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Asheville and Western NC Information
Exploring Asheville — Whether you're seeking funky contemporary art galleries, fine organic cuisine, a vibrant downtown with outdoor cafés and street performers, dozens of choices of live music venues, diverse and historic architecture, expansive medical facilities, breathtaking mountain scenery, four distinct and mild seasons, or outdoor adventures, Asheville is the progressive, welcoming hub of Western North Carolina.
Asheville on Wikipedia — One-stop source of a range of information about the community, the area, neighborhoods, culture, education, history, and points of interest. Loaded with links to other resources.
Asheville Accolades and Media Praise — The town and its attractions have been recognized for its splendors by dozens of magazines, Web sites and publications in recent years. Frommer's named Asheville one of a dozen must-see travel destinations in 2007. Southern Living, Forbes, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, The New York Times, USA Today, and dozens more have chimed in.
Blue Ridge Parkway — Noted for its scenic beauty, the Parkway runs for 469 miles through the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. Land on either side of the road is maintained by the National Park Service. With no entrance fee, it is the longest, narrowest National Park in the world and is the most visited unit in the United States National Park System.
Biltmore Estate — This French Renaissance-inspired chateau sits on 8,000 acres in Asheville, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1888 and 1895. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States, at 175,000 square feet. Still owned by the family, it is today one of most dynamic portraits of the Gilded Age, and attracts about 1 million visitors each year.
The Grove Park Inn — One of the American South’s oldest and most famous grand resorts. Built of granite boulders from the area in 1913 on 140 picturesque acres, it overlooks the Asheville skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The massive fireplaces of the Great Hall and world class spa are unforgettable. Eight U.S. Presidents, and countless other notable figures have been guests.
The Laurel of Asheville — This free, monthly publication serves as a guide to Asheville, Biltmore, and the surrounding areas, and is filled with articles, advertisements, and features dedicated to supporting Asheville's culture, commerce, and community. It also contains monthly Events Calendars, Restaurant Guides, Maps of Downtown Asheville and surrounding communities, and Accomodations Listings at your fingertips.
The Relocation Guide — This free magazine and informative Web site is packed with information and background about the various communities, with facts and figures and maps to help you focus your search for the perfect community to live in Western North Carolina. Articles range from community profiles to healthcare, education, building a home, retirement, and more.
Hendersonville — A few miles south of Asheville, this historic town is family friendly, with great schools, traditional values, and Main Street shops and activities that’ll take you back to a simpler time. In the past ten years, more retirees have flocked to Hendersonville than any other town in the Carolinas.
Carl Sandburg Home — A National Historic Site. Tours and hiking trails. Carl Sandburg, American poet, historian, author, and lecturer spent the final 22 years of his long and productive life at his estate, Connemara, in Flat Rock, NC, near Hendersonville. The Site offers a keen insight on Mr. Sandburg, his family and their 240 acre working farm.
