See the States: Asheville, North Carolina

Sitting in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the small but singular city of Asheville, North Carolina has long been a popular place to holiday. Like Miami, Asheville came into its own during the 1910s and ’20s, giving it a wealth of Art Deco architecture. Since then, however, it’s become a popular enclave of bohemian ideals amid a small town setting.

Tourists flock to Biltmore Estate, the largest private residence in the country complete with 250 acres of manicured grounds, a vineyard and a private bowling alley. If you’re looking for the locals, however, you can find them at any of Asheville’s famous pubs and music venues. Visit the Orange Peel theatre for indie rock or the Grey Eagle for a sampling of the local bluegrass and jazz scenes. If you’re just looking for a good drink, you could do worse than Westville Pub, which has live music and dozens of craft beers on tap. Or visit Southern Bar, a speakeasy-style lounge that serves retro cocktails and artisinal food.

And if you want to explore outside the city, consider taking your charter bus southeast to Chimney Rock Park, the home of the eponymous 315 foot tall slab of granite. You can take an elevator to the top or hike the surrounding cliffs to find the nearby 404 foot waterfall.