Top Five Asheville Activities for Fourth of July

Celebrate your patriotism in Asheville, NC, with ol' time favorites like fireworks and baseball, parades and antique cars. Experience a mountain vacation like no other, surrounded by the Blue Ridge peaks and classic American traditions!

Asheville Celebrates with Fireworks and Baseball

1. Fireworks! -
Asheville's downtown Fourth of July Celebration festivities center around Park Square Park with live music, old-fashioned games, and a variety of food from area vendors. The spectacular fireworks show begins at 9:30 and is visible from anywhere downtown or on surrounding mountain peaks. Look for the crowds and you'll know where the best viewing spots are to be found.

2. Tourist Baseball Game -
The baseball and fireworks double feature is an Asheville staple. The game begins at 7:00 at McCormick Field downtown -- the Asheville Tourists are playing the Augusta Greenjackets. For those that don't have tickets, it's an Asheville tradition to tailgate all day, eat BBQ, and listen to the game on the local radio.

3. Antique Car Show -
The annual Mountaineer Antique Auto Car Show runs from June 29-July 1 at the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center near the Asheville Airport. If you're in town a few days early for the holiday week, this is a show you won't want to miss -- it'll take you back and drive you home!

Kids Love Brevard's Bicycle Parade

4. Heart of Brevard -
Take a short drive to Brevard, where they block off the downtown streets and let the Fourth of July festivities take over for the whole day! It starts off with the 5K/10K Firecracker Run. The Annual Fine Arts & Craft Showcase features unique wares at artisan booths and the Classic Automobile Show includes several blocks of vintage vehicles. The Bicycle Parade and All-Star Pet Show are favorites for the kids. Day-long musical entertainment takes place on the Community Gazebo in the middle of town and, of course, the whole shebang tops off with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

5. More Fireworks! -
Dozens of neighboring towns have firework displays for the 4th, including Black Mountain, Cherokee, Hendersonville, Maggie Valley, and Franklin. Old Fort hosts an afternoon parade. It's a good excuse to get out and explore WNC!

Carolina Mornings has dozens of mountain vacation rental cabins available for the Fourth of July holidays. Many of them are pet-friendly vacation rentals and there's a wide range of locations to choose from. Give us a call today and we'll find the perfect one for you and yours to celebrate. Experience the luxury of the mountains!

An Asheville Tour with a Twist: LaZoom and Carolina Mornings Join Forces to Bring You an Unbeatable Deal

LaZoom is no ordinary bus tour of scenic Asheville. What makes LaZoom bus tours so "historical and hysterical"?

Sister Bad Habit Rides Through Asheville

The purple bus: You can't miss it. It's a moving Asheville landmark... when the LaZoom bus streaks its purple cheer through town every day, bystanders stop and wave. Locals, tourists, and kids all love the purple bus!

The comedy troupe: Not only is the LaZoom bus tour full of Asheville information, it also features outlandish comedy skits by irresistible slapstick comedians that will knock your socks off with laughter!

The bicycle riding nun: Known as Sister Bad Habit, she's an Asheville icon, a local legend, a sight to be seen! You haven't had the Asheville experience until you find yourself pointing and laughing at the bicycle riding nun!

Haunted tours: Is there a Ghost Hunter in your group? Nighttime adult-only haunted tours are touted as being "real stories, real scary, real campy!"

Highjinks with the LaZoom Troupe

B.Y.O.B. bus tours: This is, after all, Beer City USA. Grab your favorite brew and bring it on the bus with you!

Get on the bus and experience the hilarious side of Asheville! Carolina Mornings has teamed up with LaZoom to offer free tickets to all of our guests. One free admission ticket is yours for each paid night of your stay in a Carolina Mornings vacation rental cabin.

This unbeatable deal is a new addition to the Mountain Discovery Pass, which also includes free admission to Reems Creek Golf Club, French Broad Rafting Expeditions, and Scenic Wolf Ski Resort. It pays to be a guest of Carolina Mornings; you can't get these kinds of deals at an Asheville hotel! Give our Vacation Planners a call today and make your reservations for the mountain vacation of a lifetime!

Ten Kid-Friendly Items to Bring Along on Your Asheville Mountain Vacation

When you're packing up the car to head for Asheville, North Carolina, throw in these family-fun essentials to keep the kids entertained:

Make a Splash at Tree Tops

1. A hiking stick to bring along on waterfall-seeking adventures.

2. A camera for capturing memories of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

3. Inflatable pool toys for your family's stay at Treetops, Great Escape, Windswept Retreat, or any of the Scenic Wolf Resort vacation cabins, all of which have a pool!

