Asheville Travel Blog

See Nature with Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours

2009-07-06T14:43:00.009-04:00

No need to travel to the tropics to fly through a rain forest. The first Canopy Tour in the North Carolina Smokies is now as close as a short drive! Enjoy a three-hour glide and slide experience that simulates flying and is fueled by gravity and a gradual elevation change.Fly High Above TreesMore than just a zip line ride, Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours takes you through multiple eco-systems. The

A Food Tour of Asheville

2009-07-06T11:37:00.007-04:00

Wondering why we call Asheville the home of the Foodtopian Society? See for yourself--take your taste buds on a virtual tour of our city with these delicious blog posts!Our Featured BloggersFrom left to right: Alison McConnell from Humble Gourmand, Brian Geiger from The Food Geek, Tami Hardeman from Running With Tweezers, Diane Cu from White on Rice Couple, Jaden Hair from Steamy Kitchen, Todd

Tennis Champs Battle it out at Grand Slam Asheville

2009-07-01T15:32:00.003-04:00

Love tennis? Come to Asheville! Two of the world’s top tennis players are set to do battle on Thursday, August 6, at the Asheville Civic Center. Grand Slam Asheville will bring together world-ranked #4 and 2008 Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic and former world-ranked #1 and two-time Grand Slam Champion Marat Safin for a head-to–head, best-of-three-sets match.Grand Slam Asheville will also

Asheville Named a Dog-friendly Region

2009-06-29T12:44:00.004-04:00

Woof! DogFriendly.com released its list of top 10 dog-friendly resort regions in the United States for 2009. Asheville made the list due to the quality of dog-friendly accommodations, things to do with your dog, dog parks and dog-friendly patio dining. Looking to travel with Fido this summer? Start planning your visit today.

Asheville featured on Good Morning America

2009-06-29T09:50:00.002-04:00

Asheville’s reputation as a great city and hot summer destination was the center of attention with Good Morning America’s episode of "Weekend Window." Check out the episode for yourself, and see why Asheville caught their eye.

Traveling on the 4th? Come to Asheville.

2009-06-26T13:56:00.014-04:00

Come to Asheville for July 4th weekend to see blazing fireworks, live music, and family fun.Friday, July 3Asheville Drum Circle at Pritchard Park, 6:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., FREEGood Ole Boys, at Feed & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Rd, 7:30, Donations acceptedSaturday, July 4Mountain Artisans Art and Craft Show , 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3 for adults, FREE for kidsMPAC's Block Party in Weaverville, 10:00

Food Bloggers Compete in Asheville Cook-off

2009-06-26T12:11:00.015-04:00

Some of the nation’s most popular food bloggers paired up with local chefs to test their creativity at a gourmet cook-off at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College on Tuesday. The teams received mystery boxes filled with locally grown produce donated by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), chorizo from Hickory Nut Gap Meats, trout from Sunburst Trout Farm and local products from Blue

Enjoy Free Music at Downtown After 5

2009-06-19T16:37:00.003-04:00

Looking for something fun--and free--to do in downtown Asheville this summer? Come to Downtown After 5 on North Lexington Ave. The fun begins promptly at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. This year’s featured acts include:June 19: The Cheeksters, Brushfire Stankgrass and Geoff Achison with special guest Randall BramblettJuly 17: Jen and the Juice, King Johnson and Hill Country RevueAugust 21: Silas

Artists at the Grove Arcade

2009-06-17T15:09:00.012-04:00

Janice Rose, an Asheville artist, displays brightly painted hand-crafted gourds outside of the Grove Arcade. The Grove Arcade features roadside artisans, such as Janice, daily. The Grove Arcade was the grand dream of E.W. Grove, a self-made millionaire who moved to Asheville in 1910.

Celebrate Father’s Day in Asheville

2009-06-16T12:56:00.005-04:00

Forget wrapping up a tidy gift for Father’s Day. Instead, give Dad a family experience in Asheville. You’ll enjoy catching up with dear ol’ Dad, and he’ll savor being the center of attention for an entire day.Treat him like king of the castle with these fun ideas:Tap into his rugged side with hiking, fly-fishing, river rafting, or a drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The

Asheville Picture of the Week

2009-06-11T13:55:00.005-04:00

The roses are in full bloom outside of the Basilica of St. Lawrence in downtown Asheville. Designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects who worked on Biltmore House, this Catholic church has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in the country.

Celebrate Asheville’s Beer City USA Win

2009-06-08T13:18:00.002-04:00

Help Asheville celebrate its East Coast Beer City USA title with victory party on Friday, June 26, at the Orange Peel. The Beer City Bash—sponsored by Bruisin’ Ales, The Orange Peel and Mountain Xpress—kicks off at 8 p.m. All beer served at the event will be locally brewed.Tickets are $10 per person (ages 21 and older). Admission includes two nine-ounce craft beers, a raffle ticket for door

An Inside Look at Asheville’s Art Scene

2009-06-05T10:14:00.001-04:00

A look at the passion that drives Asheville’s art scene--just in time for the Downtown Gallery Association’s art walk this evening.

