Asheville is about 4 hours west of Raleigh and only an hour or so southeast of Tennessee and is considered a mountain town at 2,000+ feet. And it's a great place to get away.
Friday we got there around 11:30am and found our first destination pretty easily. But we had first planned to stop at a local hotel for discounted tickets to the Biltmore. We got the tickets but visited the wrong hotel with a similar name - so no discounted tickets as planned. Lack of communication on both our parts there - but no worries. We found where we were going with relative ease. After a quick bite for lunch (at the nicest McD's you ever saw!) we were on our way to being the picture-taking tourists we haven't been in so long.
The Biltmore, in case you don't know, is the largest private residence in the US. with 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor bowling alley and swimming pool and surrounded by 228 square miles of land. Woah. It was built at the end of the 1800's so you might think it would be a bit primative - but it is extremely ornate and even included indoor plumbing and electricity. (All they are
missing are some satellite dishes and wifi!) You can tour much of the house on your own and you can get some headphones to hear the history as you go through. We skipped the headphones and maybe sacrificed a little history but we did it a little quicker than most and enjoyed each others company. We finished touring the house in aboout 2 hours then we sat for a snack and short rest. We then took the paths that lead down to the gardens and greenhouses. It was getting much warmer and I was getting much more tired, but it was worth it to walk down to see it all. Leo later said the outside of the house was most impressive. I really liked the pictures of the house being built and the model of the entire house that was put together before the house existed. It is an exact replica and quite amazing being so old!
missing are some satellite dishes and wifi!) You can tour much of the house on your own and you can get some headphones to hear the history as you go through. We skipped the headphones and maybe sacrificed a little history but we did it a little quicker than most and enjoyed each others company. We finished touring the house in aboout 2 hours then we sat for a snack and short rest. We then took the paths that lead down to the gardens and greenhouses. It was getting much warmer and I was getting much more tired, but it was worth it to walk down to see it all. Leo later said the outside of the house was most impressive. I really liked the pictures of the house being built and the model of the entire house that was put together before the house existed. It is an exact replica and quite amazing being so old!After the house we made the next stop on the windy roads through the property to the winery. This section is considerably smaller but also very organized in the way they cycle visitors through - it is the most visited winery in the US! We sat through a short film talking about the history and wine-making process then up to oversee the vats and barrels. The wine-tasing room was buzzing with noise - it sounded like a fun party going up up there - and I guess it was. You could try up to 8 wines they make right on the premises. This was pretty much lost on me - I took an itty bitty sip of a red (and it was delicious - what a tease!) so we bought a bottle for when I can celebra
te and appreciate it. It will be nicely aged another 23 weeks or so!
te and appreciate it. It will be nicely aged another 23 weeks or so! After Biltmore we made our way to our B&B, taking a less direct route than we later discovered was necessary. Turns out the Biltmore was literally right down the road from the B&B. The house was nice. It was old, pretty decent sized and friendly, and tucked into the hills on a residntial street. It wasn't fancy and formal like many I researched on-line but I think it was ok where we ended up. The people were nice, and were able to direct us on hikes and to restuarants and had many maps and to help up find our way around. More on that later.
Our room was a nice size and the only complaint is the bathroom. The shower was basically a hand-held shower head attached in an old-fashioned tub. I knew that it would be but imagined the shower head attached to something. Alas this was not the case and showers literally had 
to be made while holding the damn head over yourself. This was interestesting and somewhat amusing - but only because it was a short stay. Now I know to ask more questions about such things next time in an older home.
