Asheville, North Carolina earns praise as one of the top vacation destinations in the country. The “Land of the Sky” is no stranger to press. We feature just seven of the many accolades this area, in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, attracts. We’re confident that you will want to experience your own Asheville vacation.
Best Cross-Country U.S. Road Trip Itinerary (Southern Route)
First, Asheville, North Carolina enjoys the status of being one of the prettiest drives in America. Travel + Leisure agrees! Thus, you must drive here, or rent a car, when you arrive.
Travel + Leisure
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 known for showcasing the serene beauty of North Carolina. Dine at Buxton Hall Barbecue for a sample of authentic Carolina-style barbecue.
Giovanna Caravetta
One of the Ten Best Cities to Travel Solo in the US
Second, Asheville ranks as one of the best cities to travel alone. dlmag recommends making friends while hiking and biking. Moreover, you can visit galleries or museums. Thus, Asheville vacation here you come!
dlmag
If you are a hiking and biking enthusiast, then Asheville is a must-visit spot. You can enjoy the great outdoors during the day and chug down beers at night while making new friends. The situation in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the city of Asheville is known for its vibrant arts scene, historic architecture, and untainted wilderness. Bikers can take on the Blue Ridge Parkway, while hikers can explore the Craggy Gardens Pinnacle with amazing views or climb Mount Pisgah. You can also visit the Downtown Art District that is filled with galleries and museums.
Bharat Bhushan
Ranked #1 City on the Global Beer Lovers’ City Index
Third, the international publication, Money, features Asheville. Moreover, they seem surprised to find out just how many breweries the city of Asheville, North Carolina has!
Money (UK)
You may not have heard of the top destination on our list, but amongst those in the know, it’s certainly earned its place in the rankings.
Not only did Asheville, North Carolina, have the highest concentration of breweries with 2.8 per 10,000 people, but it’s also recognised as having the most breweries per person in the whole of the United States.
Around 100 beers are made by the 26 breweries in this city of just under 100,000 people, and you can enjoy everything from beer bus and cycle tours to beer-glazed doughnuts and even beer ice cream for dessert.
Salman Haqqi
One of the Best Dog-Friendly Vacations in the United States
Fourth, people love bringing their dogs on an Asheville vacation. Furthermore, the city of Asheville makes it really easy to do. For example, several restaurants with outdoor seating allow people to bring their dogs to the table.
Booking.com
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. You could check out the Carolina Mountain Trail, a 2.4 mile hike in the North Carolina Arboretum set among the woods for a gentle hike in nature. The Arboretum is 434 acres which includes 10-miles of hikes for you and your dog to enjoy.
With a variety of destinations to choose from across the US, there’s no doubt you’ll make plenty of memories for you and your pet to cherish.
BOOKING.COM
One of the 21 Great LGBTQ Summer Destinations
Fifth, Asheville welcomes the LGBTQ community. For example, Travel Pulse recognizes that the Asheville area offers many romantic bed and breakfasts accommodations.
Travel Pulse
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.
PAUL HENEY
One of the Nine Best Girlfriend Getaway Destinations in the United States
Sixth, Asheville is a great place for best girlfriends to spend time together. For instance, during an Asheville vacation, you will see many talented local artists in the area.
Family Vacation Critic
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.
The natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains beckons. Destress in the lush forests with beautiful waterfall backdrops. Feel alive on a refreshing rush down the 60-foot natural waterslide known as Sliding Rock. Visit the Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate, where you can wander the vibrant gardens and sip samples at the winery.
CORTNEY FRIES
One of the Ten Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
Seventh, Asheville is known as one of the best places to visit during Christmas time. Typically, large Biltmore Christmas trees will appear in November. They last around the fifth day in January of the following year.
Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide
Asheville NC is one of the best cities for Christmas. And with most of these other Christmas getaways located within an hour’s drive of Asheville, it’s simply one of the best places to spend Christmas in the USA.
The impeccably decorated Biltmore Estate is arguably the highlight of Christmas in Asheville, offering daytime tours of the largest privately owned home in America, and unbelievable candlelit tours in the evening.
Asheville also hosts a National Gingerbread House Competition, holiday lights at the NC Arboretum, some fantastic markets for holiday shopping, and first-rate holiday-themed theatrical performances.
With all of its historic B&Bs, treehouse rentals, restaurants, breweries, and other attractions, Asheville makes an amazing base from which to hop to most of these other towns for a well-rounded sampling of Christmas in North Carolina.
Jonathan Engels
Asheville Vacation
Thus, Asheville, North Carolina is known for its premier bed and breakfasts. If you’re looking for a luxurious bed and breakfast, just outside of Asheville, we highly recommend The Orchard Inn and Spa in Saluda.
If you are buying or selling a B&B, please contact Rob Sales, of B&B Consulting. Before he was an experienced B&B realtor and consultant, Rob and his wife Jane, were successful bed and breakfast owners and innkeepers.