vacation (once it’s safe, of course)."

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Together In Spirit Virtual Asheville Vacation Visit

32 Vacations You Can Take from Home

Smarter Travel - April 2, 2020

"Vacations are going virtual … for now. So dust off your empty suitcase, pour a drink of choice, and virtually travel with us to your dream destination."

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Outdoor Yoga

Welcome to Wellville

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - March 31, 2020

"For more than a century, the fresh mountain air of Asheville has lured tourists and newcomers in search of a healthy lifestyle. But the last 15 years have seen serious growth in a wide range of wellness-oriented offerings that go well beyond “taking the air” in Asheville."

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Big Butt Trail

Explore the Outdoors…Online!

AAA Talks - March 27, 2020

"Explore Asheville has curated a virtual escape with restless, homebound souls in mind. From virtual hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to a much-needed moment of Zen with the white noise of a waterfall, Asheville joins destinations and historic attractions across the globe with innovative ways to virtually leave the living room behind and dream of future adventures."

Read the AAA Talks article
Aerial view of Black Mountain, N.C.

Reasons to Visit Black Mountain, North Carolina, a Picturesque Small Town

Southern Living - March 10, 2020

"Back in the 1800s, wagons carried visitors to town as they made their way over the Swannanoa Pass to or from Western North Carolina. These days, visitors come to the small town to enjoy the outdoors, wander the historic streets, and enjoy the lively community. Perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain is just 15 miles east of Asheville, making it an ideal day trip for anyone looking for their new favorite small town. And it really might be your new favorite: It was named one of the best small mountain towns in the South by the readers of Southern Living."

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Chai Pani Indian Restaurant

An appetite for Asheville: North Carolina mountain town’s food reaches new heights

Chicago Tribune - February 21, 2020

"After raising our cups to toast the night, we drained the bourbon punch from our clay vessels and chucked them into a glowing coal pit. Nestled beneath that blanket of embers, the quail we’d wrapped with leaves and clay roasted slowly. What made this unorthodox dining experience all the more unusual was the setting. We were at the manufacturing headquarters for East Fork, a stoneware pottery company that uses regionally sourced clay to create mugs, bowls and other tableware. About 70 of us gathered here for Clay Bake, one of many events that made up last year’s inaugural edition of Chow Chow, a food festival in Asheville, North Carolina."

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Summer Blue Ridge Parkway

How to road trip the Southeastern U.S. on a budget

Lonely Planet - February 20, 2020

"From North Carolina to Florida, you'll experience the splendor of the mountains, immerse yourself in history, and savor a taste of upscale comfort food on one of America’s most scenic drives."

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Gay Couple at Biltmore in Winter

The Ultimate LGBTQ guide to Asheville

Matador Network - February 19, 2020

"THOUGH THE SOUTHEAST, in general, has never been among the most gay-friendly regions in the United States, there are some pockets, namely urban areas, where the LGBTQ community is not only welcomed but also embraced. One such place is Asheville, North Carolina."

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A couple enjoys a mountain vista on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC

4 Best U.S. Vacation Destinations for Couples to Explore in 2020

YourTango.com - February 14, 2020

"Traveling across the Atlantic or Pacific to parts unknown certainly has its appeal (just ask the late and great Anthony Bourdain) but to dismiss destinations within our own borders would be to a disservice to America, the beautiful, America, the vast, America, the plenty ... of places to go! And since the beginning of a new decade is an ideal time for daydreaming and goal-setting about what the year — and the next ten years! — ahead may bring, it's high-time to highlight a few of our favorite continental cities that are certainly worth a visit if you haven't been. (And if you have? Awesome. They're certainly worth another trip.) So request those vaca days now and get to day-dreaming. Like we did in 2019, we're highlighting four of our favorite American cities to check off your list in 2020 — happy meandering!"

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Romance in Asheville

10 of the most underrated romantic destinations in the U.S.

INSIDER - February 10, 2020

"Beachside resorts are often the go-to idea for romantic getaways, but there are plenty of lesser-known destinations that still offer an incredible time for couples. And if you live in the United States, some of them are even closer than you might think. Here are some of the most underrated romantic destinations in the US."

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Summer Skyline

10 Bucket-list sites to visit in this decade

USA Today - January 6, 2020

"A new year and a new decade offer a fresh opportunity to explore, says author Patricia Schultz, who helped invent the concept of the bucket list when she published her book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" in 2003."

Read the USA Today article
The city of Asheville is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains

The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

Travel + Leisure - December 9, 2019

"Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020."

Read the Travel + Leisure article
Cultured Food

Give the Gift of Travel: Ultimate Foodie Dreamlands

Thrillist - December 2, 2019

"Hands down, the best vacations are the ones where your itinerary is built around your dinner reservations. That’s because sampling local dishes and delicacies is the only way to get a real taste for a city, and that’s especially true of these six destinations. From sipping mezcal in Oaxaca to dreaming up your perfect okonomiyaki in Osaka, these destinations are true foodie paradises -- and worth a visit for their regional fare alone."

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Hikers with Dog at Craggy Pinnacle

Our 5 Favorite Dog-Friendly Cities for Adventurous Pups

Men's Journal - December 1, 2019

"Here, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite dog-friendly cities with a plethora of restaurants, hotels, and outdoor activities—perfect for you and your four-legged friend."

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Holiday Lights Downtown

12 Festive American Towns Offering Holiday Carolers, Boat Parades, Polar Trains -- Even Elves

Forbes - November 25, 2019

"Enjoy Americana in the holiday season at these dozen places, with candle-lit strolls, sleigh rides and much good cheer."

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Holiday Lights Downtown Asheville

16 of the Most Festive Places to Spend the Holidays in the US

INSIDER - November 18, 2020

"Few things compare to spending the holidays in a beautiful and quaint Southern town overlooking mountains. Asheville, North Carolina, is home to tons of coffee shops, boutiques, and great restaurants. Sip a Cold Mountain Winter Ale from Highland Brewing Company, Asheville's oldest brewery, or stroll through Asheville's decorated Main Street."

Read the INSIDER article
DTN - PS - North Carolina Arboretum - Holiday

The 20 most festive places to spend the holidays in the US

INSIDER - November 9, 2019

"While there may be no place like home for the holidays, these festive cities and towns come pretty darn close."

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Laughing Seed Vegan

8 cities that are making it easier to go vegan

Market Watch - November 7, 2019

"With the number of vegans in the U.S. on the rise, there’s no mistaking the need for great restaurants serving up delectable plant-based meals throughout the country. Luckily for foodies of every stripe, vegan food can be as delectable as any meal made for omnivores. Want proof? Check out the mouthwatering offerings in these vegan-friendly U.S. cities that are making it easier for visitors and residents alike to “go veg.”"

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Biltmore Christmas

The 10 Most Festive Christmas Towns in the US for 2019

Travel Market Report - November 5, 2019

"Holiday season is just around the corner. And year after year, these towns across the U.S. bring to life the spirit of Christmas. Each is worth visiting in its own right, or any of these destinations can be added onto a nearby, scheduled family holiday visit."

Read the Travel Market Report article
Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley

The 50 Most Festive Cities in the World

Big 7 Travel - November 1, 2019

"As Buddy the Elf would say…Santa’s coming! Hop on the sleigh and get ready to fly around the world as we explore the 50 most festive cities."

