Written and Photographed by Randy and Caly Behymer
Few cities in the U.S. stand frozen in time, continually paying homage to several eras, like Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is a melting pot of old-world charm, with an Art Deco downtown, a vibrant and growing art community, and award-winning local cuisine.
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10. Try the Tasty Food Scene—To say there is a vast food scene in Asheville is a gross understatement. The town is home to award-winning restaurants, cuisine from around the world and chefs passionate about sharing their art with the city. Where to start on your food tour of this town? Stop by the Visitor Center and grab the Asheville-Area Eats & Drinks Guide. While you’re there, ask the locals what restaurants they recommend. Local favorites include The Lobster Trap, Wicked Weed Brewing, PIE.ZAA, Buxton Hall Barbecue, Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill and Moo Cookie Company for a sweet treat.
9. Dine and Shop at The Grove Arcade—Developed by Edwin Wiley Grove (E.W. Grove), this historic mall was completed in 1929. It was built as a new type of shopping, working and living experience, with original plans including a 14-story tower on top of the 3-story arcade; the arcade was the only portion finished. Today the Grove Arcade is home to local shops and restaurants, all housed in a beautifully ornate setting.
8. Asheville Art Museum—This award-winning museum tucked into the heart of downtown Asheville is worthy of a visit. The museum does a great job bringing local and national artists into the light they deserve, all surrounded by the charm of this southern mountain town. The museum displays 20th- and 21st-century art through its three exhibition halls. Visit the rooftop café for stunning views and a bite to eat.
7. NYC in Asheville—Visit Battery Park, Wall Street and even the Flatiron Building, all located in Asheville. Architecture rivaled that found in NYC, and while never fully gaining the title of the New York City of the South, Asheville became a wildly popular travel destination. The city desired to become the New York City of the South and began renaming streets to those found in NYC from 1900 to 1925. A network of abandoned and partial tunnels stretches beneath the city. Some historians believe this might have been the start of a subway system, which instead was used for smuggling during the prohibition.
6. Grove Park Inn—Another engineering marvel developed and built by E.W. Grove, this grand hotel opened July 12, 1913, three days short of the one-year mark he’d promised. It took 400 men working six days a week for 10-hour shifts to complete the massive stone structure. They used only mules, wagons, ropes and pure manpower to lift the boulders into place, some weighing more than 10,000 pounds. Visit Grove Park Inn today and take in the expansive views of Sunset Mountain, visit Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, spend time perusing the Grovewood Gallery for arts and crafts or grab a beverage and sit in front of one of their massive fireplaces in the lobby.
5. Play Historic Games at The Pinball Museum—Located directly across the street from Grove Arcade, the Asheville Pinball Museum is popular with locals and tourists alike. A proper working museum, it’s filled with historic and newer pinball and arcade machines, with some machines dating back to 1934. The museum covers two large rooms, and every square inch of this museum is thoughtfully and carefully decorated, which adds to the fun and unique atmosphere.
4. Spend a Day in The River Arts District—This area in Asheville is home to more than 200 working artists in 22 buildings and covers roughly two square miles. The buildings were once home to warehouses and mills and now house galleries and working studios for glass, pottery, painters, sculptors, folk artists, cartoonists, wax artists and more. Many studios open their doors for demonstrations, workshops, wine tastings and live music.
3. See the City by Trolley—Asheville offers its famous Hop-on Hop-off Tour that snakes through the town and stops at 10 locations. The trolley is the best way to view the various historical districts and get a detailed history lesson about the city and surrounding neighborhoods. The trolley tour travels through the historic Montford, Grove Park and Thomas Wolfe districts, then Pack Square, a stop along Wall Street and the Grove Arcade before making its way to the River Arts District. The trolley then makes two stops in Biltmore Village. Guests can purchase tickets online or in person at the Visitor Center.
2. Tour the City by Foot—If you do nothing else during your time in Asheville, do yourself a favor and check out the Asheville by Foot Walking Tour. Walk through the city’s history, culture, local art scene and architecture found throughout the city. The founder of Asheville by Foot, Dr. Kevan Frazier, is an Asheville native passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of the town. As a history teacher at the college level and the author of Legendary Locals of Asheville, Dr. Frazier knows his stuff about the city and has created a walking tour full of interesting facts and stories.
1. Visit Biltmore Estate and Village—In 1889, construction began on George Vanderbilt’s palatial homestead, 250 rooms spanning 175,000 square feet and taking six years to complete. Today the home sits on 8,000 acres of prime mountain real estate, so plan to tour the house and surrounding gardens. Biltmore Village sits just outside the entrance to the estate and offers visitors shopping, dining and entertainment. The gardens and surrounding grounds are just as impressive as the home, and you can explore within the 22 miles of hiking trails. Hikers must have a daytime ticket, an annual pass to the Biltmore or be a guest at one of the properties in the estate to enjoy the trails.
This Art Deco town has been frozen in time but has opened its doors to change, growth and a vibrant art, food and culture scene. Visit Asheville and discover what so many others have known for hundreds of years about this town. It is a breath of fresh air.
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