Discover Asheville, North Carolina: Art, Cuisine and Blue Ridge Mountain Magic
A year after Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods, Asheville invites visitors to explore its thriving arts scene, award-winning restaurants, boutique hotels, luxurious spas, and unforgettable natural beauty
A year after Hurricane Helene unleashed catastrophic flooding on Asheville, North Carolina, the city has emerged as a community risen — a testament to resilience, creativity and collective spirit.
There’s something uniquely special about this charming city in Western North Carolina. Much like Austin, Asheville brims with a quirky, bohemian energy with deep roots in arts, music and food. Unlike Central Texas, of course, Asheville is framed by the majestic grandeur of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a rich history of the Vanderbilts, Art Deco architecture, and the heyday of the Roaring Twenties. It is now a city of balance — between fine dining and craft breweries, wellness retreats and outdoor adventure, preservation and reinvention.
Visiting Asheville as a tourist today means more than savoring its culinary and cultural riches. A visit is also an act of solidarity with a community that has proven its strength — something Texans can find deeply familiar after July’s heartbreaking local floods. To walk its streets, share a meal or step inside a working studio is to contribute to the city’s ongoing story of renewal.
Cass Santander, public relations manager for Explore Asheville, reflects, “I remember thinking: ‘How are we gonna come back from this?’ And we did. 90 percent of the businesses in the Asheville area have reopened. More continue to reopen. And I say that with just an incredible amount of awe. It’s because of the people here who are looking out for each other.”
Arts and Nature Lead the Way in Healing
The River Arts District was one of the most severely affected areas by Hurricane Helene, impacting hundreds of studios and galleries. Today, over half of its artists and makers are back, bringing renewed vitality and welcoming visitors to spaces that showcase Asheville’s creative spirit.
After the storm, when so many gathering places vanished overnight, the arts became something of a lifeline. Kimmy Tolbert, a textile artist and teacher, notes, “We lost so many of those ‘third spaces’ where you’d run into people in the community, like the park or the climbing gym. That’s why we’re leaning on the arts right now. They give us hope, they offer new narratives. And on another level, the arts are powerful because they help us process things we sometimes can’t put into words.”
Stroll through the district today and you’ll find resilience literally etched into the work: salvaged wood transformed into sculpture, textiles honoring the region’s heritage and murals splashed in color where floodwaters once rose. “Artists always find a way around obstacles,” Tolbert says. “That’s inherent in being creative.”
Of course, the community’s capacity to heal extends beyond the arts. For many, one of Asheville’s greatest sources of restoration is also one of its greatest treasures — nature. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides a breathtaking route to explore the area’s beauty. Surrounded by more than a million acres of protected wilderness, you can hike to waterfalls and mountaintops, bike through secluded backcountry, fish in cool streams or paddle the French Broad River.
Highlights of a Recent Visit to Asheville
Asheville’s lodging options are as eclectic and memorable as the city itself, from grand resorts to intimate boutique hotels.
The Flat Iron Hotel
Our recent stay at The Flat Iron Hotel perfectly captured Asheville’s blend of historic charm and modern energy. Housed in the city’s landmark Flat Iron Building, this boutique gem — named to Travel + Leisure’s 2025 “It List” of the world’s best new hotels — exudes Jazz Age glamour with contemporary comfort.
Highlights of this property include the beautiful onsite restaurant, Luminosa. Blending Appalachian ingredients with Italian tradition, Luminosa offers wood-fired pizzas (don’t miss their signature lemon pizza), house-made pastas and fresh, seasonal vegetables. You can also enjoy craft cocktails and breathtaking mountain views from the rooftop bar, followed by a nightcap in the hidden basement speakeasy. The location couldn’t be better — just steps from Asheville’s vibrant restaurants, galleries, and live music scene. Stylish, social, and steeped in character, The Flat Iron offers a truly one-of-a-kind Asheville experience.
The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa
To round out the getaway, we spent a rejuvenating spa day at Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, one of Asheville’s most iconic destinations. Nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills, this historic resort — voted one of Southern Living’s “Best Resorts in the South” for 2025 — pairs timeless mountain architecture with modern indulgence.
The subterranean spa lived up to its world-class reputation, with mineral pools, waterfalls, and serene stone caverns that made it easy to lose track of time. Afterward, we lingered over lunch with sweeping mountain views before returning downtown. Combining the energy of The Flat Iron with the tranquility of The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa made for the perfect Asheville escape.
For many more suggestions on where to stay, dine and explore, be sure to pick up a copy of the upcoming November/December issue of TRIBEZA Magazine.
Fall and Winter Asheville Events
Asheville offers year-round excitement, with vibrant foliage and apple picking in the fall, gorgeous blooms and perfect spring weather, and it also transforms into a magical winter destination. Take note of a few standout attractions this November and December:
Holiday Season at the Biltmore Estate
A visit to Asheville is not complete without a visit to America’s largest privately-owned home. In the winter months, the Biltmore Estate dazzles with holiday decorations, seasonal exhibits and breathtaking gardens.
Thomas Dambo’s Trolls at the North Carolina Arboretum
Renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo presents his brand-new traveling exhibition, “Trolls: A Field Study,” at the North Carolina Arboretum from Nov. 15 through Feb. 17, 2026, for its U.S. debut. Much like Austin’s troll in Pease Park, this exhibit will feature 12 trolls crafted from reclaimed materials along 10 miles of trails.
National Gingerbread House Competition at Grove Park Inn
The spectacular annual gingerbread showcase features incredible, intricate and edible masterpieces crafted by talented bakers from across the country. Visitors can stroll through the grand lobby, admire the festive displays and sip seasonal drinks by the roaring fireplace.
More to Explore
In Asheville, you can expect a harmony of adventure and wellness, art and dining and countless opportunities to feel inspired by nature. Whenever you arrive, Asheville is ready to welcome you with something extraordinary.
Find helpful travel planning resources at www.exploreasheville.com.
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