People who love the arts will enjoy visiting Asheville, an art colony in North Carolina, just two and a half hours from Knoxville. Asheville is known for being welcoming as well as their prestigious visitors who have included politicians, artists, and luminaries.
There are many edgy, locally owned boutique retail shops to explore in downtown as well as dozens of art galleries, fine and casual restaurants. One of the most prominent attractions in Asheville is Biltmore Estate designed by Richard Morris Hunt and landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted. The estate was commissioned by George W. Vanderbilt and featured 250 rooms.