Cities Less Traveled: Exploring Asheville

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular roads to travel on during the fall season. Travelers come from all over to see the gorgeous fall colors. Ironically, the city of Asheville that sits at that start of the Blue Ridge Parkway is often not thought of as a popular destination. Asheville, though, has a lot to offer to visitors and should be on your list of must-see cities. So book a room at one of the many affordable hotels like the Guesthouse International Inn Biltmore and discover all that Asheville has to offer. 

Getting to Asheville

Asheville Regional Airport is a small airport serviced with connections to most major cities through Delta, United, US Airways, and Allegiant. Surprisingly, even with being a smaller airport, great deals on flights can be found all through the year.  Additionally, WiFi is provided in the terminal, and there is a lovely art gallery for you to peruse.

From the airport, there are several options for transportation to town; car rentals with major car rental companies, taxi cabs, and the public transit system are your choices. If you are planning on staying in town and exploring the downtown area, taxis and public transportation will work great for you. However, if you plan on exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway a car rental will be necessary. Furthermore, hotels like the Hampton Inn Asheville I-26 Biltmore Square offer hotel shuttle service to and from the airport.

Where to Stay

There are many great hotels in Asheville, both downtown and in surrounding areas: boutique hotels, resorts, chain motels, chain hotels, bed and breakfasts, and even cabins. Your perspective of the city will vary depending on where you choose to stay. With so many options, where you decide to stay depends on what you have planned.

You may be interested in seeing all that the great outdoors of North Carolina has to offer, so you could choose a hotel on the outside of town with views and easy access to your adventures. You may be more interested in art and culture, so you might choose to stay downtown surrounded by several galleries, shops, and restaurants. Via TripAdvisor

, previous visitors to Asheville have shared their comments on which hotels they feel are the best; this is a great resource for the first-time Asheville visitor looking for the right place to stay.

Must-See Attractions

There is much more to see in Asheville than first meets the eye. In addition to the multitude of art galleries, the Biltmore House is a favorite for art lovers. Many of Asheville’s must-see attractions involve being outdoors; The Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville zip-lining, North Carolina Arboretum, and Asheville Outdoor Center are just a few visitor favorites. There is something for everyone in Asheville.

The outdoors may be why Asheville has drawn visitors over the years, but the popularity of beer and the cities 18 craft breweries have also begun to draw visitors. A great way to experience the beer scene like a local is to take the Beer Stroll. This unique tour is guided by Tucker (a local beer enthusiast) and will walk you through the different beer tastes, styles, and history; a real treat for the beer lover.

Carrie Dahle is a multi-talented writer living no place in particular. Why, because she is too busy traveling. Her travels have included bike rides down volcanoes, maneuvering the waves of Hawaii, sailing the seas of the Caribbean, and so much more.