Many Reasons to Love Asheville

We love Western North Carolina. There’s something special about our little area of the Appalachian Mountains. That doesn’t mean life is always easy here, there are plenty of things the Asheville community could do better, but we are drawn to the area again and again. So what makes WNC such a fantastic place to live or have a vacation home? Here is a short list of reasons we love Asheville.

Nature Cannot be Matched

In the earliest days of the American colonies, the British set the boundary at the Appalachian Mountains. They wanted to avoid tension between the French and Indigenous populations of the time. American history was drawn against the very mountains Asheville is nestled in. Our mountains are among the oldest in the world, and the same geologic formation created the hills in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. Every time you step out of your front door in our region, you’re surrounded by nature steeped in history.

Outdoor Adventure

With access to these ancient mountains comes infinite options for outdoor entertainment. People flock to our area to be outside every season. From winter sports in the mountains near Boon to leaf-peeping season throughout WNC in the fall, there isn’t a time when people can’t be outdoors. Last year, ExploreAsheville.com published this list of unexpected outdoor adventures in the area. Other activities include:

Hiking
White water rafting
Bouldering
Tubing
Biking

Whatever you love to do, you can do it here in Asheville.

Rich History

Western North Carolina isn’t just a pretty face. Our beautiful landscape has been the backdrop to some of the most impressive history in America. The Vanderbilts chose our town to build The Biltmore Estate, which attracted the rich and famous from the Golden Age to our mountains. The Grove Park Inn played host to presidents and famous names since it was opened in 1913, and other visitors included Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone. F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spent much time in Asheville. We’re home to Thomas Wolfe, author of Look Homeward, Angel. Before settlers came to the area, it was the Cherokee Nation. Constructed in the 20th century, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the country’s most visited national parks.

Committed Community

Of course, all these are factors for people to move to the area, but what makes people stay? The unbendable spirit of our city has drawn people in and gotten them involved. I once read, “the difference between a tourist and a resident is how much you get involved.” People who move here love this community, and it doesn’t take much to discover an organization or cause to get behind. As you can see, there are many reasons to love Asheville.