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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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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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The Best Places to see the Leaves Change in Asheville in the Fall
I’ve always loved autumn anywhere in the world, but after I moved to Asheville, my love for that time of the year deepened. In some other places, fall is just a spark before a long winter. But Asheville’s fall colors – which include leaves but also flowers – last a long time, gifting us with a five or six-week-long festival of color! This gives us plenty of time to witness the magical process of trees shedding their leaves. As Hermann Hesse put it, “That is the way leaves fall around a tree in autumn, a tree unaware of the rain running down its sides, of the sun or the frost,…
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The 18 Best Restaurants in Brevard, NC
You might be a long-time resident of the Brevard area, or you might be coming for your first trip to the “Land of Waterfalls” – no matter which description fits you, you’re going to need some grub! Dining in Brevard runs the gamut, with a lot of options for a small town. You’ll be able to find everything from a tasty and humble hot dog at Corky’s Dawg House to classy dining in Brevard at Square Root or The Falls Landing Restaurant. The restaurants in Brevard offer plenty of options for dietary restrictions, from allergy-friendly options to vegan and vegetarian dishes. When you’re exploring the boisterous and pleasant downtown area,…
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14 Incredible Scenic Drives Near Asheville, NC
One of the best and easiest things to do in Asheville is to pack or grab a picnic lunch and go for a drive to enjoy the beautiful, relaxing vistas the Asheville area is so famous for. The Blue Ridge Parkway is “America’s Favorite Drive” and one of the most beloved scenic drives near Asheville. But with so many scenic drives in the area, it’s not the only one! The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it’s beautiful all year round. It offers all kinds of experiences and adventures, from watching the sunrise or sunset from an overlook or after a hike to spectacular…
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A Complete Guide to Waynesville: Activities, Restaurants, Bars, and Shops
Welcome to Waynesville, the sweetest little town at the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While Waynesville isn’t far off from more populous places – 35 minutes to Asheville and about an hour to Hendersonville – it’s got more than enough to keep you busy for a beautiful weekend retreat or a special festival or event. Make the most of your trip and make Waynesville a memorable spot in these gorgeous mountains. From taking in the beauty of nature and wildlife along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoying all of Waynesville’s excellent shops, restaurants, and annual events, you’ll never run out of fun while you visit this best-kept secret of…
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Apple Picking in and Around Asheville: The Best Apple Orchards
When autumn arrives in the mountains of North Carolina, one of the best opportunities for a fun time in nature is to explore Asheville’s apple-picking scene. Sure, you could just buy local apples at a farmers’ market, and believe me, I do that too, but the experience of trekking into the orchards, searching for the best apples, and filling up a box or two to bring home for apple pie, apple butter, and just eating straight cannot be beat! The climate and soil make orchards near Asheville, NC, really incredible, though most are slightly closer to Hendersonville or farther out of the city rather than being apple picking in Asheville…
