Scenery battle 3-1: Asheville, NC vs. Duluth, MN (beautiful, metro, versus)

[preston39]

Onto the first round of the quarterfinals, we have Duluth in northern Minnesota with its gorgeous forests and proximity to Lake Superior versus Asheville’s rolling mountains and greenery.

Which metro would be your pick for gorgeous scenery?

[theurbanfiles]

Haven’t directly seen Duluth yet. But my impression of Asheville proper (not surroundings) is that it is relatively flat and not as dynamic topographically until you get out 15-20 miles. Given that Duluth is right on gorgeous Lake Superior and has more immediate topographic presence in first few miles I’ll go with it. After all the question mentions the cities themselves and not their overall region

Edit: I guess it does say metro, whoops. Still, close enough, and Duluth has more varied features overall IMO between coast and mountains, even if smaller ones

[BamaDave]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

Haven’t directly seen Duluth yet. But my impression of Asheville proper (not surroundings) is that it is relatively flat and not as dynamic topographically until you get out 15-20 miles. Given that Duluth is right on gorgeous Lake Superior and has more immediate topographic presence in first few miles I’ll go with it. After all the question mentions the cities themselves and not their overall region

Edit: I guess it does say metro, whoops. Still, close enough, and Duluth has more varied features overall IMO between coast and mountains, even if smaller ones

My recollection of Asheville is that it very much has the feel of a city in the mountains. Certainly in the core of the city, it is more level along the river valley, but mountains surround the city on all sides. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the eastern side of the city itself.

[RaleighSentinel]

Asheville is definitely “in the mountains,” and the topography varies 800’+ within the city limits itself from the banks of the French Broad to ridgelines within the city. You can be up another 4000’ at many peaks ~12 miles out, easily visible from the city on clear days. All still very green and rolling. Plenty of pretty waterfalls interspersed between scenic smoky vistas.

Duluth was a cool city (thankfully not COLD when I visited), that I explored when I had a stop for business on the nearby Fond du Lac Reservation. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as Asheville in terms of scenery. The lake was nice and peaceful that day, though.

[sub]

I prefer the landscape and the flora around Duluth. The lake just puts it over the top.

[BamaDave]

Aren't the big hills around Duluth mostly located at the lakeshore? It looks like (on Google Maps), once you hit the crest on the upslope out of the city, the land levels out. Beautiful setting, though!