Asheville
North Carolina, USA
  • Asheville    Asheville

You can go home again here

Asheville-born writer Thomas Wolfe's posthumous novel might be titled with the quip, "You Can't Go Home Again," but his hometown oozes Southern charm attractive to tourists, history buffs, leaf-watchers, hikers, bikers and more. 

Asheville, situated along the Blue Ridge Parkway, beckons to be explored, either in the green hills and mountains throughout surrounding Buncombe County or in the hilly downtown with interesting bookshops, eateries and stores. 

Great diversity

Residents love the diversity of people in Asheville, as highlighted in the culture, art and laid-back frame of mind.  They say the area has an indescrible energy.  (Maybe its fueled by locally-brewed beer as the city has more than three dozen craft brewers and is making a big name for itself as a place for a great pub crawl.)

Tourism is the area's major business.  More people are moving in annually, but the community, named as the best town in the Southeast by Outside Magazine in 2007, still seems small. 

Climate

  • Humid subtropical

Physical Environment

  • Mountains

Culture

  • Active club/bar/music scene
  • Local professional symphony
  • Local film festival
  • Major public college in downtown
  • Fine art museum
  • Local community theatre
  • Ethnic restaurants

Politics

  • Leaning liberal

Economy

  • $$$ -- Prices seem reasonable

Recreation

  • Downtown yoga studio
  • Public golf course
  • Snow skiing within 50 miles
  • Biking, hiking, running trails
  • Year-round fitness swimming center

Infrastructure

  • Safe bike corridors
  • Lots of downtown living space
  • Working farms within 25 miles
  • Mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods
  • Public squares

Health

  • Emergency medical services within 25 miles
  • Community swimming pool
  • Community senior center