4. A frisbee to toss around Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville.

5. A bathing suit for taking a dip in the hot tub at any one of these mountain cabin rentals.

6. A silly costume for Belle Chere, the Southeast's largest street and music festival that takes place in Asheville every July.

7. The family dog, welcome at dozens of Carolina Mornings vacation rental cabins.

You're Invited to Relax on the Porch at CarlWallow

8. A mason jar for catching lightning bugs.

9. A baseball glove for bonding time playing catch in the yard of your vacation rental.

10. Smiles! It's easy to let go of your worries when you wake up to a spectacular mountain view.

Offering the premiere selection of vacation homes in the area, Carolina Mornings has Asheville NC cabins in a wide range of locations, from in-town convenience like The Starnes House, to mountaintop luxury like CarlWallow. Call a Vacation Specialist today to plan your perfect family vacation!

Asheville Wins Beer City USA for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Asheville has won the Beer City USA title for the fourth year running, perfectly timed on the verge of the first annual Asheville Beer Week, an eleven day celebration beginning on May 24th. After winning outright for a few years, our North Carolina mountain town tied with Grand Rapids, Michigan, in this year's online poll.

A Busy Night at Asheville's LAB

An abundance of microbreweries
Every kind of brewery, from artsy small businesses like The Wedge to bar-centric breweries like Lexington Avenue Brewery call Asheville home. There's organic high-gravity brews at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, and tasty canned beers at Asheville Brewing Company. In the big business category, Highland Brewing Company will soon be joined by New Belgium, America's third largest craft brewer, which plans to build a $175 million facility in the River Arts District, and Sierra Nevada, the nation's number two craft brewer, which will build a regional brewery in South Asheville.
Eleven days of beer
Asheville Beer Week celebrates everything beer and beer-related that this scenic Blue Ridge destination has to offer. And that's a lot. Events take place each day at many different locations, and the week culminates at Asheville's third Beer City Festival in Pack Square downtown on June 2nd. The schedule for Beer Week reads like a dream come true for beer lovers, with events ranging from seminars with beer celebrities to gourmet dinners to a home brew competition.

The Asheville Brewing Company Theater Gets Funky

Get to know Asheville by drinking beer
Beer tourism is on the rise in Asheville. A vacation here welcomes you to not only drink beer, but also to enjoy the fabulous views of the surrounding mountains as you sample brews, visit local bars that specialize in pouring local brews on tap, buy homebrewing supplies, and take home a collection of microbrewery pint glasses. Bus rides are even available for those who want the whirlwind tour! Come to Asheville and see for yourself what the fuss is all about.
If you'd like to get a taste of Beer City USA's delicious microbrews, let Carolina Mornings help you arrange your Asheville vacation. With dozens of luxury vacation rental cabins to choose from, Carolina Mornings has the area's premiere selection to choose from. Call our Vacation Planners today to discover which one is perfect for your group!

We're Hiring in Asheville, North Carolina

Forbes.com has selected Asheville as one of America's "2012 Best Cities for Job Growth." Asheville has been ranked number 13 in a recent study of 91 medium-sized cities, defined as regions with employment of 150,000 to 450,000. In Forbes.com's “all cities” category, consisting of 398 metropolitan areas, Asheville ranked number 75, standing firmly in the top quarter. These ranking placements are up from 2011, signifying economic stability and consumer confidence.

A Positive Outlook
Asheville owes this employment trend to several favorable factors, among them growth in eco-tourism, healing arts, and the hospitality industry. A world-recognized destination for tourists seeking the best of luxury vacationing and outdoor recreation, Asheville is a welcoming mountain town with a remarkably beautiful surrounding landscape.

Asheville Ranked #13 by Forbes.com

Economic Growth
Boasting significantly lower unemployment rates than the national and state average, Asheville is currently enjoying a 20-year high in affordable housing and manufacturing jobs. This includes a boost in construction positions, particularly for energy-efficient homes being built by local building companies.

Experience the Luxury of the Mountains
These positive trends help everyone, from longtime locals who are rebuilding their financial well-being to relocating families who are attracted to Asheville's wealth of quality neighborhoods, educational opportunities, and amenities. Plan a vacation in Asheville and see for yourself why this Blue Ridge Mountain town is in such favor. Call Carolina Mornings to arrange your visit with luxury vacation rental cabins and discounted tickets to area attractions.

Dad Deserves a Dream Vacation: Spend Father's Day in Asheville

Just the idea of adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains makes Dad's eyes light up. Hiking, golfing, and rafting await him in the wilds surrounding Asheville, while fine dining and top-notch entertainment are discovered around every corner in our welcoming mountain town. Give Dad the gift of Asheville this Father's Day and make memories that the whole family will treasure.

