Asheville sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, where the French Broad River runs through a city known for craft, music, and mountain views. Biltmore Estate, the vast Gilded Age home built by George Vanderbilt, anchors the area with gardens, a winery, and grounds that change with the seasons. Downtown Asheville keeps Art Deco buildings, the Grove Arcade, and a lively street scene, while the River Arts District fills former warehouses with studios where visitors can watch artists at work.