When visiting the southern part of the United States there are many spots to explore, but one city that should be on the top of your list is Asheville, NC.

This city has the best of both worlds: the city life and the outdoors life. Asheville is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is nestled beside both the Swannanoa River and the French Broad River. It has a lively downtown area that is sure to entertain for many days on end. But it also has a plethora of wildlife surrounding the city that offers many more activities for the visitor and native alike. In this article, we’ll explore the city side of Asheville.

First, where to stay in the city? There are many places to stay. The Inn on Biltmore and the Grove Park Inn both offer the best in comfort and luxury as well as beautiful settings and rich histories. The Inn isn’t very many years old, but it provides luxurious rooms, fine dining, a relaxing veranda, flawless service, a refreshing pool, a state of the art spa, glorious views of the mountains, and a short walk to the rest of the Biltmore Estate, which is over 100 years old.

The Grove Park Inn is also filled with history and culture from turn of the century America, but if you want to stay at a place that is a little bit cozier then you should look into one of the many bed and breakfasts that are scattered around the city. A good number of the bed and breakfasts date back to the 1800s and have detailed and interesting histories as well. They’ll also provide you with a homier and more personal stay while visiting.

Once you’ve chosen which lovely place to sleep at then next it’s off to downtown Asheville where you’ll be filled with an almost overwhelming amount of things to do and see. There are over 14 art and history museums in Asheville. Among the best are the Asheville Art Museum in downtown and the River Arts District, which is just a two minute drive from downtown.

Along with the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn, there are many, many more historical sites in and around Asheville. The Thomas Wolf museum is located in downtown. This famous turn of the century author wrote about Asheville many times throughout his career, and you can find his childhood home right in center of downtown Asheville. The Montford area, an area right on the edge of downtown, consists of a series of roads along Montford Avenue, which is a historic area in itself. Downtown Asheville also has many art deco buildings. Miami is the only city that has more art deco work than Asheville.

And then there’s the shopping. What would Asheville be without its shops? Shops in Asheville range from high end to hippie, from homemade to designer made. No matter which shops you find in Asheville, one thing is for certain: Asheville is like no other. You will find only one or two chain restaurants or shops in downtown. This city is a home for the independent and the artist.

Amber Singleton is a writer for The Lion and The Rose Bed & Breakfast, located just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C. Just three miles from the Biltmore Estate, The Lion and The Rose Bed & Breakfast is the Asheville inn to indulge romantic fantasies and relish in the comfort of luxury. With only five guest rooms, The Lion and The Rose Bed & Breakfast guarantees privacy & intimacy.