Art Walks for the Weekend

2009-06-04T16:57:00.004-04:00

Visit the Asheville-area this weekend for a taste of local talent:Stroll through the city to enjoy the Downtown Gallery Association’s art walks on June 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The walk begins at 16 Patton Avenue, with over 30- participating galleries. Visit the Bender Gallery, which features the region’s most prevalent glass collections, stroll through the Asheville Gallery of Art and admire the

Star Gaze in Asheville

2009-05-28T11:19:00.005-04:00

Summer’s warm nights and clear skies make now the perfect time to star gaze. The rural areas surrounding Asheville and the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway are ideal spots to escape the city lights and admire the heavens.Prime LocationsCraggy Gardens picnic area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 364.4. Lots of parking and picnic tables make this a family-friendly spot.Mount Pisgah on the Blue Ridge

Asheville’s Drum Circle

2009-05-26T14:51:00.002-04:00

The Asheville Drum Circle gets its groove on with a celebratory beat this past Friday. The group received a donation of drums and accessories from the Asheville Downtown Association. The donation ensures that guests and visitors can partake in the weekly fun.The Asheville Drum Circle meets every Friday around 7 p.m. in Pritchard Park, weather permitting.

Asheville Gets Crafty with Local Bazaars

2009-05-22T13:01:00.007-04:00

Bring home Asheville’s quirky and fun art scene with these two great upcoming bazaars:The Bizarre Bazaar kicks off on Saturday, May 23, at Lexington Park Courtyard. (The spot is located between North Lexington Ave and Carolina Lane at the gated entrance next to Virtue.) Shop from over 20 local artists, crafters and designers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rock out to music from local band Now You See

Asheville’s Drum Circle Gets New Drums

2009-05-21T11:36:00.007-04:00

Join the Asheville Drum Circle on Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. as the Asheville Downtown Association presents drums and accessories to this musical group.The donated drums will be available to drum circle participants and passersby who want to join the fun. The gifts include a large 55-gallon bass drum, called the dun dun, two djembes, an ashiko, a cowbell, three sets of claves and three shakers.The

Asheville in the News

2009-05-18T15:51:00.005-04:00

We believe Asheville is a pretty unique and outstanding town. Looks like we’re not the only ones! Asheville grabbed media headlines last week.Tampa Tribune: Reveals why Asheville is such a delicious city with a great story on our food scene.CBS Sunday Morning: Stunning views of Biltmore House and gardens punctuate this show, which features a segment about retiring creatively in Asheville.USA

Family Farm Tour Highlights Asheville Farm-to-Table Legacy

2009-05-13T10:59:00.005-04:00

Discover more about Western North Carolina’s local food movement and agricultural history with the Family Farm Tour from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and its partners. Tour a wide selection of the area’s most outstanding farms and gardens on June 27 and 28, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.Buy Your Ticket EarlyPurchase a button for admission for $20, plus $2 shipping at

Craggy Gardens Area Reopens

2009-05-12T15:59:00.003-04:00

Just in time for summer hiking; the Blue Ridge Parkway reopens the Craggy Gardens Area on May 15! Craggy Gardens is known for its easy hiking trails, panoramic mountain views and beautiful rhododendron blooms. Guest to the Craggy Gardens area should take care when traveling, as the drive to the area will be alternating one-lane traffic.

Asheville Wins East Coast Title for Beer City USA

2009-05-11T15:47:00.005-04:00

An independent beer movement is brewing. Over the past month, more than 16,000 craft beer enthusiasts from 46 countries cast votes for “Beer City U.S.A.” in an online poll posted by founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian on Examiner.com.A Battle for the TitleWith roughly 30% of votes each, the top honor of Beer City U.S.A. was ultimately split between two cities--

Support Asheville Future Foodies

2009-05-08T12:47:00.004-04:00

In April, Asheville-Buncombe Technical (AB-Tech) Community College won the American Culinary Federation’s Southeast Regional Hot Food Competition.The team is preparing for the national competition in Orlando this July, and is kicking off a special fundraiser to get the team to Florida. Check out this fun and quirky site to discover how you can make the bus move down the road to Orlando!

Watch Asheville Video from Bizarre Foods

2009-05-06T16:48:00.004-04:00

Did you miss last night's episode of Bizarre Foods showcasing Andrew Zimmern in Asheville? Check out this special footage from his time in Asheville with our resident "Mushroom Man" Alan Muskat.

See Asheville on the Travel Channel Tonight

2009-05-05T10:49:00.004-04:00

Andrew Zimmern heads to the Appalachian Mountains in tonight’s episode of Bizarre Foods. Tune to the Travel Channel at 10 p.m. EST to see him sample the region’s specialties, and share a moment with Asheville’s “Mushroom Man,” Alan Muskat. Watch as Alan takes Andrew on a mushroom foray and then to The Market Place for a tasting.Viewing Party for LocalsCatch tonight’s show with friends! Join Alan