This NC City is among the best foodie destinations in the US, TripAdvisor says
Asheville has once again earned national recognition for its food scene after being named one of the best culinary destinations in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.
The North Carolina mountain city ranked among the top food destinations in the site’s annual Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards, which highlight places with consistently strong reviews from travelers. Tripadvisor praised Asheville’s focus on locally sourced ingredients and its strong connection to regional agriculture.
“If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Asheville — and eat, eat, eat,” the site said, noting that the city of fewer than 100,000 residents has 17 farmers’ markets and a restaurant scene built around seasonal produce.”
More Asheville accolades
This recognition is the latest in a series of accolades for Asheville.
Last year, Asheville landed at No. 6 on a list of most underrated travel destinations in the U.S. from Wander, a luxury vacation home rental company, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Additionally, the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic route that weaves through the mountains of much of western North Carolina, including Asheville, was rated among the best road trips in the country by Travel + Leisure.
Other top NC travel destinations
Southern Living recently recognized Sunset Beach for its white sand and crystal clear waters, along with Boone as the one place in North Carolina everyone should visit, highlighting it for its outdoor adventures, rich history, walkable downtown, nearby High Country attractions, upgraded lodging and diverse dining scene.’
The magazine also highlighted Calabash this month, a town in the Outer Banks known as the “seafood capital of the world.”
Last year, Oak Island, Hatteras Island, Topsail Beach, Ocracoke, Duck, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Nags Head and Wrightsville Beach were on Southern Living’s list of 50 best beach towns in the South, The Charlotte Observer reported.
North Carolina swept up several Southern Living’s 2025 South’s Best Awards, including:
- Best Classic Hotels: Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands
- Best Resorts: The Inn on Biltmore Estate and The Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa in Asheville
- Best New Hotels: The Cozy Mountain Retreat in Highlands
- Best Cities: Asheville and Wilmington
You can find the full list of the best beach towns in the South online at southernliving.com.
Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.
