Happy Valentine's Day!! Part III

We are now on Part III of our options for the love-your-honey weekend getaway you are planning (see Part I and Part II). The first decision was where to stay out of the plethora of getaway options that Carolina Mornings has to offer, and which packages/ property specials to take advantage of. The next decision to make was whether you wanted to stay put and just R E L A X with your honey (covered in Part II). If you decide that you want to make a date of it out on the town before returning to your beautiful retreat, here are some options for you. The best idea that I have seen yet is the Caring 4 Children Moulin Rouge Gala Benefit, hosted Saturday night, Feb 13 (perfect for going out one night, and staying in on Valentine's... the best of both worlds, which your honey deserves!!). The night is Parisian- inspired, complete with a French dinner, burlesque show, and music performed by the Goodies, as well as silent auctions, live auctions and more. What's best is that your money goes to a great cause- helping children out here in Buncombe County. This is the best of all worlds- having an unforgettable night within an unforgettable weekend while also supporting a really great cause.
Another option is on Saturday night (again, out one night & relax the other) at The Grey Eagle: 69 Love Songs based on the great album by the Magnetic Fields. This will be a low- key show, meaning that if you are looking for something upscale this is not the thing to do. But, the album is great, The Grey Eagle is great, and the night should be lots of fun! You could start out with dinner at the cabin, or you could opt for dinner in town: Asheville has some pretty incredible local restaurants, and Saturday night you can find whatever your heart's do desire.
Sunday seems pretty low-key downtown, but check our Part IV for ideas on where to wine and dine your honey if you aren't up to fixing a meal at the cabin...

Happy 13th Anniversary to Carolina Mornings!!!

Cheers to us!
February marks our 13th business anniversary!
Carolina Mornings has grown from the first days back in a home office attic in Chapel Hill, NC as a Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service. Believe it or not, we were one of the first Asheville area companies who specialized in travel accommodations, to have a website!!! Amazing but true. Back in 1997 individual Bed and Breakfasts of Asheville, NC or even second home owners did not have websites.  Odd to recall those days gone by. Obviously, Carolina Mornings morphed into a niche market representing only vacation rentals. Now upon our 13th year of wonderful growth, a reputation of integrity and experts in the field of vacation rentals in the Asheville area, we are expanding our services. We know our properties inside and out, we know what makes a vacation rental successful and we want to extend our services to buyers and sellers! In 2010, we will be expanding our services to include Asheville real estate, specializing in vacation home investments. We will list vacation rental homes as well as help buyers determine which home will be best suited for their needs. We are thoroughly excited to move forward and use our expertise to assist second home investors and sellers in the Asheville area. 3 Cheers to Carolina Mornings!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Part II

The second thing you need to think about when planning your love-your-honey weekend (if you missed Part I, click here) is whether you want to stay in for the weekend or want to check out the town. Part II will give you great options for never leaving your cozy and romantic mountain getaway, at least on the celebratory day. First, remember that each retreat has a fully equipped kitchen! So prepare by bringing some fruit and yogurt, eggs and veggies, toast or bagels... whatever you feel is best for breakfast or brunch (what about Love Mimosas? mmm...) Carolina Mornings offers specials that include a welcome basket; ask us about it! Grab your bottle of wine ahead of time, grab something special to make your honey for dinner, or ask us about grocery delivery and check out our concierge services (we have thought of it all...) Get that Bed and Breakfast feel with the whole house yours to roam freely!!
The second thing to think about is what you want to do in your cozy and romantic home away from home. Do you want to watch a sappy girl movie for her, or an action-packed adventure for him? Many of the properties have state-of-the-art entertainment centers, so if this is what you are looking for then ask us to lead you the way. Would you rather have some fun game time together? There are cabins that come equipped with game rooms for your Valentine's competition- all you have to do is think of the stakes...
Wouldn't it be soooo nice for the both of you to enjoy a massage?? What about an in-house couple's massage, complete with a roaring fire and beautiful snow-capped mountain view?! Then you can follow it up with a relaxing dip in the hot tub... Carolina Mornings has packages that can be added to any rental to help you with your celebratory evening, or just let us know that you'd like to reserve a massage for the night and we will help you with that. We are here to make your stay unforgettable, and with these ideas we are sure neither of you will ever forget, at least for a long, long time!

My Fatal Valentine Mystery Dinner Theatre

Apparently Asheville has had a mystery theatre in town since 1993, the Nightshade Mystery Theatre. This group has been performing all around town at many venues; they do not have a static venue in which they perform. The Renaissance Asheville Hotel has gathered them together for a performance of "My Fatal Valentine," a play about romance writers and the awards they could win (remember it is a mystery theatre...). The showings are Feb. 12, Feb. 13, and Feb. 20, 2010. With your ticket you will receive a delicious three-course dinner and a spot in the fun of dinner theatre; as their website exclaims,
Our zany characters add to the fun as actors create scenes amongst the tables during the meal. After the inevitable crime, each table becomes a detective agency and works together to bring the villain to justice, just in time for coffee and dessert.

