City-Asheville

Welcome to Asheville, NC!

A mountainous southern town that has turned from forgotten mountain getaway to a hip and quirky must-see destination. Asheville is surrounded by incredible nature, delicious southern food, funky little neighborhoods and during this trip you’ll get to partake in a little bit of everything! Frequently known as The Land of the Sky for being nestled between mountain ridges, it’s awe-inspiring both in nature and history. Asheville has churned out famous chefs, famous families, famous literature and so much more. Be ready to spend the next few days seeing just how it earned its reputation.

Stream now

Here is a playlist to help you get into the spirit of your destination!

One last thing...

Here's Whym's top ten things to know about Asheville, NC

Welcome!

Asheville is a beautiful town in the Western part of North Carolina nestled right between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains with amazing views and access to incredible food, history, and more.

Finding Your Way

Asheville is incredibly walkable so it’s perfect to wander & explore. There are taxis available as well as Lyft to help get you around if you’re in a hurry or going a little further. If you’re looking for public transportation, the bus system is your best bet - it’s free within a zone downtown and only $1 if you venture outside of that. Lastly, there’s the tram for a more interesting form of transport. If you’re going to the mountains, a rental car will be key.

Airport Deets

10 miles from downtown, it’s easy to get to where you’re going. A Lyft is about $20-30 and the most direct way to get to your hotel. If you’re up for the bus, it’s only $1 from the airport to downtown.

History

Asheville was settled in 1784 by one sole family. It would go on to grow and thrive as it was able to be connected it to the rest of the state. By the end of the 1800’s, Asheville began to change into the city it is today thanks to the Vanderbilt family. Today it’s a city that highlights its history through art, museums, & architecture. And beer. Lots of beer.

Why Am I Here?

Asheville is a town that melds where it came from with what it became flawlessly. Home to more breweries than anywhere else in the United States, amazing hiking, beautiful architecture, and a serious food scene. Of course, it’s also home to the Biltmore - the Vanderbilt’s estate - which is an amazing thing to see. It’s a perfect blend of nature and hip mountain town.

Weather

Asheville has a moderate four season climate. While the winter tends to be in the high 40’s/low 50’s and much less crowded, the spring jumps up to the mid 60’s-70’s and a bit rainy. The summer becomes incredibly humid but beautiful, with temperatures in the mid 80’s. The fall is our favorite with perfect 60-70° days and incredible foliage everywhere you look.

Local Delicacies

Asheville boasts the nickname Beer City, USA so you can’t leave without trying some of the local spots - they abound and you can’t choose wrong. Though Asheville sports a strong Indian food culture, North Carolina BBQ is where it’s at. There are two types and a local will fight to the death for the one they like best. Heck, the debate once got all the way to the Congress floor. Lexington style is thinly sliced pork shoulder in a vinegar and ketchup sauce while Eastern style is a whole hog approach in a vinegar and pepper base.

Souvenirs

Asheville has some great shopping so souvenirs should be no problem. A local brew is always fun and there are thousands to choose from - we love Burial Beer. Something from one of the local accessory shops that carry all things pretty is great - try ones like Embellish, Porter & Prince, Otherwise local art or something from the Biltmore estate is always a crowd pleaser. We also love the famous Asheville Bee Charmer - be sure to stop in and sample a bunch of unique honey and then take some to go!

Style

Asheville has embraced its hippie heart. You’ll see lots of bright colors, comfortable clothes, and flowing fabrics. It’s not a high fashion city but it’s proudly funky and with a style all its own. You’ll see that melded with lots of proper mountain man, rugged style.

Must Know

Asheville is temperate and beautiful so it’s always a great time to visit. If you’re there when it’s warm out and it’s a Friday, 6pm - it’s so strange but so cool - you absolutely must go see the drum circle that takes place in Pritchard Park. Don’t forget hiking shoes and clothing to explore the mountain ranges and always double check your llama parking laws!