Asheville's Downtown After 5

So I already missed the chance to share the first show with you, but don't worry- there are more! Asheville's Downtown After 5 provides 4 more FREE SHOWS in downtown Asheville!! The next hurrah is scheduled to be on June 18, and Drivin' n' Cryin' is playing with Velvet Truckstop, a night of rock n' roll enjoyed in the mountains. Asheville has an interesting mix of people, music, and the like, and this night will be no exception.
Downtown After 5 is put together by the Asheville Downtown Association, a great group of folks that join together to bring Asheville tons of fun! Their mission statement, as taken from their webpage, is as follows:
"...to be a voice of the downtown community and to promote and support quality economic, cultural and residential development of downtown Asheville."

Hip- Hop Kid's style in Asheville, NC

Showing up more and more across town is Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, both kid and adult- cool. The band makes a gallant effort to keep adults happy while appealing to the kids- a hard one to do these days!! I must say, the effort is seen, and whether you are a hip- hop fan or not, you can enjoy the music too! The message is simple, fun and just plain good, and the beats are intricate and fun, making you bob your head even when you've heard it for the 500th time (which Agent 23 Skidoo prides the band in being able to do).
On June 5 they celebrate the Second Annual 23- Ring Circus at The Orange Peel, where you can bump to Skidoo while eating ice cream, playing mini- golf, and getting your balloon monkey all at the same time!! There will also be a circus act by The Runaway Circus, juggling acts by 40 Fingers and a Chipped Tooth, and many a small and large person enjoying the fun! Asheville is overflowing with music and entertainment of all sorts, and this show will surely knock your socks off!

365 Things To Do In Asheville!

Image by Carolina Mornings via Flickr

Starting June 1st, I will be starting my year long crusade at posting 365 things to do in Asheville on our new Facebook Page. Each day, I will post a new special spot, restaurant, attraction in the Asheville area. I am asking for suggestions -please feel free to use the Discussion tab on our Facebook page as a venue to communicate.  I am looking forward to my new venture and invite all of my friends, neighbors, colleagues and visitors, past and present to help me in this endeavor! My biggest immediate concern is "what shall be the 1st post on June 1, 2010"?  Should it be The Biltmore? The Blue Ridge Parkway?  My favorite hike? restaurant?
Looking forward to an exciting year of exploration!

Memorial Day weekend in Asheville, NC- it's not too late!!

Why not take this long weekend to rest and relax at a retreat in Asheville, NC?? A great mountain town with plenty to do and see Appalachian- style, Asheville is known for it's arts and crafts, local food, microbrews (Beer City USA!!), and great outdoor activities. What's better, Carolina Mornings offers a Mountain Discovery Pass for local attractions, free with each night of your stay! Tours, rafting, golf, just to name a few!!
We still have some properties available for the weekend, but hurry- they're filling up fast! Here are a couple of options that were open at the time of writing:
Among the Clouds Getaway: Beautiful cabin in Candler, minutes from Asheville, that sleeps eight.
Annie's Hideaway: For the smaller group, Annie's sleeps three and is located in Leicester.
Bear Wallow Retreat: Sits in Fairview at an elevation of 4000 ft (hint: incredible mountain views!); sleeps six.
Sunset Haven: Sleeping six, Sunset Haven sits in Swannanoa near Warren Wilson College.

















Check our website and give us a call for more options available last- minute here in Asheville, a great place for a weekend (or weeklong!) retreat!!

Summer camps in the Asheville, NC area

Remember summer camp? If you didn't get to go to camp as a kid, remember how cool it sounded when the other kids talked about it?? Either way, why not let your kids experience summer camp, here in the Appalachian Mountains? We are surrounded by a never-ending list of great things to do in the summer, and many of the camps touch on these summer activities.
Terra Summer: Perfect for the Asheville area where growing our own food is a part of our tradition, Terra Summer focuses on having fun with children while teaching them to sustain themselves and feed themselves as was intended. This area is chock full of farms and people who are passionate about caring for their land, their animals, and their bodies. According to the website, "Terra Summer is an experiential, interdisciplinary summer camp for children ages 11-14 (rising 6th graders through rising 9th graders) that revolves around the magical world of food, its cooking and farming."
Mountain Adventure Guides: We are also surrounded by tons of great things to do in the wilderness, and Mountain Adventure Guides has two different camps, one for ages 12- 14 and the other for ages 14- 17. As their website suggests, teens will "explore a cave, climb a mountain, raft a wild river, cook a delicious dinner over a camp-fire and then sleep under the stars!"