Come and visit Asheville, NC and stay in a beautiful mountain retreat with Carolina Mornings (remember, we have great WINTER SPECIALS!). Get yourself dolled up for dinner and the "thee-a-t-eeh," then head back to your cozy cabin and relax in the hot tub, or in front of a roaring fire. Then, take advantage of the FREEBIES that Carolina Mornings offers you with each night of your stay. Sounds like a great long weekend!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Part I

Well, almost. But if you're good, I mean really good, you have already begun thinking about what you want to do for your special someone. I will give you the best idea: a romantic getaway to Asheville, NC!! There really are very few things that could top this. And with a few additions, you can encompass all of your Valentine's Day treats into an unforgettable weekend!! So we'll start with Part I of our love-your-honey weekend suggestions...
The first thing you have to think about is where to stay in Asheville... well think no more!! Carolina Mornings has so many beautiful, cozy and romantic getaways that your only problem will be choosing which one. Suggestion: try one of our WINTER SPECIALS! Then you can add more to your weekend with the money you save (and this is only my first idea- not to mention the other FREEBIES that Carolina Mornings provides you with!). There are so many properties that have a plethora of amenities and great specials for this slower time of year (man oh man, a snow-capped mountain view is pretty hard to beat!). Carolina Mornings has gone a step beyond as well: check out our packages such as the Romantic Candle Light Dinner Package or A Touch of Love. These can be added to any stay for a nominal fee, and your honey will be soooo impressed that you thought of such things!! Stop at the store to stock the kitchen, close the door, and don't leave until you have to go... spend your time relaxing together, watching the life in the mountains amble along, soaking in the hot tub...
Check back for Part II of our love-your-honey weekend suggestions!

GIRL'S Super Bowl Party in Asheville, NC!!

While your honeys are preparing and collecting together for the Super Bowl, why not have a girl's getaway?? This is a perfect time to utilize their focus on the Super Bowl and get into your own fun!! The great thing about this time of year is that Carolina Mornings has SO many properties offering WINTER SPECIALS! To top it off, we also offer an All-Girl Getaway Package: 2 tickets to Biltmore for 2 consecutive days; 2 massages; $80 gift certificate for dining at the Corner Kitchen (featured in Southern Living); $80 gift certificate for shopping at Bellagio; and 10% off your tea order at Chelsea's Tea Room- the package is offered to you at a $100 savings of the normal retail prices!! And don't forget that this is in addition to our FREEBIES of skiing and golf! What more could you ask for??
Each vacation home has it's own unique attributes, but we definitely have one to fit your fancy. From mountain views to fireplaces to hot tubs, the idea is to RELAX and have a great time! Join us here in Asheville, NC: known for it's beauty, restaurants, shopping experience and much, much more!!

Super Bowl commercial: HomeAway in Asheville, NC!

HomeAway


As vacations go, I am one that can attest to the best ideas for a family when considering lodging: vacation home rentals!! And Carolina Mornings has the best selection of such properties in the Asheville, NC area. Vacation homes are a fast-growing sector of travel, and this can be seen on the upcoming ad arena for Super Bowl XLIV: HomeAway, "the world's most trusted vacation rental website," will be featuring an ad during this coveted commercial spectacular. What is great for us here in Asheville is that Carolina Mornings is a customer of the HomeAway service, with over 50 of our properties being listed on HomeAway!! Check it out! Our collection of cozy and beautiful vacation homes help provide a getaway experience that you will not forget. Most of these homes have spectacular mountain views, hot tubs, and amenities such as state-of-the-art entertainment centers and game rooms. Carolina Mornings also offers a plethora of specials, from WINTER property SPECIALS to PACKAGE DISCOUNTS to FREE GOLF AND SKIING with the Mountain Discovery Pass (or, if you visit in the spring or summer, there are other great specials too)! When seeking to have a full retreat from the everyday, nestle in to a Carolina Mornings home here in western North Carolina!!

A Prairie Home Companion in Asheville, NC

In 1974, Garrison Keillor hosted a live radio program for the first time to an audience of 12 people. At the time a graduate looking to do something fun, Keillor had no idea what he was creating. Now an author of some 11 books and much poetry, Keillor stuck to the program as it grew to heights he wasn't originally expecting. "Today, A Prairie Home Companion is heard by more than 4 million listeners each week on some 590 public radio stations..." according to the website. For the first time ever on Thursday, February 4, A Prairie Home Companion sends signal to select theaters across the US for a special Thursday night showing. One such theater is here in Asheville! The Carolina Asheville will be hosting the live showing of this well-loved program at 8pm, and as always it is fun for the whole family. This is a very rare treat; normally one would have to travel to the show's home in Minnesota, (or a guest location if the show was traveling itself) but this Thursday you get a chance to experience the show on the big screen! Why not make a long weekend out of this special occasion and bring the family to an Asheville getaway? This is the perfect time of year- Carolina Mornings offers many WINTER SPECIALS as well as FREEBIES to round out your weekend vacation. Once you see the show, return to the coziness of your mountain retreat and relax by the fire. Plan the rest of your weekend to rest, or take advantage of this great town, as well as the skiing and golfing that Carolina Mornings provides free tickets to! Load up the family (and yes, you can bring the dog!) and enjoy yourself, here in the mountains of WNC!

