Mother's Day at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa is known for many things, including the restaurants and events that take place there, and Mother's Day is no exception. The best idea, if you ask me, is to stay in a Carolina Mornings' vacation rental- a whole house for the price of a hotel room, plus Fido can come along!- and enjoy a meal at Grove Park for Mother's Day on May 9. They are offering a Mother's Day prix fix Brunch at Sunset Terrace, as well as a Mother's Day Grand Buffet at the Blue Ridge Dining Room. Then, wander through this historic Inn and enjoy not only the Arts and Crafts style furniture and decor, but also the 11th Annual Decorated Birdhouse Competition. Contestants show their creativity in the art of birdhouse making through May 10, so touring the entries after brunch or before dinner is a great way to ensure you get to view these creations before they are no longer on display.
Then you can return to your cozy vacation home, cuddle up with your furry friend or jump in the hot tub to relax and unwind, hike the many trails that surround your oasis... your options are limitless! We have many specials and packages for you to choose from to celebrate your beloved mother while saving a bit on a beautiful retreat!! Plus, we offer FREE TICKETS TO AREA ATTRACTIONS, such as trolley tours and rafting, with each night of your stay!! Happy Mother's Day!!

Mother's Day in Asheville, NC

I'll start with a reminder for all of us whose days run together: Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th this year (you still have a bit... helping you to start early!). No matter your age, you were once her baby, and there is nothing to break that bond!! There is no better idea than to have a retreat with your Mama for Mother's Day, or to gift her with a relaxing retreat of her own if you cannot be there!! Coming from a (newer) Mama, the idea of a weekend getaway sounds heavenly... and North Carolina mountains in the springtime is THE best idea!! Carolina Mornings has a property to fit your mother perfectly, with FREEBIES and packages and specials to match!!
Want a log cabin in the mountains? We have it!! Want a pet friendly retreat because Mama can't leave her four-legged baby? Check!! Want an eco- friendly vacation rental for the conscious Mama? Check them out!! Is it not a vacation for your Mama if she doesn't have a rental with a hot tub? We have that too!!! Whatever she needs, we have, or will do our darndest to provide (we even offer concierge services!!)
Although you don't only have one chance a year to celebrate how great your mother is, Mother's Day is a great time to do it!! And listen to a Mama that knows what Mama's need: get her a weekend getaway (or longer!!) with Carolina Mornings and share it with her if you can; there is NO better gift!!

Cabin Spotlight: A Mountainside Getaway Near Asheville, NC

Mountainside Getaway is a beautiful, 1800 sq. ft log home located just 22 miles north of Asheville, NC in the quaint town of Mars Hill. Mountainside Getaway has three bedrooms and the capacity to sleep eight, so it is a perfect family gathering place where your pets are also welcome! This large cabin has beautiful interiors, which include cedar- lined walls, antique furnishings and modern amenities. And then there are the views... and don't forget the wrap- around deck!!
Mountainside Getaway is only 4 miles from the Appalachian Trail, and there are many trails around the property that are great for mountain biking. A stream across the street provides a perfect place to fish, stocked for the angler in you!
Whether you want to relax in the mountains of North Carolina and never leave the cabin, or have a home- base or your jaunts around town, Mountainside Getaway is great for all occasions. Now through May 26, 2010 you can enjoy discounted rates in this beautiful home. As always with the properties offered at Carolina Mornings, you can enjoy ONE FREE TICKET PER NIGHT'S STAY to area attractions!! Check out all of our specials!

Cabin Spotlight: Find Yourself in the Hidden Pond!!

Hidden Pond is a gem in the not-so-out-in-the-country country: Alexander is only a quick trip to downtown Asheville (20 minutes from the cabin), but feels miles away from the bustle of city life. Hidden Pond is a cabin that can hold up to 8 sleepers comfortably, but is also cozy enough for just two, and a pooch! Many of the properties at Carolina Mornings are pet-friendly properties, and Hidden Pond is no exception. There is a large front porch for Fido to enjoy, with rocking chairs and a swing for you! The back deck area is a great size for a gathering, and it leads to the lower deck where the hot tub sits. Surrounding the area are trees, trees and more trees, and although there are neighbors, you are secluded enough to be in your own world. Wander into the woods out back for a short jaunt with your four- legged friend; Hidden Pond sits on 2.5 acres.
The cabin is comfortably decorated, and the beautiful wood interior provides an atmosphere of cozy mountain retreat. The open floor plan allows for easy sharing, while the bedrooms are closed off for times you may need seclusion (or just want to watch your own T.V. show! Each bedroom has it's own set). A jacuzzi tub in the master suite is perfect for those who want the comforts of the hot tub while bathing, or if you find yourself visiting on a beautiful mountain rainy day!
Hidden Pond is one of our properties offering Spring Specials, but hurry- the offer for 2 FREE BILTMORE TICKETS ends on April 30, 2010!! Don't worry- you can still take advantage of our other specials, and the Mountain Discovery Pass offering FREE TICKETS FOR EVERY NIGHT OF YOUR STAY with any of our properties!!

