Properties for the intimate gathering in Asheville, NC

In my last blog I shared with you a few of Carolina Mornings' properties that are closest to Asheville and suited for large family gatherings. This time I want to share with a few of the properties closest to town, best suited for a couple or a small family.
Bull Creek Cottage is a perfect place for a couple who love a home-away-from-home with a cabin feel. Nestled into the trees, this small cottage gives you the feeling of peace and serenity that the mountains bring (it also overlooks pasture), but it is only 15 minutes outside of Asheville. Some of the other great features are a wood stove, a hot tub and you can bring along your furry friend!
Rainbow Ridge is a great property for 4 people or less, and is also located just 15 minutes outside of Asheville. This is a beautiful, authentic log cabin (won't your kids be excited??!) that has beauty and comfort interwoven together. This cabin also shares the great amenities of having a fireplace, a hot tub, and allows those furry members of your family to join you!
Biltmore Villa Hideaway is the kind of place you are looking for if you want to be in the mix of things. Right in the heart of Biltmore Village, everything is very close at hand. The beautiful furnishings of this condominium provide ample comfort for your away-from-home stay (including space for Fido), and it also comes complete with a fireplace.

Keep in mind that I have randomly chosen these properties to share- Carolina Mornings has much, much more! If you have certain needs/ restrictions, then please just give us a call and we are more than happy to help you find your perfect getaway. That is exactly what we are here for!!

Properties for family gatherings in Asheville NC

(photo is of our property name Hidden Pond, which sleeps eight)

I want to share with you some of the properties that Carolina Mornings offers that are great for family gatherings, say for parties of eight or more, that are also close to Asheville! There are other properties available that are further out if your family is looking for a more secluded retreat, away from it all. Check out our property search where you can choose from many different options to find the property perfect for your getaway.
Elkhorn Cabin is only five miles outside of Asheville, but so close to hiking within the Blue Ridge Parkway that you will feel further out. This property sleeps nine, and it is full of amenities for your retreat.
Blue Moon Lodge offers a setting like no other, complete with the latest of technological amenities. Sleeping 14, this truly is a lodge, and the eco- friendly elegance is unbeatable. You will find such a feeling of peace and serenity in this retreat that you may find it hard to leave! If you do get out and about, you are basically equidistant to the excitement of downtown or the beauty of the western North Carolina mountains.
Eagle's Landing has the best of all worlds: close enough to Asheville (15 minutes away) but on 7 secluded acres! Sleeping eight, this property offers a hot tub, a fireplace, and incredible views! And let the whole family enjoy a vacation- this property also allows your pets to visit with you!!

No matter what you are looking for in a family gathering place, Carolina Mornings has the right property for you! Give us a call and we can help point you in the direction you are looking for!

Dancin' for Haiti in Asheville, NC

There are so many benefits for Haiti going on around the country, which is awesome to see! Here in Asheville we've had quite a few ourselves, and more still around the corner.
-One of the benefits to come is "Dancing for Haiti," held at Evergreen Community Charter School on Sunday, Feb. 28 from 330-530pm. A great thing about this benefit is that it is fun for all ages while raising money for an important cause: gather with others to donate money to SOIL while learning how to dance Latin- style!! There will be several Zumba instructors helping out while everyone boogies down, and the event is raising money to help SOIL with their projects in Haiti before, during and after the earthquake (they have been working together, and with Haiti, since 2006).
-Also on Sunday Feb. 28 is Haitipalooza, an all ages show at 9pm at The Orange Peel. Local bands like Yo' Mama's Big Fat Booty Band and Asheville Horns will be providing the music, you provide the dancing. All proceeds benefit Haiti relief through Planting Peace and Mutual Aid Disaster Relief.

Come and visit Asheville, let Carolina Mornings find a home away from home fit for you, and share in our local relief efforts for those in dire need.

It's almost wedding season in Asheville, NC! Part II

Yesterday I covered a few places to look when deciding on where to enjoy your wedding celebration. Now I want to share ideas on some of the wedding memorabilia.