Gorgeous Golfing at Reems Creek

The Mountain Discovery Pass is Dad's Free Ticket to Adventure
A Carolina Morning's luxury vacation rental will give Dad not only the opportunity to spend quality time with the kids at a premiere mountain cabin, each rental also comes with the complimentary Mountain Discovery Pass. This vacation rental perk provides one free ticket per night to adventures that Dad will love, including Reems Creek Golf Club, French Broad Rafting Expeditions, and LaZoom bus tours of Asheville.

It's Tee Time, Bring Along Your Clubs
Reems Creek Golf Club, located in Weaverville, North Carolina, is a par-72 course with varying elevations test a that golfer's skill and simultaneously explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was designed by Hawtree & Sons, a firm that is known for their Scottish design influence. Regularly awarded Four Stars in Golf Digest's "Places to Play," the beautifully manicured course at Reems Creek will challenge and delight Dad.

"A City Tour With A Twist": Get on the Bus
Doesn't Dad deserve a good laugh? LaZoom offers bus tours of Asheville that will have the whole family cracking up! The professional comedians that make up the LaZoom troupe are renowned for making the purple bus shake with good cheer while showing folks the best of Asheville. If Dad fancies himself a ghost hunter, there's also a "Haunted Tour," which of course is more funny than fright.

Get Dad Laughing on the LaZoom Bus

Give Carolina Mornings a call to find the perfect Asheville vacation rental cabin for your family. Our experienced Vacation Planners will help you choose from dozens of luxury mountain vacation rental homes, in locations ranging from mountaintop destinations to convenient in-town neighborhoods. Father's Day is only a month away, call Carolina Mornings today!

Relax your Stress Away at Tree Tops Retreat

Tree Tops Private Pool

Tree Tops is the best of both worlds: indoor luxury and the ultimate in outdoor relaxation. Located in a quiet, neighborhood setting, you can relax in the hot tub overlooking the breathtaking mountain landscape while you let the kids enjoy the private pool.

On a hot summer day you can enjoy the shaded patio complete with a mini-fridge and a massage table!

 

Tree Tops Mountain View

The Blue Ridge Mountain views at Tree Tops are outstanding - enjoy the panoramic scenery from all three levels! Cook up a feast grilled on the deck and eaten at the picnic table, or prepare a gourmet meal inside where the modern kitchen is stocked with everything you'll need. There's natural light throughout the home, giving it a warm, sunny feeling inside. You'll sleep soundly with the gentle patter of rain on the tin roof and wake up to fresh mountain air. With this home's two acres providing plenty of privacy, you can enjoy your morning coffee poolside in your pajamas!

Tree Tops is an idyllic getaway, professionally landscaped and including a water feature to help create a relaxing atmosphere. The circular driveway gives easy pull-up and drive-through access, and the first floor master suite is handicap accessible. Conveniently located only two miles from downtown Weaverville, one mile from Lake Louise, and seven miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Tree Tops is the perfect spot for making memories to last a lifetime.

Call us today to book your Memorial Day Getaway at Tree Tops!

Three Asheville Microbreweries that Get You Up Close and Personal with the Beer Brewing Process

It's officially Beer Week in Asheville from May 24th through June 3rd, culminating in the third annual Beer City Festival, and there's a long list of events. If you're looking to jump right in on the business of brewing anytime of the year, check out these Asheville microbreweries.

Live Music at Craggie Brewery's Public House 

1. Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC -
Specializing in making handcrafted, certified organic beers, Pisgah is a no-frills brewery with a friendly brewpub that's in the middle of all the action. The brewery is located in a warehouse, and even while you're hanging out in the pub area, which has a rustic bar and outdoor fire pit area, you'll feel like you're a part of the action. Enjoy the sweet, warm smell of roasting hops, meet the staff, and taste some of the best local craft beer that the Asheville area has to offer.

2. Highland Brewing Company in East Asheville, NC -
If you want to witness microbrewing on a large scale, visit Highland, just off of Exit 8 in East Asheville. Guided tours of the brewery run all week; Thursday through Saturday afternoons, the tap room is serving up frothy brews straight from the lines. This is big time brewing with a small town attitude!

The Tap Wall at Pisgah Brewing Company

3. Craggie Brewing Company in Downtown Asheville, NC -
The Public House at Craggie Brewery, located off of Hilliard Avenue, is a hometown brewery offering live music and fresh beer Wednesday through Saturday, and it all takes place in the shadow of the fermentation tanks. Meet the brewmaster and enjoy a session beer from their signature Willibecher beer glass, sold at a discount if you bring in a donation to the local food bank.