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Beer in Asheville

Asheville is One of the Best Craft Beer Cities in the U.S. – Here are all the breweries to visit

Travel + Leisure - October 27, 2019

"Asheville is, perhaps, one of the younger craft beer towns in the U.S., but it’s not exactly green when it comes to quality brews. Much like Portland, San Diego, and Seattle, Asheville was a bit of a beer ghost town due to Prohibition, but craft brewing changed all of that."

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Woman holding beer glass at burial

Asheville’s Ambitious Brewers Are Pushing the Boundaries of Beer

Food & Wine - October 22, 2019

"The city's experimental brews include wild peach lager, Thai green curry-inspired beer, and a porter painstakingly recreated from a 1922 recipe."

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Bhramari

Beer City: These Women Are at the Forefront of Asheville’s Explosive Fermentation Industry

Fortune - October 19, 2019

"Nicknamed Beer City, Asheville is home to more than 30 breweries, as well as an urban winery and several cideries. However, fermentation goes far beyond alcohol in this city."

Read the Fortune article
Burial Beer Taps

Breweries of All Shapes, Sizes Makes North Carolina A Craft Beer Mecca

Forbes - October 16, 2019

"From the mountains to the coastline, high-quality craft breweries have sprung up and made the Tar Heel State a must-visit craft brewery destination."

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Couple by Fire Pit at Wicked Weed Brewing

8 Romantic Fall Weekend Trips to Take with a Significant Other

Jetsetter - September 27, 2019

"All relationships could benefit from a break in routine, and a weekend trip is the perfect way to do that this fall. Whether you and your partner are brand new to the let’s-travel-together stage or have been together for years and want to reconnect in an unfamiliar setting, these small towns, outdoor escapes, and fascinating cities will provide the perfect opportunity. From the Midwest to Europe, read on to discover our favorite fall weekend trips to spark some romance."

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Rhubarb Bartender

10 Best Cities for Bar Hopping

Thrillist - September 14, 2019

"With their extreme walkability and obscene wealth of great, wildly diverse bars, these are the greatest bar-hopping cities in America."

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Busker Downtown

Visiting Asheville? It’s like Brooklyn, but Cooler

Boston Globe - September 12, 2019

"Nestled in North Carolina’s stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, the vibrant city lures tourists with its award-winning restaurants, local brews, and hopping music scene."

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Chow Chow Meal

Long Misunderstood, Appalachian Food Finds a Spotlight

The New York Times - September 9, 2019

"Chefs like Sean Brock and Katie Button are embracing and expanding on the region’s cooking, which is far more varied than most people realize."

Read the The New York Times article
Summer Hike

Summer’s Not Over Yet! 8 Ways to Extend Your Vacation

The New York Times - September 2, 2019

"With plenty of warm days left in September and beyond, Labor Day doesn’t have to mark the end of the traditional vacation season."

Read the The New York Times article
Busker Downtown

Hear the 10 essential sounds of America

National Geographic - August 23, 2019

"These destinations march to the beat of their own drum."

Read the National Geographic article
Spring Hike

The 9 Best Mountain Towns in America

Jetsetter - August 15, 2019

"There are few vacations more head-clearing than a mountain getaway. Between the blasts of crisp alpine air and the breathtaking scenery—dense forests, towering peaks, and postcard-perfect main streets—a mountain escape promises a true recharge. Read on for 9 of this country's best."

Read the Jetsetter article
Hi-Wire Flight

Say Cheers to the 15 Best Beer Cities Around the World

CNN Travel - August 2, 2019

"It's a wild, wild world of beer out there — and we're not just talking about the fermentation going on in the tanks! The craft beer scene has taken over almost every inch of the globe, from Australia to Estonia and pretty much everywhere in between. With experimental breweries, new takes on old traditions, and pubs catering to beer lovers of all palates, there's a beer for you no matter where you're traveling. It might not be possible to drink them all, but if you want to get the most bang for your beer buck, put one of these brew-centric cities on your bucket list and grab your passport."

Read the CNN Travel article
Craggy Garden Picnic

The 50 Best Things To Do in Asheville

PureWow - July 29, 2019

"Southern American cities like New Orleans, Nashville and Austin may get a lot of love, but Asheville, North Carolina, is coming in hot these days thanks to a thriving culinary scene of rising chefs with pedigreed backgrounds, a booming craft brewery business, eclectic arts and music offerings and quirky-cool sensibility. Plus, its serene Blue Ridge Mountains landscape proves why getting back to basics in this Appalachian neck of the woods is always a good idea. Home to a plethora of national forests and wildlife preserves—in addition to some of America’s oldest estates and factories turned swanky hotels and bars—there’s a little bit of everything. Here are 50 of the best things to do in the Land of the Sky."

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Wai Mauna SUP Tour

Life’s more than a beach. Four mountain towns to visit this summer

The Washington Post - July 19, 2019

"If you balk at the notion of abandoning surf and sand, consider this itinerary: awakening to humidity-free mountain vistas, hiking and biking through a wildlife-rich wilderness and tucking into a locally sourced lunch — complete with craft beer, of course. Then, after the day’s workout, settling into an Adirondack chair to watch the sky move from pink to inky black, a backdrop for the nightly kaleidoscope of constellations. Sound appealing? We thought so. Here are four U.S. destinations renowned for their hiking, biking, dining and bounty of mountain charm."

Read the The Washington Post article
Skyline with Arras Complete

20 underrated cities around the world you should visit in your lifetime

INSIDER - July 15, 2019

"Fascinating cities can get overshadowed when they're near other tourist favorites. They may not be as well-known, but they have just as much to offer (and will probably be less crowded, too). Here are 20 underrated cities you'll want to add to your bucket list."

Read the INSIDER article
French Broad Chocolate

The 15 Best Cities in the United States

Travel + Leisure - July 10, 2019

"One would be hard-pressed to find a better-traveled bunch of folks than the readers of Travel + Leisure. You’ve scaled Kilimanjaro and sailed to Antarctica; scarfed kouign-amann in Paris and raised a glass of genever in Amsterdam; spotted whale sharks in the Andaman Sea and trailed elephants in Botswana. But as the most seasoned globetrotters know, there are adventures to be had anywhere you look — and the possibilities to be found in your own backyard are limitless. That’s why, as part of our annual World’s Best Awards, we bring you not merely Tahitian overwater bungalows and a lineup of dreamy faraway destinations but also lists like this one, which highlights the most beloved places to go within your own country."

Read the Travel + Leisure article
Twins on Fire

100 Reasons to Love America in 2019

People - July 1, 2019

"From Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers to goat yoga and BBQ, there are so many reasons to love the USA this summer"

Read the People article
Busker

Unexpected Inspiration

USA Today Travel: Go Escape - July 1, 2019

"See Pages 94-98"

Read the USA Today Travel: Go Escape article
tailgate Market

The 28 friendliest neighborhoods in U.S. cities

National Geographic - June 3, 2019

"Where are the most welcoming urban enclaves? Read on."

Read the National Geographic article
Barbecue

The Past as Possibility in the Appalachian South

Eater - June 3, 2019

"How chef and Eater Young Gun Ashleigh Shanti centers African-American voices through her cooking"

Read the Eater article
sunset-asheville-skyline-cvb-103_small.jpg

The 25 Best U.S. Cities to Spend a Weekend

Thrillist - May 7, 2019

"You only get so many weekends a year -- make them all count!"

Read the Thrillist article
Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnel and Rhododendron

Flower Power: 10 of the world’s best destinations for blooms

National Geographic - May 2, 2019

"Our readers recommend the world's most enchanting places to watch flowers bloom."

