When you visit Asheville, North Carolina, expect to feel good. Both the natural and planned landscapes of Asheville and that beautiful part of North Carolina are simply so gorgeous you can't help but smile. Most of locals in North Carolina were very, very friendly and there are many wholesome things to see and do in the Asheville area.
Downtown Asheville is filled to the brim with trendy bistros, interesting shops and adventuresome nooks and crannies. (Much of it is closed on Sundays.).
North Carolina seems to hold the title on the best landscaping and the city of Asheville (including east and west Asheville) seem to be very well-planned, with much of the urban infrastructure and buildings hidden from view behind luscious screens of green nature. There are trees and shrubs virtually everywhere, and tucked away in virtually every nook and cranny lush, beautiful plants of every color, texture and posture imaginable. If you enjoy flowers and plants you may want to consider visiting in May while much of the foliage is in bloom and plan some extra time to visit nurseries and seed suppliers. There seemed to be many plants in the Asheville area that I hadn’t seen anywhere else before. I just wanted to scoop many of them up and plant them at home!
The Southern Highlands area include many other attractions, including the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, The Museum of the Cherokee Indian (located in Cherokee, NO at the Cherokee Nation), Rocky Mount, Folk Art Center, Old Salem, Asheville Art Museum and the Colburn Gem Museum (located in the same building, the Biltmore Estate and the North Carolina Arboretum just to name a few! Natural attractions of the area include: Blowing Rock, Chimney Rock Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, beaches, water park and boat rides at Lake Lure, Grandfather Mountain, Lost Sea, Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls, Natural Bridge Village and Luray Caverns.
Nearby Cherokee, NC
About forty miles away from Asheville (a pleasant drive) the Cherokee nation is located in Cherokee, NC. In Cherokee you can visit Indian-owned souvenir shops, buy moccasins, follow the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.
This part of North Carolina is also home to many gem and mineral mines. At least one commercialized “mine” allows you to mine (in buckets at least) for gems (including rubies and emeralds, among others) and gold. Most people don't know that North Carolina was the site of the first gold rush! Each bucket guarantees a find and you can have fun testing your luck for as little as $7.00. Good, wholesome fun for the whole family. Stone cutters are actually on-hand to cut and polish any gem that you find in your bucket and they can even make custom jewelry for you on-site from the gems you find in your bucket. There is also a gift shop full of beautiful gems and rocks, and you can buy geodes (round rocks that may contain gems or crystals inside. You smash the rock to reveal the inner crystals.)
Contact:
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Hwy 441 & Drama Rd, Cherokee, NI 28719
828-497-3481
www.cherokeemuseum.org
Dining in the Ashville, NC area…
For such a fairly small metropolis, Asheville offers a very diverse array of dining options to choose from and you’re sure to eat well. Some of your choices will include: Native American Cuisine, near Eastern cuisine, Mid Eastern/Mediterranean, Fondue, “from scratch” cooking, Italian, asian, (Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Japanese) , sandwiches/deli and vegetarian.
My favorites:
The Melting Pot
Here’s a real dining experience. The Melting Pot is a top drawer fondue restaurant. Everything you eat, from appetizers to the main course and through dessert, is fondued. The restaurant, which is located in the historic Biltmore-Oteen Bank Building, offers a very unique experience and atmosphere. Most of the tables are tucked behind wooden divides and feel very cozy and private, contributing to an overall romantic and fun dining experience. The fondue experience is a good ice-breaker and promotes conversation. Great jazz, great ambiance, chocolate. Be sure to have waiter explain how to order and how to get the most out of your fondue experience. It’s worth it.
Carrabba’s
I know Carrabba’s is a national chain but it doesn’t take like one so I listed it. Our Carrabba’s experience was wonderful as always, and Carrabba’s fresh, hot bread on the table adds a great deal to any dining experience. This Carrabba's is somewhat difficult to find since it's driveway is wedged between two other properties, but it is well worth the effort.
Mikado
If oriental cuisine or sushi is your thing, a great place to enjoy excellent Japanese food in a great atmosphere is Mikado. Located in East Asheville it is very easy to find and a very pleasurable dining experience. 45 Tunnel Road, which is a straight shot from most of the hotels and is easy to find. 45 Tunnel Road (the main drag from East Asheville to downtown Ashville). 828-258-9696.
Jerusalem
For a bit of a different experience, why not plant yourself on exotic pillows and eat in candlelight under tent-style canopies from imported brass tables? This restaurant offers middle eastern cuisines and serves some of the best stuffed grape leaves I’ve ever had. Again, great vacation atmosphere, good food, Arabic music, candlelight. A great experience. Located downtown Asheville.
If your idea of a pleasurable dining experience is to have someone look down their nose at you and ask if you have reservations, Rezaz Mediterranean Cuisine, as the name implies, claims to serve a Mediterranean menu. (My impression of the menu was that it didn’t seem very Mediterranean.)
Other Restaurants
As you might imagine, Asheville also offers many popular, nationally known restaurants to dine in. We’ve just listed a few here: Joe’s Crab Shack, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Rio Bravo, Chili’s, IHOP, TGI Fridays, and Cracker Barrel.
Accomodations…
As you can imagine there’s no shortage of places to hang your hat while you’re in North Carolina. In addition to camping facilities there are many other hotels in the area, including national chains, private cabins and private motels that seem to have a lot of character. I’m not one for roughing-it so my first choices would be the full service hotels:
Asheville Holiday Inn Biltmore East
Conveniently located on the main drag, Tunnel Road, which connects East Asheville to downtown Asheville and is also situated near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even though it’s a national chain the owners have gone through a lot of trouble to make it feel like home and they do a good job! Even man’s best friend will feel at home there; they keep doggie biscuits in the lobby at the front desk and don’t charge extra for your pets. There are woods to walk through, a fish pond you can gaze into while you eat breakfast, and even spectacular views of the beautiful smoky mountains from many rooms. (Ask for a view.)
1450 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805
828-298-5611, www.ashevilleholidayinn.com
Grove Park Fun Resort & Spa
This luxurious Four Star, 89-year old Grand Mountain resort overlooks the Asheville Skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers many amenities, year round family fun or a sumptuously romantic interlude for two. The Resort includes a world-class spa and a Donald Ross-designed 18-hole championship golf course.
800-438-5800 www.groveparkinn.com
For a list of all available accommodations in Asheville area contact the Asheville Visitors Center, 800-920-1437, www.exploreasheville.com.