Cabin Spotlight: In the Treetops in Asheville, NC!!

My first "Property Spotlight" is a pretty spectacular experience, and you really are in the mountain treetops!! Treetops is located only 3 miles from the heart of downtown Asheville and all we have to offer, but feels miles away, upward and beyond!! An added bonus to this close-to-it-all retreat is that Treetops is only a 5 minute commute to the Blue Ridge Parkway!!
This cabin is perfect for you and your honey, whether your honey be a furry four- legged or an upright love! It seems that 3 is a popular number here, as Treetops is quaint and cozy with bedding space meant for 3. Not only is there space for your canine pal, Treetops has amenities just for kids as well: a magical slide and sandbox built into the mountainside, and an outdoor dining area to call their own!
Now through May 26, 2010 Treetops is one of our properties that offers Spring Specials of discounted rates, only to entice you more. Further, as with all of our Carolina Mornings' properties, you receive FREE TICKETS to area attractions with each night of your stay!! You really can't beat it- there's no need to try!!

WNC Spring Herb Festival April 30-May 2 in Asheville, NC

It's the time of year when everything is starting to grow and everyone is talking about it!! WNC is a mecca for plant life, including edible and medicinal herbs. The 21st annual Asheville Herb Festival is taking place next weekend at the WNC Farmer's Market, and as stated on their website there will be 25,000 other herb lovers (besides you!)!! More than 55 businesses will be vending, and according to the site the Festival has the "...Largest selection of herb plants and products anywhere: herbs for cooking, gardening, and medicinal use; herbal soaps, lotions, tinctures, teas, & herbal baked goods, dried herbs & flowers, and herb-related crafts, gifts & books." The Asheville area is known for those well- versed in herbalism, and this Festival is sure to teach you something while giving you a taste of Appalachia.
Check out our SPRING SPECIALS for a great place to stay while sharing in the knowledge and happiness of all things herbal. Carolina Mornings has the perfect place for you!!

Billy Jonas in Asheville, NC April 30

A family favorite is playing in Asheville!! Billy Jonas is joining the Blue Ridge Orchestra for their 10th season grand finale at the Diana Wortham Theatre on April 30. Both Jonas and the Orchestra are considered locals, but it is a rare treat to have them play together. Billy Jonas is known for his family- friendly shows, captivating and entertaining audiences of all ages. Then pair this with our wonderful Orchestra, and who could beat that show??
If you are looking for a great time to bring the family to Asheville for a visit, this last weekend of April would be perfect! We have many NC mountain vacation packages to offer, and great FREEBIES gifted to you for each night of your stay!! Besides your night at the Theatre, you could enjoy rafting on the French Broad River; golf at Reem's Creek; and two different tours of Asheville- ONE FREE TICKET TO EACH for each night of your stay!! Can't beat that- most of your planning is taken care of for you!!! Join us at Carolina Mornings for a relaxing vacation retreat, enjoy a night at the Theatre, and enjoy local attractions for free!!

Weaverville, NC Art Safari weekend April 24-25

Next weekend marks the first of the bi-annual Weaverville, NC Art Safari weekend for all of you art lovers (and who doesn't love art??). Asheville is known as a large art community, and many local artists live in the Weaverville area. So, twice a year they open their studios to the touring public to get a taste of life into NC artist's worlds. This go-round features 41 artists within the Weaverville area, and the brochure is complete with a map to every location for the April 24-25 event.
April is beautiful here in the Asheville area, and this is why they offer the Safari when they do. It is a perfect time to load the car with your kids, pets and gear and head our way for a wonderful weekend getaway!! Carolina Mornings has many beautiful vacation rentals that are pet friendly, and we also offer some really great spring specials! What's best are the FREEBIES you get with each night of your stay!! Come and visit the Asheville area (everybody's doing it, see why!!) and enjoy exploring our artists- in- permanent- residence!

