This NC city is ‘on the rebound’ — and again ranks among best US places to visit
A rebounding North Carolina city is “ready to welcome travelers” — and again ranks among the nation’s best places to visit.
Asheville is No. 9 on a list of cities that visitors love the most, according to results published July 8.
The mountain tourist destination made its mark after missing the list last year. But it regained a spot in the rankings as travelers showed “love for the city and hope for its revival, after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024,” Travel + Leisure magazine wrote in its report.
To determine the fan-favorite U.S. travel destinations, the magazine teamed up with researchers at Proof Insights. From Oct. 21, 2024, to Feb. 24, it received hundreds of thousands of responses in an online reader survey. For cities, scoring criteria included “sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping” and value, according to the magazine’s website and details shared with McClatchy News via email.
What makes Asheville, NC a fan favorite?
In the resulting World’s Best Awards, Asheville was the only place in North Carolina to rank among the top 10 U.S. cities. Travel + Leisure said the “artsy” destination is taking steps toward recovery after Hurricane Helene battered the area with storm damage and catastrophic flooding in September.
“Readers praised the North Carolina city for its hiking trails, craft beer, and funky art galleries,” the magazine wrote in its report.
The honor adds to a list of accolades for Asheville. In June, CNN Travel named the mountain destination one of the nation’s most interesting places to visit, calling it a city “on the rebound.” The city, which has several tourist attractions that are open after the storm, received nods for its mountain views and food and drink scene.
Earlier this year, Asheville also ranked among the nation’s best cities for beer lovers and made a list of top destinations in the South, McClatchy News reported.
This time around, Travel + Leisure said places that offer travelers a glimpse into history and a taste of regional foods received high marks in the best U.S. city rankings.
“When choosing city escapes in the United States, travelers continue to seek destinations with pedestrian-friendly streets, dynamic arts and culture institutions, and excellent food,” the magazine wrote in its report. “For many visitors, it was also important to have access to activities that suit everyone, whether you’re traveling as a couple, with friends, or as a multigenerational family.”
Across the country, the top-ranked vacation spot was Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here are the other destinations that round out the top five:
- New Orleans at No. 2
- Charleston, South Carolina, at No. 3
- Savannah, Georgia, at No. 4
- Alexandria, Virginia, at No. 5
In addition to boasting winners in the U.S. cities category, places in North Carolina landed in the top 10 on another World’s Best Awards list. Here’s how they fared among the “best resorts” in the South:
- High Hampton in Cashiers at No. 2
- The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville at No. 3
- Old Edwards Inn & Spa in Highlands at No. 7
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM with the headline "This NC city is ‘on the rebound’ — and again ranks among best US places to visit."
