Nestled between the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina and the 11th most populous in the state. With a population of just under 100,000, Asheville is the main city in the Asheville metropolitan area. It is a bit of a hipster city with a proliferation of museums and art galleries. The New York Times has referred to it as a blue island in a red ocean.
We visited Asheville in December of 2021. The photos posted here are from that trip.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are ever present in the background of Asheville. They are a subsection of the larger Appalachian Mountains. They extend for 550 miles going through southern Pennsylvania and then through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
When seen from a distance, the Blue Ridge Mountains are known for their bluish hue. Trees in the area release isoprene into the atmosphere contributing to the blue haze that envelopes the mountains giving them their distinctive color.
The Biltmore Estate together with its historic museum is located in Asheville. The historic Biltmore Mansion, originally built for George Washington Vanderbilt is located on the grounds of the estate. At 179,000 square feet, it is the largest privately owned home in the U.S.
JFB
Credits:
© 2022 Joe Benning. All Rights Reserved. Photos may be licensed at www.evocativephotos.com