Read the National Geographic article
Hiking Near Asheville

7 Top Destinations for Adventure Seekers

Luxury Travel Magazine - April 10, 2019

"An idyllic mountain city for daredevil travelers looking to escape into the Great Outdoors, Asheville, NC offers a multitude of adventure activities including hiking and camping in picturesque Great Smoky Mountain National Park, known to be the most visited national park in the nation"

Read the Luxury Travel Magazine article
180823_navitat_221.jpg

The Year's Top Destinations for Adventure Seekers

Travel Pulse - March 29, 2019

"As the adventure travel market multiplies, experts offer up noteworthy options around the country and the globe."

Read the Travel Pulse article
steep canyon square

Why Asheville, North Carolina, Is the New Must-Visit Music City

Rolling Stone - March 21, 2019

"Artists and fans alike have been flocking to the Blue Ridge Mountains town, drawn by its reputation for musical spontaneity"

Read the Rolling Stone article
170219_alchemy_055.jpg

12 of the Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in the USA

Brit + Co - March 10, 2019

"We’ve put together a list of the 12 most romantic getaways in the US for your first big trip as newlyweds. Ahead, you’ll find a mix of sandy beaches, sweet small towns, and outdoorsy spots."

Read the Brit + Co article
Asheville_AMeripol213.jpg

Does Asheville, N.C., live up to its ‘Dog City, USA’ claim?

The Washington Post - March 1, 2019

"Sniffing out the country’s dog-friendliest locale, the writer and her beagle consider the mountain town."

Read the The Washington Post article
Wedge at Foundation

Things to do in Asheville that'll appeal to both hipsters and hippies

Best Products - February 21, 2019

"Boutique hotels, beer gardens, and Blue Ridge Mountain views — what's not to love?"

Read the Best Products article
wicked weed flight

Asheville: Where breweries come to play

CNN - February 12, 2019

"Asheville is a popular destination in the North Carolina mountains with a big beer scene. Lisa White, whose White Labs sells yeast to local breweries, share her favorite places to eat, drink and play."

Read the CNN article
C91A5629.jpg

20 OF THE TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN THE US IN 2019

Trip Advisor - January 28, 2019

"A new year means opportunities to make new, unforgettable travel memories. This year, consider a visit to a US destination you may not have thought of before (or alternatively, see if the hype for some of America’s up-and-coming hotspots is justified)."

Read the Trip Advisor article
Sunny Point Breakfast Plates

Want to Try the Most Exciting Food in America? Leave New York City

Bloomberg - January 24, 2019

"Smaller cities like Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Asheville are where the culinary heat is right now. Here’s what you need to know."

Read the Bloomberg article
The Orange Peel

Why Asheville is America’s next major music city

Lonely Planet - January 23, 2019

"In Asheville, music is fuel for the city, integrated into every aspect of local culture. You’ll discover music in some unusual places, from concert venues in junkyards to recording studios in churches."

Read the Lonely Planet article
FrenchBroad1.jpg

25 Destinations Beer Lovers Should Travel to in 2019

Travel Pulse - January 20, 2019

"From Germany to Australia and the US to England, the world offers a wide array of showstopping breweries."

Read the Travel Pulse article
Downtown Asheville

The 10 Best U.S. Cities to Visit in 2019

SmarterTravel - December 27, 2018

"If you’re looking for ways to squeeze more travel into your calendar this year, you only need to look around the U.S."

Read the SmarterTravel article
Winter Hiking at Black Balsam Knob Near Asheville, N.C.

5 Perfect Road Trips You Need to Take This Winter

Outside Online - December 17, 2018

"Forget airline storm delays and baggage fees. The best way to travel this winter is by hitting the open road."

Read the Outside Online article
Winter Hiking Outdoors

9 Insanely Affordable Winter Vacations for 2018-19

SmarterTravel - November 19, 2018

"Here’s how to turn these cheap-to-get-to destinations into affordable winter vacations."

Read the SmarterTravel article
2018 Fall Color Blue Ridge Parkway

5 Reasons Asheville, NC, Is America’s Greatest Fall Foliage Escape

Johnny Jet - October 19, 2018

"Asheville's mix of city treats, scenery and distinct Southern appeal make western North Carolina's largest city the best place to visit this fall."

Read the Johnny Jet article
Christmas at Biltmore 2018 Falliday

The 10 Best Fall Foliage Destination Wedding Venues

Brides - October 18, 2018

"Mother Nature makes the best decor."

Read the Brides article
Couple Downtown Asheville

The Best Cities in the U.S.

Condé Nast Traveler - October 9, 2018

"The best of America's cities, big and small, in one handy list."

Read the Condé Nast Traveler article
Asheville Fall Color

15 Of America's Best Fall Foliage Trips (Classics & Surprising Gems)

TripAdvisor - September 27, 2018

"Fall is one of our favorite seasons, and it’s those changing leaves that make this time of year so special. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best fall foliage trips across America—including classic staples and hidden gems."

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Jason Tarr

The Best Budget-Friendly U.S. Cities to Explore Solo

RetailMeNot.com - September 21, 2018

"Bit by the travel bug? Check out budget-friendly cities, such as Asheville and San Antonio. Plus, see what to do and where to stay while you're there!"

Read the RetailMeNot.com article
The Rhu

Eat Your Way Through These 8 Excellent Foodie Towns

CarRentals.com - September 6, 2018

"When you’re on the road and need food, these 8 cities will fill you up. These are the best foodie towns in America."

Read the CarRentals.com article
A couple watches the sun setting behind the western mountains from atop Craggy Gardens.

15 Best USA Cities For Hiking & Outdoor Adventure

TripAdvisor - August 15, 2018

"Many of these stellar hiking spots are within or near some of America’s coolest cities, giving you the best of both worlds when it comes to planning an urban getaway."

Read the TripAdvisor article
Asheville Mountain Scenery

Solo Vacations: 15 Best Places To Travel Alone In The USA

TripAdvisor - July 16, 2018

"Traveling alone takes you out of your comfort zone and shows you a location in a different light. A solo vacation is about cultivating a unique experience (or many experiences!), and this trend is attracting people of all ages, interests, and genders."

Read the TripAdvisor article
Gan Shan Station

The Trazees Awards 2018

Global Traveler - July 1, 2018

"Global Traveler presents the best in the world of #millennial travel"

Read the Global Traveler article
Downtown Asheville

The Top 15 Cities in the United States

Travel + Leisure - July 10, 2018

"From food-loving New Orleans to artsy Asheville, North Carolina, Southern destinations continue to be big with T+L readers."

Read the Travel + Leisure article
Downtown Asheville, N.C.

Top 10 Most Hospitable U.S. Cities, According to Airbnb

Travel Channel - June 11, 2018

"And yes, most of them actually are in the South. Find out which 10 cities topped the list and how Superhosts in those cities make their guests feel welcome."

Read the Travel Channel article
biltmore square

Top-Rated Vacation Destinations in North America

Expedia - May 10, 2018

"Looking for the best vacation spots in North America? Check out our 2nd-annual list of top-rated destinations!"

Read the Expedia article
Asheville Music Scene

Top 10 Music Cities in the U.S.

National Geographic Traveler - May 3, 2018

"We hit the road to celebrate America’s best music cities, taking in the sweet sound of jazz in New Orleans, the tenacious, gritty rap of New York, good ol’ Memphis rock, and Chicago’s inimitable blues, and more."

