Take a Trip to Artsy, Authentic Asheville

So often, when people say a place is an “arts community,” they’re actually referring to a twee little town with lots of galleries catering to the very rich. Not vibrant, not authentic, not welcoming.

And then occasionally, you get a place like Asheville, North Carolina. Nestled up against the Smoky Mountains, this town embraces its artists, providing plenty of space for them to create and exhibit, and plenty of events and venues where they can be seen. The Asheville Downtown Gallery Association numbers more than 30 members, while the River Arts District contains dozens of studios, all within walking distance of each other. Historic Biltmore Village and the Grove Arcade are two local landmarks converted into shopping centers; both have various fun little galleries and craft places to explore. Great one-stop venues where you can see works from many local artists include the Bender Gallery in downtown Asheville and the Folk Art Center, a major exhibitor of Southern Appalachian mountain art and crafts.

Top 4 Nature-Loving Family Road Trips

Spring is in the air, which means it's time to get outside! Scenery and back-to-basics family fun take center stage on these cheap, outdoorsy family road trips:

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Amid the backdrop of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, this 105-mile stretch of highway (itself a section of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway) is dotted with exits to kid-friendly hiking trails. Inexpensive campgrounds and cabin-style resorts make for a budget-friendly family vacation.

Asheville, North Carolina, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This beautiful two-hour drive passes right through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Campgrounds are plentiful in the area, as are laid-back lodging options like cabin rentals and motels.

Raleigh Trip Tip: Get Out on the Water!

The ever-expanding Raleigh-Durham area is fortunate to be blessed with a number of excellent outdoor venues on its doorstep, including William B. Umstead State Park and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. Water is the key ingredient in each, offering access to some of the region’s best fishing, canoeing, and lake lounging! The 5,579 eminently-accessible acres of William B. Umstead State Park are a mere 15 miles northwest of downtown Raleigh and include campgrounds and over 30 miles of hiking and bridle trails along with the acres of aquatic action.

Photo credit: William B. Umstead State Park in raleigh, North Carolina (North Carolina Tourism)

Top 10 Cheap Beach Vacations

These beach hot spots may not be statistically the cheapest of the cheap around the world, but factoring in the cost of travel and time, here are our ten best budget beach vacations in North and Central America, with one special shout out to Brazil (which currently offers great value for North American travelers):

10. Destin, Florida
9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
8. Huntington Beach, California
7. Cape Ann, Massachusetts
6. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
5. Negril, Jamaica
4. Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil
3. Placencia, Belize
2. Tulum, Mexico
1. Cannon Beach, Oregon

Don't agree with our picks? Tell us in the comments section!

Photo credit: Cannon Beach, Oregon (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Getty)

Top 3 Romantic Getaways in the South

These gracious cities offer up Southern-style hospitality, history, and ambiance. To further aid your romantic tryst, here are some suggestions for budget-friendly options once you're on the ground:

Charleston
Summer and late fall are the priciest time to book that romantic B&B, so shoot for a midweek or off-season stay for the best rates. Check out the Farmers Market at Marion Square Park, featuring everything from musical acts to works from local artisans. Take a free visit to the Battery and White Point Gardens in the heart of Charleston’s historic district and stroll the romantic Gateway Garden Walk, also free.

Outdoor Playground: North Carolina's Piedmont Mountains

The Piedmont Mountain range that occupies North Carolina's heartland is a relative geological infant, formed some 250 million years ago in the wake of similar tectonic buckling that created the Appalachian Mountains to the west. The Piedmont contains the state's three largest cities—Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro—offering the bustling metropolises a nearby landscape of hills, forests, and lakes.

Photo credit: William B. Umstead State Park, North Carolina (North Carolina Tourism)