If you have ever visited Asheville or have plans to visit I would really love your opinion on why you chose this city. I honestly don't understand the attraction for tourists and would like an outsiders view (so locals please refrain from posting). Thanks.

It's a charming town full of victorians and B&B's. It has good restaurants. It's progressive. It's close to the Smokies which is a beautiful area. It also has that gothic castle that many tourist flock to, although I could have given that site a miss.

Easy access to booze.

AM

Please tell us what was your bad experience in Asheville. Do you live in Asheville?

I haven't had a bad experience in Asheville. I've lived here the majority of my life and I love it here. I asked the question because a friend and I were talking the other day about how this city became such a big tourist destination. It just doesn't strike us as that kind of place. I suppose we're just biased because our daily life takes place here, so when we want to "get away" we go someplace else.

I've visited Asheville a number of times, so I will try to answer.

1. Location. I live in Atlanta, so its not that bad of a drive for a long weekend.

2. Biltmore House: I don't always visit the Biltmore House ("the castle") when I go but I do enjoy going there. It's not just the house itself but the grounds (beautiful) and the fact you can spend a lot of time just poking around.

3. Mountains. Down in Atlanta, we have traffic and smog. I can escape that up in the Smokies. And its lovely in the fall and spring.

4. The city of Asheville. I know as a non-resident I don't know what it's like every day. But I've always enjoyed the general feel of the city, that it isn't "backwoodsy" and has a lot to offer.

Besides what others have mentioned, for a town the size of Asheville, i.e., small, I am pleasantly surprised by the number of quality pubs and clubs there. I remember when I was visiting Asheville last year, my brother and I decided to go out and Patty Smythe was performing at one of the clubs!

AM: I have a mountain home in Franklin, NC, I can't honestly believe you don't see the attraction to your city. Western NC is home to one of the top tourist attractions in the world (Great Smokies), the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee, Appalachian Trail, The Biltmore House, many spectacular waterfalls; I dumbfounded that living in Asheville which is practically in the CENTER of all this you don't see why Asheville would be a tourist destination ??? If you LOVE it there and you LIVE there then how can you not understand why tourists would be attracted there??

I know that as a native, I'm not supposed to respond, but I understand that people who live in a spectacular place get accustomed to it and forget how special their city is. Think about it -- 3 mountain ranges and 2 rivers converge at Asheville and most buildings from the city's golden age (1880's - 1930's) are still standing in an age when most cities have ripped out their hearts and built over their heritage. Asheville's buildings still retain their Victorian gloom, Gilded Age charm, Art Deco giddiness, and Depression-era grim brooding -- and that alone makes Asheville just feel different from most cities. That worth a day trip at least for most people. There's so much more, but once I get started on what there is to see and love here, it's hard for me to stop, so I'll quit while I'm ahead.

ramjet

I don't think loving where you live makes a place a great tourist destination. There are plenty of great smaller cities/towns across the country, but I don't go out of my way to make them a vacation spot. I know about Asheville and all it has to offer because I live here. But what I don't know is how that information gets out/got out to everyone else, and which parts appealed to people so much that they decided to visit. How did you find out about Franklin and what made you decide not only to visit but to buy a home there?

I was just there recently and I was extremely impressed with the downtown area. The number of good art galleries was amazing.

Asheville is a secret that many of us wish had never been shared with the rest of the country.

Anna - ditto! The "gold shoes" are taking over.

My primary reason for visiting Asheville a few years ago was to see the Thomas Wolfe Museum and the adjacent boardinghouse where he grew up. I was sorry that the boardinghouse had burned and we couldn't go in. Have they restored it now? We also visited Tom's grave. This was a sort of pilgrimage for me, and it pains me that I think I need to explain who Wolfe was, the 1930s author of "Look Homeward, Angel" and "You Can't Go Home Again," not that more recent author Tom Wolfe, who wrote about candy-colored cornflakes or something.

Visiting Biltmore and the mountains surrounding Asheville was secondary, though very enjoyable. This lovely little city is a wonderful tourist destination.

The city of Asheville does a very good job of promoting itself through TV and print ads. They make it seem as though Asheville is quite the cosmopolitian city. We were enticed by their advertising and the Biltmore Estate in particular. So, we did a little research on Asheville and western NC. Turns out there are a lot of beautiful areas around Asheville. We spent several days in Sapphire first. That area is loaded with good hiking and waterfalls. Then we spent a day at Chimney Rock on our way to Asheville. A couple of days in Asheville was plenty (kind of anti-climatic actually). Then we spent the last two days in Townsend TN and explored the Smoky Mountain National Park. It was a good vacation, however, not the type I'd ever want to repeat.

AM: I did'nt want to imply that because you love Asheville, that makes it a great tourist destination only that with all that surrounds you and with what Asheville has it only stands to reason why Asheville is so popular. In answer to your question why I chose Franklin, My primary home is in Atlanta, I was born in Western NC and have always loved the mountains. I wanted a place close to Atlanta (2hr door to door) and close to Smokies. It is a wonderful feeling to leave out of here Friday and be that close to the splendor of the NC mountains. In looking for that vacation home Franklin had the small town charm and was that close to Atlanta. I'm only minutes from Smokies, and all the other attractions; including Asheville! Although I must say Franklin is experiencing growth. To me leaving the bustle and stagnant air of Atlanta and being in the mountains so quick is "nirvana"! People read about these mountains and their towns and say "I wanna go THERE!!"

I just returned home yesterday from Asheville. I did a week-long "sweep" through the south.....Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA and Asheville, NC. Specifically I wanted to tour the Biltmore Mansion so I came to Asheville. I was fortunate to select the Beaufort House Bed & Breakfast to stay. The Beaufort House B&B was delightful and wonderfully situated only .6 miles from downtown. I enjoyed the people, the shops and the weather......we were very lucky....the rain had stopped. Coming from Savannah with a heat index of 110, it was delightful to be in Asheville at 86 and low humidity. I would visit again, bring my husband this time and hit the golf course circuit.......with all the hills, I bet the courses 'round Asheville are challenging.

I also liked the ambiance of the Victorian styles. I thought the downtown area was very quaint and inviting.