Bohemia in Appalachia

The town of Asheville in North Carolina is an "oasis of stylish liberalism" in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, says Stephen Amidon in the Sunday Times. Many of its inhabitants wouldn't seem out of place in Greenwich Village or San Francisco, but its narrow streets, with their "villagey pubs, diverse restaurants and eco-chic boutiques", have a "distinctly Southern" flavour. The beautiful forested hills pressing in on all sides add to the charm of the place and, of course, are worth exploring themselves, provided you’re not scared by the occasional "billboard threatening eternal damnation". Chimney Rock, a "stunning formation rising from the surrounding woodland", is a good place to start. From there, a hiking trail leads to the beautiful Hickory Nut Falls.
Virgin Holidays (0844 557 5825) has seven nights fly-drive incl. flight to Asheville from £454pp. ·