Asheville, North Carolina (Beer City USA)

When most folks talk about Asheville NC, they talk about visiting the famous Vanderbilt home, the Biltmore Estate.

Well, you might be surprised, but we decided to skip the Biltmore Estate on this visit so that we'd have time to see more of the city.

What we discovered in Asheville, was a small, interesting city FULL of history, great architecture, a funky arts district, an historic minor league baseball stadium, unending stories, and a thriving downtown.

We explored things to do in Asheville almost completely using public transportation... the Asheville Trolley! And when we weren't on the Trolley, we explored Asheville's art and historical stories on foot via the Urban Trail.

So, this week, hop onboard and join us as we visit Asheville North Carolina!

Why is Asheville a Travel Destination?

Asheville has a lot of nicknames: "Beer City USA", "The Paris of the South", and "The Land of the Sky".
Asheville is home to more Art Deco Architecture than any other US city, except Miami Beach.
The French Broad River is said to be the 3rd Oldest River in the World.
Asheville was the 2nd US city to get a full electric trolley (behind Richmond VA).
Fresh mountain air, mineral water and a high number of doctors built Asheville into a medical tourist mecca.
An ABC Poll named Asheville "America's Happiest City".
Asheville offers beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and access to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
12 Million tourists visit Asheville each year.
It's easy to get around Asheville via the Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley or by foot.

5 FREE Things To Do in Asheville NC

Discover art and historical stories by foot via the Asheville Urban Trail and its Audio Tour
Stroll the Botanical Gardens at Asheville
Explore the funky and eclectic River Arts District
Visit artist studios and a classic car museum at Grovewood Village
Take a self-guided tour of the historic and truly unique Grove Park Inn

Mentioned In This Episode

In this video: Things to Do in Asheville NC, Where to Park for FREE, How Asheville Got Its Name, Using the Asheville Trolley as Transportation, Asheville Architecture, Unique Places to Visit in Asheville North Carolina and More!

Fun Things to Do in Asheville

Asheville Visitor Center

Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley

Historic Grove Park Inn

Asheville Community Theatre

Walk Downtown Asheville

Woolworth Walk

The Grove Arcade

River Arts District

Asheville Tourists Minor League Baseball

Places to Eat in Asheville

We enjoyed these Asheville restaurants during our visit.

Sunset Terrace

Mellow Mushroom

Mills River Taproom at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Our Campsite Near Asheville

More Fun Things to Do in Asheville

The Biltmore Estate

WNC Farmers Market

1909 Basilica of St. Lawrence Tours

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center

Asheville Art Museum

Asheville Radio Museum

Asheville Pinball Museum

Asheville Museum of History Opening Fall 2023

Why Is Asheville Called...

Beer City USA - Because of it's fresh mountain spring mineral waters, Asheville was once the home to more micro breweries than anywhere else in the USA. Locals say it now ranks second in the country. The Asheville area is home to multiple small breweries, as well as the second locations of both New Belgium Brewing and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

The Paris of the South - Asheville's art deco architecture, thriving food and arts scene, and eclectic collection of shops, restaurants and bars rolled into a walkable city all seem to play a role in this nickname. You'll find art and/or street musicians all across town.

The Land of the Sky - This name is really more about the entire Western North Carolina region. It's credited to novelist Christian Reid and her 1875 work "The Land of the Sky: Adventures in Mountain By-Ways". Both the land, with the Blue Ridge Mountains and diverse plant and tree life, and the vast sky views (especially from places like the Sunset Terrace at Grove Park Inn) make this nickname really easy to understand when you see it for yourself.

The San Francisco of the East - Again, looking to the eclectic art and food scene. Self-expression is encouraged in Asheville. If you really want to experience the hippy vibe, head over to the River Arts District.

Cheers From Sierra Nevada Brewing

Why Does Asheville Have So Many Historic Art Deco Buildings?

Like Mineral Wells TX, Petoskey MI, and Steamboat Springs CO, residents and visitors were historically drawn to Asheville NC for the healing waters of its mineral springs.

During the city's building boom, art deco architecture was all the rage. During the Great Depression, Asheville NC, like most US cities, fell into deep debt. It could not afford to replace any of the standing buildings, so it had to maintain and preserve them for continued use. It took 50 years, but the City of Asheville paid off all of its debt. And a bonus for all of us today is the preservation of so many amazing historic art deco buildings!