3 Best Shopping in Asheville, North Carolina

Just before its opening in 1929, the Grove Arcade, which covers an entire city block, was trumpeted as "the most elegant building in America" by its builder, W. E. Grove, the man also responsible for the Grove Park Inn. He envisioned a new kind of retail, office, and residential complex. Grove died before completing the project, and a planned 14-story tower was never built. Still, the building is an architectural wonder, with gargoyles galore. Now it's a public market with about 40 locally owned shops and restaurants, along with apartments, office space, and an outdoor market. A self-guided architectural tour (download a map from the website) takes about 45 minutes.

More than 40 artists, craftspeople, and entrepreneurs in ceramics, painting, textiles, woodworking, and jewelry work in this complex of studios and galleries in the River Arts District. Several of the artists offer classes and there's lots of free parking.

Once the headquarters of Farmer's Federation, the region's leading agricultural co-op, this large brick building holds more than 30 independent art and crafts studios, along with the popular Wedge Brewery and other businesses. Grab a bite from one of the food trucks that appear in rotation in the Wedge parking lot and eat at a picnic table outside. Wedge Brewery has opened a second location in RAD behind Riverview Station next door to 12 Bones.