Read the National Geographic Traveler article
Video Thumbnail - youtube - Sammy Visits Asheville - A Day in Dog-Friendly Asheville, North Carolina

25 Best Pet-Friendly Vacations In America

FlipKey - February 16, 2018

"Here are our top pet-friendly vacations across America where your pooch pals are just as welcome as you are."

Read the FlipKey article
Downtown Asheville Skyline in Autumn

18 Top Destinations of 2018

Forbes Travel Guide - January 24, 2018

"Our annual list of the places everyone will want to travel to this year."

Read the Forbes Travel Guide article
Biltmore & Italian Gardens

18 Best Places to Visit in 2018

CNN Travel - January 24, 2018

"From the hills of historic Lisbon to a cultural and culinary delight in Mexico, here are the 18 best places to visit in 2018."

Read the CNN Travel article
Downtown Asheville Skyline with Rhododendron

2018 Top 100 Best Places to Live

Livability - January 16, 2018

"Our 5th annual ranking of the best places to live in America includes familiar names and deserving newcomers."

Read the Livability article
Social Lounge Rooftop

Best U.S. Small Cities for 2018

National Geographic Traveler - January 15, 2018

"Ratings reveal unexpected travel surprises in 30 smaller cities."

Read the National Geographic Traveler article
Asheville Downtown Skyline Night

Trekaroo's Top Treks for 2018

Trekaroo - January 14, 2018

"We are sharing the best places for families to travel in 2018. #toptreks"

Read the Trekaroo article
Downtown Asheville Skyline

30 Top USA Cities to Visit in 2018

TripAdvisor - January 2, 2018

"City adventurers, here’s a list for you. Take on 2018 in style with these 30 exciting city destinations, all inviting in their own unique ways. There’s something about the start of a new year that gives us the travel itch, so we thought we’d put together a list of 30 hot cities to visit in 2018."

Read the TripAdvisor article

More Asheville Accolades

 

2017

SmartAsset named Asheville as one of "The Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2017 Edition" (December 2017) 

Asheville made Indagare's list of "Where to Travel in 2018: Nine to Know" (December 2017)

Forbes listed Asheville as one of "The Coolest Places to Go in 2018" (December 2017)

Asheville was listed in Zagat's "30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America 2017" (December 2017)

TripAdvisor named Asheville as one of "America's 15 Most Romantic Cities for Winter Travel" (December 2017)

Condé Nast Traveler named Asheville as one of The Best Small Cities in the U.S.  (October 2017) 

Expedia listed Asheville as one of The 12 Best Music Towns in the Nation. (September 2017)

Asheville made Garden & Gun’s “The South’s Best Food Towns” list. (September 2017)

Asheville topped RewardExpert's "2017 Best American Foodie Towns" list for the South Atlantic region. (September 2017)

Southern Living selected Asheville as one of its "15 Southern Cities All Food Lovers Should Visit Now." (August 2017)

CarRentals.com included Asheville in a round-up of the "20 Most Unique Cities to Visit in Your 20s." (July 2017)

Asheville was recognized as one of Travel + Leisure's "Top 15 Cities in the United States." (July 2017)

U.S. News & World Report named Asheville #3 on its "Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA" and #20 on its "Best Places to Visit in the USA" rankings. (June 2017)

Asheville's music scene was recognized by SmarterTravel.com, making its "9 Best Destinations for Music Lovers" list (the only U.S. destination to do so). (June 2017)

TripAdvisor.com placed Asheville among its “20 Best Summer Vacations in America to Fit Your Budget." (May 2017)

Asheville was featured on Expedia's Viewfinder blog as a "Top-Rated Vacation Destination in North America." (April 2017)

FlipKey.com, a company of TripAdvisor, recognized Asheville on its list of "Six ‘Hidden Gem’ Spring Break Destinations to Explore in 2017." (March 2017)

Tasting Table picked Asheville for its round-up of "The 7 Under-the-Radar Cities You Must Visit This Year." (January 2017)

Lonely Planet badgeAsheville was included on lists of "The 17 Best Places to Travel in 2017" by both Harper's Bazaar and Esquire. (January 2017)

Travel + Leisure selected Asheville as one of the "18 Best Cities in America for Solo Travelers." (January 2017)    

AFAR ranked Asheville among its 16 U.S. destinations to explore now. (January 2017)

Asheville was named Lonely Planet's #1 "Best in the U.S. Destination for 2017." (January 2017) 

 

2016

SmartAsset.com ranked Asheville #1 among "The Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2016 Edition." (December 2016)

Black Mountain won TripAdvisor.com's readers’ choice "America's Prettiest Small Town Vacations." (December 2016) 

Travelocity.com included Asheville on its list of "Festive Favorites: The Top 15 Cities for Seasonal Brews." (November 2016)

VacationIdea.com featured Asheville among its "25 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina." (November 2016)

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler picked Asheville as #10 among "The Best Small Cities in the U.S." (October 2016)

Asheville was among TripstoDiscover.com's "Most Beautiful Small Towns to Visit in the U.S." (August 2016)

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler again voted Asheville #7 among "The 2016 Friendliest Cities in the U.S." (August 2016)

In a poll conducted by American Craft Week, Asheville came in at #7 on a list of "America's Top 10 Towns for Craft Lovers." (July 2016)

Travel + Leisure selected Asheville as #10 on its ranking of "The Best Cities in the U.S." (July 2016)

Asheville was included as one of "10 Small Cities With World-Class Food Scenes" by THRILLIST. (June 2016)

Asheville topped the list of "The 12 Best Places to Retire in the U.S." by Condé Nast Traveler. (May 2016)

Asheville made Condé Nast Traveler's round-up of "Where to Find the Best Beer in the World." (April 2016)

THRILLIST named Asheville one of its "25 Best U.S. Cities to Spend a Weekend." (March 2016)

Fortune ranked Asheville among its "Best New Cities for Beer Lovers" after a survey of those in the industry. (March 2016)

Asheville's The Orange Peel made the cut for Matador Network's list of "7 Places to See Incredible Live Music in North Carolina." (March 2016)

Asheville was considered one of the "Best Cities to Visit While Vacationing Solo" by AFAR deputy editor Jennifer Flowers during an appearance on CBS This Morning: Saturday. (March 2016)

Travel + Leisure featured Asheville at #11 on its list of "The Best Cities in North America." (February 2016)

U.S. News & World Report put Asheville on its round-up of the "Best Foodie Destinations in the USA." (February 2016)

Asheville topped the list of "The Coziest Cities in America," as reported by Elle Decor following a third-annual study sponsored by Honeywell Heaters. (February 2016)

Budget Travel named Asheville among its "Where to Go in 2016" destinations. (January 2016)

Expedia Viewfinder picked Asheville as one of the "Best Cities for Keeping Your Resolutions," specifically to "spend more quality time with family and friends." (January 2016)

Garden & Gun included The Grey Eagle on a round-up of "10 Must-See Southern Music Venues." (January 2016)

 

2015

SmartAsset.com ranked Asheville #2 among "The Best Cities for Beer Drinkers" following a study that analyzed various sources of data. (December 2015)

Asheville was featured by VacationIdea.com on its list of the "22 Best Small-Town Family Weekend Destinations." (November 2015)

Booking.com named Asheville one of its "Top Emerging Foodie Cities Across the U.S." (October 2015)

