You get excited when the first tendrils of fall’s crisp breezes creep in through the window. You can’t wait to see the first flakes of snow stick to the branches of your evergreens. But by mid-February, it’s easy to feel downtrodden by the ongoing gloomy days and chilly nights. Right about now, we start dreaming […]
Great mountain towns deserved to be thoroughly explored, one foot (or paw) in front of the other. And by picking the right places beforehand, it’s easy to bring your dog along. Even though its full-time residents number less than 1,000, Saluda, NC is one such town, full of paw-some spots that both you and your […]
In the early 1990s, Asheville was, in essence, a “no man’s land.” Abandoned buildings made up a large portion of a once thriving downtown, now a victim of physical and economical decay. It seemed nobody wanted to take a chance on the city, save for a few early entrepreneurs and visionaries. And it was at […]
Thanksgiving is all about sharing a great home-cooked meal with your loved ones. Turkey and gravy. Mashed potatoes. Green beans and black-eyed peas. A big slice of pie with a dollop of fresh whipped cream! The only thing better than the food is the company. But in Western North Carolina, it’s easy to get good […]
Ten years ago, the downtown corridor of Canton was relatively desolate: Abandoned building after abandoned building. Empty parking lots. Folks only passing through town in search of a gas station on the way to somewhere else. But, in an effort to save the downtown district, a handful of businesses have recently popped up. Two of […]
Is there ever a bad time for pizza? Cheesy, melty, sometimes greasy, and always satisfying. Rich and complex or breathtakingly simple. Pizza can cover all the categories on the food pyramid—making it the perfect balanced meal, don’t you think? There are times when all you need is a quick slice, and other times where it […]
Let’s be frank about local barbecue. Eastern or Western? The only thing that fires up more allegiance on game day than the teams on the screen is your chosen type of barbecue. Whether you prefer tomato or vinegar, spicy or sweet, or your own meatless variety, Western North Carolina has a barbecue joint for you. […]
Enjoy Local Gifts from PennyCup Coffee, Pop’s Diner, and Log Cabin Frozen Treats Asheville: 16 oz. Specialty Drink at PennyCup Coffee Perk up this month with a coffee from PennyCup! Stop by the location most convenient to you and redeem for one of their specialty drinks. Enjoy! View the offer. About PennyCup Coffee Since they […]
If you’re looking for fried chicken that’s finger-licking good, there’s no better place than a local restaurant that knows its stuff. Many mountain restaurants keep their recipes close to the vest— and their breasts and thighs even closer!—releasing the savory comfort dish only as a weekly special or for weekend brunch. But when a fried […]
Western North Carolina is known for a wide variety of things: Craft brewing, a heritage of handcrafted art, a growing foodie scene, and access to one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse mountain habitats in the world. Living in a culture with just one of those elements would be a special experience. But living […]