Bark in the Park at Chimney Rock State Park near Asheville, NC

photos courtesy of Chimney Rock website
Chimney Rock State Park is one of the Asheville area gems, granting visitors with 75- mile panoramic views from the top of the monolith called Chimney Rock. Visitors can hike the wilderness and enjoy Appalachian wonders, or have an easier day and take the elevator to the top of Chimney Rock to relax and enjoy the views.
On April 24, Chimney Rock holds the 6th Annual Bark in the Park, a day of fun and festivities for you and your
canine friend. They offer socializing, agility trainings, info booths, and lots more! The park is a pet- friendly park, but during Bark in the Park it is a special day for your furry friends, at no additional cost.
And, Carolina Mornings offers many a pet- friendly vacation rental for you to choose from, some right down the road from Chimney Rock! April is an awesome time of year to visit the Asheville area, so load up the family (don't forget Fido!!) and head this way!!

Asheville Beer City Festival June 5

As Asheville has made Beer City USA... again!! For the second year in a row, the microbreweries in town have warranted the award over other great beer towns such as Portland (our close runner- up). You can join us for a celebration of our delicious brews on June 5 at Asheville's Beer City Festival (click here if you have a Facebook account and want to see the page) in downtown Asheville, on the green. The day will be complete with music, local brews, and many folks celebrating from in and out of town. This is also a great option for those of you who wanted to attend Brewgrass Festival in September but didn't already get your tickets- can you believe that the tickets are sold out??
You can always celebrate Father's Day early and buy a pair for you and Pops- what a great way to spend the day together!!

It's Spring!! The markets are open in Asheville, NC!!

So the Downtown Market is of course open all- year because it is indoors, and one of the fun things is that it is so eclectic: hi-fi coffee bar, a great little joint with the most delicious hot chocolates I've ever tasted; Amazing Savings discount grocer; a growing number of local farmers and food vendors; arts and crafts; and a consignment store, all in one place!!
Asheville City Market has it's opening this Saturday, April 17, coinciding with the Earth Day festival I covered recently, and they are right down the street from each other! A great place to enjoy Spring while meeting many a vendor, sampling and purchasing many a local tasty treat, or handmade goody, or native/ medicinal/ edible plant.
North Asheville Market also opens April 17. This market is Asheville's oldest farmer's market and is held on the campus of UNC-A.
There are plenty more markets in our area; check out the list here.
Spring is a great time to visit Asheville, NC, and when you are here you should definitely get a taste of the town! Asheville has a thriving local foods movement, so grab some tasty treats and head back to your Asheville vacation cabin- aren't you soooo glad you rented a whole house, including a fully- equipped kitchen, rather than a hotel room??!!

Historic Johnson Farm Festival April 24 near Asheville, NC

This year marks the 20 year anniversary of the historic Johnson Farm Festival. Keeping in mind that WNC thrives on the small farms so integral to our community over the years, here is a chance for you to celebrate farming festivities!! Johnson Farm is no longer a farm, but a heritage farm museum that educates and celebrates the farming life. On the property are historic buildings that date back to the 1880's, as well as pasture, fields, streams, woodlands... you get the picture. It is a great place to share with your children "farming in the old days," and discussing how it has changed (or has not, in the matter of many a small farm in this area).
The festival is their biggest fundraising event of the year, so I'm sure they go all out. Wagon rides, storytelling, crafts, animals, music, food... you can make a day of it and the kids will be thrilled! You can sit back and relax in the sunshine and leisurely watch the day go by as the activities whisk your kids along.
Then, you can return for a leisurely evening to your Asheville, NC vacation cabin, cook a good dinner (or stop on your way back!), and relax into the evening. The day is low- energy, and the feeling is goo-ood!! Carolina Mornings offers some great NC vacation packages that can save you money, and we have FREEBIES for every night of your stay! You can't beat a spring trip to Asheville and a stay in a mountain cabin- the kids will love it (and so will you!!)

