Downtown Asheville North Carolina - the square area
"North Carolina's own version of Portland, Oregon." Great area for dining and independent films at the Fine Art's Theater. Dining choices are many: Mediterranean, New York style pizza and gourmet hot dogs, Vegetarian cuisine, Latin American dishes, Barbecue, Italian, home-made pastries and many more. 5-star and casual dining are in abundance. Lodging at the Grove Park Inn, Haywood and the new ALOFT contemporary loft-style hotel and pool lounge. There's also a downtown Asheville Hostel for backpackers. Hiking and the Blue Ridge Parkway are just a few miles away. Starbucks and Whole Food's offer a variety of coffees and organic choices. This area offers exposure to eclectic lifestyles and varied cultural experiences like the weekend drum circles and free-style artist's entertaining the streets with their own musical styles. The area also features a river-front art district with many studios displaying local works of pottery, painting and sculpture.Many dining establishments offer outdoor seating with your pets and a water dish. The ALOFT hotel offers dog beds and is pet-friendly.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3373
