Links To Help You Know More About Asheville
Accommodations
Coming Soon
Asheville Art Scene
Downtown Asheville shops and galleries are a unique mix of locally-owned establishments. This is a pedestrian friendly city, with wrought-iron benches throughout downtown, and many eateries have open-air dining sections that allow visitors and locals to enjoy the city’s mild weather most of the year.
Downtown Shopping and Galleries
Grove Arcade - One of the most interesting and inviting spots for downtown shopping is the Grove Arcade. This renovated historic building is worth a visit if only to just admire the architecture alone, but it's also a wonderful place to shop or visit the galleries. The dining options range from Thai cuisine, Italian, Chicago-style hot dogs, wine bars, coffee shops, upscale restaurants to sidewalk cafes.
Asheville Downtown Gallery Association - This 1,400 square foot gallery at 11 Biltmore Avenue features works by Buncombe County artists in all styles and mediums. Gallery talks and programs often accompany the rotating exhibitions. There are 30 galleries belonging to this organization alone. The group offers maps and self-guided tours, as well as City Center art walks.
Wall Street - This side street in downtown Asheville features a mix of shops like Beads and Beyond, the paint-your-own-pottery spot Fired Up Creative Lounge, or Art Deco-inspired jewelry at Overström Studio. If you are hungry, stop off for a bite at Early Girl Eatery for some organic Southern cuisine, Laughing Seed Café for vegetarian cuisine or The Market Place for dinner.
Broadway to Biltmore - This area, with Broadway to one side of Patton Avenue and Biltmore to the other, is lined with several popular downtown Asheville shops like Mast General Store. Along Broadway, the diverse shopping ranges from L.O.F.T. for interesting finds to Bruisin' Ales for beer lovers. Stop in the Mellow Mushroom and dine outside in the garden.
Lexington Avenue - This eclectic neighborhood is the place to shop for the unexpected, from punk tee-shirts to new age books.
Downtown museums and attractions
Downtown Asheville museums and attractions offer something for everyone, whether you are looking for art museums, historic churches, literary attractions or a children's museum.
Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center In the heart of downtown Pack Place is a must-see for visitors, here you can find several museums and attractions all in one spot. Pack Place houses the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, Diana Wortham Theatre and The Health Adventure children's museum. A few steps away is the YMI Cultural Center, featuring exhibits on African American life in Western North Carolina.
Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site is the novelist's boyhood home and setting for his 1929 novel "Look Homeward, Angel."
Basilica of St. Lawrence, completed in 1909, is one of Asheville's architectural treasures and spiritual anchors. Designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, architects for the Biltmore House, this Catholic church has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in the country.
Hospitals
Western North Carolina is known for its high-quality medical care. The region benefits from an
extraordinary concentration of fine physicians. Health care professionals who could have
chosen anywhere in the nation to pratice came to Western North Carolina for the same reasons
that most newcomers do; beacuse it's a great place to live.
Mission Hosptial which is located in Asheville is a Level II Trauma Center with two pediatric
intensive care units, five adult care units and a freestanding outpatient surgery center. There are
more than 600 physicians affiliated with the hospital with specialities including cancer/oncology,
cardiac/heart care, children's services, maternity services, neurosciences, orthopedics, women's
Asheville VA Medcial Center is a tertiary care facility and is classified as a Clinical Referral Level
II Facility. The center consists of 112 bed hospital and a 120 bed Extended Care and Rehab
Center. The center is is known for its programs in cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery.
Pardee Hospital is located in Hendersonville and has about 250 physicians afflilated with the
hospital. The hospital has been rated in the top 5% in the nation for stroke care and in the top 10%
for pulmonary care. Pardee is also a teaching facility housing the Hendersonville Family Practice
Residency Program in collaboration with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
Schools
There is quite a diversity of educational opportunities in the Asheville area that residents
can take advantage of. Buncombe County has a strong public eduction system with
24 elementary schools, 7 middle schools and 6 high schools. There are at least a dozen
private schools in the area ranging from co-ed to all-female or all-male institutions.
choose the right school for your child. Get the facts about school safety, class size,
student achievement and teacher quality.
Colleges and Universities
There are 10 colleges and universities all within an easy commute, including University of
North Carolina-Asheville within the city limits of Asheville. UNC-A was named one of the
top 5 public liberal arts universities in America by U.S. News & World Report.
Churches
There is no shortage of churches in the area whether you are looking for Southern
Baptist, Unitarian, Catholic, Jewish, Greek or others you can find a church to join or visit.
First Baptist of Asheville is located downtown and is easily recognized by its copper dome.
Many alternative churches are also in the area, further proof of Asheville's inclusive nature.
Taxes (2006-07)
Property Taxes (per $1,000 assessed value)
Asheville - $.42
Buncombe County - $.53
School District (city only) - $.15
Total in Asheville - $1.10
Total in Buncombe County - $.53
Last revaluation 2006
Income Tax
No local income tax
North Carolina corporate income tax 6.9%
North Carolina personal income tax 6% to 8.25% depending on income level.
Sales and Use Tax
State 4.5%
County 2.5%
Total 7%