August 28, 2009

Southern Living's Best of the South Readers Choice!

Southern Living: Announced their “Best of the South Readers’ Choice Awards” and readers of the magazine recognized these Asheville favorites:

  • Best Breakfast or Brunch Restaurant – Moose Café (Placed #9 out of 10)
  • Southern Favorite Restaurants – Moose Café (Placed #10 out of 10)
  • Best Splurge Restaurants – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Scenic View – Grandfather Mountain (Placed #2 out of 10) and Chimney Rock Park (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Public Gardens – Biltmore Gardens (Placed #3 out of 10)
  • Best Southern City – Asheville (Placed #8 out of 10)
  • Best Hotel – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #1 out of 10) and the Inn on Biltmore Estate (Placed #8 out of 10)(January 2009)

August 18, 2009

Vacationing in Asheville With Teenagers!

Going to the mountains of Western NC with 2 teenage daughters has been a wonderful experience.
Perhaps you are thinking: "My teenage daughters don't like hiking, biking, rafting, or anything related to the outdoors, so why should I go to the mountains?" Well this is sort of true of my daughters who are not very athletic, nor enamored by the natural beauty of the mountain ranges.
However, our trip to Asheville has been nothing less than fantastic!
Shopping in Asheville! The teenagers delightful activity anywhere! Oh and going out to eat! Eating and shopping. And in Asheville these two activities will never cease to be boring-especially for my teenage daughters.
Shopping in Asheville's downtown, exploring the boutiques, art galleries, antiques, fine furnishings and bohemian shops, we have been enamored by the eclectic variety. We have only scratched the proverbial surface. We fell in love with the orange leather sofas and want to purchase all the furnishings in Mobilia Furniture. I am still considering the coolest lamp. Due to time restraints, we only skimmed Woolworth Walk , the newest art gallery and emporium in Asheville, North Carolina. A trip to Asheville is not complete unless we stop at Tops Shoes! Again, we seem to always be present for their penny sale. Buy one pair the second is a penny. This trip we managed to find so many shoes that I am not sure how they will all fit into our car. We are set for the year.
The shopping has not ended nor has our trip, more on Biltmore Village and Eating at non-chain restaurants later.

August 15, 2009

Looking @ Asheviile Through Tourists Eyes!

I decided to indulge and come to Asheville as a tourist! Yesterday my daughters and I enjoyed going whitewater rafting through our business partner: French Broad Rafting. We went on the 5 mile Family Class whitewater rafting adventure. The day was gorgeous! Low 80's sunny and cool blue sky with billowy clouds. Our fearless guides not only steered us along the French Broad dipping, bobbing and splashing through the class II and Class III rapids but they were also stand up comics and providing playful humor throughout the trip! To enjoy their humor, one had to be quick!
We enjoyed a swimming break -for the waters were delightfully perfect for an afternoon swim. Especially for me, who never swims unless the water is warmer then the air temperature. Some of the not so faint heart enjoyed jumping off a small cliff-like rock. I withheld. I hate heights! The best part of the afternoon was taking in the green mountains that surrounded us as we floated down river!

August 10, 2009

Beat the Summer HEAT!

Back in the Raleigh, Durham Chapel Hill area (this includes Cary as well), the temperatures are rising above 100 DEGREES! They have been lucky to have escaped the brutal summers of heat and humidity until now! So now is the time to head to the mountains. Thomas Wolf said it best in Homeward Angel: Those in the East should always go West. How relevant it is today...
Come with or without kids, take in the cool crisp mountain air or enjoy the air conditioned Biltmore Estate and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. The refreshing cool waters of rafting on the French Broad River or sit a spell and cruise along Lake Lure all can be a wonderful escape from the dwellings in the cities to the east.
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Free Golf every day of your stay @ Carolina Mornings Asheville Vacation Rentals.
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Free Golf @ Reems Creek Country Club Each Day of your stay with CarolinaMornings.com
OK the summer heat has descended. Come to the Mts of Asheville to Escape!!

August 8, 2009

Ok so you are a rafter& Golfer ? Free Golf & Rafting every day of your stay..Not joshing ya, we have free tickets for our all of our guests
Did U know that U can have 1 free rafting ticket everyday of your stay w/CarolinaMornings.com?
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Come Stay Next Weekend With Carolina Mornings & receive 1 free Buffet Brunch @ the Grove Park Inn-Sunday 8/16/09 only! carolinamornings.com
Happy Saturday! Enjoyed working at the farmers market. Has anyone seen the movie Food Inc.?

August 7, 2009

James Taylor said it best:
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Don't Let Your Summer Escape W/O Coming 2 Asheville, NC & staying in an upscale log cabin (hot tubs, wifi, & more).
www.carolinamornings.com
A huge THANK YOU to our new and old FB FANS! We are so appreciative of your Fanhood!
Thinking of a getaway in NC? Come to Asheville, NC & come in & sit a spell at carolinamornings.com vacation rentals!

August 4, 2009

Ten Trips On A Tank Of Gas

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/03/day-trips-driving-lifestyle-travel-road-trips.html

Check this article from Forbes:

Origin: Charlotte, N.C.

Destination: Asheville, N.C.

Located 130 miles from Charlotte in Asheville is the Biltmore House, a 250-room country retreat built between 1888 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II. Great for a day's visit or weekend getaway, the estate includes a winery, acres of beautiful gardens, and various inns and cottages. Summer evening concerts will be held on the South Terrace until the end of this month.

An alternative getaway is to Chapel Hill, rock capital of the Carolinas, 142 miles from Charlotte.