so, why asheville...

Recently, a statement issued by the White House noted, “The president of the United States first visited the Asheville area during the campaign, and he liked it so much that he vowed to take his family there. The president and first lady (with the entire Obama family) spent a quiet and romantic weekend enjoying some of the many things that Asheville, this beautiful part of the country, has to offer.”

 

 

 

 

So, let’s make this easy for you. We all know Asheville is beautiful (with the river and mountains and stunning waterfalls) and has the most perfect climate you can have in an area that has four seasons (winters are mild). We have already learned that is only an hour direct flight from NYC. Let’s see what else people and publications, besides the Obama family, are saying:

 

“Asheville is an Appalachian Shangri-La. This year-round resort town, tucked between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, draws a funky mix of New Agers, fleece-clad mountain bikers, antique lovers, and old-time farmers. What’s not to like? It is so charming yet surprisingly cosmopolitan. Asheville has a Southern and progressive feel all its own. There are lazy cafes and buzzing bistros, Art Deco skyscrapers and arcades reminiscent of Paris, and hosts America’s largest home – The Biltmore Estate, a French Renaissance-style mansion with over 500 rooms located on land covering over 8,000 acres.”

 

 

 

World renowned travel guide, Fodor’s, named Asheville the #1 place to visit in 2011 in their “21 places we’re going to visit in 2011.” Ranking above locations such as the Amalfi Coast, Tokyo, and Mozambique, Fodor’s implored readers to “visit before Asheville becomes global”.

 

 

 

 

 

Good Morning America named Asheville as one of the“10 most beautiful cities in America” in 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wallpaper Magazine ranked Asheville the #1 Urban Haven in the world – with benefits of rural life, urban sophistication, fantastic cuisine, and energy.”

 

 

 

 

Yahoo! Real Estate named Asheville as one of the top ten places to live.

 

 

 

 

 

Rolling Stone named Asheville’s music venue “The Orange Peel” as one of America’s best rock music venues in its “Best of Rock” issue.

 

 

 

 

Self Magazine named Asheville as “The Happiest City in the United States.”

 

 

 

 

 

HuffingtonPost.com named Asheville as one of its “Top 10 Undiscovered Local Food Cities.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TripAdvisor named Asheville one of its top 10 food and wine destinations, putting it in the same company as cities including NYC and San Francisco...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you curious as to what films you may have seen that were shot in Asheville and the Asheville area? There is, especially given the low cost of production, a lot in the works– for films and fashion shoots, but here are a few that you may recall: 

  • Dirty Dancing
  • The Last of the Mohicans
  • Forrest Gump
  • Patch Adams
  • Richie Rich
  • Hannibal
  • True Lies
  • 28 days 
  • The Hunger Games (Lions Gate film that just wrapped shooting and opens in March of 2012. Actors such as Stanley Tucci,Woody Harrelson, Wes Bentley, and Lenny Kravitz lived in Asheville while filming this soon to be released film.)