For an amazing guest book, or a place to jot ideas/ keep your memories, A. Fain Books is the best place in town (or in many towns, in my opinion). Her handmade journals and books are beautiful and memorable in and of themselves, and then to add your memories makes one a keepsake of a lifetime.
For flowers, check out Fisher Branch Farm, locals that grow and sell beautiful bouquets around here at our markets. There is also Shady Grove florist in downtown Asheville, with a nice storefront for you to get ideas.
Mmmm, and then the cake... there are so many smaller bakers around here I can't even begin to list them! For some of the better known bakeries, check out Short Street Cakes; The Bake Shoppe; Asheville Cake Company; and Cakes by Jane.

I want to reiterate how wonderful a property with Carolina Mornings will fit into your WNC wedding celebration: the properties are beautiful, fully equipped, very affordable (especially for housing quite a few family members!!) and complete with options for your guests to relax and enjoy all things celebratory!! Check out our specials area to get an idea of what we offer above and beyond just a couple night's stay!

It's almost wedding season in Asheville, NC!! Part I

I was reminded of how close we are to spring here in Asheville by a) the great glimpse of warmer weather we have, and b) the local free paper offering their wedding edition. I thought I'd offer my own take on a wedding edition...
First, I'll start by saying that Carolina Mornings is the perfect accompaniment to a wedding here in Asheville!! What better way to house all of the guests that will be attending than renting a beautiful retreat (or two!) for everyone to relax in and enjoy while not attending your big event?? There isn't a better way, if you ask me! Many of the homes come with wonderful luxuries, such as state-of-the-art entertainment systems, hot tubs, game rooms, hiking trails... all of this on top of super cozy bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens. Then there are the freebies for all to enjoy. In fact, why not find the perfect celebration spot for you and your honey for after the festivities??
The Asheville area provides the ideal locale for any preferred wedding festival: there are plenty of secluded, low-key, small wedding spots (I've even been to a camping wedding here that was awesome! Beautiful, intimate, and everyone hung out for a week, camping together). Check out sites within Pisgah National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway or Hot Springs (and these are only a few- there are many!!), or something like Hawk and Ivy. For a more formal affair, check out such spots as listed here in Asheville Bridal, The Grove Park Inn, or Biltmore.
Then there is the "stuff" of the event... For a knock- out dress that will wow everyone and support a local, check out Ship to Shore (this woman is amazing!!), or contact the designers at Spiritex.
Stay tuned for my next entry, which covers the ins and outs of wedding decor and all things wedding.

Springtime is in the air in Asheville, NC!

So the winter has been any icy and snowy mix, giving us more of this frozen precipitation than the area has seen in a very long time. This is great for many things: snow- capped mountain views; skiing at Wolf Ridge (and Carolina Mornings gives a free lift ticket to the resort in the winter, as well as other freebies, with every night of stay!!); sledding around town; sitting by a fireplace in a cozy mountain retreat; relaxing in a hot tub with snow falling around you; ice climbing; snow hiking... there really is a lot to do in and out of the snow during a wintertime visit to Asheville.
This weekend, however, we are experiencing beautiful blue skies and temperatures warm enough to galavant around in only one layer of clothing!!! This glimpse of spring reminds me how close we are, and how much fun there is to be had in warmer weather! So I have a few ideas to share...
1. Take advantage of our winter specials; most end March 31, and there are some really great deals!
2. Remember that we love your four-legged friends!! Many of our properties are pet- friendly, and the Asheville mountains have soooo many trails for you and your furry companion to play together!
3. Go ahead and plan your springtime getaway and be sure to get the vacation retreat that you want! The sooner you reserve, the more choices you have. And your furry friend would love to play with you in Asheville's springtime outdoors!!
4. There is always soooo much going on in the Asheville area come springtime!! I post on some events, and if you need some fun time sometime soon, look into what goes on here.
5. You can have a getaway and save money!!!! Staying in one of Carolina Mornings' properties provides you with a whole house, which can be shared with others (you can split the cost!!); a fully- equipped kitchen, so you can prepare meals and not spend so much on eating out; a pet- friendly retreat, so you don't have to pay a petsitter; many free and really fun outdoorsy things to do...

