Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay 

Small, locally owned clothing boutiques abound in Asheville, making it easy to find unique, quality outfits and accessories not typically offered in big-box stores and malls. Stroll the streets of downtown Asheville and Biltmore Village, and you’ll find plenty of boutiques to choose from; the trend is also stretching into other corners of the city. Following are just a few to choose [...]

Updated July 2024

Looking for a cool way to beat the heat of summer in Western North Carolina? Swimming holes in and around Asheville are the perfect answer. With these natural splash spots roughly an hour or less drive from Asheville, it’s easy to make a day of chilling out. So get ready to suit up and cool [...]

In Asheville, a variety of beer festivals held throughout the year not only highlight the wide range of brew offerings available in the area, but also offer an exciting backdrop of music, food trucks, games, performers and lots of other entertaining activities. Here are a few of the unique ways to celebrate beer around the [...]

Asheville has long enjoyed a reputation as a great place to retire, but as the city has grown, so have the reasons for retiring here. From a vibrant food scene to exciting cultural offerings to ongoing learning opportunities, [...]

Disc golf is taking off in Asheville, and for good reason. Occasionally called Frisbee golf or frolf, the popular game involves throwing a flying disc at a target, and follows rules similar to golf – but without all the equipment or expense of that [...]

Asheville is a city brimming with vibrant creativity and exciting entrepreneurial energy. A number of recurring events throughout the year aim to capture and nurture that spirit, inspiring participants to find creativity and new ideas by sharing [...]

From May 25 to Sept. 2, the North Carolina Arboretum will be blanketed in a canvas of color and creativity as it presents its 2019 Covered in Color summer celebration. Visitors to the 434-acre public garden, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just minutes from downtown [...]

An amazingly eclectic food scene, rich cultural offerings, and an abundance of outdoor activities – all set against a monumental Blue Ridge backdrop – make Asheville, N.C., a destination unto itself. But Asheville’s proximity to attractions outside the city also makes it the ideal locale to set up a home base. From quaint coastal towns to [...]

One of the many perks of living in Asheville is the city’s access to the French Broad River. The third-oldest river on Earth, the French Broad slices through the center of Asheville, offering plenty of opportunity for fun on, and along, the famed waterway – including an abundance of riverfront dining and drink venues. Visit one of these spots to take in some tastiness as you absorb the relaxing riverside [...]

Asheville’s eclectic art scene is as breathtaking as the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround this spirited city. Hundreds of artists practicing across a range of media call Western N.C. their home, selling their pieces in a multitude of galleries around the Asheville area. Whether you’re a casual shopper, waiting for  a just-right piece to [...]