travel
Unpacked by Afar is your weekly guide to where to go, how to travel, and everything worth unpacking in between. Each week, host Aislyn Greene and the Afar team travel the world and dig into the big questions behind every great trip, from the best new hotels and national parks to traveling more responsibly. Some weeks we follow a story through music, food, and culture. Others we tackle a tricky topic, share our favorite destinations, or help you plan where to go next. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.
The podcast 'Unpacked by AFAR' highlights a fascinating geological fact: the Blue Ridge Mountains are older than the Atlantic Ocean. Host Aislinn Green introduces this concept as a way to frame the natural history of the Asheville, North Carolina region.
The Appalachian Mountain Range is identified as the oldest in the world. The Blue Ridge Province, part of this range, is known to the Cherokee as the Land of Blue Smoke. This ancient landscape is a significant draw for visitors, especially during the fall.
The forests of the Blue Ridge region are among the most ecologically rich and diverse in the temperate world. This area boasts over 4,000 known plant species, with approximately 250 unique to the region. This biodiversity makes the area a significant natural treasure.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S., and the Blue Ridge Parkway attracts more visitors annually than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined. These popular destinations are located near Asheville.
The TripWaffle app is a free tool designed to simplify travel planning. Users can forward their travel confirmation emails, and the app generates a clear trip timeline, automatically organizing flight and hotel information. It also offers flight tracking and passport expiration reminders.
Google is providing AI tools to the U.S. Department of Transportation to help staff synthesize research and streamline contracting processes. This initiative aims to enhance the safety and reliability of the nation's transit systems.
Sita, a guide for Eating Asheville, explains that Asheville's thriving food scene is due to the availability of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients thanks to a nearly year-round growing season and diverse microclimates. She highlights that restaurants chosen for tours are locally owned, chef-driven, and celebrate diversity, including international cuisine.
The Italian restaurant Strada Italiano, a 13-year mainstay in Asheville, offers a surprising array of dishes, including a standout gluten-free ragatoni. The chef's own celiac disease ensures the gluten-free options are not an afterthought but a carefully crafted part of the menu.
Raj, the owner of Mehfil Indian restaurant, a vibrant lime-green establishment, transitioned from an IT career to the restaurant industry after a friend's departure. His goal is to showcase the diversity of Indian cuisine, featuring dishes from all 24 Indian states, not just the typical 20 found in America.
Table, an Asheville farm-to-table restaurant for over 20 years, highlights its commitment to local sourcing with dishes like the Liz Green Rice, featuring rice from Liz's Fortune Farm. Chef de Cuisine Kate Smalley emphasizes using ingredients from local farmers and artists, such as the black pearl mushrooms from Black Trumpet Mushroom Farm.
Raj, owner of Mehfil Indian restaurant, believes Asheville's rise as a culinary destination is not due to chefs moving there, but rather to people who chose to stay because of the city's accepting nature. He states that the community's support allows people to live peacefully, regardless of their background.