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Our favorite times Asheville made headlines this year

From national lists to major features, Asheville got plenty of time in the spotlight in 2023.

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Cheers to more moments to celebrate in 2024.

Photo via @wncphototours

With the year coming to an end, we’re taking a moment to celebrate some of Asheville’s accomplishments. Throughout 2023, our beloved city has landed on multiple top lists and gotten notable mentions from major media outlets — so we’re sharing a few of our favorites features from the past 365 days.

Joining the ranks

The South’s Best Cities 2023 | No. 3
The Land of the Sky ranked quite high in Southern Living’s roundup of the greatest places our region has to offer — we got a nod for our numerous breweries and artist studio spaces.

Top 20 Music Cities in America | No. 13
We may have tied with Seattle for this spot (we’ll get you next time, SEAtoday), but Asheville’s music scene is number one in our eyes.

15 Favorite Cities in the United States of 2023 | No. 15
Travel + Leisure readers praised Asheville for its vibrant arts, delectable food scene, and plethora of outdoor adventures.

Other notable features

In February of this year, Citizen Vinyl got a spotlight from CNN. The local record factory was highlighted for its unique blend of music, food, and art — including its vinyl record production, public listening room, and craft cocktails.

In May, the New York Times shared an itinerary detailing 36 hours in Asheville, with must-do activities like taking a tour with Hood Huggers International and dancing the night away at Asheville Beauty Academy.

This year Neng Jr.'s was on a roll, earning an acclaimed place on both the New York Times Restaurant List and Bon Appetit’s roundup of the 24 best new restaurants of 2023.

We bet there will be even more to applaud in 2024.

More from AVLtoday
Thanks to the lobbying efforts of local leaders, politicians, and business owners, the Blue Ridge Parkway didn’t pass us by.
In partnership with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Buncombe County will acquire Deaverview Mountain, meaning the 343-acre mountaintop tract will be conserved as a public park.
Spirit Halloween will strike South Tunnel Road twice, with stores in neighboring shopping plazas.
At this year’s North Carolina Awards, all recipients have made a valuable impact on WNC. Meet the locals who earned NC’s highest honor.
The City of Asheville has partnered with a UK-based entertainment company to begin initial phases of developing a public-private arts facility.
The shop announced it will reopen this November inside The Wyre in the upper RAD. Did we mention there will be dessert pizza?
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Whether you love them sliced or only baked in a pie, local apples taste better when they’re picked fresh.
Hit up these bars + restaurants to see the upsets on the big screen.
Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village and Zadie’s Market in Marshall received $50,000 grants through the trust’s Backing Historical Small Restaurants program.