Asheville's Atmosphere
BY SAGE HELEANA
Just before you cross into Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you’ll find a town different than your typical Southern city. The small, yet energetic, city of Asheville rests within the valley of the Appalachian Mountains between the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers. The heart of the city reveals new age aesthetics that influence many tourists, including former President Barack Obama, to visit the town regularly. Others travel to Asheville for the geographic diversity that surrounds it.
The city atmosphere can be taken advantage of year-round. While, during the winter months, temperatures often drop to around 26 degrees Fahrenheit, this weather doesn’t alter locals’ attitudes. The community nestles into Pack Square every January for the annual Women’s March, followed by a Peace Rally on Martin Luther King Day. Young and old alike participate in these events. While the theme of the marches varies from year to year, the attitudes of participants always remain hopeful for the future. Even when frustrated, the town still allows room to celebrate the accomplishments of their year-long efforts to defend equality. Asheville’s unorthodox views combined with ascertainment and action has encouraged multiple campaign-stops from politicians such as 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders who spoke at a local Southern restaurant last May.
Asheville is known for its food scene, as well. “Farm-to-table” began as a social movement to promote the local economy, turning the modern development into a lifestyle. Unlike most cities, it is nearly impossible to find a chain restaurant in the heart of downtown. Local chefs reside along the French Broad riverbank, bearing locally crafted cheeses, beers, and baked goods. Other restaurants offer waterfront dining with meals by provincial farms just shy of the city limits. When a family from other parts of the country travels to Asheville, they are sure to stop by these eateries. The close-knit community creates a space where tourists are treated like regulars, and regulars are made to feel at home.
While the urban area of Asheville is coated with bright abstract colors, murals, and graffiti art, on the rustic outskirts of Asheville, however, lie the folksy Blue Ridge Mountains. The forest is most alive during the summer months when families gather at one of the fifty waterfalls hidden within the greenery. Fall is also eventful, consisting of the perfect climate for hiking while vibrant autumn leaves jitter as the cold fronts begin to move in. Because I live five minutes away from the Pisgah forest, my family and I often hike Mount Mitchel during those warm fall months. On Christmas and Easter, we also take hikes along Looking Glass Rock.
Needless to say, the metropolitan area of Western North Carolina isn’t common within the United States. Asheville’s distinct customs make it nearly impossible for visitors and locals alike not to fall in love. Even better, the quirky yet sincere citizens of the town make every interaction unforgettable. While every city is different in its own way, I hope the energetic, progressive spirits of Asheville are something everyone who visits should bring back to their own home.