gailrmv
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2005
- Messages
- 3,136
JCrow, I posted this in the NC GTG thread but didn't know if you would see it.
Maybe other people have ideas for you too! Enjoy your trip!!!!
My post from other thread:
Well, here is a slideshow and within it the link to the NY Times article.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/09/30/travel/20070930_HOURS_SLIDESHOW_11.html
They should have some great recommendations for you.
How long do you have? If you have two days, here is what I would do - spend one day at the Biltmore, see the house, gardens, winery, and walk the trails. Bring some bottled water and snacks because what they have for sale there is really overpriced. I think there is a 5 star restaurant on the property but I haven't been. There is an excellent Mexican restaurant (casual) in Biltmore Village.
On the other day I would explore downtown Asheville. It's a pretty crunchy, artsy kind of place. You can pop into boutiques and art galleries and easily fill the day. Some good places I've eaten are the Early Girl Eatery, Laughing Seed (which is vegetarian),um.... will have to ask DH if he remembers where else is good, I have a horrible memory of names. There were a couple neat antique jewelry stores and one big jewelry store (family owned) that sold a ton of great designer stuff, fun for looking. There was a great coffee and dessert place open late near the Renaissance hotel. There is an old fashioned soda fountain in the Woolworths building (I think). The rest of the building is devoted to local artists. There is a famous chocolate truffle place... the Blue Spiral art gallery is great.... another good jewelry store called Jewels that Dance near Pack square... I'll add more as I think of them!
If you have a third day, I'd plan an outdoor day or canoeing, rafting, kayaking, or hiking in the mountains. I haven't actually done this in Asheville so I can't recommend an outdoor adventure company, but I am sure there are some. The Mast General Store in downtown Asheville is a great store for outdoorsey stuff and could probably recommend trips or may even organize some themselves.
Another thing to do if you have time is the Grove Park Inn. It is a very famous hotel and resort. They have a spa that's supposed to be fantastic. Even if you don't have time for the spa, you can at least get a drink at the hotel bar and sit outside and enjoy the view. They have live music from time to time also.
Do you have your hotel already? My favorite place to stay is the Renaissance. Walk to downtown, very clean and nice, and not too expensive. The Biltmore hotel and the Grove Park Inn are the famous fancy places to stay, and I think there are some nice B&Bs too although I haven't been.
You should get great weather this time of year... I hope it is a wonderful trip! Report back and let me know what you think!
Maybe other people have ideas for you too! Enjoy your trip!!!!
My post from other thread:
Well, here is a slideshow and within it the link to the NY Times article.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/09/30/travel/20070930_HOURS_SLIDESHOW_11.html
They should have some great recommendations for you.
How long do you have? If you have two days, here is what I would do - spend one day at the Biltmore, see the house, gardens, winery, and walk the trails. Bring some bottled water and snacks because what they have for sale there is really overpriced. I think there is a 5 star restaurant on the property but I haven't been. There is an excellent Mexican restaurant (casual) in Biltmore Village.
On the other day I would explore downtown Asheville. It's a pretty crunchy, artsy kind of place. You can pop into boutiques and art galleries and easily fill the day. Some good places I've eaten are the Early Girl Eatery, Laughing Seed (which is vegetarian),um.... will have to ask DH if he remembers where else is good, I have a horrible memory of names. There were a couple neat antique jewelry stores and one big jewelry store (family owned) that sold a ton of great designer stuff, fun for looking. There was a great coffee and dessert place open late near the Renaissance hotel. There is an old fashioned soda fountain in the Woolworths building (I think). The rest of the building is devoted to local artists. There is a famous chocolate truffle place... the Blue Spiral art gallery is great.... another good jewelry store called Jewels that Dance near Pack square... I'll add more as I think of them!
If you have a third day, I'd plan an outdoor day or canoeing, rafting, kayaking, or hiking in the mountains. I haven't actually done this in Asheville so I can't recommend an outdoor adventure company, but I am sure there are some. The Mast General Store in downtown Asheville is a great store for outdoorsey stuff and could probably recommend trips or may even organize some themselves.
Another thing to do if you have time is the Grove Park Inn. It is a very famous hotel and resort. They have a spa that's supposed to be fantastic. Even if you don't have time for the spa, you can at least get a drink at the hotel bar and sit outside and enjoy the view. They have live music from time to time also.
Do you have your hotel already? My favorite place to stay is the Renaissance. Walk to downtown, very clean and nice, and not too expensive. The Biltmore hotel and the Grove Park Inn are the famous fancy places to stay, and I think there are some nice B&Bs too although I haven't been.
You should get great weather this time of year... I hope it is a wonderful trip! Report back and let me know what you think!