Visiting the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, NC A European Master Comes to Asheville Described as “The Paris of the South,” Asheville can boast some keen similarities to the “City of Lights,” especially those reminiscent of the Left Bank: bohemian street performers, art gallery upon art gallery, busy sidewalk cafes and of course the food scene is tres magnifique
Asheville, N.C.’s Healing History as a Wellness Retreat Asheville, North Carolina's climate was recognized almost 200 years ago as offering vital benefits to anyone who could make the trip up the mountains from South Carolina, Georgia and other regional hot spots. In Asheville and nearby towns, the chief attractions were cool mountain air and gentle breezes, the absence of
A Man with a Vision for Asheville Edwin Wiley Grove (1850 – 1927) E.W. Grove not only shaped the city of Asheville, he set in motion his dream that Asheville would become the alluring destination it is today. But who was the man behind the legendary name? Tragedy Leads To Purpose During the nineteenth century malaria struck the South with a vengeance. There was no cure and it became one
See Designer’s Vision Blossom in Asheville He designed New York’s Central Park and Prospect Park; the city of Pinehurst, North Carolina, the landscape surrounding the U.S. Capitol. He pioneered not only landscape architecture but also conservation in America, and there are few places where the genius of Frederick Law Olmsted is better preserved than at Biltmore in Asheville. His design
Walking through History on Asheville’s Urban Trail Asheville loves to do things differently. So it’s fitting the city’s history museum is outdoors along the sidewalks of downtown. Take a self-guided “scavenger hunt” to learn about tidbits of Asheville’s fascinating past. With the help of a map, walk 1.7 miles to 30 stations, each with a piece of art and a bronze
Weaving Wonders: Get a Feel for Mountain Fiber Arts in Asheville The natural fiber tradition runs deep in Western North Carolina. Spinning, knitting, weaving and felting are literally part of the region’s fabric. Some say that the tradition of selling functional weavings began 40 miles north of Asheville at a Presbyterian mission located on a remote crossroads near the Tennessee border. It
George Masa, Horace Kephart and the History of Great Smoky Mountains National Park There was drama in the mountains of Western North Carolina back in the 1920s and 1930s, and it had nothing to do with prohibition and moonshine. One need only read Serena , Ron Rash’s riveting novel set in the region’s rich timber country (or see the movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence)
From Vintage to Creepy, These Aren't Your Typical Exhibits Looking for a walk on the whimsical side? Take a look at some of Asheville's most pleasantly peculiar museums: Asheville Pinball Museum, downtown Asheville Party like it's 1979 as you play over 30 pinball machines ranging in year of origin from 1960 to 2003. Pay one admission, but play as much as you like. Nine Inch
Getting Personal With Some Blue Ridge Boutiques Asheville’s emergence as a national destination is nothing new for this bohemian mountain city. At the turn of the 20 th century, Asheville was a favorite playground of America’s rich and famous. Look past its landmark buildings, however, and you’ll find a rich collection of eclectic B&B accommodations, many with a secret or
Follow in the Footsteps of a Literary Giant Thomas Wolfe famously wrote “You can’t go home again,” but don’t let that stop you from exploring the Asheville native’s boyhood home. A contemporary of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, Wolfe secured his place in the American literary canon with the critically acclaimed publication of his unabashedly
