Surrounded by the singular beauty of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has long been a mecca to artists, writers, and nature lovers. The stunning Art Deco buildings of its downtown, the Gilded Age elegance of the Biltmore Estate, the rich legacy of its Appalachian craft industry, and above all the timeless beauty of the area's magnificent mountains and forests imbue the city with a proud architectural and cultural heritage that is steeped in history.
But with a revitalized downtown, broad array of hip restaurants and wineries, cutting-edge art and music scene, state-of-the-art spas and world-class golfing, mountain-climbing and white-water rafting, Asheville is also firmly grounded in the twenty-first century. It is this fortuitous blend of the old and the new that has made Asheville one of the most vibrant and charming cities in America.
The mountains showcase Asheville's Art Deco skyline.
Blessed with temperate year-round weather and a never-ending supply of festivals and compelling attractions, Asheville is a perfect destination any time of year. However, with its privileged location among some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States, Asheville in the autumn becomes a wonderland of red and gold, offering some of the most dazzling fall foliage in the country. The varying elevations in Western North Carolina extend the color season from late September through early November, and as a result there is no peak week for viewing the fall display. (Visit exploreashville.com for updated color reports and suggested scenic drives). The Blue Ridge Parkway, America's most popular scenic highway is the gateway to all of this splendor, leading to the spectacular autumn panoramas to be enjoyed at Chimney Rock Park, the North Carolina Arboretum, Pisgah National Forest and Grandfather Mountain.
The majestic woodlands and sparkling streams are not the only treasures to be found in the area. The North Carolina mountains are also renowned for the quality and variety of its craft galleries and artist studios. The Blue Ridge Parkway's Folk Art Center features hundreds of handmade crafts from members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, representing over 900 craftspeople in nine southeastern states. The Penland Gallery at the Penland School of Crafts (a national center for education in contemporary and traditional craft) is a fabulous source for the work of resident and neighboring artists.
No one place comes closer to exemplifying all that Asheville has to offer than the fabled Biltmore Estate. This extraordinary 250-room French Renaissance chateau built by George W. Vanderbilt and completed in 1895, is modeled after the great 16th century chateaux in France's Loire Valley and was originally set on 125,000 acres of what is now Pisgah National Forest. Boasting four acres of floor space, the mansion, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, features 33 family and guest bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens, an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and gymnasium. The Vanderbilt's original collection of art and antiques including furniture by Sheraton and Chippendale, artworks by Renoir, Sargent, Whistler and Pellegrini and 16th century Flemish tapestries present a detailed portrait of the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by the family. Fully electric and centrally heated and equipped with every conceivable amenity – from elevators to refrigerators – Biltmore House was one of the most technologically advanced structures for its time.
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| Left: The Biltmore Estate's placid lagoon mirrors the house's western façade. Right: Fall brings a multi-hued display of chrysanthemums to the estate's famed Walled Garden. |
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The surrounding grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture in America, originally encompassed a 100,000-acre forest, a working farm and dairy, a 250-acre wooded park, and five pleasure gardens. Today, the Biltmore Estate upholds Olmsted's unique vision through the management of 8,000 acres of forest, woodland and the magnificent formal gardens on the Estate's grounds. The estate's agricultural legacy can be experienced through the Farm Village which includes an educational kitchen garden and a historic horse barn that displays original farm equipment and more. The Biltmore is also home to the elegant Estate Winery which produces award-winning wines from grapes grown on the estate. Guests can view the fermentation and bottling rooms and enjoy tastings of such wonderful wines as the Chateau Reserve. Each fall, the Biltmore Estate holds a Harvest Home Celebration (Sept. 7 – Oct. 28), offering craft demonstrations, wine tastings, storytelling, music, and dance.
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| Left: The imposing Banquet Hall is the largest room in the Biltmore Estate and has a 70-foot-high barrel-vaulted ceiling. Right: Mrs. Vanderbilt's Bedroom features sumptuous cut-velvet drapery and upholstery. |
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For those wanting to vacation like a Vanderbilt, the 213-room AAA Four-Diamond Inn on Biltmore Estate located near the Estate Winery is an ideal option. The large guest rooms are filled with fine furnishings inspired by English and French manor houses and feature luxurious baths. For true privacy, stay in the historic Cottage on Biltmore Estate, a renovated two-bedroom, two-bath home, that is staffed by your own personal butler and chef.
