Picnic in the Great Outdoors

After hours of outdoor activities in the mountains of Asheville, the best way to refuel your energy is with a delicious and satisfying picnic. Nothing is better than unpacking a picnic basket full of treats after a day of exploring… except, perhaps, the pleasure of eating the treats themselves.

Carolina Mornings’ Concierge Services can provide a custom-designed picnic for any of your outdoor adventures. Whether you plan a romantic getaway in the mountains with your significant other, or a family outing to a waterfall, don’t worry about shopping, packing or hassle - we deliver right to your vacation rental doorstep. Carolina Mornings is here for you to help complete your perfect summer day – call us to set up a picnic today!

White Squirrel Lovin’ Weekend

Brevard’s famous White Squirrels take center stage this Memorial Weekend at the White Squirrel Festival. Voted one of the best spring music festivals in Western North Carolina, this FREE festival boasts headlining bands like Sol Driven Train and Jill Andrews, along with plenty of food and arts & crafts vendors.

Start the day early with a Memorial Day Parade and 5k/10k White Squirrel Race, then relax and mosey around Brevard’s charming downtown and listen to some good music. Plenty of activities both May 28^th and May 29^th. Add this fun filled festival to your vacation repertoire - an easy drive from Asheville and any of Carolina Mornings’ vacation rentals in nearby Hendersonville.

5 Reasons to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in Asheville

Get ready to pack your bags and head to the Blue Ridge Mountains for the official beginning of summer! Carolina Mornings has 5 reasons why you should make this remembrance weekend a fantastic vacation in Asheville:

1. Fine Dining – Whether it’s at one of Asheville’s renowned restaurants or on the deck of your vacation cabin rental, delight in delicious and innovative summer dining made from local and seasonal foods.

2. Outdoor Activities – Hike the trails, swim at a waterfall, or go rafting, golfing, rock climbing, zip-lining and millions of other outdoor activities in Western North Carolina’s perfect summer weather.

3. Summer festivals –Celebrate the summer with the famous Asheville vibe: friendly people, unique fun, and plenty of local music, food, arts and crafts.

4. Music – From the drum circle downtown to the many concerts at all of Asheville’s venues, find music everywhere you go! Enjoy all genres with a wide range of performances this summer.

5. Beer – Asheville is once again America’s No. 1 beer city! Enjoy local brews in the sunshine, refreshing after dinner drinks, or brewery tours made for aficionados. Don’t miss this chance to sample all of the city’s flavors and styles!

Hike the Asheville Urban Trail!

Not all of Asheville’s trails are in the secluded and unexplored wilderness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you are looking for some people-watching, city-bustling, art-loving exercise in the outdoors on your next summer vacation getaway, leave the comfort of your rental for the day and venture on the Asheville Urban Trail. This self-guided tour of downtown lets you appreciate history, art and architecture in the most trendy of settings, as you follow the statues and learn the stories of this small but important city. Close to any of Carolina Mornings’ vacation rentals and cabins – it’s the best way to explore everything downtown has to offer!

May 21, 2011: Historic Montford's Music & Arts Festival

This is the eighth year for the Montford Music & Arts Festival, held May 21, 2011 beginning at 10am. Montford is a wonderful historic neighborhood in Asheville, NC, right at the edge of downtown. The Montford District displays beautiful homes and B & B's, most of these pieces of art preserved by recent renovations, or well on their way. The festival celebrates the tradition of Montford, home to many local artists, musicians, & food artisans. Best of all (for us) the festival is FREE!!

Calling all comic book junkies, May 19-May 21, 2011 FANATICON 2

It's that time of year again for all you sci-fi lovers and comic book junkies: welcome masquerading heroes and villains to Asheville, NC for Fanaticon 2!! The official day for the main festivities this Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 10am-6pm. You can start getting into character Thursday night at 7pm with movies and trivia. Follow that up on Friday (stay your super hero self the whole weekend long!!) at 8:02pm until 11:02pm (if you are interested in this festival, I'm sure you know why we are on the :02's) for party night; get the full schedule here (so sorry we missed the Fanaticon stroll!!). Be sure to make time to check out the artists and vendors as well!

Fiber Weekend at Folk Art's Center, May 14-15, 2011

The Folk Art's Center is part of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 382 (my last entry was about the BRP). Besides the beauty of the regular crafts on display and up for sale, this upcoming weekend the Center hosts a Fiber Weekend. Saturday, May 14 is Fiber Day, a day filled with activities and hands-on demonstrations. Following this day is the 12th Annual Fashion Show of Wearable Art, on Sunday, May 15.

Blue Ridge Parkway

For 469.1 miles in southern Appalachia lies the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America's beloved gems. The headquarters of the BRP are in Asheville, NC, and there is so much scenic beauty in this area of western North Carolina that the BRP explores only a bit (see a map of the Parkway). A visit to the Asheville area will afford you the splendor of what the BRP has to offer, and sooo much more! Begin or end your BRP journey here in Asheville by booking a reservation with Carolina Mornings! We have over 90 vacation rentals and cabins to choose from, and an experience in Asheville is one never to be forgotten.

14th Annual Biltmore/Kiwanis 5k/15k Classic May 15, 2011

Calling runners of all abilities! The 14th Annual Biltmore/Kiwanis 5k/15k Classic takes place May 15, 2011. The 5k begins at 8am, and the 15k begins at 8:05 am; get your running shoes on! The race is held at the beautiful NC Arboretum, and it's a perfect time of year to take in the spring showcase of the Appalachian Mountains!

National Public Gardens Day Friday, May 6, 2011

The National Public Gardens Day is in it's third year, celebrating botanical gardens, arboreta, and all public garden spaces. For you, this means FREE ADMISSION to the Asheville area's beautiful public garden displays: the NC Arboretum, the Botanical Gardens of Asheville, and Blue Ridge Community College's Garden. Celebrate public gardens, and share Mother's Day weekend in botanical splendor!

Check out our Spring Specials at Carolina Mornings!

Here at Carolina Mornings we are always trying to keep up with the times- we want to share upcoming events with you so you are in the know for your trip, we want to share specials with you that match the seasons and help make that trip to Asheville within reach, we want to help with your itinerary so that you can just have fun!! This is a great time to check out the property specials for spring; they include major discounts for booking your stay, free night stays, & free Biltmore Estate tickets! Or, check out our packages and discounts, another great way to enjoy your vacation while saving a few dollars. And then of course is our Mountain Discovery Pass- you get FREE TICKETS to area attractions for each night of your stay. These are just a few of the perks for booking your visit to Asheville, NC with us here at Carolina Mornings!!