Asheville, NC

Asheville is an easy three hour drive from Atlanta driving through north Georgia, a sliver of South Carolina and climbing to an elevation of about 2,100 feet to land in this quaint area.

We dropped our belongings at the hotel and found a cute lunch place for a small bite to eat. We then walked around and explored the downtown area including the Asheville Urban Trail and the Basilica of St. Lawrence. The Basilica is not open for tours but from pictures it looks stunning. We meandered and visited the many shops, galleries and cafes. The downtown area is larger than I expected but easy to navigate and very walkable.

Sabino Canyon

A short drive from where I’m staying is Sabino Canyon. Eight dollars gets you all day admission and you could easily spend that time on the paved path, the numerous trails and the open-air tram, if walking isn’t your thing.

Mountains littered with cacti, a stream and dry bed river areas make this area beautiful with a desert existence. There is so much beauty in Tucson and it’s so different from Portland!