September 23, 2012

Leaf Peeping and the Biltmore Concert Series: A Spectacular Autumn Getaway in Asheville, NC

Imagine your first vacation day in Asheville starts like this, with a leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at an overlook on top of Mount Pisgah. The breeze up here is chilly enough to warrant wearing a sweater, and the mountain air smells crisp as apples. The valley below is painted in shades of orange, red, and gold, an autumn quilt of treetops.

You stop in at the Pisgah Inn Dining Hall, the "The Peak of the Parkway," and savor a snack of Southern Corn Fritters and Fried Green Tomatoes, taking a couple of chilled wraps for later. As you make your way back down through the tunnels leading to Asheville, you look forward to a romantic evening at the Biltmore Estate.

Past the Biltmore gate, as you wind along the road that explores the 8,000-acre grounds, you snap a few photos of a willow tree leaning over a pond covered in floating red maple leaves. A formal garden striped with colorful chrysanthemums makes the perfect backdrop for your picnic at dusk.

On a relaxing after-dinner stroll, you discover the aromatic Italian Garden, and note how carefully designed the Biltmore grounds are, thanks to Frederick Law Olmsted, famed for his landscaping at Central Park and Niagara Falls. Finally, it's time to find your reserved seats for the show.

The concert starts on a high note, and the setting sun turns the sky pink with streaks of purple over the mountains peaks that surround the South Terrace. Just as the band begins to play your favorite song, you wonder if this is paradise. A twinkle from the evening's first star confirms that this must be paradise indeed.

The same thought comes to you again hours later as you pull up to your vacation cabin, a conveniently located Carolina Mornings rental home that is a welcome luxury after a long day. Settling into in a remarkably comfy chair in front of the fireplace, you sip a steaming mug of apple cider with cinnamon and recall the day's events.

You'll sleep soundly tonight. As a way to thank your loved one for such a wonderful vacation, you decide that in the morning you'll cook a big breakfast in the cabin kitchen, then serve it on the back deck where you can enjoy the long-range views. What will day two in the Blue Ridge Mountains bring?

Each autumn, The Biltmore Estate treats visitors to an exciting line-up of memorable concerts. The 16th Annual Biltmore Concert Series for Fall 2012 is:

September 28 - The Lettermen
October 5 - David Cassidy in Concert
October 12 - Mary Wilson of the Supremes
October 19 - Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers

Call Carolina Mornings today to take advantage of specials such as discounted Biltmore Estate tour tickets and the Mountain Discovery Pass, which includes free tickets for golfing at Reems Creek, whitewater rafting, a comedy bus tour of Asheville, and skiing at Scenic Wolf Resort.

Carolina Mornings, the area's premiere provider of luxury vacation rentals, offers concierge service and dozens of Asheville cabins, many of them pet-friendly. Our Vacation Planners are ready to help you discover paradise. Your Spectacular Autumn Getaway in Asheville, NC awaits!

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