The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.
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Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, and is the largest city in Western North Carolina with a population of approximately 93,000 (2019) and a metro population of 425,000 (2018). Asheville was named after the ninth governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe. It is the principal city in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, with a population of about 425,000 in 2010. It has been described variously as the "San Francisco of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky." It's a city that Rolling Stone magazine dubbed "America’s New Freak Capital." Self magazine proclaimed Asheville as America’s "Happiest City." Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area belonged to the …
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown. There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $0.75 per hour thereafter.
Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20s was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nation's most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the modern BB&T Tower. 1 Battery Park Hotel, 1 Battle Sq.
Asheville Glass Center, 140 C Roberts St. (River Arts District), ☏ +1 828 505-7110. M-Sa 10AM-5PM and by appointment. A glassblowing school, working glass studio, and glass gallery with demos and workshops daily. 1 Old Farmers Ball contra dance, Bryson Gym, 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa. Lesson at 7:30PM, dance 8PM-11PM. Asheville is well-known for its scene in contra dance, an easy-to-learn social folk dance with mixed European origins. The main dance takes place at Warren Wilson College, a little outside the city proper. $12. (updated Oct 2023) Asheville Brews Cruise, ☏ +1 828 545-5181.
Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them. Asian Heiwa Shokudo, 87 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 254-7761. M-Th 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5:30-9:30PM, Sa noon-3PM & 5:30-9:30PM. Traditional Japanese and sushi. $8-15. Mela, 70 N Lexington Ave, ☏ +1 828 225-8880. Daily 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM. Authentic Indian food in a beautiful and exotic atmosphere. Full bar available. $9-17. Wasabi, 19 Broadway St, ☏ +1 828 225-2551. Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. $8-26. Modern American The Market Place, 20 Wall St, ☏ +1 828 252-4162.
Liquor is available by the drink in Asheville, but if you want to buy liquor by the bottle you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores rather than at a traditional liquor store. These stores have limited exterior decorations so they can be difficult to find. If you plan to explore nearby counties keep in mind Madison County (to the north) and Yancey County (to the northwest) are "dry counties" and prohibit all alcoholic beverage sales. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Asheville typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 21 rainy days.
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