Asheville, NC

Address:Asheville, North Carolina

This funky and laidback tourist Mecca is a perfect base for taking in the nearby mountains and rivers of Southern Appalachia and a great spot to stroll around for a few days enjoying the local art galleries, shopping, and hip nightlife. Asheville, NC places of interest are not hard to find, especially if you plan on following the Asheville Urban Trail. Start at the Asheville Art Museum (Pack Square) and try to do the whole route – it is under two miles. You can join a scheduled tour or just follow the signs. The unique walking trail highlights the different aspects of Asheville – the history, the culture, the arts and the architecture and gives equal billing to very different time periods in Asheville's development – from the days as a frontier town, through the wealth of the gilded age to the current cosmopolitan cultural center. All of this is presented through art and sculpture – with each station featuring a piece that relates to the history of the place. In some places, the art is in the form of architecture – Asheville has several Art Deco masterpieces among other historic and impressive buildings.

If you are looking for specific places of interest in Asheville, NC, the Biltmore Estate is probably the most popular in town. It is the largest private home in the United States and as close as you will get this side of Europe (or California) to a real castle. And you can stay and dine there, too.