to be made while holding the damn head over yourself. This was interestesting and somewhat amusing - but only because it was a short stay. Now I know to ask more questions about such things next time in an older home.After checking in we found our way to downtown Asheville. It was also easy to find and not too far away. We picked a pizza/ taproom place where the pizza really was awesome. The beer, I hear, was good too. :(
We walked a bit through town and found some cute shops still open at 8pm. Asheville is known for it's local arts and crafts and someday when I am sitting around with extra time and cash, I will most definetely return for some of this wonderful art. Paintings, sculptures, and everything in between. The town was super cute and is not lacking coffee shops and restuarants (and sushi places!). The only thing that surprised me a bit was the poeple. There are some wacky folks there. The artsy musical ones sitting on the sidewalks making music I can tolerate. The homeless less so, but even more scary are the random wackies with pink mohawks and skater outfits (on an
overweight middle aged woman!). Too weird for me.Saturday we woke early enough for the breakfast portion of the bed and breakfast concept. They served it at 8:30 and Leo made it out of bed in time! There was a wedding party staying there as well so the room was mostly dominated by a party that all knew eachother. But we were seated with another young couple from Atlanta. They happen to also be expecting so conversation turnd back to pregnancy and babies several times. This was their 3rd (!) so she had some tips for me. Breakfast was good;
eggs, bacon, grits, homemade biscuits and muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. It was a very nice way to start the day.
eggs, bacon, grits, homemade biscuits and muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. It was a very nice way to start the day. One of the innkeepers pulled out of of his hand-drawn maps to help us on our way into the moutains. We decided to explore on the Blue Ridge Moutain Parkway and it was a great way to spend most of the day. He described several hikes and what they were like so we could pick. Not being able to physi
cally challenge myself too much right now, we found a perfect hike to go on where there were many paved paths and stairs in addition to easy trails to follow along a creek. We saw a nice little waterfall from the top and then trekked down the side of it and also saw from the bootom. At this point in the mountains the leaves had turned into their beautiful reds, yellows and oranges - dramatically different from the plain green we saw most of the way up the parkway. It seems that when you get to a certain elevation (over 4,000 feet) the cold does its job and makes autumn happen sooner. It was beautiful and exactly what I had in mind.
cally challenge myself too much right now, we found a perfect hike to go on where there were many paved paths and stairs in addition to easy trails to follow along a creek. We saw a nice little waterfall from the top and then trekked down the side of it and also saw from the bootom. At this point in the mountains the leaves had turned into their beautiful reds, yellows and oranges - dramatically different from the plain green we saw most of the way up the parkway. It seems that when you get to a certain elevation (over 4,000 feet) the cold does its job and makes autumn happen sooner. It was beautiful and exactly what I had in mind. After several hours exploring the parkway and the outdoors we stopped at Mount Pisgah Inn and Restuarant and had some lunch. The view was wonderful and the food pretty good too. After, we looked at each other and decided naptime was in order before we continued on with the day. So back to our room for a little shut eye we went. Naps are blissful on vacation!
Before it got dark we ventured back to downtown once more to see some different shops and things. 
There were many. I didn't get anything but it was fun to window shop and even be inspired. Having some talent hidden in there myself, I was reminded of the things I used to do and thought how nice it would be to pick up drawing again. I'll let you know if my pencils take to paper again anytime soon.
There were many. I didn't get anything but it was fun to window shop and even be inspired. Having some talent hidden in there myself, I was reminded of the things I used to do and thought how nice it would be to pick up drawing again. I'll let you know if my pencils take to paper again anytime soon. Being full from our large lunch, I got some takeout sushi (how could I not) and Leo fended for himself for dinner. We were back in our room relatively early but completely spent. We played cards and watched football and read. I was asleep by 11 and was sorry I had to wake up for breakfast at 8am. But it was worth it as we sat with the other young couple again and one of the breakfast treats was a warm, thick home-made coffee cake along with an egg dish, sausage and the other morning staples.
Leo was c
oncerned about getting home in time to enjoy Sunday Football but he did offer to stop at one of the other towns on the way home to Raleigh. Those towns are mostly good for serious furniture shopping, which we are not in the market for currently, so we just went straight home. I enjoyed a wonderful shower (in which I did not have to hold the shower head!), a leisurly lunch and luxurious nap that could have taken me well into the night if I let it. But I had to keep up with this blog before the week got started so here I am - just for you!
oncerned about getting home in time to enjoy Sunday Football but he did offer to stop at one of the other towns on the way home to Raleigh. Those towns are mostly good for serious furniture shopping, which we are not in the market for currently, so we just went straight home. I enjoyed a wonderful shower (in which I did not have to hold the shower head!), a leisurly lunch and luxurious nap that could have taken me well into the night if I let it. But I had to keep up with this blog before the week got started so here I am - just for you! 
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