Exploring Asheville

Mystery writer, Tom Collins, departs from his usual genre to explore Asheville–the city they call the Weirdest, Happiest, Quirkiest, and Most Haunted Place in America. It’s a book that tells visitors everything they need to be Asheville Smart–things to do and see, but also the city’s secrets and mysteries along with its ghosts, if you believe in such things. If you don’t, you still might want to take care. Strange things happen in these quartz laden mountains. Oh, I also threw in a hardy dose of Appalachian Mountain tall tales, folklore, and legends, some alleged, some exaggerated and some hard to believe at all! Award Winning Book for Getting The Most Out of Visits to Asheville and the Western North Carolina: Asheville History—important monuments and people in the city’s history Attractions—things to do and to see in Asheville and neighboring areas Mysteries and Ghosts—stories at the heart of vortexes and hauntings Tall Tales—in the Appalachian Mountain tradition The book’s cover depicts the view down Patton Avenue toward City Hall painted by Asheville River Arts District’s artist Jeff Pittman. 2022 winner of Independent Press Award for its literary category.

Amazing Asheville by Lan Sluder is the new guidebook to Asheville and the beautiful North Carolina Mountains. It candidly covers all the best places to stay, eat and explore in Asheville's exciting Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and elsewhere in the North Carolina mountains. In more than 150,000 words, it also covers the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore House and Biltmore Estate and the hundreds of thousands of acres of national and state forests in Western North Carolina. This is THE guide that gives you the ins and outs of enjoying the mountains and saving money on your Asheville and North Carolina mountains vacation. Written by an Asheville native and award-winning author of more than a dozen books on travel and retirement, Amazing Asheville provides readable, easy-to-use information on Asheville's many B&Bs, mountain lodges, resorts and vacation cabins. It tells you where to find great food and drink -- from bistros where locals go to five-star splurge places. It explains where to go for the most amazing experiences for your vacation. Amazing Asheville doesn't just stick to the city of Asheville. It covers many interesting small towns and villages in the mountains around Asheville. It details where to go for the best outdoor activities in the Blue Ridge Mountains -- hiking, scenic drives, camping, wildlife spotting, birding, river rafting, boating, gem mining, fishing, rock climbing, exploring waterfalls and the backcountry, and more. Whether your interest is outdoor adventures, art and crafts, clubbing and nightlife, music and culture, architecture, outdoor adventures or just having fun in the highest, coolest mountains and most-visited national parks in the East, Amazing Asheville is the guide for you.

Series statement from publisher's website.

Whether you're hopping between microbreweries or hiking the Appalachian Trail, get to know this charming Southern hub with Moon Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains. Inside you'll find: Flexible, strategic itineraries, from a weekend in Asheville to five days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, designed for outdoor adventurers, foodies, history buffs, and more The best local flavor: Indulge in award-winning cuisine on a food tour, discover the microbreweries that earned Asheville the title of "Beer City USA," and catch a live show from a local band. Admire the art deco architecture downtown, gallery-hop in repurposed warehouses, or check out an indie bookstore Unique outdoor experiences: Hike through the mountains and meadows along the Appalachian Trail, take a dip in the hot springs dotting the hillsides, or break out the binoculars for some top-notch wildlife-watching. Set up camp in the Pisgah National Forest, peep the changing leaves in autumn, or go rafting, kayaking, or canoeing on the French Broad River Honest advice on when to go, where to stay, and how to get around from North Carolina local Jason Frye Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background on the culture and history, wildlife, and geography Helpful tips for hikers and campers, LGBTQ+ travelers, and travelers with disabilities Find your adventure with Moon Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains. Exploring more of the South? Try Moon Carolinas & Georgia. Looking for more Southern city charm? Try Moon Charleston & Savannah.

Discusses dining, lodging, and sight-seeing in the Carolinas and Georgia

Hit the Road with Moon Travel Guides! Drive America's most scenic highway, from the green valleys of Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, with Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip. Inside you'll find: Maps and Driving Tools: 29 easy-to-use maps keep you oriented on and off the highway, along with site-to-site mileage, driving times, and detailed directions for the entire route Eat, Sleep, Stop and Explore: With lists of the best hikes, views, restaurants, and more, you can listen to live bluegrass, find the best barbecue around, or sip a glass of local moonshine. Drive past fields brimming with fireflies, spot wildlife like elk and bear, or hike a leg of the storied Appalachian Trail. Visit small mountain towns, get to know vibrant Asheville, or extend your route to explore the museums in Washington D.C. Flexible Itineraries: Drive the entire two-week route or follow strategic itineraries for spending time in Washington DC, Waynesboro, Roanoke, Asheville, Cherokee, Knoxville, and more Local Insight: North Carolinian and mountaineer Jason Frye shares his love of the Great Smoky Mountains Planning Your Trip: Know when and where to get gas, how to avoid traffic, tips for driving in different road and weather conditions, and suggestions for LGBTQ travelers, seniors, and road trippers with kids With Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip's practical tips, detailed itineraries, and local expertise, you're ready to fill up the tank and hit the road. Want to explore more of America on wheels? Try Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip. Doing more than driving through? Check out Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Moon Carolinas & Georgia.

Discover and explore the most fabled venues in American letters. Follow in the footsteps of some of American literature’s most renowned writers: See the hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald to pen The Great Gatsby. Step inside the Asheville, North Carolina, home that became the model for Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward Angel. Visit the Florida lighthouse whose beacon Stephen Crane followed after his shipwreck. Wander along the West Lawn at the University o Virginia and see the house where Edgar Allan Poe lived. This literary journey will bring you to these sites and more as you travel throughout the American South. From Virginia to Louisiana, you will experience the haunts, havens, and homesteads of important writers who lived in, visited, or were inspired by the South’s fertile soil.

From the Outer Banks to Asheville, discover the best of the Tar Heel State with Moon North Carolina. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries, including scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a weekend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and getaways to Asheville, Raleigh-Durham, and Charlotte Strategic advice designed for hikers, beach-goers, foodies, wildlife-watchers, and more The top local experiences: Explore the gardens of the Biltmore Estate, check out the art museum in Raleigh, or kick back with a craft beer at an outdoor concert in Wilmington. Escape to the Outer Banks for a glimpse of wild horses, historic lighthouses, and remote islands. Tap your foot to live bluegrass and dig in to famous North Carolina barbecue Outdoor activities: Hike to waterfalls or challenge yourself to climb the highest peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kayak around Kitty Hawk, whitewater raft in the wild Nantahala River Gorge, hang glide, or spend a day fly-fishing Expert tips from North Carolina local Jason Frye on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from rugged campgrounds to historic inns and beachside B&Bs Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture With Moon North Carolina's expert advice and local insight, you can find your adventure. Focusing on the mountains? Check out Moon Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains. Can't get enough of the beach? Try Moon North Carolina Coast.