Asheville
Listed as a Frommer's Top 12 Travel Destinations for 2007, Asheville combines both the charm of the Blue Ridge mountains with an up and coming urban scene.
The city's history dates back to its early beginnings in 1797 when it was named after North Carolina's Governor Samuel Ashe. Then, Asheville was but a small frontier town whose inhabitants were mostly early settlers, tradesmen and "drovers" of livestock. This continued and the Buncombe Turnpike (or the Drovers Road) opened up around 1827, serving as the main passage from the south into the mountains.
By the late 1800's, the introduction of the railroad ushered in a time of great expansion. Health resorts and luxury hotels started cropping up in Asheville. Edwin Grove soon built The Grove Park Inn.
Around this same time, George Vanderbilt became smitten with the area and decided to build his summer retreat called Biltmore. Many of the artisans hired by Vanderbilt contributed their craft and their influences can be seen in the many architectural styles throughout the city. .
Today, Asheville is a unique mix of its rich past, combined with a multitude of museums and art galleries, and eclectic downtown shops.
