#2: Asheville, North Carolina
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Man, I love Austin but I wish it were surrounded by mountains!” Well, Asheville may be the best place to fulfill those wishes. It’s an artsy, culinary, inviting city with unique restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops, all right in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While there may be no place like home, you are sure to feel the warmth of this welcoming city during your venture.
On top of their vibrant cultural hub, there is an abundance of trails all within 30-miles of the city-center. With lush summits and waterfalls galore, there’s no room for disappointment. Mt. Pisgah, Chimney Rock State Park, and Land of The Falls were my personal favorites. However, at the end of the day, I am a sucker for a good sunset. Fair warning, on the Blue Ridge Highway, you’ll want to stop at every lookout point along the way. We settled on the rocks near Craggy Gardens Trail with a bottle of wine and wind blown hair, accompanied by panoramic views painted with lavish green mountains and a sky burning with yellows, oranges, and pinks. This friendly city, dancing with trail-heads and creativity, is exactly where anyone would want to be on a low-key, stress-free vacation.
