Western North Carolina’s long growing season and mild winters are perfect ingredients for a bountiful harvest of produce, dairy, and other farm products. This annual abundance is one of the many reasons why people choose to live in our slice of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And in fact, it’s one literal way we Live Abundantly […]
Everywhere you look, more and more attention is being paid to enjoying local food. In fact, Asheville has won glowing accolades many times over for its traditional and innovative food and drink scene. But did you know there is another food movement taking place right here in Western North Carolina? Traditional and underground supper clubs […]
There are few menu choices as ubiquitous as the hamburger. And yet, there are few dishes as excitingly versatile and universally beloved. Topping options are nearly endless, from the classic lettuce and tomato to pepper jelly and bone marrow. You can get several stacked high. Or even choose a meatless patty. And paired with a […]
From its epicenter in Asheville to tiny enclaves around Western North Carolina, craft beverages are a big draw for people from near and far. The number of local craft breweries (close to 70 in the region!) is matched only by their quality, uniqueness, and seasonal ingredients. But our love of handcrafted drinks doesn’t stop there! […]
There are good reasons that Flat Rock, NC has long been called “the Little Charleston of the Mountains.” For one, its historic charm is undeniable. The village also has longstanding ties to the South Carolina Lowcountry, and the Charleston area in particular. Plus, like the Holy City, it is a popular tourist destination for people […]
Five simple ingredients. Infinite possibilities and room for argument. (Why else would Google deliver 281,000 video results for a sandwich with 80% of the ingredients in its name?) The bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich has a century-long reputation as a classic American sandwich. It’s beloved by millions around the nation, and has inspired artists and […]
Being a small town doesn’t mean you can’t offer some of the finest dining in Western North Carolina. Even this spring, as we’ve navigated ever-changing social distancing measures, Brevard, NC has continued to deliver—literally!—some of the best food in the region. The Transylvania Chamber of Commerce has put together a spreadsheet of local restaurant availabilities […]
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 deserve 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 […]