Live in the "Happiest City in America"

By the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

All within a three block area in downtown Asheville, you can admire art deco architecture, catch an original play, dine al fresco, shop ‘til you drop at independent boutiques, choose from all kinds of cuisines, be entertained by a street mime, see an artist at work in a studio, play drums in a lively drum circle, gaze at layers of blue mountains, browse some of the nation’s best independent book stores, and....get the picture?
Who wouldn’t want to live in Asheville?
We’re not the only folks who think Asheville is great. Some recent accolades include:

• “Happiest City in America" based on New York Times best-selling travelogue The Geography of Bliss & featured on ABC’s 20/20
   
• "One of 10 Best Places for Second Homes" according to Barron's
   
• "One of 10 Most Surprisingly Vibrant Food Cities" by Livability.com
   
• "#6 Among U.S. cities as a Place to Do Business" by Forbes.com
   
• "#1 Small City for the Arts" in 2010 according to AmericanStyle magazine

The cultural accolades that the region receives complement the dramatic scenery that sets the region apart. Western North Carolina enjoys elevations ranging from 1,500 feet in the valleys to 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.

The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, considered the nation’s most scenic highway, winds along the Blue Ridge Mountains, through Asheville and enters the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Overlooks, hiking trails and the headquarters of the Southern Highland Craft Guild make scenic drives along the Parkway popular for locals and tourists alike.
The area’s mountain location doesn’t mean that it isn’t accessible to many major cities. Charlotte, NC is an hour and a half away and Atlanta, GA is a little over four hours from Asheville. Get more regional information.