Thinking of moving to Asheville? With breathtaking mountain views, excellent job opportunities, an exciting live music culture, and amazing food, Asheville is a great place to live for all ages and lifestyles—and one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Here are 15 things to know about living in Asheville!
Thrive in a Quaint & Diverse Mountain City
Living in Asheville is a great fit for people from all walks of life—from outdoor enthusiasts to live music aficionados and more! Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city is a hiker’s paradise, offering access to nearby parks, national parks, and even scenic road trip opportunities on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. But Asheville isn’t just about the outdoors! Nicknamed “the Paris of the South,” it boasts a charming downtown filled with diverse culture, food, and arts—and it has been named one of the best places to get married in the U.S. thanks to its picturesque setting. While the cost of living in Asheville is slightly above the national average, the wealth of amenities and access to year-round activities make it well worth it. Plus, the city supports affordable housing through efforts like the Housing Trust Fund to help offset costs. Whether you’re a young professional or a family looking for things to do in Asheville with kids, this city offers something for everyone.
Find Abundant Career Opportunities in Asheville
Boasting a 2.3% unemployment rate—far below the North Carolina and national rates—Asheville offers career opportunities in a number of exciting industries! Asheville is the home base for Mission Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in western North Carolina, which employs over 10,000 people. Interested in hospitality? Tupelo Honey Hospitality Corp, the corporate headquarters of the nationwide Southern comfort chain Tupelo Honey Cafe, is located in Asheville! The city is also home to a variety of hospitality and tourism careers at the Biltmore Estate, which is one of the biggest employers in the area! For those in education, Buncombe County Schools, Asheville City Schools, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, and University of North Carolina Asheville offer great faculty positions at any level, from early education to collegiate teaching. You can also check out positions at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) research institute located in Downtown Asheville if you’re interested in advancing climate work and data in the home of the National Climatic Data Center.
Choose from Plenty of Degree Options
Whether you’re an incoming college student or a young professional interested in continuing education, Asheville colleges and universities have the right degree to fit your needs! Liberal arts college UNC Asheville offers popular degrees in many areas, from psychology to environmental science to English. Western Carolina University also has its Biltmore Park campus in Asheville, offering undergraduate degree programs in engineering and nursing, as well as a variety of graduate degree programs. Asheville community college AB Tech is a budget-friendly education option with options for any desired career path, including architecture and construction, information technology, and government and public administration. South College—which has campuses across the country in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas—has an accessible Asheville college location just off I-40, providing degrees in programs like legal studies, imaging science, and occupational therapy. And if Asheville colleges don’t offer what you’re looking for, there are also multiple private universities near Asheville—like Warren Wilson College, Montreat College, and Brevard College!
Experience All Seasons With Asheville’s Climate
If you love warm summer days, mild snowy winters, and everything in between, living in Asheville is the right choice for you! The Land of the Sky experiences all four seasons, with snowy winters that get down to 25 degrees and hot humid summers that range up to a still-mild 84 degrees. Winters bring a manageable average of ten inches of snow, which is lower than the country’s average of 28 inches. AVL also experiences an average of 212 days of sun throughout the year, which is more sunny days than the U.S. average of 205. Fall and spring are some of the best seasons to enjoy the temperate Asheville climate, with incredible fall foliage and beautiful spring blooms making it one of the best cities for both fall vacations and spring vacations!
Take Advantage of Asheville’s Walkability & Growing Public Transit
With an average commute of just 17.8 minutes—well below the national average—and main roads like I-26 and I-240 running through the city, most Asheville residents drive to get around. However, other transportation options are available—and the city is making efforts to enhance public transit options! Asheville neighborhoods like Downtown Asheville, Falconhurst, and West Asheville Estates are very walkable, so you’ll be able to get out and enjoy pleasant weather days as you run errands or venture out to nearby activities. You can also take advantage bikeable Asheville neighborhoods by riding your own bike or getting a rental from Asheville E-Bikes—which offers both pickup and delivery options. Asheville public transportation is also well-connected, with Asheville Rides Transit (ART) bus routes running throughout the city and beyond to Black Mountain. ART routes can even take residents to the Asheville Regional Airport for flights to dozens of destinations across the country, with major airlines like Allegiant, American Airlines, and more!