Asheville's majestic setting has given rise to appropriately regal places in which to stay. The grande dame of Asheville lodgings and one of the most famous resorts in the South is the luxurious Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. Opened in 1913 and completely renovated in 2005, the resort has played host to eight presidents as well as such luminaries as F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Gershwin and Harry Houdini. The epic scale of the place has obviously inspired its current owner, Sammons Enterprises, to achieve equivalent heights of perfection in every aspect of the hotel experience.
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| Left: The main pool area of the Grove Park Inn's 40,000-square-foot spa. Right: Award-winning 6,700-yard par-70 golf course. |
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The 512 elegantly appointed guest rooms pay tribute to the area's Arts & Crafts legacy and are located either in the historic Main Inn or in the two modern wings adjoining the main lobby. The hotel's eight new Theme Suites, each replicating a particular period or style from the hotel's illustrious history are the perfect choice for a special occasion.
The award-winning 6,700-yard par-70 Donald Ross designed golf course, as well as the 50,000-square-foot sports complex – boasting tennis and racquetball courts, an indoor pool, gymnasium and weight training room – are just a prelude to the resort's crowning achievement – the magnificent 40,000-square-foot subterranean spa. Built at a cost of $44 million, the spa is a fusion of show-stopping water features and serene intimate spaces. The wow-factor begins with the giant cascading waterfall near the spa's entrance and reaches its zenith in the dramatic main pool area which contains two therapeutic waterfall pools, a warm mineral pool and a lap pool sitting beneath a 6,500 fiber-optic starry sky. The 26 indoor treatment rooms are the setting for the spa's superlative array of skin care, massage and body treatments. For the ultimate in pampering, nothing comes close to the spa's signature Heaven series – uniquely designed for the spa, and incorporating elements indigenous to the West North Carolina Mountains.
No resort experience is complete without world-class meals and the Grove Park Inn's AAA Four Diamond award-winning Horizons restaurant does not disappoint. Chef de Cuisine Dave Rowland's masterful takes on classic cuisine include such signature dishes as lobster bisque, watermelon and arugula salad, Kobe beef filet mignon, and pineapple-polenta upside down cake topped with mango and tres leche ice cream. For a true epicurean adventure, splurge on the Chef's Table, an extraordinary nine-course dinner personally supervised by the chef and sommelier. The perfection of any meal at Horizons is completed by its outstanding wine list and highly professional and courteous staff.
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| Left: The Grove Arcade is a center for shopping, dining and regional crafts in downtown Asheville. Right: Blue Spiral 1 presents thirty thematic and one-person exhibitions a year. |
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Asheville's burgeoning restaurant scene owes much to the availability of a wide range of fresh and organic local produce. This partnership between local farmers and chefs has inspired an eclectic mix of cuisine ranging from the Southern fusion cuisine of Tupelo Honey Café to the Mediterranean cuisine of Rezaz. One of the best of these farm to table restaurants is Gabrielle's, located in the romantic Richmond Hill Inn. Housed in a historic former mansion that exudes Victorian elegance, this beautiful restaurant overlooks one of the Asheville's loveliest gardens. The exquisite setting is matched by the inventive cuisine of Chef Duane Fernandes, who utilizes fresh, local organic and worldly ingredients to create the sumptuous five-course Grande Tasting Menu. A spectacular wine pairing enhances a truly extraordinary culinary experience.
Following the lead of the Winery at the Biltmore Estate, the Asheville area has also become one of the country's most exciting new wine regions, with ten new wineries expected to open by December. In addition, there are endless opportunities to explore fine wines at such restaurants as The Market Place, Flying Frog Cafe, and Zambra which feature extensive wine lists.
| UPCOMING FESTIVALS |
ART
Sept. 1 – Oct. 31
RiverSculpture Festival
French Broad River Park; www.riversculpture.com
A showcase for the area's best contemporary sculpture.
Sept. 15 – 16
Heritage Weekend
Folk Art Center; southernhighlandguild.org
A celebration of the
heritage crafts
of
Appalachia.
Oct. 18 - 21
The Craft Fair of the
Southern Highlands
Asheville Civic Center; southernhighlandguild.org
More than 200 members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild
exhibit fine handcrafts.
Nov. 10 - 11
River Arts District Studio Stroll
River Arts District; www.riverdistrictartists.com
An inside look at over 50 working
artist studios.
