For three years now I have lived in what many consider to be the most bizarre City in the South, in conjunction with more entitled nicknames such as "Ashevegas," "Beer City," and the "Paris of the South," (albeit, that one might be a stretch).

Asheville, North Carolina is consistently ranked on prominent media sources' "best of" lists, most recently "The 17 Best Places to Travel in 2017" by both Harper's Bazaar and Esquire, not to mention, one of the "18 Best Cities in America for Solo Travelers." by Travel + Leisure. This is wonderful news for the City's economic development and tourism industry, however; it can be a real pain in the ass for Ashevillians, for roads have become inundated with tourists walking toward the nearest busker or microbrewery at an alarmingly slow rate, usually in a large geriatric group. The housing situation is also undergoing a state of crisis, but I digress.

I can't blame the tourists. In fact, the majority of Ashevillians are newcomers anyways. The City is equipped with the necessary ingredients to devise a much-needed romantic getaway, a lively bachelorette party, company retreat, and it even has the power to make a seemingly distressful family reunion tolerable. I realize these are bold claims, but it's true. Friends of mine who have moved to cookie-cutter cities continuously flock back to Asheville, not just to visit family and friends, but rather because they legitimately miss the idiosyncrasies of the City.

With this being said, it's important to note that Asheville is not for everyone, at least at first. If you're not a beer drinker and have no intentions of getting your feet wet, do me a favor and drive 30 miles south of Asheville and you will arrive in Hendersonville. If seeing just as many dogs and children as there are adults in a brewery or music venue seems like a buzz kill, you might want to consider a new destination. If you're a stout conservative, I behoove you to jet-pack your way to Hendersonville.

For those with a more eccentric soul, you're in good hands.

Since living here on my own, I will say my drinking has increased fairly dramatically and I have become much more knowledgeable about what I am drinking. I no longer enter a brewery wondering what the hell I'm ordering let alone how to pronounce it. Fast fact: Asheville is currently ranked third in total number of microbreweries in the U.S.

My eyes have accepted the fact that most of the men here are accompanied by a long, bird-nest like beard and my nose has become somewhat immune to patchouli. I have learned that the chefs are the true celebrities of the City and I have navigated my way around which restaurants are worth the hype and which are simply hype. I have been to almost every music venue Asheville has to offer, which is honestly one of my favorite elements of the City-there is always a show to see and it's usually pretty good. If you're an indie fan, big names roll through here frequently.

I think that, despite the commodities that Asheville offers, my favorite aspect of living here is the free-spirit of the locals. I admire watching the "Spoon Lady" sitting on a curb in downtown hitting spoons together at a surprisingly beautiful and rhythmic rate. I admire the women who go bra-less for the sake of feminism. I admire the women in this City in general, who convey so much artistry, confidence, and an "I'm doing me," attitude that has been quite uplifting as I try to find my niche in this world.

From America's largest home (the Biltmore Estate), to being essentially hugged by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to literally never going thirsty, Asheville certainly has a lot to offer. Do I think it's the best City for millennials? In terms of affordability and professional development, no. Do I think it's a great place to unwind and expose yourself to different perspectives, activities, and beers? Absolutely.