SmarterTravel.com chose Asheville among its "10 Best Outdoor Towns in America." (October 2015)

Asheville was once again included on TripAdvisor.com's list of the "Top 10 Fall-Foliage Destinations in the U.S." (September 2015)

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted Asheville #9 among "The 30 Best Small Cities in America" and #7 among "The 2015 Friendliest Cities in the U.S." (August 2015)

Asheville was picked at #6 on MusicFromTheRow.com's list of the "Top 10 Music Cities Other Than Nashville." (July 2015)

Travel + Leisure featured Asheville at #10 on its 2015 list of the "World's Best Cities" for the United States and Canada. (July 2015)

Asheville was one of six cities spotlighted by Business Jet Traveler as "Best U.S. Foodie Meccas." (June 2015) 

TravelChannel.com named Asheville one of its "Top 5 Pet-Friendly Towns." (April 2015)

THRILLIST ranked the live-music scene in Asheville as #10 in its round-up of "America's 12 Greatest Music Cities." (April 2015)

Collaborate Magazine included Asheville on its list of the "Top 12 Foodie Cities for Meetings in 2015." (April 2015) 

Asheville is considered one of "The 11 Best Drinking Cities in America" by THRILLIST. (March 2015)

The Huffington Post featured Asheville on its list of "The 9 Most Romantic Cities in the South." (March 2015)

Matador Network selected Asheville for the number-one slot in its round-up of "The 20 Coolest Towns in the U.S." (February 2015)

Asheville was listed among the "14 Best Small Cities for a First Date" by DatingAdvice.com. (February 2015)

Asheville was ranked as the third "Coziest City" in the country, according to a study sponsored by Honeywell Heaters. (February 2015)

Gear Patrol named Asheville one of its "25 Best Places to Travel in 2015." (January 2015)

Asheville is featured on TripAdvisor.com's "Top Romantic Trip Destinations." (January 2015)

MovieMaker chose Asheville as #2 on its annual "Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker" list. (January 2015) 

Condé Nast Traveler included Asheville among its "America's Best Beer Cities" round-up. (January 2015)

 

2014

Asheville is among Frommer's' "Best Places to Go in 2015." (December 2014)

Yelp ranked Asheville #4 on its list of the "Top 20 Cities to Shop Local for the Holidays." (November 2014)

Asheville is considered one of "America's Smartest Cities" by Forbes. (November 2014) 

Orbitz.com's Travel Blog chose taking a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway as #1 on its list of "Seven Things You Absolutely Must Try in a National Park." (November 2014)

USA TODAY picked Asheville as one of the 10 best places to see "The Brightest Fall Foliage Around the USA." (November 2014) 

Asheville was featured in a round-up by The Huffington Post on "The 13 Greatest Destination Food Towns in America." (October 2014) 

A just-released National Geographic Travel book named Asheville one of the "World's Best Cities." (October 2014)

MusicSchoolCentral.com included Asheville on its list of "The 10 College Towns With the Best Music Scenes in America." (October 2014) 

Asheville is among TravelandLeisure.com's "Most Romantic Fall Getaways." (October 2014)

FlipKey.com, the vacation-rental company of TripAdvisor, recognized Asheville on its top-10 list of the "Best Fall East Coast Vacation Spots." (September 2014)

Livability.com's second-annual ranking of the 100 best small- to mid-sized cities in the U.S. included Asheville in the #12 slot. (September 2014)

Asheville is considered America's #1 "Quirkiest Town," according to TravelandLeisure.com. (August 2014)

USA TODAY selected Asheville as one of the top "Southern Literary Destinations." (August 2014)

Rhubarb and Curate were recently featured in round-ups of the best restaurants in the South by CNN.com and Food Republic. (August 2014)

In a bracket-style vote, Outside Magazine readers picked Asheville as one of this year's "Best Towns Ever." (August 2014)

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted Asheville #10 among the "2014 Friendliest Cities in the U.S." (August 2014)

Asheville was highlighted as one of "America's Five Best Beer Cities" by Wine Enthusiast. (July 2014) 

Real Estate Scorecard recognized Asheville as the "Most Beautiful Place in America to Live and More." (July 2014)

Asheville was chosen as one of BrideMeetsWedding.com's "10 Great Honeymoon Locations Within the U.S.," coming in at #5. (July 2014)

SingleTracks.com listed Asheville among its "10 Beer Towns With a Mountain Biking Problem." (July 2014) 

Livability.com placed Asheville at #4 on its "Top 10 Foodie Cities 2014" round-up. (June 2014)

Departures called Asheville "The Biggest Little Culinary Capital in America." (June 2014)

Asheville was featured on USA Today's "Best Summer Weekend Escapes" list, chosen by readers of USA Today and 10Best. (May 2014)

Purina ONE selected Asheville as a "perfect dog-friendly city" after touring the country to find the best place to kick off its 28-Day Challenge. (May 2014) 

THRILLIST named Asheville one of the "7 Most Underrated Food Cities in America." (March 2014)

National Geographic featured Asheville on its editors' list of the "Best Spring Trips 2014." (March 2014) 

Asheville made SaveOnEnergy.com's list of the "Top 10 Cities to Visit for Earth Day 2014," coming in at #5. (March 2014)

Men's Journal included Black Mountain on its list of the "Best Places to Rent a Summer Home." (March 2014)

The Omni Grove Park Inn made USA Today's "10 Best Places: Have a Heart-to-Hearth at These Hotels" list. (February 2014)

MovieMaker designated Asheville as #1 on its 2014 edition of the "Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker." (January 2014)

Asheville was spotlighted on a list of "Alternative Travel Destinations For 2014" by Men's Journal. (January 2014)

Forbes Travel Guide Blog featured Asheville as one of its "Five Secret Foodie Cities." (January 2014)

Asheville was named one of Imbibe Magazine's "75 People, Places and Flavors That Will Shape the Way You Drink in 2014." (January 2014)

 

2013

ConventionSouth recognized Asheville as one of its "Best Meeting Sites in the South Readers' Choice Awards" recipients. (December 2013)

Cúrate was included among OpenTable's "2013 Diners' Choice Top 100 Best Restaurants in America." (December 2013)

Asheville Brewing Company earned a spot (#11) on Travel+Leisure's list of "America's Coolest Breweries."(October 2013) 

Asheville topped VegNews' round-up of "12 Dreamy Towns for Vegan Living." (July 2013)

FlipKey listed Asheville Beer Week (May 23-June 1) as one of the nation's Top Ten Summer Beer Festivals. (May 2013)

Forbes featured Asheville as one of the top 5 Beer Cities to Hit This Summer. (May 2013)

Southern Living magazine named Asheville one of the "Tastiest Towns in the South." Asheville was recognized for its intrepid casual fare led by a tight-knit group of indie-chefs. (May 2013)

 

2012

Wedge Brewing earned a spot on the "Best Beers of 2012" list by CNN's Eatocracy blog, which gave a shout out to Wedge's Vadim Bora Russian Imperial Stout. (December 2012)

Asheville became America's first Green Dining Destination as the 16th area restaurant earned its Green Restaurant Certification. (November 2012) 

Fodor's named Asheville as a Best Destination for Fall Foliage in a feature on the TODAY Show. (September 2012) 

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Spa at the Inn on Biltmore Estate as one of the top 75 spas on the U.S. mainland. (June 2012)

Outside magazine and American Rivers named Asheville among America's best river towns. (June 2012)

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler ranked the Spa at the Inn on Biltmore Estate as one of the top 75 spas on the U.S. mainland. (June 2012) 

Asheville maintained its "Beer City USA" reign, tying with Grand Rapids, Mich. in the fourth year of an online poll posted on Examiner.com. (May 2012)

Asheville won the 2012 Reader's Choice Awards on About.com for Most Romantic Place in the USA and Canada. (April 2012)

 

2011

Users of TripAdvisor.com pick three Asheville B&Bs among the Top 25 in the U.S. The Reynolds Mansion (#2), Biltmore Village Inn (#8) and 1900 Inn on Montford (#20) all take top honors.

