"Less than 40 miles east of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Asheville is the main food destination on the North Carolina side. It’s also the ultimate beer haven, with more breweries per capita than almost anywhere in the country. Start barhopping at the sour-focused Funkatorium, an offshoot of mainstay Wicked Weed brewery. The modern garagelike taproom, located in the city’s brewery-saturated South Slope neighborhood, offers a sprawling beer garden lined with planters, murals, and picnic tables. Rotating draft selections, such as the Genesis tropical blonde sour and the Silencio bourbon-barrel-aged black sour with coffee and vanilla, constantly push the boundaries of sour beer. The Funkatorium is also a full-service restaurant with salads, sandwiches, and crunchy Roman-style pizzas." - Matt Kirouac