Help Asheville Win!

Vote Asheville for Best of the Road: Most Beautiful

From coast to coast, America is full of beautiful scenery, but no place is more awe-inspiring than Asheville's Blue Ridge Mountains and the magical forests blanketing the region. From gorgeous waterfalls to scenic vistas you would be hard pressed to ever forget the beauty and life enriching experiences that the oldest mountains in the world offer.

If you have a special place in your heart for our purple mountains majesty, then tell the world by entering your review in the 2012 Best of the Road poll hosted by Rand McNally and USA Today.  Here's what to do:

1. Follow this link for the Asheville nomination page, and then click the "Review & Vote" button.

2. Leave a brief description of why you love Asheville and then select "Most Beautiful". 

3. Submit!

As always, we appreciate your support and love for our unique and vibrant city. Need more convincing? Check out these gorgeous photos from local photographers.

Vote here!

Biltmore Announces 2012 Concert Series

Biltmore Summer Evening Concert Series Features All-Star Line-Up.

Music lovers take note, the 2012 Biltmore Summer Evening Concert Series will be lighting up the famed estate beginning this August. From the Motown hits of Mary Wilson (Supremes) to classic rock icons such as the Steve Miller Band and Peter Frampton, this year's outdoor concert series offers something for all audiences. 

Tickets for select shows begin on May 1 and are staggered throughout the months of May & June. Be sure to reference the Biltmore website for full details.

Concerts held on Biltmore's South Terrace
Performer		Performance Date	On Sale Date
	Steve Miller Band	August 9	Tickets on sale May 1
	Peter FramptonGrin & Bear It!	August 11	Tickets on sale May 1
	KC and the Sunshine Band     — and — Village People	August 18	Tickets on sale May 15
	Alison Krauss & Union Stationfeaturing Jerry Douglas	August 24	Tickets on sale May 8
	Chris Tomlin Welcomed by 106.9 The Light	August 25	Tickets on sale May 15
	Foreigner	September 1	Tickets on sale May 22

Concerts held at Diana at Biltmore
Performer		Performance Date	On Sale Date
	The Lettermen	September 28	Tickets on sale June 5
	David Cassidy in Concert	October 5	Tickets on sale June 5
	Mary Wilson of the Supremes	October 12	Tickets on sale June 5
	Larry Gatlin &The Gatlin Brothers	October 19	Tickets on sale June 5

Learn more about Asheville's wide variety music festivals.

VIDEO: Green Dining Destination

Asheville Leads America as Greenest Dining Destination.


As we reported a few months back, Asheville is gearing up to become the nation's greenest dining destination. Doing more than recycling and changing light bulbs, this city-wide initiative is being embraced by many of Asheville's independent restaurants.

The news has even caught the attention of Huffington Post who just published this article. Watch the video to learn more. Click here to see the list of participating restaurants.

Asheville Love

Asheville Wins Most Romantic Destination in U.S. and Canada.

Great news! Asheville won the About.com reader's choice award for Most Romantic Destination in the United States and Canada. The competition was daunting for our small mountain town. Major destination such as Maui and Miami were also in the running, but in the end, Asheville loyalists showed their love for our city, and for that, we thank you!

Want to enjoy a little romance while in Asheville? Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Asheville Earth Day: Win VIP Tickets!

Free Festival in Downtown Asheville Celebrates Earth Day.

The 5th annual Asheville Earth Day Festival returns to downtown Asheville (Lexington Avenue) this Saturday, April 21, 2012. This free family-friendly festival (how's that for alliteration?) features musicians from various genres, eco-friendly speakers, a Kids Village, Eco Village, poetry contest and more. 

Musicians for this year's festival include Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz, New Orleans Suspects, Floodwood (members of Moe), The Fritz, Underhill Rose and a Leaf in Schools and Streets Performance.

WIN TWO VIP TICKETS! 
Want to attend the festival VIP style? The winner will enjoy a special "preferred viewing" area for the concerts, private bathrooms, snacks and discounted  drinks. In the blog comments below, enter a number 1 through 500. The person who gets closest wins! This contest runs today only (Friday April 20, 2012) and a winner will be notified at 4:00 PM. 

PHOTO FUN: Event organizers conducted a photography contest to celebrate Earth Day. Below are the beautiful shots that won. Enjoy!

Winner - People's Choice: Black Eyed Susan by Michael Bancroft

2 squirrels by Amelia Teale (Adorable!)

Blue Butterfly by Cameron Yeager

Cherry The Goat by Rachael Bliss

Green Creek by Karl Hinterkopf

Summer Sunflowers by Jenny Bowen

Hunger Games Itineraries

Plan Your Visit to District 12 with Asheville's Hunger Games Guide.

Haymitch actor Woody Harrelson
takes a break with staff from Buchi.

Fans of The Hunger Games have multiple ways to go behind the scenes of this year's blockbuster hit movie. Visit the home of Peeta and Katniss, explore the magical forest used in the arena scenes and enjoy aerial shots of the reservoir seen in the cornucopia scenes.

We have four day-trip itineraries to choose from, including points of interest along the way. Use our mobile-friendly interactive map to chart your course or print out the pdf to have with you. Find it all here!

