Asheville is the South’s hippest city – at least that’s what its legion of fans claim. Travellers on holidays in North Carolina are drawn to the city by its arts and culture that rival those of Santa Fe. They also flock in to experience Asheville’s downtown, with its plethora of coffeehouses, restaurants, microbreweries, galleries, museums, antique shops, bookstores and boutiques.
Dubbed “the best city to live in” by many a book and magazine, Asheville is also the preferred destination for retirees out to escape the cold North, and for the halfbacks, people who relocated to Florida but are now returning half the way back to the North. Old downtown buildings have been transformed into condominiums for the affluent retirees, while new residential buildings are constantly springing up to the east, west and south of town. To see the city at its very best, plan your visit after dark, in particular during the summer and autumn weekends.