Asheville

The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.

Understand
Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, and is the largest city in Western North Carolina with a population of approximately 93,000 (2019) and a metro population of 425,000 (2018). Asheville was named after the ninth governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe.

It is the principal city in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, with a population of about 425,000 in 2010.

It has been described variously as the "San Francisco of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky." It's a city that Rolling Stone magazine dubbed "America’s New Freak Capital." Self magazine proclaimed Asheville as America’s "Happiest City."

History
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area belonged to the Cherokee Nation. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area known as Guaxule, bringing the first European visitors along with European diseases, which seriously depleted the native population. The area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century.

In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley. Soon after, Davidson was lured into the woods by a band of Cherokee hunters and killed. Davidson's twin brother Major William Davidson formed an expedition to retrieve Samuel Davidson's body and avenge his murder. Months later, Major Davidson and other members of his extended family returned to the area and settled at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.

The American Civil War "Battle of Asheville" was fought in early April 1865 at the present-day site of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with Union forces withdrawing to Tennessee after encountering resistance from a small group of Confederate soldiers in prepared trench lines across the Buncombe Turnpike. In late April 1865, North Carolina Union troops captured Asheville. After a negotiated departure, the troops nevertheless returned and plundered and burned a number of Confederate supporters' homes in Asheville.

In 1880, the Western North Carolina Railroad completed its line from Salisbury to Asheville, the first rail line to reach the city. Asheville experienced a slow but steady growth as industrial plants increased in number and size, and new residents built homes. Textile mills were established and plants were set up for the manufacture of wood and mica products, foodstuffs, and other commodities.

In 1900, Asheville was the third largest city in the state, behind Wilmington and Charlotte. Asheville prospered in the decades of the 1910s and 1920s. During these years, Rutherford P. Hayes, son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, bought land to create the African-American Burton Street Community.

The Great Depression, the period of Asheville's history made famous by the novel Look Homeward, Angel, hit Asheville quite hard: eight local banks failed. Because of the explosive growth of the previous decades, the per capita debt owed by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest in the nation. From the start of the Depression through the 1980s, economic growth in Asheville was slow. During this time of financial stagnation, most of the buildings in the downtown district remained unaltered. Therefore, Asheville has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, urban renewal displaced much of Asheville's African-American population. Asheville's neighborhoods of Montford and Kenilworth, now mostly white, used to consist of majority-black home owners.

Climate
Asheville has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Year-round, the average relative humidity in the morning is 90% and in the afternoon is 58%. Summers are mild and afternoon thunderstorms are common. In the fall (peaking in October), the area is very popular with "leaf lookers", people who visit Asheville and the surrounding mountains to see the area's splendid foliage. Winters are generally mild and major snow storms are rare. However, snow is common with the area averaging an inch or two of snow at a time, normally melting off in a day or two.

By plane
Flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport  in Charlotte, North Carolina, or McGhee Tyson Airport  in Knoxville, Tennessee, are sometimes cheaper than flying directly to Asheville. Greenville is about a 1½-hour drive, Charlotte and Knoxville are both about 2-hour drives.

By train
The closest Amtrak train station to Asheville is in Greenville, South Carolina or Spartanburg, South Carolina.

By car
Asheville is located at the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Mountainous, curvy, and scenic sections of highway are found along the interstates in all four directions while traveling into Asheville. The Asheville area is also served by 10 US and state highways. The Blue Ridge Parkway has four primary accesses in Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191. Maps are recommended as highways may have listed directions but may travel in different directions - for example, a road signed "east" may travel north/south for a significant amount of time.

By car
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown.

There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $0.75 per hour thereafter. Attendants are on duty M-F 10AM–7PM.

By taxi
Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter - $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation - $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two - $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes - $0.40. Uber and Lyft are also available.



By bike
Self-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours by Electro Bike Tours.

All buses in the Asheville Transit System are equipped with bike racks.

Architecture
Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20s was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nation's most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the modern BB&T Tower.

Churches: Please note that most churches listed below are working churches. When entering, please be respectful of any activities occurring.

Outdoors
Hiking:

Climbing: Fishing: Rafting:

Riding:

Skateboarding:

Buy
Asheville does not necessarily have a specific commercial district but rather it resembles a long line, curving through the mountains. Beginning directly north of downtown, Merrimon Avenue has many low density restaurants and small shopping strip malls. It is the typical American shopping street and many locals consider it “The Strip.” As you move south towards the city-center, Merrimon Avenue changes names to Broadway, then Biltmore Avenue after it intersects with Patton Avenue at Pack Square, home to the Vance Monument, located directly in front of City-County Plaza.

Surrounding this area, Downtown, you will find many boutiques, cafes, museums, and interesting historical buildings. At the eastern end of downtown, The Beaucatcher Tunnel is carved directly into Sunset Mountain. The street leading out of downtown and into the mountain goes into the edifice as College Street and comes out as Asheville’s most celebrated shopping street, Tunnel Road.

Tunnel Road is very commercial and hosts mostly large corporate chains. Construction has boomed along this stretch, and reaching towards the skies above the restaurants and stores you will see some brand new hotels. Finally, Tunnel Road transitions into South Tunnel Road, which is home to the city’s main mall and smaller chain shopping centers. This area of town is not at all touristy, and prices are average and intended for locals.