Head Out on a Hike in Asheville Parks
As one of the best places to live near the mountains, Asheville is a paradise for outdoor recreation! Play on the courts and playgrounds or take a peek at the historic pool and bathhouse in Walton Street Park. View the Veterans’ Memorial or play on the splash pad in Pack Square Park. Hike or bike your way through Glenn’s Creek Greenway, French Broad Greenway, Wilma Dykeman Greenway, and other Asheville greenways across the city. Improve your game on the USTA clay courts of Aston Park Tennis Center in Aston Park. Hone your skating skills in Downtown Asheville on the concrete skate bowls and street course of Asheville Skatepark. Drive 45 minutes away to camp, hike, and take in the Southern Appalachia splendor in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Or head just over an hour away to hike and bike the trails, see beautiful waterfalls, and spot a variety of plant life and wildlife in Pisgah National Forest—spanning more than 500,000 acres.
Plan a Day Out With the Whole Family
Need fun things to do in Asheville with your kids? You’ll find great options in Asheville museums and attractions! Spend a sunny day walking through 434 acres of gardens full of native flower species at the North Carolina Arboretum in South Asheville. Watch your kids feed their curiosity with interactive space exhibits, fossils, and the hands-on STEAM Lab at the Asheville Museum of Science. Choose from 40 different pinball machines or 40 classic video games on a fun day off in the Asheville Pinball Museum. Cool off during the summer with a fun day splashing around in the Grant Southside Center Outdoor Pool. Head down the road to Hendersonville to check out the geodes, meteorites, fossils, and other geological marvels at the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County—a great free thing to do near Asheville. Then, let the kids loose to play and explore the interactive exhibits, or sign them up for a summer camp at Hands On! Children’s Museum in Hendersonville.
Spend the Day at Biltmore
Visiting the beautiful Biltmore Estate, with grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, is one of the best things to do in Asheville! Tour the beautiful Biltmore House, a 178,926-square-foot mansion once owned by George Vanderbilt, where you can see examples of artwork and architecture from the Gilded Age. Head outside to the 8,000-acre “backyard” to experience everything from biking and fly fishing to riverboat trips and even falconry. Grab a dinner featuring fresh meats, produce, and award-winning wines all from the estate’s grounds at one of several on-site restaurants. Schedule a tasting with knowledgeable wine hosts in the tasting room and follow it with a glass of your favorite variety with snacks in the wine bar at the Biltmore Winery. And top off your visit by shopping your way through Biltmore’s stores—whether you’re looking for classic toys, arts and crafts, or a bottle of wine to go, you won’t be disappointed!
Catch a Game With Asheville Sports Teams
With all the outdoor attractions in Asheville, it’s no surprise there are a variety of sports teams to enjoy, too! Take yourself out to the ball game with a night watching Houston Astros minor league affiliate, the Asheville Tourists (MiLB) at McCormick Field. Roll in to watch a roller derby bout with Asheville’s first flat track roller derby team, Blue Ridge Roller Derby (WFTDA) at Smoky Mountain Event Center in nearby Waynesville. Buy tickets to see the Blues in their next home game, with the men’s team (USL2) or women’s team (USLW) at Asheville City Soccer Club on Greenwood Soccer Field. If you’re a college sports fan, head over to campus to cheer on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (NCAA D-I) in basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis. Or get tickets for the SoCon Basketball Championships, an NCAA basketball tournament that takes place every spring at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
Get Your Groove On
Named one of America’s top music cities, Asheville has arts and entertainment options for everyone! Head down to a world-renowned venue that has hosted acts like Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, and The Killers over the years—The Orange Peel. Enjoy electronic music, learn the history of music synthesis, and learn about the Moog Synthesizer in Bob Moog’s hometown at the Moogseum. Listen to all genres of live music in an intimate venue that welcomes both music legends and up-and-coming artists at the Asheville Music Hall. Get tickets to a show at an all-ages music venue, The Grey Eagle Music Hall, which has hosted the likes of the Avett Brothers and Band of Horses. See popular artists like Vampire Weekend, Noah Kahan, and Modest Mouse in an outdoor venue next to Asheville Brewing Company at Asheville Yards. Or catch comedy shows, concerts, or Asheville Symphony performances at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Celebrate Year-Round at Asheville Festivals
Asheville has a number of unique festivals occurring throughout the year! Each October, celebrate everything vegan with local business vendors, food sampling, and educational resources to the tune of live music and DJs at Asheville VeganFest. Experience one of the best free events in Asheville at Downtown After 5—a lively concert series with stacked stage lineups that draw crowds of over 5,000, alongside a bustling marketplace featuring local businesses. Dance and rock out to bluegrass music in Pack Square Park at Shindig on the Green—another free festival in Downtown Asheville. Find emerging local artists who work in a variety of mediums, from glass and ceramics to woodworking and metalsmithing, during one of the six Saturdays of Art in the Park. “Plan your LEAF” to enjoy a music festival centered on cultural diversity, featuring artists from genres like folk, bluegrass, and blues, and highlights cultures including Native American, Celtic, Indian, African, and more at LEAF Festival Retreat. Or join the welcoming procession into Pack Square Park to kick off Asheville’s annual Pride celebration, held in September instead of June, at Blue Ridge Pride Festival.