Camps by gender: If you want your child to experience the fun of camp while making friendships with those of the same gender, consider a couple of the following camps.
Camp Rockmont: A camp for boys in Black Mountain located on Lake Eden in a beautiful retreat center.
Camp Ton-A-Wandah: A camp for girls in Hendersonville in the mountains of western North Carolina.

We have sooo many other camps in the area; click here for a listing of a few.

Why not take a few days (or the whole week!) for yourself at one of our relaxing mountain vacation cabins?? You surely deserve summer camp, too!!

Cabin Spotlight: Enjoy Pie in the Sky in Burnsville, NC

Now here is a true cabin experience: Pie in the Sky is a cabin of all wood without another house in sight!! With three bedrooms, this house comfortably sleeps six; the bedrooms are inviting and cozy with the warmth of wooden walls. The two acres provides a great place to send the kids when you may need a bit of peace while lounging in the house or hot tub on the deck. Nestled in the trees outside of Burnsville, Pie in the Sky is about 40 minutes from Asheville, giving you a great town to have a day full of fun, then a beautiful, scenic mountain drive to enjoy while returning to your relaxing vacation home. Burnsville is only five miles away for those quick trips to the store, perusing the local mountain galleries, or a visit to the old- fashioned movie theatre. Whatever your plan or enjoyment, Pie in the Sky is a great place to come and enjoy our beautiful Smoky Mountains!

“3 B's for Boobs” Soiree in Asheville, NC

Beauty Through Cancer is a local non-profit which has served those affected by cancer for a full year now. They are celebrating with a fund- raising event called “3 B's for Boobs”- Barbecue, Beer, and Local Bands. This event will be hosted at Highland Brewing Co. on May 27 and is sure to be a great time, all the while supporting this non-profit and help to do some very important work. You not only get to celebrate with purpose, you get to experience some of the great local treats Asheville has to offer: local foods, local beer and local music!! Luella's BBQ, Green Sage, Highland and Catawba Brewing, The Trainwreks, The Honeycutters... this is only to name a few!! Strap on your dancing sandals, tie on the BBQ bib, and come ready to eat, drink and be merry!

Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville, NC!!

Coming up during Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) is the Mountain Sports Festival here in Asheville, NC. This is the tenth year that the festival has been celebrating sports such as climbing, paddling, disc golf, running, and cycling amongst others, and it is known to be a great time for us outdoorsy folks. There are competitions, fun events for kids (besides just watching the cool competitions going on with the adults!), music, demonstrations... the days are packed with fun things to watch and do!
Asheville is the perfect place for such a celebration, as our locale here in the Blue Ridge Mountains provides us with the benefits of...well... so many great opportunities to participate in these great sports! Our town, and those in our immediate vicinity, offer many a hiker- biker- climber- cycler- runner- paddler an amazing adventure, what with the mountains and rivers and all. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, come join the celebration with many other seasoned enthusiasts, then take off into the woods/ go jump in a river!! Carolina Mornings is the place to stay for you enthusiasts as well, for we have many a rental right where all of the action is- no matter where you are intrigued to go in the Asheville area! Check out our property search by feature to find just what you are looking for, or search by location if you'd rather. Come visit the Asheville area, and see why everyone is raving about it!!

Asheville, NC Fanaticon!!

So many things go on here in Asheville, most having to do with music, beer, crafts, and outdoors. Once in awhile we get glimpses into the world outside our unique little town... one such glimpse is taking place Saturday, May 15 from 10- 5 at the Asheville Art Museum: this event is known as Fanaticon. It seems that fanatics of comic books everywhere can join together at the art museum and celebrate comics, and being fanatics! And, other non- fanatics are invited to join in on the fun!! The schedule of events ranges from a pre-party on Friday night to a community theatre showing of Little Shop of Horrors to a costume parade to serious talks/ discussions on becoming a comic booker to the after- party... the day is chock full of events, and if entertainment is what you are after, then you are sure to get it here!!

Cabin Spotlight: Black Bear Cabin In Black Mountain, NC

Enjoy a true mountain experience in Black Bear Cabin, one of our properties of the week. Black Bear Cabin is located in the mountains of Black Mountain, a quaint little town about 25 minutes from Asheville, NC, and it is also only 12 minutes to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Park!! Besides ease of access, Black Bear's great location offers hiking and fishing right outside the door! Enjoy fishing in the creek, or just relaxing to the sounds of the flowing water. Strap your boots on, gear up Fido (yep, this is another of Carolina Mornings' pet friendly rentals!), and wander through the woods!
Black Bear Cabin has much to offer within the property border as well. Bring the family along for the trip, as the cabin sleeps six. Or, make it a romantic weekend getaway with your honey, for you can relax together in the 2- person hot tub and enjoy a little competition at the pool table. There are also 2 fireplaces to get cozy by on those chilly nights, and satellite service provides you with some unwinding with your favorite shows. The kitchen comes fully equipped (as do all of our rentals), and you can enjoy a great summer cook- out with the charcoal grill.
Black Bear Cabin is one of our properties offering SPRING SPECIALS through May 26, and as always enjoy FREE TICKETS TO LOCAL ATTRACTIONS with each night of your stay!

