THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING: Along with natural wonders, themed hotels and local food are additional tourism lures.

• Author: Blake, Kathy

Buncombe County's mountains, abundance of arts galleries, varied culinary experiences, music scene and historical buildings are tourism magnets. The N.C. Department of Commerce reports Buncombe ranked second in N.C. traveler expenditures in 2021, with visitors dropping $2.6 billion. (Mecklenburg County ranked first.)

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority recently announced a new course for tourism that "includes the adoption of strategic imperatives that are informing and guiding the direction of Explore Asheville's program of work and community investments," according to a release.

The five 'strategic imperatives' touch on sustainable growth, safe and responsible travel, engaging more diverse audiences, promoting and supporting Asheville's creative spirit and running a healthy and effective organization.

Cass Herrington with Explore Asheville says a trend for 2023 is to promote group travel experiences and places for parties to stay that "foster meaningful connections and integrate wellness into their corporate and event travel itineraries."

"Asheville is known as one of the most colorful fall destinations in the nation, and one of the longest leaf seasons in the world due to the biodiversity combined with staggered color change at different mountain elevations," she says. "This is a great time to take in the scenes with trail running, hiking, mountain biking and forest bathing."

Theme hotels such as The Flat Iron (prohibition-themes, with hidden speakeasy), The Radical (also with speakeasy) and Zelda Dearest (as in novelist Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald) are on the list for group experiences. Wrong Way Cabins & Campground, which opened in 2022 with 16 tiny A-frame cabins near the French Broad River, is another addition to the lodging mix.

Herrington points to Wrong Way...