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Getting Crafty: Best Arts and Crafts Markets in Asheville, NC
Asheville and the neighboring towns and cities around Western North Carolina are known for being a mecca for all kinds of artists, from the Campbell Folk School and Penland School of Craft to the Black Mountain College history in this area and the many individual artisans who make WNC home. The beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains has been a draw for inspiration and enjoyment to all who see them for many decades now, and the iconoclastic and self-determined nature of those who live in these mountains encourages a bit of avante garde spirit as well. The people of this area are well-versed in making do with what they have…
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17 Incredible Women-Owned Businesses in Asheville
“I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.” (Extract of Maya Angelou’s poem Phenomenal Woman) Asheville is full of phenomenally phenomenal women. They are mothers, friends, lovers, employers, employees, stay-at-home moms, wizards, lovers, fairies, good witches, mischievous witches, dancers, teachers, scientists, spiritual leaders, cat ladies, healers, bird whisperers, volunteers, and amazing! They work with nonprofits and have imagined and manifested extraordinary women-owned Asheville businesses. They rock big time. From mobile bookstore, beauty salon, cat café, and donut shop owners to Queen Bees offering free honey tastings and a photographer who doesn’t take photos but makes visual poems, I’ve compiled a list of some great Asheville women-owned businesses and some fun…
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15 Lakes in North Carolina Perfect for Your Next Getaway
Asheville visitors and locals alike get to revel in a pretty great combination. We’ve got a downtown full of cultural and foodie destinations, surrounding neighborhoods and towns with all the conveniences of suburban life, and we’ve got a breathtaking backdrop of mountains whenever we want to get out into nature. However, one thing that isn’t very common in Asheville proper are bodies of water of major size. While there are smaller lakes – including Lake Julian, Lake Louise, and Beaver Lake in Asheville and its nearby towns – many people long for a lake big enough to participate in water sports, have a dock to fish off, and even find…
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The Best Small Towns to Check Out Around Asheville, NC
Asheville itself is firmly in the small-city status, especially during the summer when its population of 94,000 swells to much more due to the presence of many tourist visitors (it’s even in the name of our baseball team!). The nice thing, though, is that within an hour’s drive, there are more than a dozen charming small towns giving you a lot of options. While the cities close to Asheville are more the metropolises like Charlotte, Greenville, and Knoxville, there are more than enough small mountain towns close to Asheville, NC, to give you a taste of the country life without being too far from the amenities of the city. The…
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Learn about the Past, Present, and Future of Asheville’s African American Community on a Hood Tour
Taking a Hood Tour, focusing on the history of the Asheville African American community, is essential for locals and tourists. Although I was familiar with some historical facts, our tour guide Daniel took us on a fun, interactive, and profoundly emotional journey around town in which we unburied layers of the past to see them come alive in the light of the present. We cried, laughed, got angry, and celebrated this community’s history and everlasting impact while never losing sight of the bright, wholesome future we are all creating today. We also visited one of the best coffee shops in town (I will keep it a surprise for you!) and…
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A Complete Guide to Bryson City: Activities, Restaurants, Bars, and Shops
Bryson City is a charming little town right in the middle of much of what makes the Western North Carolina mountains so incredible. From the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which holds some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the area, to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Qualla Boundary and all that Cherokee, NC, showcases for tourists, you’ll have plenty to see and do. There are train outings, fresh air, tasty food, and watersport options on both Fontana Lake and the nearby Nantahala River. What’s even better is that you may feel like you’re far from it all, but you’re only three hours from Atlanta and…
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16 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month in Asheville
I was born in Argentina in the ‘70s during some of the most violent years of our history, leading to a brutal dictatorship that ended when I was 13 years old. My hometown had a little mall with a low-profile café/bar. The windows had curtains, and the inside was always dark and illuminated with purple lights. But once, when I was about seven, I took a sneak peek and saw two men holding hands. That was when I learned that two men could love each other romantically. I then remembered I had seen two women holding hands once. However, nobody had told me about them – we never mentioned them…
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Where to Elope in Asheville: 14 Intimate Venues
What is an elopement wedding? To “elope” used to mean to run away or to run away and secretly get married, or even more scandalously, it was the action of a married woman escaping with a new lover. (Apparently, men never did such a thing!) Thankfully, these days the term “elopement” means to have an intimate wedding. The purist version of an elopement includes just the couple, the wedding officiant, and usually a photographer. However, the term also refers to micro-weddings – or weddings with a maximum of 25 guests – and keeping the details simple. Couples choose to elope to focus on their commitment and hope for their future…
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14 Fun Dog-Friendly Activities in Asheville, NC
Did you know that “Dog City, USA” is one of Asheville’s most prestigious titles? A quick Google search will show you that our city has been chosen multiple times as one of the friendliest towns in the United States. Of course, that level of care, service, and hospitality had to include being welcoming of man’s best friends: doggies! I couldn’t agree more with photographer and writer Roger Caras when he said, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Traveling is not the same without them, and while some destinations are not suitable for their needs, Asheville is the perfect place for dogs to enjoy themselves…
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Getting Married in Asheville: 16 Beautiful Wedding Venues
Asheville is such an excellent place to set the mood for love. I’ve spent most of my time here as a single person, but I find myself falling in love daily with the mountains, the flowers, the leaves, the pale winter skies, and the wonderful community full of exciting businesses, art, and projects. I can’t imagine a better place to celebrate love in all its forms. Only you and your partner can decide when it’s the perfect time to ritualize your union, and there are places to get married in Asheville all year round. But, of course, there is a wedding season from May to November, with peaks in May…