While you're visiting Beer City USA, give Carolina Mornings a call. Offering Asheville's premiere vacation rental cabins with concierge service, Carolina Mornings has specials and discounted tickets to the area's hottest attractions. Call today to book your luxury mountain vacation rental!

Memorial Day Weekend: Enjoy it Among the Clouds

Among the Clouds Front Porch

Memorial Day is right around the corner. What better way to enjoy the long weekend than with a family getaway. Among the Clouds, a recently-constructed (2003) one-level luxury mountain cabin nestled in the beautiful Pisgah National Forest will have you enjoying some great family time “among the clouds.” This high-elevation setting offers unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge and pristine privacy.

Rocking chairs on the broad front porch invite you to savor the highland afternoons. The comfortable and friendly interior has all the comforts of home, including hardwood floors, a full kitchen and plenty of space.

Among the Clouds View

Take the kids exploring through the Pisgah National Forrest and maybe you’ll recognize some of the settings from the recently release Hunger Games.  Or use our Mountain Discovery Pass to enjoy some of the areas attractions like golf and whitewater rafting. The MDP comes with every rental and gives you one free ticket for one person each full day of your rental.

Don’t wait! Give Carolina Mornings a call. We can help you plan your perfect family getaway with one of our luxury Asheville vacation rentals!

Get Swept Away at Windswept!

View from the deck

Summer is almost here, school is almost out, isn’t it time for a wonderful family vacation to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains?  Extend your stay and revel in the relaxation at Windswept Retreat, a monthly rental that offers both convenience and a feeling of mountaintop seclusion. This luxury condo provides a home away from home with comfortable furnishings, central air conditioning, and a fully equipped kitchen. Plus, there's wireless internet and cable TV to keep you entertained on nights that aren't spent enjoying Asheville's renowned restaurants and nightlife.

 

Community pool

Windswept Drive Condominiums are on Beaucatcher Ridge, with year-round east and west views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and winter views of downtown Asheville from the deck. This furnished two-bedroom condominium is on the ground floor of the building, and is located just next to the community pool. Enjoy mountain views while you lounge poolside! A gas grill in the pool area is available for guest use.

Let Carolina Mornings help you simplify with a relaxing family vacation!

Help Asheville Become the "Most Beautiful Small Town in America"

USA Today and Rand McNally are hosting a "Most Beautiful Small Town in America" contest and Asheville needs your votes. 

Each year, the Road Rally follows Road Rally Teams as they visit towns that are nominated in one of five categories. Following the Road Rally adventure is an trip in itself, providing pictures, stories, and reviews of some of America's most scenic areas.

If you've ever been to Asheville, you know without convincing why this Blue Ridge Mountain destination is worthy of 2012's "Most Beautiful Small Town in America" title.
If you haven't visited to Asheville, come see for yourself why our town recently won the About.com poll for “Most Romantic Destination in the U.S. & Canada.” Carolina Mornings can help you plan your Asheville adventure with discount tickets for area attractions and the region's premiere selection of luxury vacation rental cabins.

To help Asheville win a Best of the Road award, follow this link to visit the nomination page. Vote for the "Most Beautiful" category and we're one step closer to receiving this coveted title. Voting ends on May 15th, so get your vote in today!

LEAF Festival Brings a World of Arts and Culture to Black Mountain, North Carolina

With attractions ranging from square dancing to a Juried Arts Fair to a world-renowned poetry slam, Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in Black Mountain, North Carolina, has discoveries and delights for the entire family. This music and arts festival takes place each spring and fall, and is coming up soon - May 10 through 13, 2012.

Here's a few reasons you'll want to take a vacation and head to Black Mountain for LEAF:

1. Fun for the whole family, with part of the 600-acre site dedicated solely to kids' activities you can keep them laughing all day.

2. Music and dancing from around the world, from blues legend Taj Mahal to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a New Orleans staple. Take a whirl around the dance floor with that special someone.

3.Cultural and artistic inspiration in an idyllic mountain setting.

4. Swimming, canoeing, zip-lining, hiking, dancing, dancing, dancing!

5. A Healing Arts Area with experts who specialize in the nourishment of your body and soul.

6. Gourmet international food vendors, with all food prepared fresh on site and over 20 culinary vendors, from vegetarian fare to locally brewed beer.

Day tickets are available for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, with free passes for kids under 10 and discounts for kids under 18. For more information on booking a mountain vacation cabin during LEAF festival, call Carolina Mornings.