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Asheville is the kind of place you have to visit more than once. Each time, there is a host of new experiences to be had, which is probably why I love this little city with big-city culture in the heart of western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains so much. An eclectic city, Asheville is a hip place with an unofficial "brewery district" in the South Slope neighborhood – although there is much more here than just beer. Asheville is also known for its historic architecture, like the expansive 19th-century Biltmore estate and the domed Basilica of Saint Lawrence. And for its buzzing arts scene with two distinct gallery districts, the Downtown Arts District, where you'll find a host of galleries and museums, and the nearby River Arts District, where factory buildings have been converted into funky artist studios and boutiques and great shopping abounds. Best of all, Asheville is also a foodie town, and I love the big flavors on offer when it comes to its vibrant dining scene.

Asheville, North Carolina, is definitely known for its microbreweries, with new craft beer houses opening all the time. But the Blue Ridge Mountain town is also filled with an insane amount of outdoor adventure experiences that make for just as enticing a reason to visit. And since the two often go hand-in-hand, a visit to Asheville is a double win for anyone who enjoys a cold brew after a day playing in the great outdoors. From some of the country's highest and longest zip lines to world-class hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, all of which are just minutes from the downtown core, here are my seven picks for enjoying the outdoors in this fun, laid-back town.

You know you have arrived in Asheville, North Carolina, when music spills into the streets around every turn. Whether it's from the buskers playing their hearts out on street corners for tips or jams catching your ear while walking past bars like Tressa's that offer live music most nights, Asheville is a city that fosters all kinds of sounds. While Nashville is known for country music and New York and Chicago for Jazz, Asheville makes mountain music - jam-band meets bluegrass meets rock style tunes unique to this city. You can learn about the beats that have been recorded here over time at a vintage studio. Or have an interactive experience to find out if you have what it takes to play an instrument by joining an African drum lesson turned jam session. In this video, we take you inside the oldest music venue in town, Gray Eagle. Another spot worth checking out is Isis Theater, which was initially built as a theater, so the acoustics at this family-run venue are hard to match.