Amazing New Packages For Carolina Mornings' Guests!

2010 will be the year of positive change for travelers staying at Carolina Mornings' vacation rentals. Why you ask? Well let me share some wonderful changes that will be coming down the mountains and settling in our office. 

Updated MDP
Our MDP (Mountain Discovery Pass) is free with every reservation. Each reservation receives passes for all available activities each night of their stay.  We started this awesome and exclusive  value added amenity about about 18 months ago.  Now with feedback from  our guests we needed to offer year round activities. For now, we needed to say good bye to Lake Lure Cruises. On the flip side, we were lucky the stars were aligned and we found Ghost Hunters of Asheville! They offer a myriad of incredible yet revealing tours throughout Asheville with rave reviews! Stay tuned......

New Packages  and Additional Tours -TBA

Watch the Super Bowl XLIV in Asheville, NC!!

Here's a great idea: why not get together with your Super Bowl buddies and take a Super Bowl vacation??! Visit Asheville, NC and make the trip a long weekend; there are so many things to see and do, and then you can relax in a property of your choice for Super Bowl XLIV! Each rental is a complete home, with a refrigerator (for beer), an oven (to keep you wings warm after take-out), at least one bathroom (guys, beer, the Super Bowl, need I say more??), and many places to crash out after a long night of whooping and hollering... how can it get any better than this?? Many of the properties have state-of-the-art Saints vs. Colts viewing technology, and some even have half-time game rooms!! Oh yeah! AND, the fact that Carolina Mornings has awesome WINTER SPECIALS that cut you a deal on a Super Bowl getaway!! Split it with the dudes and run away for the weekend- how many times do you have a reason to do this??
Then there are the FREEBIES offered by Carolina Mornings, to help with your pre and post- game adventures: this time of year with the Mountain Discovery Pass you get one free ticket for each night's stay to Wolf Ridge Ski Resort and Reem's Creek Golf Club!! Then there are the sights and events of Asheville, a hoppin' town with many a beer to drink (we were voted Beer City USA, if you didn't hear...) Get your group together and enjoy a much-needed, and well- deserved, man weekend, and enjoy the pleasures of a home-away-from-home, complete with all you need!

Dinner Theatre in Asheville, NC

Apparently Asheville has had a mystery theatre in town since 1993, the Nightshade Mystery Theatre. This group has been performing all around town at many venues; they do not have a static venue in which they perform. The Renaissance Asheville Hotel has gathered them together for a performance of "Curtains at the Speakeasy," a play about the end of Prohibition and the party of a crime boss' daughter. The performance actually started this past weekend, but will offer another showing on Saturday, January 30. This is the first play in a series at the Renaissance, and I will be letting you know as time goes on what else the Theatre will be offering. With your ticket you will receive a delicious three-course dinner and a spot in the fun of dinner theatre; as their website exclaims,
Our zany characters add to the fun as actors create scenes amongst the tables during the meal. After the inevitable crime, each table becomes a detective agency and works together to bring the villain to justice, just in time for coffee and dessert.

Come and visit Asheville, NC and stay in a beautiful mountain retreat with Carolina Mornings (remember, we have great WINTER SPECIALS!). Get yourself dolled up for dinner and the "thee-a-t-eeh," then head back to your cozy cabin and relax in the hot tub, or in front of a roaring fire. Then, take advantage of the FREEBIES that Carolina Mornings offers you with each night of your stay. Sounds like a great long weekend!!

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, together, in Asheville, NC!!

Known as two of the world's most talented fiddle players, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy will be playing at the Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville, NC for the first time together. Both musicians have played in Asheville before but never together, although they are married. This is a great show that would be fun for the whole family: some great fiddlin', singin' and dancin', music that gets you movin' in your seat!!
What's even more fun is that Leahy comes from a whole family of musicians from Canada, known simply as "Leahy." There are eight of them, all contributing so much to each performance, all contributing to their success as a family of musicians. They offer a music camp for people of all ages and have made a huge name for themselves as being awesome musicians- those you would want to learn from.
Natalie MacMaster is also from Canada, also an artist that you want to learn from (she does do guest instructing at some music camps). She has her own band, but it seems that whenever her and her husband can get together to go wild with their fiddles they will.
This show sounds like a blast, and you have 2 nights to choose from (or, go to both!)! They are coming to Asheville on February 1 and 2, 2010, a Monday and Tuesday, so check out the winter specials at Carolina Mornings, load up the family in the car and come experience to fun of fiddlin', and of Asheville! Remember that you also get some great freebies with Carolina Mornings, so you are bound to have an exciting time!