At the end of South Tunnel Road there is a vast shopping center that extends across the Swannanoa River and up over the mountain, eventually overlooking the Industrial district, containing a relatively new and quite controversial shopping complex along the river, having the city’s Super Walmart as its flagstore. It was built upon the rubble of the abandoned Sayles-Biltmore Bleachery, which used to bleach paper for the US Treasury's currency manufacture.

From Pack Square going south (away from I 240), Biltmore Ave continues down past Biltmore Village and into South Asheville and Arden, with many chain stores and strip malls, from which one can access via NC 146 Long Shoals Rd, Biltmore Park an exurb with high end shopping around a reproduced downtown square.

Downtown Asheville is full of neat and quirky shops and prides itself on the lack of corporate chain stores. Spend some time exploring downtown (it's very walkable) and see what you can find. Here are some highlights:
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.

Biltmore Village Just South of Asheville's downtown, and right outside the gates of the Biltmore Estate is the quaint village built around the 1890s called Biltmore Village. It is easily accessed from I-40 (Exit 50). A number of small independently owned retail stores which have carved out specialty niches can be found intermingled with restaurants beneath the shade of the tree-lined streets. You'll find national specialty stores and a boutique notel have begun construction there. Of particular note are:

River Arts District Wrapped along the river, and visible from the bridge over the French Broad River (i.e. from I-240 or Patton Ave.) is an enclave of Art Studios, Galleries, and restaurants that is still not quite user-friendly but accessible to the adventurous. Some worthy points of interest are:

Head away from downtown and visit the WNC Farmer's Market for a huge selection of locally grown and produced crops 'n' crafts. You could spend hours and still not see everything.

Eat
Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them.

Downtown
Asian

Modern American

Mexican/Latin American/Caribbean

European

Southern

Steakhouses

Vegetarian/Vegan

Drink
Liquor is available by the drink in Asheville, but if you want to buy liquor by the bottle you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores rather than at a traditional liquor store. These stores have limited exterior decorations so they can be difficult to find. If you plan to explore nearby counties keep in mind Madison County (to the north) and Yancey County (to the northwest) are "dry counties" and prohibit all alcoholic beverage sales. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations. The alcohol laws of the state prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2AM Monday through Saturday, and from 2AM until noon on Sundays. Pick up a copy or check the website of the local alternative newsweekly Mountain Xpress for an up-to-date, detailed guide for what is going on at each bar and club for the night.

Downtown:

North:

East:

West:

Bed and breakfasts
Asheville is rightfully well known for its many Bed and Breakfasts

Montford Historic District:

Chestnut Hill Historic District:

Other areas:

Budget




Connect
The area code for Asheville is 828. For calls within the US or Canada, dial 1+area code+number. There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time. All ZIP codes in the city of Asheville begin with 288. The ZIP code of the downtown area is 28801.

Free wireless hotspots:

US Post Offices:
 * Downtown: 33 Coxe Ave. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-1PM.
 * North: 725 Merrimon Ave. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9M-1PM.
 * South: 780 Hendersonville Rd (Suite 7). 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 9M-1PM.
 * East: 1141 Tunnel Rd (Suite C). M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-1PM.
 * West: 1302 Patton Ave. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9M-1PM.

Go next


A thirty-mile drive south to Flat Rock will bring you to the Flatrock Playhouse where dramas, comedies, and musicals are shown April through December. Also in Flat Rock is the Carl Sandburg Home. This historic site consists of a 22 room house, barns, sheds, rolling pastures, walking trails, two small lakes, ponds, flower and vegetable gardens, and an orchard.

A thirty-mile drive west to Waynesville during the last weeks of July will bring you to Folkmoot, a festival of song and dance staged by performance groups from around the world.

The town of Brevard, an hour drive southwest, hosts the Brevard Music Festival each summer. Lasting almost two months, a variety of musical events ranging from grand operas and symphony orchestras to Broadway musicals and pop concerts as well as renowned guest artists are featured.

A 45 minute drive north brings you to the Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Reserve the jacuzzi-style tub of your choice, all individually enclosed and private. Bring a bottle of champagne and spend an hour or two. Hot Springs also has a few campgrounds and is passed through by the Appalachian Trail.

The Cradle of Forestry is located about 20 miles southwest of Asheville off U.S. Highway 276 in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. Visitors will find a number of hiking trails in the area. Open 9AM-5PM, mid April through the end of October. $5 for adults, 16 and under free.

A popular tourist attraction is Chimney Rock Park, located 25 miles (about a 30 minute drive) southeast of Asheville in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge. It's a privately owned park (not part of the US system) with a fairly high admission fee ($17 for adults), but the views are incredible and there are six different hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from easy-to-moderate to moderate-to-strenuous. Open all year.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and is the country's most visited national park. A variety of trails for hikers of any age or skill level are available.

Gorges State Park is approximately 45 miles southwest of Asheville, located in Transylvania County and joins the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Gorges State Park has over 80 inches of rain a year making it a temperate rain forest. The plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls, and concentration of rare and unique species makes this a wonderful park to visit.