Come and enjoy the last of our winter fun and specials, or start planning your trip for the upcoming spring! The last thing you will ever do is regret a visit and stay in Asheville!!

5 Reasons to Come to Asheville, NC in the Winter: Reason #4 Organic Growers School

So I'm cutting it close, but March 6 & 7, 2010 is still considered winter, and the Organic Growers School
is one of my favorite events held here in Asheville (check out my past winter blogging for reasons 1-3)! The weekend is a gathering of growers young and old, from near and far, to learn and celebrate growing and harvesting your own food. I have been the last two years and find it not only informative, but lots of fun!
Classes range over many topics, such as Growing Communities Through Gardens, Soil Ecology 101 and Down to Earth Biodynamics- there is so much to learn here, even for the seasoned gardener, that it is definitely worth your while. There is a weekend pass available, or you can pay by the day. To top it off, there is childcare! Tasty food is sold by local vendors, products ranging from books to seeds to trowels are available for purchase, and many very kind and knowledgeable people are present for some great talks. The School has grown so much over the years that this is the first time it will actually be held in Asheville, at UNC-A (in the past it was held in Hendersonville at Blue Ridge CC). This makes for a perfect venue- large enough to hold all of the participants, and close to all of the fun you can have afterward in Asheville proper.
To add to it all, Carolina Mornings is offering a discount to all School participants: $35 off of any property that is not already having a special, and we are waiving the early check-in/ late check-out fee for the event (as long as there is no schedule conflict)!! Not to mention our other winter specials, which can be utilized for the School weekend! And, then there are the freebies!! This really is a perfect weekend to bring the family and enjoy Asheville!

Local Art Galleries and Shows in Asheville, NC

It is a great time of year to come and visit Asheville, NC!! One great reason is that you can take advantage of many winter specials when staying with Carolina Mornings in a beautiful mountain retreat. Another is to check out indoor ventures around town (in addition to getting out and playing in the snow!). There are some great shows happening at art galleries around town, and I wanted to mention a few.
At American Folk Art and Framing, they are having their 6th Annual Miniatures Show. Artists of non-academia present small works in acrylic, wood block, clay and more. This show runs through Feb. 28.
Amongst other current showings, Blue Spiral 1 gallery has Cups From Hand to Hand, a showing of sixteen artists working with my favorite medium, clay. This exhibit presents a great way to share in your love of art and travel- you can take home a small piece of artwork from Asheville and use it everyday!! Showing through March 21.
Through April 4, Grovewood Gallery hosts Women in Wood, an exhibit honoring the women craftfolk that work with wood. I love this idea because much of the time when we see artist's expressing themselves with wood, they are men. This exhibit honors the many women that love to carve or turn wood, which I find very inspiring!!
Not that these are the only galleries or shows to see in Asheville- I just wanted to give you a taste. Come see for yourself why Asheville is an arts and crafts dream, and let Carolina Mornings host your stay! It will surely be a piece of art!!

Asheville's Arts & Crafts Antique Show and Conference

Every year since 1988, hundreds flock to the Arts and Crafts Antique Show and Conference at The Grove Park Inn. Not only do they love the exhibitors and spokespeople, they love the feeling of GPI, as it is representational of the tradition. In a day and age where most everything is built with the ideas of the least amount of money and the least amount of time, it is a breath of fresh air to surround yourself with artistic beauty and craftsmanship and take a break from all things, well, cheap. The Arts and Crafts Movement is said to have its roots in a search for authentic art for the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution had taken over artisan and craftmanship, and many people were searching for "life" within their homes- within the building and furnishing of the place they held so dear. The conference this year is held next weekend, Feb. 19-21, and of course is a great place for the whole family.
What's more, you can start by enjoying a craftsman- style getaway in a vacation rental from Carolina Mornings. Our homes are beautiful: some cabins, some lofts/ condos, some large homes, some homes that have local and environmentally- friendly materials... contact us to find exactly what you are looking for! We have many winter specials to choose from, and for the time away from the conference, we have great freebies to help you enjoy our mountain community. And, as always, the town of Asheville is a treat not to be missed!!