Also be sure to check out our Hunger Games packages, giving you 6 ways to experience the film.

Win a trip! We have extended our Watch and Win contest! Enter today for your chance to win a free survival getaway to Asheville! Contest ends April 30.

Video: Stunning Spring Blooms

Spring Fills Asheville with Beautiful Blooms.

Spring fever has hit the Asheville area and spring blooms have been popping up all around town. To celebrate we've compiled a collection of beautiful spring flower photos submitted by our fans!

Watch & Win!

From now through May 11, the video will contain a secret password. Obtain that word and enter it here. You could win a beautiful spring-themed print by a local Asheville artist, plus two free tickets to the Biltmore!

Enjoy & Good Luck!

Contest: Get Elevated

Chimney Rock Offers “First Ride” On Elevator, Annual Passes and More.

Some of the first guests to ride the 

Park 

elevator when it originally opened in 1949.

Are you one of those passionate Chimney Rock fans? If your family has been visiting Chimney Rock regularly for more than two generations, you may have a chance to win Annual Passes for your family, $200 in retail and dining gift certificates and the privilege of being among the first to ride Chimney Rock’s modernized elevator at the grand reopening celebration later this spring. 

The contest is called Get Elevated (Again) and it runs now through May 2. One family with one of the longest ongoing visitations, a historical photograph showing family members at the Park and the most fascinating story about their family connection to Chimney Rock will be selected as the lucky winners. The winning family will be announced about one week prior to the opening celebration. For the entire contest rules, click here.

Submission Requirements.  The following is required to be eligible to win the Get Elevated (Again) contest:

1. A brief paragraph, maximum of 450 words, telling a fascinating story about your family history of visiting the Park over the past decades.
2. An original or scanned historical photograph showing members of your family inside the Park. Submitting a photo dated around or before the original elevator opening in the late 1940s will increase your chances of winning. The older the photo, the better.
3. A photo caption 1-2 sentences long, stating: 1) who is shown in the photo, 2) location inside the Park where the photo was taken and 3) what year the photo was taken.

Ways to Submit.  Submit your story, photograph and photo caption to the Get Elevated (Again) contest no later than Wednesday, May 16. Choose one of the two ways below to submit:

1. Email your submission with a digital or scanned photo to: prandevents@chimneyrockpark.com.
2. Mail your submission to: PR & Events, PO Box 39, Chimney Rock, NC 28720.

Questions? If you have any questions about the contest or submission requirements, please email prandevents@chimneyrockpark.com  or call (828) 625-9611 ext.*812.

New Belgium CEO: In Her Own Words

New Belgium CEO Announces New Asheville Brewery.

As we reported last week, New Belgium is the newest brewery to announce its plans to move to Beer City, USA. Check out this video of Kim Jordan, the brewery's co-founder and CEO, announcing the reason behind their decision and the future plans for the Asheville location. 

 

Sure Signs of Spring

Photo of the Day: Dogwoods in bloom. This spring has been a beautiful time to get outside in Asheville. The mountaintops are not completely filled in with bright green leaves, but the forest is coming to life a little more each day. This dogwood  tree lives at about 3,200 feet in elevation. Check out our bloom schedule to see more flower photos!

Paso Fino Horse Show Returns

Popular Horse Show Celebrates 30 Years This June.

Image Source

Asheville ALIVE 2012 celebrates the 30th Annual Piedmont Classic Paso Fino Horse Show at the Western North Carolina AG Center this June 21 - 24, 2012. This is a fun filled family event that is free to the general public. Come enjoy the finest Paso Fino Horses as they compete for the blue ribbons!

Visit the Asheville ALIVE website to learn more about the competition, youth activities and the Black Tie & Boots Extravaganza.

New Belgium Brewing: Asheville's Newest Addition

New Belgium Brewing Opening Shop in Asheville.

It was announced today that New Belgium Brewing will be the newest addition to the growing collection of beer crafters in Asheville (aka Beer City USA). This news comes on the heels of another big announcement by Sierra Nevada who will also be opening a new brewery minutes from Asheville.

The idea of New Belgium began back in 1989 when owner Jeff Lebesch traveled across Europe on bike. Touring ale houses, Jeff collected ideas and recipes. Upon return, he whipped up two batches of home-brewed ale. One was a Belgian-style ale called Abby and the other was Fat Tire, an amber beer. Jeff and his wife Kim Jordan knew they were on to something good and began mass producing the brew adding many new blends to their list.

Kim is now the CEO of Fat Tire and her team deliberated where to open their east coast distribution center. It came down to Asheville and Philadelphia, but in the end the decision was to put New Belgium in the River Arts District, located between downtown Asheville and Biltmore.

Welcome to Asheville!

All images from New Belgium's Website

The New Belgium brewery in Fort Collins, CO

Food Truckin'

Asheville Food Trucks Offer New Variety in Foodtopia.

The Lot serves as the downtown base for Asheville food trucks.

Welcome to Food(truck)topia! Food trucks are a relative newcomer to Asheville's food scene, and already there has been a boom in the number of these restaurants-on-wheels. Keeping up with them can be a little daunting so we compiled a list of known trucks, locations and their social media sites to help keep you informed. Please note that locations and schedules change constantly so check their social media sites first.