TripAdvisor.com lists Asheville as one of its "15 Destinations on the Rise." (December 2011)

Zagat.com included Firestorm Cafe & Books in a list of the "10 Coolest Independent Coffee Shops Across the US." 

Condé Nast Traveler's annual Reader's Choice Awards Poll chose two Asheville properties among the best in the nation. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa was rated a Top U.S. Resort, and the Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville was rated at Top U.S. Hotel.

Asheville is named "Best Place to Start a Fall Foliage Tour" by Livability.com (October 2011)

The editors of Prevention magazine and Fitbie rank Asheville as the #5 best U.S. city for weight loss, thanks to a wide variety of options for finding farm fresh food choices. (October 2011)

Asheville comes in at #10 in TripAdvisor.com's Travelers' Choice Awards for top food and wine destinations in the U.S. (October 2011)

Good Morning America featured Asheville as one of its "Most Beautiful Places in America." (August 2011)

DogFriendly.com released its list of "Top 10 Resort Areas to Visit with your Dog" in the U.S. and named Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway as #2. (August 2011)

Yoga Journal magazine includes Asheville in its list of "10 Fantastically Yoga-Friendly Towns." (August 2011)

Asheville again rises to the top of AmericanStyle magazine's Top 25 Small City Arts Destinations, narrowly beating Santa Fe in the annual readers' poll. (May 2011)

Online poll on Examiner.com: "Asheville, BeerCity USA 2011 makes it a three-pete" Asheville won with more than 46% of the vote and significant support from outside North Carolina. (May 2011)

Livability lists McCormick Field, the home of the Asheville Tourists, as one of the top 10 minor league stadiums. (March 2011)

The Donald Ross-designed course at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa makes the reader-nominated list of "125 Top Golf Resorts." (April 2011)

Fodors.com names Asheville as one of the "21 Places We're Going in 2011," highlighting the city's food and drink scene and its artsy vibe. (January 2011)

The Traveler's Choice Awards on TripAdvisor.com named the Residences at Biltmore the #23 hotel in the nation. (January 2011)

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2010

TripAdvisor.com: Asheville was named #1 place to view fall foliage in 2010. (September 2010)

White House Statement: During President Obama’s spring vacation in Asheville, White House spokeswoman Moira Mack issued the following statement, “The president first visited the Asheville area during the campaign, and he liked it so much that he vowed to take his family there. The president and first lady are planning to spend a quiet weekend enjoying some of the many things this beautiful part of the country has to offer.” (April 2010)

Online Poll Posted on Examiner.com: Asheville holds onto its title as Beer City USA. (May 2010)

AmericanStyle.com: Asheville was ranked the number one small city (population under 100,000) for the arts in their annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” reader’s poll. (May 2010)

Livability.com: Ranked Asheville one of their 10 most surprisingly vibrant food cities. (April 2010)

Sherman's Travel: Named Asheville as one of its top 10 spring getaways. (March 2010)

Golf Magazine: The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa’s Donald Ross designed golf course was honored as a new gold medal winner in the 12th edition of their Premier Resorts ranking. More than 6,000 readers cast votes on Golf.com to determine the winners. (March 2010)

TopRetirements.com: Asheville was rated number one in TopRetirement.com’s list of the most popular retirement towns for 2010. (February 2010)

RateBeer.com: This craft beer aficionado Web site named several Asheville area restaurants, breweries and craft beer stores in their annual RateBeer Best 2010. (January 2010)

Bruisin’ Ales – Number three best beer retailer worldwide
The Thirsty Monk – Number 41 Beer Bar
Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria – Number 27 Beer Restaurant
Mellow Mushroom – Number 41 Beer Restaurant
Highland Brewing – Number 26 Brewery to Visit
Wedge Brewery – Number 43 Brewpub

Southern Living: In the magazine’s “Best of the South Travel Awards,” Asheville’s Little Pigs BBQ placed second in the best barbecue in North Carolina category. (January 2010) 

Points North: The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa made Point’s North list of the editorial staff’s top 10 favorite resorts in the Southeast and the Caribbean isles. (January 2010)

Travel+Leisure: Asheville’s Inn on Biltmore Estate and Richmond Hill Inn were named in the magazine’s "500 Best Hotels" list. (January 2010)

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2009

Byways: Named Asheville as one of the magazine's "Top 50 North American Group Tour Destinations of 2010." (December 2009)

Sherman’s Travel: The online travel resource, Sherman’s Travel, named the Blue Ridge Parkway in their list of “Top 10 Value Destinations for 2010.” (December 2009)

U.S. News & World Report: Named Asheville as one of “America's Best Affordable Places to Retire.” (September 28, 2009)

USA Today’s Road Warrior Panel: A panel of 1,000+ travelers who voluntarily provide travel information for USA Today named Asheville as one of their top cities for business trips. Asheville got high marks from the panel for its “great arts and music scene; a community mix of mountain folk, bohemians, business people and highly educated locals; wonderful outdoors lifestyle and fly-fishing; and organic Caribbean-Cuban-Mexican-Jamaican food at Salsa Mexican Caribbean Restaurant.” (August 12, 2009)

HuffingtonPost.com: Named Asheville as one of its “Top 10 Undiscovered Local Food Cities.” (August 2009)

Imbibe Magazine’s Internet Poll: Asheville took first place with over 55% of the votes as “Best Craft Beer City in America.” (July 2009)

DogFriendly.com: Released its “Top 10 Dog-Friendly Resort Regions” in the U.S. and named Asheville as one of the best vacation spots to visit with your dog. (June 23, 2009)

Online Poll Posted on Examiner.com: Asheville won the East Coast title for “Beer City U.S.A.” in an online poll posted by founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian on Examiner.com. (May 2009)

AmericanStyle: For the second year, Asheville held the number two spot in the small cities category (population under 100,000) in the annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” reader’s poll. (April 2009)

Forbes.com: In their 11th annual ranking of the “Best Places for Business and Careers,” Asheville ranked as #6 in the top metro areas category. (March 25, 2009)

D.K. Shifflet & Associates: This leading travel and tourism research company ranked Asheville as a top 10 value destination for couples in search of romance on its list of cities with the best value for the money. Asheville came in third place, beating out Nashville, San Diego, San Francisco, Myrtle Beach and Las Vegas. (February 2009)

Southern Living: Announced their “Best of the South Readers’ Choice Awards” and readers of the magazine recognized these Asheville favorites:

  • Best Breakfast or Brunch Restaurant – Moose Café (Placed #9 out of 10)
  • Southern Favorite Restaurants – Moose Café (Placed #10 out of 10)
  • Best Splurge Restaurants – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Scenic View – Grandfather Mountain (Placed #2 out of 10) and Chimney Rock Park (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Public Gardens – Biltmore Gardens (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Southern City – Asheville (Placed #8 out of 10)
  • Best Hotel – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #1 out of 10) and the Inn on Biltmore Estate (Placed #8 out of 10)

