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8 Reasons to Move to Asheville, NC

Find out why living in this majestic mountain city may be the right fit for you.

By Rebecca Treon on August 11, 2023

Asheville NC

Nestled in the foothills of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city that offers a great quality of life to its residents. Here are eight reasons why it’s a good time to consider making a move to Asheville.

1. Enjoy Great Places to Work Remotely

Asheville is a remote worker’s dream location. Not only does it offer a great work-life balance and plenty of entertainment options, but there are ample coworking spaces. Thrive and Hatch Coworking have flexible memberships and coworking spaces plus perks, like snacks, coffee and networking events, while Origins MakerSpace and Center for Craft feature studio space for artists, entrepreneurs and makers.

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
Jeff Adkins

2. Immerse Yourself in the City’s Rich History

It’s the home of the historic Biltmore Estate, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and The Botanical Gardens at Asheville, but in the past decade, it’s gained traction for its robust brewing and culinary scene and as a hub of the arts — something the city’s residents love. It’s also a haven for lovers of the great outdoors. Asheville is the Southeast’s best kept secret no longer, and its 94,000 (and growing) residents prove it. 

3. Vibe to a Vibrant Music Scene

Venues like The Grey Eagle Music Hall, The Orange Peel and Rabbit Rabbit are hubs of Asheville’s buzzing live music scene. As the best destination to find live music in the region, the city hosts concerts large and small every night of the week, plus it’s home to music festivals like the new AVLFest.

4. Explore Endless Natural Beauty

A key reason people move to Asheville: You will be surrounded by an outdoor recreation playground — it borders the Blue Ridge Parkway, the highest tops of the Appalachian Mountains, and its ideal climate makes year-round play possible. With both state and national parks nearby, hiking, biking and water sports are all easy to access in Asheville, or they are just a short drive away.

5. Discover Your Artistic Side

Not only does Asheville have a long history of Appalachian traditional crafts, but it also has a burgeoning arts scene. Historic Grovewood Village is the former home of the weaving and woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries and features museums, galleries and the studios and works of hundreds of working artists.

The city’s contemporary arts scene centers around the River Arts District (RAD), a hub of artist studios, galleries and restaurants. Second Saturdays feature gallery walks, demos, workshops, music, wine and food, with free trolley rides to help you explore.

Dining in Asheville, NC
Lynne Harty

6. Sip and Savor Your Way Through Asheville

Nicknamed Beer City, Asheville is home to more than 50 craft breweries, rivaling the brewing scene in much larger cities. Plus, the city hosts a half-dozen distilleries, so you won’t go thirsty.

Hungry? Asheville calls itself Foodtopia for a reason. It is home to a talented group of chefs sourcing ingredients locally to serve at award-winning restaurants, like Chai Pani, Rhubarb and Cultura.

7. Find the Perfect House Here

When you move to Asheville, you’ll need a great place to call home. Beth Zabriskie, Realtor and owner of Asheville’s HomeSource Realty, offers her take on the best places to live: “Walkability is a big factor for many people,” says Zabriskie, “and not just to restaurants and venues, but, ‘Can I walk in the neighborhood? Can I take my dog for a walk?’”

Montford, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, is well-known for beautiful architecture. With Queen Anne-, Colonial Revival- and Arts-and-Crafts-style homes, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a vibrant community with shops and restaurants close by.

Trendy West Asheville has many restaurants, shops, art galleries, and breweries. Homes range from century Craftsman bungalows to contemporary construction, and a number of parks and green spaces are nearby.

Biltmore Park, a planned community in south Asheville, is a modern, yet established neighborhood. “Whether you are looking for a condo or single-family home, this neighborhood was created with sustainability in mind,” Zabriskie says. “Its restaurants, shops and recreational areas are easily accessible by foot or bike.”

Searching for something new? “Beaucatcher Heights is perfect for buyers looking for a modern home just minutes from downtown Asheville,” says Zabriskie. The homes here feature contemporary and stylish elements in a newer community with long-range mountain views, thoughtfully planned development and privacy.

If history is more your style, the Grove Park neighborhood has a number of historic homes as well as The Omni Grove Park Inn, a National Historic Landmark built in 1913. “Homes in this neighborhood were built in the early 20th century and reflect the architectural styles of the time,” says Zabriskie. “They are well-maintained and offer a sense of history and character.”

8. Celebrate with the Chamber

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 125th anniversary – specifically on Sept. 28, 2023 – and one of the ways it is marking the special day is by distributing 12 grants of $10,000 each to local nonprofits.

“We decided to award the 12 grants to nonprofits, helping us achieve our mission of ‘Building Community through Business,’” says Kit Cramer, the chamber’s president and CEO. “Like the chamber, nonprofits work to build long-term economic vitality and viability by solving problems to move the community forward.”

The grant money came from sponsorships as well as through the sale of $125 tickets for the Sept. 28 gala, according to Cramer. “The majority of the ticket cost is tax deductible, and we encouraged businesses to buy extra tickets for those who wanted to attend but couldn’t afford the price,” she says. “Our goal was to have more than 1,250 people at the celebration.”

Cramer adds that nonprofits in Asheville are vital to the area’s quality of life.

“In some cases, there are nonprofits that have literally worked with us on specific programming that helps encourage economic mobility here,” she says. “In other cases, the mission of nonprofits often aligns with the chamber’s mission. It goes along with the chamber’s taglines of ‘Together We’re More’ and ‘Together for Tomorrow.’”

Karen Vernon and Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.

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