The Lot: A gathering place for food trucks in downtown Asheville, the lot is an easy choice if you don't want to hunt all around town. Be sure to follow their Facebook page for daily updates.

Who: Ceci's Culinary Tour

What: Argentinean fare including empanadas, pampueques (crepes) and tamales.

When/Where: W, F, Sa - 5PM The Wedge; Su - 4P Wedge

Follow: @CecisFoodTruck

Who: Eatbox

What: Delicious locally-sourced soups and sandwiches, including Hickory Nut Gap cheeseburgers.

When/Where: Makes appearances at area festivals, and is sometimes parked in West Asheville.

Follow: @EatboxFoodtruck

Who: El Kimchi

What: Korean-Mexican fusion featuring kimchi quesadillas, teriyaki chicken burritos and traditional bibimbap rice bowls. Take-home kimchi jars, too!

When/Where: Varies. Known locations include The Admiral, BattleCat Coffee and Patton Ave. Pet Co. in West Asheville; Vinnie’s Italian and ACS Business Park, too.

Follow: @El_Kimchi

Who: Flying Falafel Brothers

What: Coming soon!

Follow: Facebook Page

Who: Gypsy Queen Cuisine

What: Traditional Lebanese favorites sourced from local and sustainably grown ingredients. Falafel and Chicken Shawarma are fan faves.

When/Where: M, W, F, Sa - Lunch on Haywood Rd. in West Asheville, across from Ingles; M, Tu, Th - Dinner at the Wedge; F - Dinner at the Bywater.

Follow: Facebook Page

Who: The Lowdown

What: Gourmet sandwich choices including bbq, vegetarian bahn mi and BLTP (pimento cheese).

When/Where: M-F - Lunch at the Citgo on Broadway; Dinner sometimes at the Bywater; Saturdays around town.

Follow: @TheLowdownTruck

Who: Melt Your Heart

What: Gourmet grilled cheese made with love.

When/Where: M-Sa - Seen at The Lot on Tu, Tr and F from 11A - 4P. Other location vary.

Follow: @MeltYourHeart4U

Who: Pho Ya Belly

What: Serving Vietnamese cuisine, including pho, spring rolls and bahn mi.

When/Where: Often found at The Lot on Coxe Ave.

Follow @PhoYaBelly

Who: Our Taco Truck (formerly known as Pink Taco Truck)

What: Giant pink truck with fresh Mexican dishes such as puffy tacos, pastor tacos and delicious breakfast burritos.

When/Where: Tu-Thu - Breakfast & Lunch at 143 Charlotte St (the empty BP station).

Follow: @OurTacoTruck

Who: Tin Can Pizzeria
What: Fresh, locally sourced ingredients atop delicious pizza pies.
When/Where: W-Su, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Found outside of Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District. (342 Depot St.)
Follow: Facebook Page

Who: Ursa Minor

What: Coffee truck serving locally-roasted Dynamite coffee, teas and natural smoothies, as well as organic baked goods from West End Bakery and Sugar Momma’s cookies.

When/Where: M-F, 8 a.m. - 2p.m. at Riverview Station (191 Lyman St) in the River Arts District. Also frequents The Lot.

Follow: @ursaminorcoffee

Who: Veggie Love

What: Vegetarian; Plus Vegan/raw baked goods by special order.

When/Where: Frequently seen on Depot St. in RAD

Follow: @VeggieLoveAVL

Who: Venezuelan Food Truck

What: Venezuelan fare: Arepa Burgers, Hot dogs and vegetarian fare.

When/Where: Operates from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Thursday through Sunday on Haywood.

Follow: No site found for this truck.

Do you have news regarding food trucks in the area that aren't on this list? Let us know! Send a message on Twitter to @Foodtopia or send an email to dholston@exploreasheville.com

Asheville's Flower Power

Photo of the Day: Biltmore tulips in full bloom. The Biltmore's Festival of Flowers officially kicks off this weekend, and as you can see from the photo, the tulips are looking absolutely beautiful. Thanks to Jonna Reiff for sharing this great photo.

OPEN CALL FOR PHOTOS! Do you have a great spring bloom photos you want to share with the world? Send it in and you may see it appear in our spring bloom video! All images should be submitted via email to dholston@exploreasheville.com.

Fig Bistro versus 12 Bones

The battle to be top chef of foodtopia continues tonight at the WNC Chefs Challenge! This week it's Fig Bistro versus 12 Bones Smokehouse. Both are fantastic restaurants and both are incredibly different. Who will win? You be the judge.

You can now reserve your seats online.

The Hunger Games Red Carpet Gala

As The Hunger Games craze sweeps across the nation, all eyes are on the mountains of Western North Carolina, which served as the backdrop for many of the scenes throughout the movie. It took the efforts of many people to make this movie possible, and we had a chance to meet with some of them at Asheville's advanced screening of the movie. 

Enjoy this behing-the-scenes look at what it took to make The Hunger Games a reality in Asheville.

Want to win a vacation to Asheville? Play The Hunger Games watch & win contest!