Buncombe: Discover Culture, Mountains, and Nature

For a trip to Buncombe, you can combine culture, mountain landscapes, and nature experiences. Planning becomes especially varied when you decide in advance whether historic sites, leisurely scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or art should be the focus. These priorities also help you choose a suitable vacation rental as a base for your personal daily plans.

Culture and History Around Asheville

An important cultural attraction is the Thomas Wolfe Memorial in Asheville. The memorial preserves the 29-room house where the writer Thomas Wolfe spent his childhood. More than 85 % of the furnishings and artifacts are original. The house is also a stop on Asheville's Urban Trail. Those interested in literature and city history can combine this visit with a tour of the historic Old Kentucky Home. Tours are offered daily on the half-hour.

The River Arts District offers a different cultural accent. Numerous working artists' studios and galleries are located there in an urban setting of old factories and historic buildings. The Second Saturday Art Stroll takes place every month. This makes it possible to design a stay around contemporary art, galleries, and the distinctive atmosphere of a repurposed industrial area, without dedicating the entire day to a single museum.

The Governor Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace in Reems Creek Valley has a historical focus. The pioneer farmstead includes a two-story log cabin, an original slave cabin from the 1790s, and five outbuildings. At the visitor center, exhibitions show how early life in the Appalachians shaped Zebulon B. Vance's political career. A 45-minute tour can be booked there upon request.

Mountains, Scenic Roads, and Nature

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a good fit for travel plans in which the journey itself is an important part of the day. The road is designed for slow travel at no more than 45 mph. At the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, rangers provide maps and information for drives along the parkway. When choosing your vacation rental, this focus may mean structuring your days more around landscape experiences and individual destinations than around a packed sightseeing itinerary.

Craggy Gardens offers an abundance of rhododendrons and 360-degree views. A 20-minute walk leads to the summit of Craggy Pinnacle, which also has a 360-degree view. The details about the route and views make this a clear option for travelers who want to combine a short hike with a distinctive landscape experience. The North Carolina Arboretum can be reached via the Blue Ridge Parkway or Interstate 26. The Biltmore estate also has more than 20 miles of nature trails.

For wildlife viewing, the WNC Nature Center provides habitats for the wildlife of the southern Appalachians across 42 acres. Visitors can see black bears, red wolves, otters, and red pandas there. Another enjoyable addition is Biltmore Winery: a complimentary wine tasting in the Tasting Room is included with admission to Biltmore.

Choose the Right Vacation Rental Based on Your Travel Interests

If culture is the main focus, you should plan your days around memorials, galleries, and historic sites. For a more landscape-oriented trip, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens, Craggy Pinnacle, and the arboretum take center stage. Those who want to bring together different interests within the family can alternate historical insights, wildlife viewing, and nature trails. This allows you to choose a vacation rental in Buncombe according to your preferred pace and experiences, without having to commit to just one type of vacation.

For further regional orientation, you can also explore Swannanoa, Candler, Arden, Weaverville, Black Mountain, and Leicester.

For the overarching travel overview: North Carolina.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Northampton County.