Tuesday, April 30, 2013
We have friends in Barbados who have bought property in North Carolina.. we kept hearing about how nice the mountains were and as we wanted to head back up north by a slightly different route. we decided to spend a night in Asheville NC. What a great idea that was. We left St. Simon's Island around 9 in the morning and after a couple of stops we pulled into Asheville around 4pm. This was the longest day of the trip, but the interstate highways are not busy and the drive was terrific. Secret Santa had provided Peter with a boxed set of Stuart Mclean and we listened and laughted for about 4 hours of the trip! We left the most beautiful, languid south, and ended up in the beautiful mountain air taking breathtaking views from Asheville.
We unpacked and headed out to explore. It is not a very big place and we were able to drive the entire downtown area and see the many art galleries and restaurants and lots of students. Most of them looking like they are trying out for a movie about the late 60's. Great fun.
We have found that the best advice comes from fellow travellers... especially while sitting at the bar talking to the bartender. We usually eat at the bar and have picked up great tips from the bartenders.. they are always outgoing, and helpful. The same lovely man, Randy, who told us about going to see Beaufort SC, suggested if we got to Asheville not to miss the Grove Park Inn. This hotel is now 100 years old, and in great nick. All Arts and Crafts and Tiffany type lights.. In fact the American Society of Arts and Craft movement meets here every year. The stone fireplaces are huge and working, the staff lovely and the views breathtaking. We loved it.
We headed back to have dinner by our hotel(we were staying in the Biltmore District..five minutes from downtown) and had a really good dinner at a place called Reze in Biltmore district(should you find yourself in Asheville)
We spent part of the morning visiting the Biltmore estate. The estate was built by the Vanderbuilt family to entertain family and friends. It opened in 1895... has 43 bedrooms and most beautiful gardens. The entrance driveway alone is three miles long.. and another four miles winding through the estate to leave. The family, concerned by lack of employment in the area opened it for touring in 1930It is still owned and run by decendents and now employs 1800 people. The gardens are famous, and many people who live in Asheville have season passes. I would too.. We arrived around 9:30am and the place was already full of visitors. Economic engine indeed. But worth the ticket... what a treasure.
We unpacked and headed out to explore. It is not a very big place and we were able to drive the entire downtown area and see the many art galleries and restaurants and lots of students. Most of them looking like they are trying out for a movie about the late 60's. Great fun.
We have found that the best advice comes from fellow travellers... especially while sitting at the bar talking to the bartender. We usually eat at the bar and have picked up great tips from the bartenders.. they are always outgoing, and helpful. The same lovely man, Randy, who told us about going to see Beaufort SC, suggested if we got to Asheville not to miss the Grove Park Inn. This hotel is now 100 years old, and in great nick. All Arts and Crafts and Tiffany type lights.. In fact the American Society of Arts and Craft movement meets here every year. The stone fireplaces are huge and working, the staff lovely and the views breathtaking. We loved it.
We headed back to have dinner by our hotel(we were staying in the Biltmore District..five minutes from downtown) and had a really good dinner at a place called Reze in Biltmore district(should you find yourself in Asheville)
We spent part of the morning visiting the Biltmore estate. The estate was built by the Vanderbuilt family to entertain family and friends. It opened in 1895... has 43 bedrooms and most beautiful gardens. The entrance driveway alone is three miles long.. and another four miles winding through the estate to leave. The family, concerned by lack of employment in the area opened it for touring in 1930It is still owned and run by decendents and now employs 1800 people. The gardens are famous, and many people who live in Asheville have season passes. I would too.. We arrived around 9:30am and the place was already full of visitors. Economic engine indeed. But worth the ticket... what a treasure.
# posted by katie @ 2:41 PM 
