Asheville's Independent Spirit: Join the Rebellion

Asheville is a quirky little burg where individuality is king. Some great independent establishments you should visit include Malaprop's Bookstore (downtown), The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club (downtown), and the Bellagio apparel boutique (Biltmore Village).

But the place you'll most value this town's creativity is on your dinner plate. Asheville has its own independent restaurant association, AIR, devoted to promoting the best in local cuisine. AIR preaches fervently that 62 percent of what you spend in Asheville's independent restaurants feeds the local economy, compared with only 20 percent spent in chain eateries. The tactic must work, because you will rarely find such a vibrant foodie scene in such a small town.

"Fresh," "locally grown," and "organic" are all core values here, and you taste the results on first bite. It's why the the crab cakes at the Lobster Trap, the tangy artichoke dip at the Laughing Seed, and the heavenly ceviche at Limones will knock your socks off. This is not the time to frequent fast-food joints or chains, not even for a quick morning coffee — don't waste a single meal while you're here.

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