Asheville, NC
Surrounded by the majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this vibrant “small city” is a wonderful contradiction in many ways. Asheville offers everything a big city has but with a small-town sensibility and an engaged community. Known for its creativity, diversity, arts, culinary scene and micro-breweries, Asheville is alive with interesting culture that begs for exploration. The town is surrounded by thousands of acres of national parks, streams and waterfalls, and quaint mountain towns, each with their own character and charm. The area boasts four distinct seasons with the two longest seasons being spring and fall. Summers are cool where you keep a blanket on the bed, and winters mild with the occasional blanketing of snow.
Asheville is contemporary, historic, generational and multicultural, and in the midst of a culinary renaissance with a restaurant scene that surpasses cities many times its size. The Biltmore Estate is the country’s largest family owned fully operational touring property and the most expensive single-family home built at its time. The estate is a great place to welcome each season with a local sampling of the latest vintage from the estate’s winery. The estate has a fantastic summer concert series, and programs and events throughout the year. The N.C. Arboretum designed by renowned architect Frederick Olmsted, has 65 acres of cultivated gardens and 10 miles of hiking and biking trails along with indoor and outdoor exhibits. The Asheville Art Museum features the finest art collection of Western North Carolina artists. And the River Arts District is bustling with working artists in all mediums.