LITERATURE
Sept. 14 - 15
Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
Burnsville Town Center; www.cmlitfest.org
Readings and book signings by 40 authors including John Ehle.
Sept. 21 – 23
A Salute to F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Grove Park Inn; www.groveparkinn.com
A birthday salute to the legendary
Jazz Age author.
Sept. 29 – Oct. 7
Thomas Wolfe Festival
Thomas Wolfe Memorial; www.wolfememorial.com
A celebration of the life and legacy of the famed 20th century writer. PERFORMING ARTS
Oct. 19 - 21
Lake Eden Arts Festival
Camp Rockmont, www.theleaf.com
A true multicultural music festival in a beautiful lakefront setting. |
Chimney Rock Park provides spectacular
75-mile views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.Nov. 8 - 11
Asheville Film Festival
www.ashevillefilmfest.com
One of the best film festival's on the East Coast.
HORTICULTURE
Sept. 15 - 16
Dahlia Society Show
Oct. 13 - 14
Carolina Bonsai Expo
Oct. 27 - 28
NC Chrysanthemum Society Show
North Carolina Arboretum; www.ncarboretum.org
Premier flower shows set in one of America's most beautiful public gardens.
FOOD
Sept. 22
Brewgrass Festival
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park; www.brewgrassfestival.com
A top lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians and breweries.
Sept. 26 - 29
Taste of Asheville
Asheville Area; www.airasheville.org
The area's premier food and wine event |
| ASHEVILLE ADDRESS BOOK |
LODGING
Grove
Park Inn;
www.groveparkinn.com
$335 - $1,300 per night
Inn on Biltmore Estate; www.biltmore.com
$289 - $2,500 per night
Richmond Hill Inn; www.richmondhillinn.com
$255 - $615 per night
DINING
Early
Girl Eatery; 828.259.9292
Classic Southern food with a large selection of vegetarian fare.
Flying Frog Café; 828.254.9411
Classic and innovative European and Indian cuisine.
Gabrielle's at Richmond Hill
Inn; 828.252.7313
AAA Four Diamond Award-winning continental cuisine.
Horizons at The Grove
Park Inn; 828.252.2711
AAA Four-Diamond award winner with world-class wine list.
Rezaz; 828.277.1510
Mediterranean cuisine and eclectic
wine list.
The Corner Kitchen; 828.274.2439
Carolina-American cuisine.
The Dining Room at Inn on Biltmore Estate; 828.225.1600
Creative interpretations of regional cuisine.
The Market Place; 828.252.4162
Emphasizes seasonal and organic ingredients from area farms.
Tupelo Honey Café; 828.255.4404
Classic southern dishes with healthy, innovative ingredients.
Zambra; 828.232.1060
Award-winning tapas bar and restaurant.
SHOPPING & GALLERIES
Blue
Spiral 1; www.bluespiral1.com
A three-level, 15,500-square-foot gallery specializing in Southeastern fine art and crafts.
Folk Art Center; www.southernhighlandguild.org
Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Center is a center for Appalachian culture and craft through events, exhibitions and shopping.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Biltmore
Estate; www.biltmore.com
America's largest private residence includes an award-winning winery, spectacular gardens, working farm and historic horse barn. |
Chimney Rock Park's Hickory Nut Falls is one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River.
Blue
Ridge Parkway; www.nps.gov/blri/
One of the most beautiful and famous scenic roads in the United States, this 469-mile route stretching across the crest of the Southern Appalachians offers dramatic vistas and brilliant fall foliage.
Chimney Rock Park; www.chimneyrockpark.com
A 26-story elevator ride through the mountain leads to the top of Chimney Rock and its stunning 75-mile views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spectacular hiking trails and a 404-foot waterfall add to the fun.
Lake
Lure; www.lakelure.com
Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, visitors can enjoy boat tours, a beach, restaurants and a spa.
Pisgah
National Forest; www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/
Home to the country's first forestry school, this 500,000-acre hiker's paradise offers trails, waterfalls, fishing and camping areas.
THE ARTS
Asheville
Bravo Concerts; www.ashevillebravoconcerts.org
Presents performances from national and international orchestras and dance groups.
Asheville Lyric Opera; www.ashevillelyric.org
Professional opera company producing fully staged operas.
Asheville Symphony; www.ashevillesymphony.org
Marks its 46th season with a series of Masterworks concerts.
Diana Wortham Theatre; www.dwtheatre.com
Live performances of music, theatre and dance. |
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