7 ways to experience Asheville like a local

Few cities are as harmoniously balanced with their natural surroundings as Asheville, NC. Bathed in deciduous foliage and overlooked by the waterfall-marbled slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is known for its dynamic cultural experiences, well-preserved historic core and plethora of local breweries.

Set in the southern Appalachian region, Asheville is overlooked by some of the highest Blue Ridge Mountains peaks. And with the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail passing nearby, Asheville is the ideal place for outdoorsy, culture-infused trips.

Asheville’s pedestrian-friendly downtown is characterised by its elegant 1920s-era Art Deco buildings. One spectacular example, which was built in 1929 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts S&W Market. This delightful food hall contains independent eateries, some of which serve locally brewed craft beers.

Throughout Asheville, around 25 breweries produce more than 200 different beers. Many of the smaller craft breweries, such as Wicked Weed Brewpub, boast their own city centre tap rooms, so you can sample the suds at source.

This combination of preservation and innovation underpins the independent spirit governing Asheville’s local businesses. Boutiques selling Appalachian arts and crafts, farmers’ markets stocked with local produce, and eclectic antiques and vintage clothing stores abound.

Rolling landscape, striated by ubiquitous creeks and their waterfalls, distinguishes the wilderness surrounding Asheville for lovers of the great outdoors. Many of these picturesque cascades, such as Catawba Falls, are accessible via short hiking trails.

The stretch of wilderness south of Asheville is known as the Land of Waterfalls. Here, in spring and summer, you can reward weary limbs with a soothing dip. Sliding Rock is an 18m natural rockface waterfall that doubles as a water slide.

For a waterfall view without the hike, the 18m-high Looking Glass Falls is visible from the roadside. Other drive-by waterfalls include the 23m Dry Falls (which you can walk beneath), and Soco Falls, where two creeks converge in a beautiful twin cascade.

With almost 180,000 sq ft of floor space, and set in expansive grounds of over 8,000 acres, the Biltmore is by far the largest private home in the United States.

Parts of the Chateauesque mansion (think steep roofs decorated in a confection of intricately carved towers and spires), its rooftop and its gardens are open to the public. They provide a tantalising window into the fabled decadence of the Gilded Age and its ornaments. The interior blends elements of Art Deco and Neoclassical design.

Broaden your sensory experience of the Biltmore by joining a tasting session at the on-site winery, where Chardonnays and Merlots are produced from the estate’s vineyards. Allow at least a day to fully explore the full site.

Ever since construction of the Biltmore drew legions of artisans to this corner of North Carolina, Asheville’s thriving artist colony has made the city a cultural leader. Interaction with the city’s creative side can range from viewing modern American art at Asheville Art Museum to hands-on workshops in a glassmaking or pottery studio.

Asheville is also a year-round music hub, with a busy festival season including world music and art at LEAF Festival, and bluegrass music and dance at Shindig on the Green.

The River Arts District (RAD) is an area pulsating with creativity and craftmanship. There are currently over 300 working artists in the area, showcasing the local creative spirit with events such as RAD Resilience, centred around community-led art projects. Heading there and admiring the artists’ work is a great way to get a feel for Asheville beyond the surface.

Once you’ve tapped into the laidback pace of life in Asheville, the perfect way to delve deeper is via one of the city’s fascinating cultural trails. Over the course of 2.7km and 30 bronze sculpture stops, the Asheville Urban Trail unlocks the city’s history and lore, introducing its notable residents, such as George Vanderbilt and Thomas Wolfe, en route.

Asheville’s Black Cultural Heritage Trail celebrates Asheville’s Black history. The trail discovers the community’s creativity and enterprise, including helping to build Asheville and connect the city globally as well as fostering social change, while also shining a light on independent, resilient Black-owned businesses in the city.

Other trails explore the city’s art (South Slope Mural Trail) and architecture (Asheville Architecture Trail), much like an open-air museum.

Short forays into nature, day hikes and through-hikes celebrate the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains on Asheville’s doorstep. No matter your hiking experience, there’s a trail near Asheville to suit.

Pisgah National Forest is crisscrossed by a plethora of trails, such as the 17km Cold Mountain Trail, which traverses the peak that inspired the novel and film Cold Mountain. A simpler hike is the Glassy Mountain Trail, a 2.1km route from the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.

The mountains provide a scenic haven for all sorts of activities. Namaste in Nature combine mountain hikes with yoga. Photography with WNC Photo Tours or luxury outdoors dining with Picnic Pop-Up are other innovative ways to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains around Asheville.

Asheville’s food culture – affectionately nicknamed Foodtopia – is rooted in its deep connection to the land. Each meal is the result of a relationship between farmers, makers and chefs with a level of  innovation that evolved from the hard necessities of mountain living. The result – an inventive food scene serving up hyper-local seasonal meals that you will remember long after the meal is over.

Guided foraging experiences with No Taste Like Home highlight the edible wild plants, mushrooms and nuts that grow freely all around Asheville; you can head on a guided tour, picking out your ingredients at the Market Place on Wall St downtown, which specialises in regional dishes using seasonal and even foraged ingredients. You’ll then get to cook your own meal at one of the city’s many standout restaurants. The lush forests around the city are places not only of great natural beauty, but also of sustenance.

A great way to start your trip in the city is to head on a food tour with the likes of Eating Asheville where you can get a flavour of the city, its people and natural surroundings. For something a little more cured, follow the WNC Cheese Trail, where curds get luxury makeovers into a range of delicious artisanal cheeses.