(January 2009)

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2008

Yahoo! Real Estate: Asheville was named as one of the top ten places to live. (December 2008)

National Geographic Traveler: Asheville received honors in the magazine’s Fifth Annual Places Rated Survey. Asheville ranked in the top 50 globally and top 10 nationally. The city placed first among North Carolina destinations. (October 2008)

Forbes Traveler: Included Asheville Green Cottage in its list of top green hotels in America. (September 2008)

Travel+Leisure: Asheville’s Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa ranked number 13 in magazine’s list of Top 20 Hotel Spas. (August 2008)

Travel+Leisure: Asheville’s Inn on Biltmore Estate ranked number 36 in magazine’s list of Top 100 Hotels in the Continental U.S. and Canada. (August 2008)

Travel+Leisure: Asheville’s Richmond Hill Inn ranked number 9 in magazine’s list of Top 10 Hotels: $250 or Less. (August 2008)

AmericanStyle: Ranked Asheville number two in the small cities category (population under 100,000) in the annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” reader’s poll. (June 2008)

Where to Retire Magazine: Honored Asheville as one of its “Eight Enriching Towns for Art and Music Lovers,” touting the many wonderful art studios, seasonal art walks and Bele Chere, the largest free outdoor music festival in the Southeast. (May/June 2008)

Rolling Stone: The Orange Peel music club was named one of America’s best rock music venues in its “Best of Rock” issue. (April 2008)

NuWire Investor: Named Asheville one of the top 10 places to buy vacation rental homes in the U.S. (March 2008)

Condé Nast Traveler: Announced its fourteenth annual Gold List and recognized the Inn on Biltmore Estate. For the Gold List, the magazine takes its 2007 Readers’ Choice Awards winners and delves deeper in the responses, rating hotels for their food, activities, service, rooms, design and location. (January 2008)

Country Home Magazine: Asheville was recognized as one of the top 25 green cities in America for their “2007 Best Green Places” rankings. (January 2008)

Southern Living: Announced their “Best of the South Readers’ Choice Awards” and readers of the magazine recognized these Asheville favorites:
Best Resorts/Hotels – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and Inn on Biltmore Estate
Best Mountain Destination – Asheville
Best Scenic Highway – Blue Ridge Parkway in the Asheville corridor
(January 2008)

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2007

Conde Nast Traveler: The Inn on Biltmore Estate was recognized in Conde Nast Traveler's readers’ choice awards as one of the top 100 best hotels in the world. (November 2007)

Outside Magazine: Asheville ranked as “Best Southern Town” in its “Best Towns In America” story. In each region of the country, the magazine selected the best town with a population of fewer than 100,000 people and the best city with a population of more than 100,000 people. Winners are all “smart, progressive burgs with gorgeous wilderness playgrounds,”places that “have realistic housing and job markets,” according to the magazine. (August 2007)

TopRetirements.com: Asheville made the list as number one in topretirements.com's “Top 10 Most Popular Retirement Towns.” (August 2007)

AmericanStyle Magazine: Ranked Asheville number five in the small cities and towns category (population under 100,000) in the annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” reader’s poll. (June 2007)

Cities Ranked & Rated: This sourcebook for anyone looking to find the best place to live ranked Asheville as number seven among their analysis of more than 400 metro areas in the U.S. and Canada. Asheville was ranked on the following criteria: economy and jobs, cost of living, climate, education, health and healthcare, crime, transportation, leisure, arts and culture, and overall quality of life. (May 2007)

Relocate-America.com: Asheville rated number one in the Web site’s annual ranking of the most popular places to live for 2007. (April 2007)

America’s 100 Best Places to Retire: This guide to today’s top retirement towns included Asheville as one of the best cities or towns for modern retirees. (April 2007)

VirtualTourist.com: Asheville is featured as one of the “Top 10 Up-and-Coming Travel Destinations” announced by VirtualTourist. (March 2007)

American Institute of Architects: Named Biltmore Estate on its list of Top 10 Architectural Wonders based on a public poll. Biltmore Estate is ranked among the Empire State Building, White House, Golden Gate Bridge and Chrysler Building on this prestigious list issued by the AIA.

Condé Nast Traveler: Announced its thirteenth annual Gold List and among those recognized are Inn on Biltmore Estate and Richmond Hill Inn. For the Gold List, the magazine takes its 2006 Readers’ Choice Awards winners and delves deeper in the responses, rating hotels for their food, activities, service, rooms, design and location. (January 2007)

Southern Living: Announced their Best of the South Readers’ Choice Awards and readers of the magazine recognized these Asheville favorites:
Resort/Hotel – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Mountain Destination – Asheville
Scenic Drive – Blue Ridge Parkway
Public Gardens – Biltmore Estate
Country Inn/ Bed & Breakfast – The Red Rock Inn, Black Mountain
(January 2007)

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2006

Frommer’s: Named Asheville one of twelve top travel destinations for 2007. (November 21, 2006)

Conde Nast Traveler: Named the Inn on Biltmore Estate in its “2006 Gold List: The World’s Best Places to Stay.” (January 2006)    

Southern Living: In the 2006 Reader’s Choice Awards, Asheville took first place in the best mountain destination category. The Blue Ridge Parkway also ranked first in the scenic drive category and the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa won the best resort / hotel top spot. (February 2006)

GoVeg.com: Asheville voted first as “America’s Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small City.” (March 2006)

Men’s Journal: Named Asheville one of the 50 best places to live in the “Singles Scene” category. (April 2006)

Forbes:  In its annual ranking of “Best Places for Business and Careers,” Asheville ranked #24. (May 4, 2006)

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: The magazine combed the country for cities that embody a reasonable cost of living coupled with a great quality of life. Asheville ranked seventh in the “50 Smart Cities” list. (May 8, 2006)

AmericanStyle Magazine: Ranked Asheville second in the small cities and towns category (population under 100,000) in the ninth annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” reader’s poll. (June 2006)

Southern Accents: Asheville was ranked first in the favorite mountain getaway and third in the favorite golf and spa destination in the Southern Accents Reader Travel Awards. (May/June 2006)

Cottage Living: Asheville’s Albermarle Park neighborhood was chosen by Cottage Living magazine as one of the "Top Ten Cottage Communities in the U.S." (June 20, 2006)

Blue Ridge Outdoors: Saw Asheville as a Southern town leading the Green Revolution and named Asheville one of the greenest towns in the south. (July 2006)

Outside Magazine: Asheville rated the number one whitewater town in the country. (August 2006)

Designated Preserve America Community by First Lady Laura Bush: Asheville’s communities and neighborhoods were designated as preserving and using their heritage resources for community economic, educational, and cultural benefit and development. (October 2006)

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2005

Organic Style: Asheville was ranked seventh in a listing of the 10 Greatest Escapes in America. (July/August 2005).

Vegetarian Times: Asheville named one of 10 small towns in the article, “The 20 greenest spots in the country.”

Southern Living: Readers voted Asheville the First Place winner in the “Mountain Destination” Category.

AmericanStyle Magazine: Readers voted Asheville eighth in a poll of the Top 25 Arts Destinations, up from tenth in the 2004 poll.

RelocateAmerica.com: Named Asheville ninth in “America’s Top 100 Places to Live in 2005.” The nominated towns were compared against education, crime, employment and housing data for the past year.

