Visiting the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center (Asheville NC)

Visiting the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center in Asheville NC

The Southern Highland Craft Guild has been an advocate for high-quality crafts being made and sold in the southern Appalachian Mountains since the 1930s. Their mission is to ensure that generation after generation of locals and visitors alike continue to value both the traditional and modern arts and crafts of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Originally designed … Read more

The 10 Best Things to Do in Asheville for Couples

Things to do in Asheville NC for Couples

The reputation of Asheville NC as a magical getaway has been well-known for over a century. So much so that one of the world’s wealthiest families, the Vanderbilts, built their Biltmore Estate there in the late 1800s. Over the last 20 years, Asheville has emerged as a major hub in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, … Read more

The 7 Best Places for Snow Skiing Near Asheville, North Carolina

Snow Skiing near Asheville North Carolina

As a longtime Western North Carolina resident (formerly of Brevard, currently of Elkin NC), I’ve spent a lot of time in Asheville over the years.  From critically acclaimed restaurants and hip breweries to trendy boutiques and swanky museums, there’s an ever-increasing array of fun things to do in Asheville NC.  This burgeoning mountain metropolis is … Read more

The 28 Best NC Christmas Tree Farms to Visit (2023)

Best Western NC Christmas Tree Farms

[Updated November 14, 2023] Whether you’re continuing a lifelong Christmas tradition or getting your first ever real tree, picking out a tree from one of the many NC Christmas Tree Farms is truly a magical holiday moment. Especially when you’re doing it among the majestic Blue Ridge mountain overlooks and landscapes of North Carolina. Exploring … Read more

The 30 Best NC Christmas Events (2023-2024)

Tweetsie Railroad

[Updated November 9, 2023] There’s nothing quite like celebrating the holiday season in a magical place, and many small mountain towns offer special NC Christmas Events. From parades and shopping to dazzling Christmas lights and meetings with Santa, these Blue Ridge Mountain Towns are the perfect place to celebrate and get into the holiday spirit. … Read more

Asheville River Arts District: A Guide to Galleries & Restaurants

Cotton Mill Studios in Asheville River Arts District

[Updated July 3, 2023] Over the last decade, Asheville has emerged as a progressive haven of arts and culture in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The town is known for its fiercely independent spirit, with myriad “green” restaurants, breweries, and countless Asheville art galleries and artists’ studios popping up over … Read more

The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit

Asheville Hotels near Biltmore Estate

In the 15+ years we’ve been exploring Blue Ridge Mountain towns, we’ve had a chance to visit many of the best places to stay in Asheville NC. From charming B&Bs and hotels in Downtown Asheville to cabin rentals and historic inns nearby, there are countless options for accommodations around town.  In fact, there are nearly 80 … Read more

15 Fun Things to Do in Asheville NC in Winter

Asheville NC Winter

In winter, Asheville NC is still a great place to be. It’s cold enough for some snow and snuggles by a cozy fire, but sheltered enough not to be an absolute Arctic blast. Christmas in Asheville includes luxury venues like the Biltmore Estate and nearby NC mountain towns, with festive lights and garlands hanging on everything … Read more