Property Spotlight: Hideaway in a Biltmore Villa in Asheville, NC

This week's third property spotlight is located in historic Biltmore Village, within a 10 minute drive to downtown Asheville, NC. Biltmore Villa Hideaway is a wonderful 2 bedroom retreat that sleeps four, and your furry four- legged friend is welcome as well (some restrictions apply; contact us). The Villa is warm and cozy with upscale furnishings, fitting right in with the feel of Biltmore Village. Being this close to it all has so many perks, and being right in the Village gives you ample time to explore what Biltmore, and Asheville, have to offer! Check out the many restaurants, galleries, boutiques and music venues (with local beer!) right outside your front door. Tour the historic Biltmore House, stop by the winery, and return to your villa to cook a fabulous meal. Or, jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a scenic drive and many picturesque hiking trails. Whatever you do, you will be surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the fun of this quaint mountain town! Give us a call and book your Biltmore Bed and Breakfast Package, or All- Girl Getaway Package, in any of our properties (you get an even better value when staying in the Biltmore Villa Hideaway!) Check out all of our specials for a trip that you will not forget!

Montford Neighborhood Festival in Asheville, NC

Asheville, NC is known for many things, and while visiting I always suggest you take a bit to explore our beautiful, historic neighborhoods. One such neighborhood, right on the edge of town, is the Montford Historic District. Here you will find an array of folks, from old- timers to City Council members to punk- rockers to hippie folk. What you will also find are Ashevillians who love their town and are passionate about their neighborhood and community. A great way to enjoy Montford is to check out our Montford Neighborhood Festival taking place on May 22, rain or shine. You will get to explore this wonderful part of town and enjoy the residents, whether it be through socializing with them or appreciating their music and art. Many of the vendors and performers are also Montford residents, making the festival a full- circle grassroots event.
There is no better way to get to know a town (especially if you are looking to make a move... check out Carolina Mornings for vacation rentals and real estate!) than to enjoy the residents and neighborhoods!

Property Spotlight: Get Posh in Asheville, NC at Studio Lex

Studio Lex is one of the two properties in downtown Asheville that is offered by Carolina Mornings as a vacation getaway for those looking to stay in our upbeat town. A renovated modern loft, Studio Lex offers comfort in an artistic fashion, right in the heart of downtown! Radiant hardwood floors keep you cozy as you snuggle in front of the gas fireplace or flat screen television. Or, cook a meal and relax on the sofa all while watching your favorite show- this studio has an open floor plan where you and your honey can hang out together no matter what you want to do. This is a great property for 1 or 2, and as with many of our properties, Studio Lex is a pet- friendly rental!
Now through May 26, 2010, you can enjoy a savings of $70+ for your stay- part of our Spring Specials!! Studio Lex also offers a Romantic Getaway Package: stay 3+ nights and receive a complimentary lunch for two at Bistro 1896; stay a week or longer and receive a complimentary dinner for two! Check out our other offers: FREE TICKETS to area attractions and more!
Lexington Ave. is known for it's boutiques, galleries, and the LAB, one of Asheville's many local breweries that opened recently. Come for a visit and see why everyone just loves Asheville, NC!!

Property Spotlight: Get Away to the Downtown Loft in Asheville, NC

This week's featured property listings are for our city dwellers: all three are getaways right in the town of Asheville. To start, we have Asheville's Downtown Loft, right in the heart of downtown Asheville. This loft is wisely separated into separate sleeping areas for sleeping a total of 6, while keeping the open atmosphere of studio space. You can enjoy cooking meals from your fully- equipped kitchen, or walk right up the street to any number of incredible locally- owned restaurants. Don't forget that Asheville was named Beer City USA in 2009!! We have soooo many great breweries in town, and most of our local restaurants support these breweries, bringing their brew to you while dining wherever your heart desires! Quaint enough for you and your honey, or enough space for the family, Asheville's Downtown Loft shares a great experience. And, it's one of our pet friendly rentals here at Carolina Mornings, so be sure to bring along your furry friend!
Until May 26, if you stay at Asheville's Downtown Loft for 2+ nights, you get your third night for only $75! We are also sharing discounted rates for all of 2010!! We have many specials to share, and with all of our rentals we give FREE TICKETS TO AREA ATTRACTIONS!