Men’s Journal: Western North Carolina attractions, Asheville's Early Girl Eatery and The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa listed in its "12 Months of Adventure" expert's guide to the perfect trip in 2005. (February 2005)

Conde Nast Traveler: Named the Inn on Biltmore Estate to its 2005 Gold List: The World's Best Places to Stay. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa was named to the 2005 Gold List Reserve.

Pinnacle Living Magazine: Asheville rated one of the top 25 towns in the Southern mountains for relocation, second homes and retirement. (2005)

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2004

Mountain Bike Magazine: Pisgah Forest voted one of the best trails for mountain biking. (October 2004)

USA Weekend Magazine: Asheville named one of five “Cities that are Special.” (July 2004)

National Geographic Adventure: Asheville listed as one of the “10 Great Adventure Towns.” (September 2004)

Men’s Journal: Asheville ranked as one of “The 10 Best Fall Mountain Bike Rides” in North America. (September 2004)

Southern Living Magazine: Asheville chosen as one of the top mountain destinations in the Southeast in a Reader’s Choice poll. (April 2004)

RelocateAmerica.com: Asheville came in fifth in “America’s Top 100 Places to Live in 2004.” The nominated towns were compared against education, crime, employment and housing data for the past year.

Where to Retire Magazine: Named Asheville one of eight great college towns. (May/June 2004)

AmericanStyle Magazine: Readers voted Asheville #10 in a poll of the Top 25 Arts Destinations, up from #18 in the previous year's poll.

Men’s Journal: Nantahala Outdoor Center -- "the Harvard of paddling instruction" -- named one of the 100 Best Trips on the Planet. (April 2004)

Cities Ranked and Rated: Named Asheville the #8 rated city in America to live in 2004. Determined by a number of essential factors, including economy and jobs, cost of living, climate, education, health and health care, crime, transportation, leisure, and arts and crafts. Presented by Frommer’s Travel Guides. (March 30, 2004)

Travel and Leisure: Named The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa as one of the top 500 greatest hotels in the world. (January 2004)

Travel and Leisure: Named The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa as one of the top resort spas in the world. (2004)

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2003

Where to Retire Magazine: Asheville selected as one of eight great walking towns. (12/15/2003)

MSN Money: Named Asheville one of the top 10 towns for a second-home investment. (2003)

MSN: Asheville named one of the top five “Best Places to Retire.” (2003)

AmericanStyle Magazine: Readers voted Asheville #18 in a poll of the Top 25 Arts Destinations. (2003)

Travel and Leisure: Named Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa as one the world's best golf resorts in a reader survey. (2003)

Blue Ridge Country Magazine: In the 15th Anniversary edition, Asheville was ranked in the top three in “Best Mountain Town,” "Best Couples Getaway,” “Best Festival,” for Bele Chere, “Best Retirement Town,” “Best Weekend Getaway,” and “Best Shopping Overall.” (August 2003)

Southern Living Magazine: Asheville chosen by a Reader’s Choice poll as one of the top mountain destinations and weekend getaways in the Southeast. (May 2003)

Mountain Bike Action: Named Asheville one of the 10 best mountain bike towns. (May 2003)

National Geographic Adventure: In their Best of Adventure 2003 Issue, Asheville was named one of the top mountain biking destinations in the Southeast. Asheville “is fast becoming the Boulder of the Southeast – with better riding.”

AARP Magazine: Asheville selected as one of the Top 15 Best Places to Reinvent Your Life. (May-June 2003)

Parents Magazine: In the round-up of "editors' picks," Asheville is listed among of the top destinations for family travel. (April 2003)

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2002

Self Magazine: Named Asheville the Happiest City in the United States.

New York Times: Asheville made the Harris Poll list of “Most Desirable Places to Live". (September 2002).

Hemispheres: Asheville joined a select list of 70 of the world’s most visible and visited cities—the only in NC ever featured in the popular United Airlines magazine. The feature piece is titled, “Three Perfect Days in Asheville.” (September 2002)

USA Weekend: Blue Ridge Parkway listed as one of noted cyclist Greg LeMond’s best scenic routes to train. (August 2002)

USA Today ran two stories one week apart entitled, “Top 10 Literary Destinations” and “Historic towns that invite you to stroll.” (July 2002).

National Trust for Historic Preservation: Listed Asheville among its List of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, describing it as “offering diverse natural, historic, and cultural experiences that preserve generations of the 'Appalachian tradition.'" (July 2002)

Men’s Journal: In the Best of Summer Issue, Asheville was listed as one of the Top 50 Hot Road Trips that “will make the greatest three months of your life.”

AmericanStyle Magazine: Readers voted Asheville as #13 in the list of the Top 25 Arts Destinations in America for “sharing a love for the arts and promoting cultural tourism.” (Summer 2002)

Bike Magazine: In nominating 2002’s premium places to live and ride, Asheville was ranked as one of America’s Top Five Best Mountain Biking Towns. (June 2002)

Where to Retire Magazine: Asheville listed as one of the Best Tax Heavens in the Country. (Spring 2002)

Book Magazine: Asheville ranked 3rd in the Top 10 Great Literary Trips in the nation. (May/June 2002)

USA Today: Ranked Gold Hill Cafe in Asheville one of "10 Great Places for Caffeine and Conversation." (March 2002)

Barron’s Online: Asheville listed as one of the Best Places to Retire. (March 2002)

Wallpaper Magazine Annual Round-Up Edition: Asheville ranked the #1 Urban Haven in the World—with benefits of rural life, urban sophistication and energy. (Jan./Feb. 2002)

Outside Magazine: Named Asheville one of the ten best outdoor towns.

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2001

Southern Living Magazine: Asheville was chosen by Reader’s Choice poll as one of the top mountain destinations and weekend getaways in the Southeast. (Fall 2001)

National Geographic Traveler: Rated Biltmore Estate in Asheville as one of America’s Top 50 Places of a Lifetime. (October 2001)

MSN Home Advisor: Ranked Asheville among the Best Five Places to Retire.

Where to Retire Magazine: Asheville rated in Ten Great Towns for Retired Singles. (Summer 2001)

Employment Review: Asheville rated one of Ten Top Small Cities in America’s Best Places to Live and Work.

American Style Magazine: Asheville rated eighth of the top 25 arts destinations in the USA. (Summer 2001)

Whitewater Paddling Magazine: Rated Asheville a Top 10 Whitewater Town.

Canoe and Kayak Magazine: Asheville named one of the top 10 paddle towns. (April 2001)

FamilyFun Magazine: Asheville named one of the top five Southeast cities for family vacations.

Mountain Bike Magazine: Named Asheville one of the 10 best U.S. cities for mountain bikers. (June 2001)

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2000

AmericanStyle Magazine: Asheville rated sixth of the top 25 arts destinations in the USA.

Modern Maturity Magazine: Ranked Asheville the #1 place to live in the small town category of 50 Most Alive Places to Live. (May-June 2000)

Money Magazine: Asheville ranked in the top five best places to retire. (July 2000)

Southern Living Magazine: Asheville was chosen in a Reader’s Choice poll as one of the top mountain destinations in the Southeast. (Fall 2000)

Expansion Management Magazine: Ranked Asheville 43rd in a Top 50 Hottest Cities list.

Rand McNally Places Rated Almanac: Ranked Asheville one of the best places to live in the United States among metropolitan areas smaller than 250,000 people, as well as one of the top five places to retire. (2000)

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