RELAX!! And get away to Asheville NC

This is the perfect time of year to give yourself permission to just get away from it all and R-E-L-A-X!!! This is also the perfect time of year to visit the mountains- cherry and pear trees are blooming there are buds forming on all the trees and flowers, it is almost time for the dogwoods (they are native to this area you know)... spring is BEAUTIFUL here in Asheville!!! There are also so many things that take place around here- hardly enough time and space in my blogs to cover them all! One of the best things to do this time of year is to get out in the woods!! And if you are feeling the itch to get somewhere and stay put, we have the answer for you! Carolina Mornings offers many a vacation rental, many of which you will find out in the woods, many of which have hiking right out their back (or front) door! These properties with hiking on site give you the best of both worlds: you can retreat into the mountains, disappear into the woods and only have to socialize or see the town if you choose!! No extra driving, no extra stress, no reason to leave unless you want a day or night out on the town! Pick up some groceries as you head to your retreat (or let Carolina Mornings' concierge service do this for you!!) and keep yourself away from it all. Reconnect with yourself, reconnect with your honey, reconnect with nature!
And if you decide that you would like to experience something else that Asheville has to offer, take advantage of the FREEBIES that come with your stay!! We also have some great vacation packages for you to help you save even more money! Come for a visit and give yourself permission to be alone for awhile!!

Asheville Botanical Gardens 50th Anniversary Celebration April 18

One of the gems of the downtown area is the Asheville Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are open from dawn until dusk every day, and are free to the general public. There are trails winding throughout beautiful native flora and fauna, and most of them are wheelchair accessible. Although it feels as if you are further out in the wilderness, the Gardens are located right next to UNC-Asheville and near many of Asheville's historic neighborhoods.
On April 18 the Asheville Botanical Gardens will have a 50th Anniversary Celebration from 2p-5p. This is a great time to visit the Gardens and show support while socializing with a branch of the Asheville community. There will be tours of the garden which will help you become familiar with and spot some of Appalachia's native plants.
April is a beautiful time to visit the Asheville area, and this event is one of many that take place in the spring. If you are looking for a NC mountain vacation package or an Asheville, NC mountain cabin, look nor further than Carolina Mornings! We offer many properties to fit many different niches and needs- just let us know what you are after!! Besides a great place to stay, complete with a full kitchen, many with hot tubs and game rooms, many that are pet-friendly or eco-friendly, Carolina Mornings includes FREEBIES for grat activities around town with every stay! You can't beat the comfort and value, and you can't beat a visit to Asheville in April!

Asheville Earth Day celebration April 17

Asheville, NC is a very eco- conscious town where for many people every day truly is Earth Day! We do celebrate "Earth Day," though, and we do it with a bang!! Asheville's Earth Day celebration is on April 17th this year, and it takes place in Martin Luther King Park (which is, of course, centrally located in downtown, and thus within walking distance to anyone who lives close- Earth Day style). Many of our beloved local bands will be performing at this celebration: one of my favorites, The Afromotive; Acoustic Syndicate; The Pond Farm Pickers and more! And, to top it off, this is a FREE event!!
April is a beautiful time to visit Asheville, NC, and why not celebrate Earth Day by visiting a truly earthy town?? Carolina Mornings has some great eco-friendly mountain cabins
for you to relax in, and we offer some great FREEBIES for activities around town when you aren't at the Earth Day celebration. To complete the deal, we have great NC mountain vacation packages to save you money!! Come and visit for some Springtime fun!

HATCHFest Asheville, April 15-18

Asheville is a hub for all things bohemian and all things artistic and crafty. That is why HATCH Asheville is such a cool thing to check out: the creative potential in this town is explosive, and HATCH helps these flowers bloom and grow. And, as an onlooker to the festivities, you get to celebrate the arts and support these upcoming artists. From fashion to photography to music to film to journalism to architecture, HATCH covers so many different genres of art that you will be anything but bored!
HATCH Asheville takes place the weekend of April 15-18, right when Spring is in full bloom. This means that when you aren't celebrating with HATCH, you can enjoy all of the wonderful activities that the Asheville area has to offer right out your front door and into the mountains!! Check out the list of Asheville, NC cabin rentals that Carolina Mornings offers, and check out our great NC mountain vacation packages. You can relax in your home away from home and get FREE TICKETS for great area attractions to boot! This is a great time to load up the family (we do offer many pet friendly rentals so bring along your furry friend!) and head to Asheville for a wonderful Spring getaway!!