Blue Ridge Parkway: One of Asheville's Treasures

Blue Ridge Parkway

Living in Asheville, a small city, we are so fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful national treasures. We have the  beauty of the natural mountains, acclaimed writers, historic architectural buildings and the largest private home in America.  But for me, the Blue Ridge Parkway is indubitably a prize to honor and respect.   This year, the BRP celebrates 75 year birthday. This gives all of us the opportunity to honor and celebrate one of our country's gem.  Of course the Blue Ridge Parkway has been touted in a myriad of travel publications highlighting fall foliage tours including:  Travel and Leisure  "America's Best Fall Color Drives", Budget Travel adds the BRP to one of "5 Fall Foliage Drives" and Southern Living  features "Secret Spots of the Blue Ridge Parkway".  With with deep gratitude to President Roosevelt for initiating this gift to North Carolina, I hope that all generations will revere this structure as I do and continue to celebrate it's splendor throughout the years.

Southern Living's Best of the South Readers Choice!

Southern Living: Announced their “Best of the South Readers’ Choice Awards” and readers of the magazine recognized these Asheville favorites:

• Best Breakfast or Brunch Restaurant – Moose Café (Placed #9 out of 10)
• Southern Favorite Restaurants – Moose Café (Placed #10 out of 10)
• Best Splurge Restaurants – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #3 out of 10)
• Best Scenic View – Grandfather Mountain (Placed #2 out of 10) and Chimney Rock Park (Placed #3 out of 10)
• Best Public Gardens – Biltmore Gardens (Placed #3 out of 10)
• Best Southern City – Asheville (Placed #8 out of 10)
• Best Hotel – The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Placed #1 out of 10) and the Inn on Biltmore Estate (Placed #8 out of 10)(January 2009)

Southern Living Idea House 2008

One of this year's Southern Living Idea Houses is located 17 miles northwest of Asheville in Whisper Mountain.

EcoBuilders, an Asheville green construction company, built the home with eco-friendly features such as solar thermal and photovoltaic panels, rain water catchment and grey-water systems, radiant floor heating, tankless water heating, recycled metal roofing, and Energy Star appliances. The home was also built with non-toxic, and mostly locally produced building materials.

The house is a 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom modernized farmhouse design, with a detached barn-style structure holding the 2 car garage and large guest suite. For more details on the house, click here. The house will enter the NC real estate market on October 12, and until then it is now open for public viewing.

Hours:
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Admission is $5