By: Jonathan Poston

Nestled in heart of the Appalachian Mountains, there is a city that has become a top travel and living destination in America. Just like many cities in the USA, Asheville is a city with less than 100,000 people, but what makes this place much different than other cities, especially in the conservative South, is the thinking. The people here are open minded, and creative. Above all, they love good food, culture, music, craft beer, and of course art.

Within striking distance of this city built at 2000 feet above sea level, there are waterfalls, rivers and streams, old growth forest, caves, mountain bike and hiking trails, and miles of misty mountain parkway one can drive along to take in the splendor of nearby mountains. How can an invigorating place of natural beauty like this not inspire artists, and the people who appreciate art to visit.

Asheville has an art museum right in the center of its downtown, where at night buskers and entertainers filled the sidewalks with bluegrass music, juggling, drumming, and a perpetual bohemian charged production of street carnival action. Todd Frahm is one artist in particular who was seduced by Asheville’s siren song. After being commissioned to build public sculptures for notable locations, like the Indianapolis Airport (watch him building “The Birth of Flight” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obRjckjYhf4 ) This is just one example of world class artists packing their bags and moving to Asheville to partake in the city’s charm, and future as amazing Art Town, USA.

This place is now squarely on the must-go to list for anyone living in the USA, and with its popularity as a destination to acquire unique art and experience exotic culture, many refer to this place as the Paris of the South.

Travel writer by hobby, and Growth Hacker by trade, Jonathan Poston lives in Asheville. He runs Yiveo.com in Asheville and can be contacted at www.yiveo.com/about.html