Tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville is a place where hikers come to traverse foliage-filled trails, foodies flock for farm-fresh degustations, and where a palpably progressive spirit forges a fresh model for sustainability, creativity, and inclusivity.

For a moderately sized city, Asheville’s playing in the big leagues. It was ranked the number one restaurant city in the U.S., and its early origins as Beer City USA have made it a magnet for craft breweries. Steeped in natural beauty, the Asheville area harbors one of the most iconic scenic drives in the nation. All the while, diverse residents and industries have broadened its reputation as a haven for the arts, a pioneer in eco-tourism, and a beacon of diversity.

It’s all thanks to a tight knit community of forward-thinking locals and trailblazing transplants. One such resident is Charlie Flynn-McIver, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of North Carolina Stage Company, a nationally recognized downtown theater that’s transforming the region into a veritable Blue Ridge Broadway. The North Carolina native returned to his home state following a successful theater stint in New York City, lured by Asheville’s independent ethos, blank-canvas opportunities, and impassioned audiences. He partnered with Travel + Leisure and Explore Asheville to pull back the curtain on Asheville’s creative scene, and share his top picks for a weekend trip.

A community of
creative risk-takers

After catching the theater bug in high school and earning his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Flynn-McIver did what any starry-eyed thespian would do: moved to New York City. But Asheville’s magnetism — and the opportunity to join the collective chorus of a city on-the-rise — drew him back.

“I grew up in North Carolina, and my sister moved to Asheville a little before I moved to New York,” he says. “Each time I visited her throughout the ‘90s, I became more and more enamored with Asheville and the surrounding mountains. I started to daydream all the time about starting a professional theater here.” 

Together with his wife, Angie, Flynn-McIver opened North Carolina Stage Company in 2001 as an intimate off-Broadway style theater. He has appeared in numerous plays over the years, including Someone Else and Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), and directed productions like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Book Club Play, and Annapurna.

“Asheville has a very adventurous artistic and creative spirit,” he says of a city that supports such quirky endeavors as a pinball museum, the Moog Music headquarters, and a Fringe Arts Festival. “It’s got a healthy mix of young working professionals and active retired folks that love the performing arts. They not only enjoy mainstream plays, like mysteries and musicals, but respond to edgy, challenging material as well. They celebrate risk-taking.” 

That creative verve goes beyond the stage. It imbues artist studios dotting the River Arts District, award-winning and boundary-pushing restaurants, a year-round lineup of music festivals, and public art works like the South Slope Mural Trail. To tap into the creative scene, Flynn-McIver recommends a visit to the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. “It has some really amazing performances and fascinating interviews about the college’s rich history and impact on 20th-century art and creativity.”

Spotlighting Asheville’s diverse stories

Asheville’s creative spirit is strengthened by a commitment to uplifting BIPOC businesses, creators, and voices. Case in point: the Indigenous Walls Project (IWP), established by Jared Wheatley in 2022 as a city-wide mural venture to spotlight Asheville’s Indigenous tribes. Along with the area’s own Cherokee Indians, Tribal representatives from across the U.S. convened to tell their stories through art, creating a vast canvas of Native representation that speaks to Asheville’s deep-rooted diversity.

For Flynn-McIver, diversity is a driving force of creativity on the stage, too. His vision for North Carolina Stage Company is to connect audiences with plays that illuminate the shared human experience, and to work with performers of color as much as possible.

“Colorofasheville.net is a great resource to learn about local Black-owned businesses,” recommends Flynn-McIver. “Another one of my favorite things I’ve done recently is take a Hood Huggers tour of Asheville.” Curated by DeWayne Barton, the tours are intimate and interactive experiences designed to highlight Black-owned businesses and historic neighborhoods.

Later this year, there will be even more to tour with the completion of the Asheville Black Heritage Trail, a walkable downtown route dedicated to the important and enduring contributions of the region’s Black community. 

A passion for nature and sustainability

For its rich community of creators, Asheville’s gorgeous mountain environs serve as a wellspring for inspiration. “Every time I come to work and get on I-240 and see the mountains in the distance, I fall in love with this place all over again,” says Flynn-McIver. “Sometimes, when I’m stuck on a project or anxious about anything, I just head out to Bent Creek and go for an hour-long walk in the woods. It makes everything clear.”

In the Asheville area, you’re never far from a soothing reprieve in nature — be it an ascent up Bearwallow Mountain, a paddle-boarding adventure on the French Broad River, or a stroll through boulder fields at the recently unveiled Strawberry Gap Trail. Green spaces abound right in the heart of the city, too, from tree-lined neighborhoods of Montford and Grove Park-Sunset to the newly finished Wilma Dykeman Greenway, a path for cyclists, skaters, and joggers that weaves through the River Arts District.

A commitment to sustainability is woven through the regional fabric, as well. Asheville was America’s first Certified Green dining destination, and inspiring community organizations like Asheville GreenWorks champion environmental causes big and small. Visitors can check out eco-driven accommodations, such as the nature-fronted A-frame cottages at Wrong Way Campground or the forthcoming Mirror Hotel, where mirror-paneled “invisible cabins” reduce UV glare and protect wildlife.

“I really appreciate how local businesses are trying to actually walk the walk of sustainability and not just use sustainability as a marketing tool,” says Flynn-McIver. “Asheville has eco-conscious restaurants, retail shops, even money management firms. There are some very impressive people making change happen in Asheville.”

Asheville Must-Do’s:

Charlie Flynn-McIver’s top picks for a visit to Asheville.

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Best place for a stroll:

“Kimberly Avenue by Grove Park, especially in the fall. I’ve also been digging the Wilma Dykeman Greenway— a great walk or bike ride by the river, with a quick hop off to art studios and restaurants. (Looking at you, 12 Bones!)”

Where to see live performances:

“NC Stage, of course! I also enjoy The Orange Peel for live music, and seeing shows at The Grey Eagle.”

Best neighborhood to grab a bite:

“Downtown is great, but I’m partial to North Asheville since I live here. The Madness on Merrimon is definitely worth checking out.”

Favorite place to get active outdoors:

“Hiking in Pisgah National Forest, especially the Shining Rock Wilderness area. I’ve recently discovered the Linville Gorge, east of Asheville. It’s off-the-beaten-path but it has great views, waterfalls, and swimming holes.”

Best day-trip in the greater Asheville area:

“The stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee is absolutely breathtaking. Have a picnic at one of the scenic overlooks, or eat one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had at BJ’s Diner.”

An essential Asheville restaurant every visitor should try:

“Bouchon. It’s casual, but fancy. I love the escargots and lobster ravioli.”

Discover more at ExploreAsheville.com.