Biltmore, the opulent 250-room French Renaissance chateau, nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, was the vision of George Washington Vanderbilt, carried out by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt. Construction began in 1889 and the opulent estate, with grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was opened on Christmas Eve in 1895 to family and friends.

The city hosted the noteworthy Columbia Records recording session in 1928 know as the Johnson City Sessions.

During the 1920’s, the Prohibition era, Johnson City had ties to Al Capone and his bootlegging distribution network in the Appalachian Mountains. This earned the city the nickname “Little Chicago”.

Located in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a very walkable town. The city has many restaurants, shops, breweries and don’t forget to check out the beautiful Art Deco Kress and Woolworth buildings, both former department stores with works of many artists.