By Catherine Rayburn-Trobaug
Ashville, North Carolina Tourist Information
Cradled in Western North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains, Asheville is a sophisticated city with a small town feel. Boasting world-class restaurants and an active night life, Asheville is also home to a lively music and arts community and is the gateway to hunting, fishing and scenic vistas. Full of historic context and natural beauty, this city of just over 200,000 lures people for a
family vacation or a
romantic getaway.
Food and Music
Asheville restaurants excel at Southern barbecue tradition with plenty of smoked pulled pork and ribs, but it's also close to the Atlantic ocean, so plenty of fresh seafood is available. A new concept, Farm to Table restaurants are taking hold for the ultimate in fresh local foods. Asheville's downtown features more than a dozen music venues with even more spread throughout the city offering blues to opera and even a drum circle.
History
Asheville is rich with history, but the most well-known historic site is the Biltmore. Constructed in 1895 by the Vanderbilt family, this 250 room estate is the largest residence in the U.S. Today, it produces an award-winning wine and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
Outdoors
Just outside of Ashville are outdoor activities for every taste. The Appalachian Trail is one of many hiking trails near Asheville and canoeing, kayaking and rafting is available at the nearby French Broad River. Horseback riding and bicycle tours also are available. If your idea of outdoor activity is a little tamer, try a balloon ride over the city and mountains or a drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to take in the views.
Resources
About the Author:
Catherine Rayburn-Trobaugh has been a writer and college writing professor since 1992. She has written for international companies, published numerous feature articles in the "Wilmington News-Journal," and won writing contests for her poetry and fiction. Rayburn-Trobaugh earned a Master of Arts in English from Wright State University.
Photo Credits:
William T. Trobaugh, Jr.
