Asheville Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(Asheville, North Carolina - NC, USA)

Located in the northern part of North Carolina, Asheville is a pleasant city with a delightful historic core and a tastefully modernized downtown district. There are a variety of attractions in Asheville, with plenty of cultural exhibitions and seasonal draws spread around the Montford Historic district, Park Place and the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as the Biltmore Estate.

The small city of Asheville is situated just off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and is within easy striking distance of both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Downtown District

The downtown district has been gradually modernized, but has retained its original historic ambiance and character. The central Park Place is home to the main edutainment, galleries, museums and performing arts in Asheville, while the nearby Montford Historic district has magnificent old homes, estates and gardens. There are many local specialty stores in the historic downtown Art Deco area for shoppers to browse, as well as plenty of quality restaurants and lively nightspots. The city has set up the Asheville Urban Trail, which leads to all the main points of interest downtown.

Montford Historic District

An amazing suburb of Asheville containing more than 600 homes dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century, Montford district was once a popular place among the rich of the region in which to spend their retirement. Today, this area is full of stately buildings, built in a mixture of Victorian, Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts styles, combined with neo-classical, Colonial Revival and castle-like motifs. Located along and off Montford Avenue, the historic district is easily reached from the downtown Asheville area.

Park Place District

The vibrant heart of the local cultural scene, Park Place is part of the downtown district and incorporates Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, Diana Wortham Theater, Health Adventure and the YMI Cultural Center. Awarded the NC Beautiful award, Park Place is full of great attractions for all ages and it is also a lovely public space in which to spend a few quiet hours.

Biltmore Estate

With the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, the beautiful Biltmore estate features America's largest home. Also located on the 8,000-acre / 3,200-hectare grounds are an excellent winery, some great restaurants and interesting specialty stores. There is a four-star inn on the site, as well as facilities for cycling, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and picnicking. The estate is easy to reach from central Asheville - take I-40 Exit 50 or Exit 50B and follow US 25 north to the estate.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Arguably the most beautiful and scenic drive in the United States, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a stunning motorway that winds its way through the valleys and peaks of the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville is an excellent base for exploring the Parkway, as the motorway intersects the city at US 25, 70 and 74, as well as at NC 191. Although the Blue Ridge Parkway is a staggering 469 miles / 755 km in length, some of the best sections, such as Craggy Gardens and the Linn Cove Viaduct, are within easy reach of Asheville.