Venture into North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and prepare to encounter an eclectic dose of Southern charm. Home of the famed Biltmore Estate and some of the most breathtaking views around, this charming, bohemian mecca is brimming with the unexpected. Whether you’re an art lover, foodie, history buff or looking to become one with nature, there’s a little something for everyone. With a storied history, you’ll find diverse tour offerings from wine to ghost tours, but the surprise standout is the black history tour.
A short five-minute drive to the location formerly known as Stephens-Lee High School, a different side of this mountain town is revealed on the Hood Huggers International Tour. Founded by artist, poet and community activist DeWayne Barton, this tour allows visitors a peek into Asheville’s African American neighborhoods with stops in Triangle Park and the Burton Street Peace Gardens, which were historically thriving with black businesses. Yet like a lot of cities across the nation, gentrification has taken over, but Barton is determined to keep history alive with stories of the past, present and his hope for the future of black Asheville.