Asheville

The Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina are home to the city of Asheville. It is renowned for having a thriving artists community and iconic buildings like the Basilica of Saint Lawrence with its domo. The enormous Biltmore estate from the 19th century houses works by masters including Renoir. Galleries and museums abound in the Downtown Art District, and the neighboring River Arts District is home to artist studios in repurposed factory buildings.

Mountain town with charm. hipster paradise USA Beer City university town Bluegrass residence a destination for food. No matter how hard you try, Asheville defies categorization. The city is an unanticipated jewel, situated in western North Carolina off the Blue Ridge Parkway, where a thriving arts culture mingles with Southern traditions and breathtaking surroundings. It is safe to assume that Asheville has plenty to offer you regardless of your interests.

Epicureans can sample from a gourmet smorgasbord and test their taste buds at one of the city's many breweries while history buffs can get lost on the Biltmore Estate's grounds. While thrill-seekers go full-throttle hiking, biking, zip-lining, or whitewater rafting in one of the many parks and woods, culture vultures can explore the River Arts District. Asheville combines these qualities to create something that is distinctly its own, with an identity that changes constantly but manages to cling to its origins.

Location: North Carolina, the U.S.

Price: $744 for one person per week

Best time to visit: March to May and September to early November

Website: www.ashevillenc.gov