As I wrote in my “I’m back” post, Asheville Explorer is rebranding from what it started as, which was a way for me to explore all the aspects of Western North Carolina as my new home.
As I said in the blog, I’ve explored quite a bit. I feel comfortable saying I’ve explored more than many people I know who’ve been here much longer (it always blows my mind how many people who’ve lived here for years have never been to Marshall or Brevard). So now it’s more about exploring and critiquing the policies, politics, interapersonal dynamics, and post-Helene changes that make this area unique. I’m still going to be sharing hiking or food and drink recommendations, but not as much as I once was…not on the blog anyway.
While I think the direction of the blog—and frankly, the direction of what I’m interested in writing about—has shifted since this started in 2019, I also think it’s increasingly important to highlight new (or new to me) businesses, especially in the wake of Helene where the entire Asheville tourism-driven economy is struggling. And so, I’d like to pivot the recommendation—influencing, if you will—portion of this blog over to my Instagram @AshevilleExplorer, where I’ll be sharing #WNCFridayFinds: places, experiences, and items I’ve found in the greater Asheville area that I’d like to recommend and try to steer some business toward. Follow along there for more lighthearted I-love-this-restaurant fair, and here, for more, well, not dark or heavy, but definitely a bit of a more cynical tone.
AshevilleExplorer 