Asheville Grove Arcade

Anyone who makes their way to downtown will certainly find themselves at the Grove Arcade. It's an obvious choice for my first blog post about the city of Asheville, so apologies for the predictability. The building is a beautiful piece of architecture to be appreciated, especially from the inside looking out. It takes on a different mood depending on the time of day. Inside the mall you'll find offices, high-end galleries, makeup studios and shops selling artisan crafts, decor and designer clothing. On the permitter of the building there are several cafes and restaurants that spill out onto the sidewalks adding to the charm of this section of town.

Just outside the south entrance of the grove, seven days a week, you'll find a dozen or so artisans selling their wares in the portico. Side-by-side you'll find booths with finely crafted jewelry, t-shirts, hand-sewn stuffed animals, fine art and photography. I've been to the city twice now and each time their was a different group of sellers. If you'd like to learn more about the Grove Arcade, the Portico Market, or to take a video tour of them both, click here.

Apex In Full Color

APEX ~ In 2013, Money Magazine voted this small turn-of-the-century railroad town #9 in the nation, and #1 in the state, as one of its "Best Places to Live". Its historic district is home to restaurants and pubs, antique shops, gift stores, a bakery, a bookstore, a cultural center, a local fire house and other small businesses. 

You won't find any major box stores in the four-block stretch of downtown.

For a directory of what you WILL find here on North Salem Street, click here. 

Color. There's a lot of it going on here. Each building touts it's own shade of cool. It's not overdone, and clearly adds charm to what could be pretty ho-hum architecture.

Be sure to stop in at Buttercream's Bakery for a sweet, scratch-made treat before you wrap up your visit downtown.