Three months after Helene, Biltmore Village cleans up
After Hurricane Helene, the Biltmore Village is still cleaning up debris.
Asheville, North Carolina has been placed in the top 20 on a list of 52 travel destinations for 2025 by the New York Times.
The city, which was ranked No. 16 on the list, joins worldwide destinations such as the Galápagos Islands; Sydney, Australia; and more. Also included on the list are other famous U.S. destinations such as the New York City Museums.
Despite the destruction caused in the Western N.C. region by Tropical Storm Helene – the aftermath of which was covered by NYT – writer Shayla Martin described how the Asheville community banded together to heal.
Here’s what else the NYT list said about why to visit Asheville in 2025, plus other destinations that made the top 20.
The NYT list entry didn’t shy away from discussing the catastrophic damage caused by Helene. In particular, Martin mentioned the catastrophic flooding that swept through “major economic centers” including the River Arts District and Biltmore Village.
However, the story entry also spoke to community efforts to collect and distribute supplies to those affected by the storm, and mentioned Hood Huggers International as an example of a local organization that helped in the process. Now, Martin suggests travelers follow the city’s urge to “plan a return trip with heart.”
A number of suggestions for visitors to Asheville were included in the NYT report, with attention to post-Helene reopenings. The suggestions for places to visit included:
Asheville was one of the top 20 on a list of 52, coming in at No. 16. For the entire list, visit the NYT webpage. Here’s the full top 20 list:
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