Explore the Asheville Arts Scene
While living in Asheville, you can take part in the vibrant art scene! Lend a hand in rebuilding the beloved River Arts District after Hurricane Helene flooding via donations or by supporting local businesses at RADA Outpost and Upper RAD. Sign up for a jewelry making workshop or buy from the boutique jewelry gallery full of pieces from local artists at Ignite Jewelry Studios. Browse the ceramics at artist-owned and operated collective and gallery, Odyssey Gallery of Ceramic Arts. Shop around for antiques, art, jewelry, and more at the next pop-up market in Asheville through Uncommon Market Asheville. Or attend an event like the annual {Re}HAPPENING or other performances and artist talks at Blue Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, just outside of Asheville.
Check Out Asheville’s Breweries
One of the best beer cities in America, Asheville has great options for residents who want a fun night out at local breweries! Grab a glass of the Para Amigos, Vienna Lager, or Exit Orbit from Twin Leaf Brewery. Visit Asheville’s first taproom at Dirty Jack’s or the “brewtique” at Green Mansion to sample a Nerd Nectar Hazy IPA, Wayfarer, or Rainmaker from Green Man Brewery. Try the Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Hazy Pitch, or Mountain Water at one of Hi-Wire Brewing‘s three Asheville locations. Sip a Goldenrod Pilsner, Frog Horn IPA, or Anvil Porter at French Road River Brewery. Explore what’s on tap with the Endless Trail, Carolina Fog, or White Zombie from Catawba Brewing Co. Or try brews like the AVL IPA, Black Watch, and Cerveza Oscura from Highland Brewing—an independent, family-owned Asheville brewery.
Experience Diverse Asheville Restaurants
Asheville restaurants offer a wide variety of food from plenty of cultures! Try Croquetas de Setas, Trucha al Horno, or Rossejat on a night out at an authentic Spanish restaurant housed in a 1920s bus depot—Curate Bar De Tapas. Enjoy French comfort food like Boeuf Bourguignon, Saumon Dijonnaise, or Steak au Poivre at RendezVous. Check out a local favorite for a quick bite, with options like the 2 Fried Thighs Plate, Wings, or Grilled Tender with customizable heat levels at Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack. Pop in for your seafood fix with Gulf Coast Oysters, Wicked Good Maine Lobster, or Shrimp and Grits at The Lobster Trap. Sample Lamb Shawarma, the Kafta Wrap, or Jordanian Chicken at Mediterranean restaurant Jerusalem Garden Cafe. Or order the Chopped Pork BBQ Sandwich, Pulled Chicken, or Mac ‘N Cheese Mixology from Luella’s Bar-B-Que.
Asheville Is a Vegan Paradise
As a previous winner of PETA’s top vegan-friendly small towns in the U.S., moving to Asheville is a great choice for vegetarians and vegans looking for accessible restaurant options! Order a Romeo Mac Burger, Tobacco Road Burger, or Mexico Romeo Burger off the 100% plant-based menu sourced from Beyond Meats and Impossible Foods at Romeo’s Vegan Burgers. Try the Family Favorite, Buddha Bowl, or Coconut Curry Plate from Downtown Asheville vegan restaurant Rosetta’s Kitchen. Find the food truck or order in for a Cluckin’ Good Sandwich, Baja Haha Ensalada, or Town Gyro at The Smokin Onion. Sample the Avo Toasty, Up-Beet Sandwich, or Kitchari with your choice of juice or smoothie at Pulp + Sprout Juice Bar + Vegan Cafe, a North Asheville vegan restaurant. Enjoy vegan and vegetarian dishes like the Supreme Pizza, Buffalo Cauliflower Taco, or Harmony Bowl from an Asheville vegetarian restaurant that’s been open since 1993, Laughing Seed Cafe. Or, for a more upscale vegan experience, sit down to a meal of Masala Uttapam, BBQ Brussels Tostadas, or Crispy Mushroom Mole at plant.
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