They say you can hardly run into anyone in Asheville who isn't a yoga instructor, herbalist, massage therapist, or all of the above. Known across the country as a center for natural living, Asheville has more small farms and health food options than many major cities. It's also nearly surrounded by national forest, along with The Blue Ridge Parkway on one side and Smoky Mountains National Park on the other.

People new to Asheville are amazed at how easily one can get lost here. The reason for this is the same for why this is one the most biodiverse regions in the world. In Western North Carolina, there are an incredible number of nooks and crannies to explore. The Scotch-Irish who settled here chose it for that reason, tucking themselves way back into every "holler" just to be left alone.

That sense of self-sufficiency and independence, over the last fifty years, drew back-to-the-landers who also wanted to get out of the system and do it themselves. Asheville's natural diversity, then, extends through its agriculture into its arts and culture. The preference for what's local, for what's homegrown, runs through everything from beer to music. And it's no new fad. Our sense of place comes from the land.

In Asheville we choose to take responsibility for our lives. We know it takes having our hands and roots in the ground to blossom. The difference today is that do-it-yourself no longer means doing it alone. We are a community held together by these mountains, and we welcome you to join us.

For more about Asheville, visit ExploreAsheville.com.