Asheville Jazz

When you are looking for a place to get away, a place that provides both a tranquil atmosphere to relax in and a hopping town to peruse, look no further than Carolina Mornings for a vacation cabin in Asheville, NC (check out the WINTER SPECIALS)! In the winter there is plenty for you to do and see in this mountain town, including Asheville's Jazz After Five Concert Series. 2010 is the fifth year that the series has been alive and playing strong, and this year it will be held at Pack Place. What's more, the event is FREE! You can purchase a wristband for buying alcohol, and the money will help support one of the event sponsors: our local radio station, WCQS. The Asheville Downtown Association offers many events, and many free events, which are always a great time in a great venue. The Jazz Series, I'm sure, is equally great, and you can check out the food and beer from local restaurants and breweries. This is a great way to get a taste of what all Asheville is about: great entertainment, delicious food, and Beer Town USA!
After enjoying the town you can return to your mountain retreat to relax, enjoy the snow- capped mountain view, possibly take a dip in the hot tub, or just let yourself sit for a moment. There is plenty more going on in the area if you feel like sight-seeing more, and don't forget about the FREEBIES that come along with your stay at a Carolina Mornings cabin!

Romantic Candlelight Dinner Package in Asheville, NC

Once again I find myself writing about something that could pertain to Valentine's Day... you see, February is Romance month at Carolina Mornings. To honor and celebrate this, Carolina Mornings not only offers a plethora of options for a cozy and romantic mountain retreat (check out our great winter specials), we are also offering a package deal that is pretty unbeatable! The Romantic Candlelight Dinner Package is offered throughout the month of February and can be enjoyed at any of our getaways. The night begins with a retreat makeover: flowers, rose petals, candles, aromatherapy... added touches to your romantic retreat. The meal is an organic meal catered for two, cooked specifically for you and your needs right there in your own retreat (check out the menu suggestions), with no need to leave the house. The meal is accompanied by a bottle of organic wine, where you choose between a red, white or zinfandel to enjoy in your keepsake wine glasses.
After your delicious dessert, fall into deeper relaxation during an aromatherapy massage for two. Finish the event off with chocolate- dipped strawberries...mmm... and if you are still awake after those who have pampered you leave, finish the evening off with a dip in the hot tub, relishing in the warmth and your bliss amidst the crisp mountain air...
If this sounds too good to be true, quickly pinch yourself and call us- the package is only available for February!!

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate in Asheville, NC

Okay, so I thought I was finished with the Valentine's series, and technically I am. There is a delicious subject I have been wanting to write about for awhile now, and what better time to do it than love-your-honey weekend?? Asheville is chock full of chocolate, delicious in every form available. Imagine yourself relaxing into a heavenly couple's massage, then soaking in a hot tub surrounded by snow-capped mountains, sipping on a wonderful wine, eating a heavenly truffle of milk chocolate and raspberries...mmm...
Here are a few options to check out while you are skipping around town or relaxing in your Carolina Mornings vacation rental (in a pretty little take- home box or container, of course!)

-The Chocolate Fetish: In business since 1986, the Foley family has built a name for itself over the years that can still be heard in the streets of Asheville as tourists hunt it down. Plenty of gift offerings to take to a cozy spot and enjoy.
-The French Broad Chocolate Lounge: So everyone has their own opinion, but the chocolate I have eaten from the Chocolate Lounge is consistently the best thing I have ever eaten (and I am a foodie)!! In 2008, the Rattigans opened this chocolate lover's paradise and they have been going strong ever since. I believe that they produce the best chocolate in the world... not to mention the best brownies I've ever had!! Then there's the fact that they offer local beer, great wine, and a super- cozy space to hang out in. And on top of it all, they use as many local, fair trade, farm direct and organic ingredients as possible, which fits right into my belief system and Asheville style.
-Ultimate Ice Cream's Dark Chocolate Ice Cream: Okay, not quite a box of chocolates, but this local company has done chocolate ice cream up the right way! Not sure how they do it, but it's dark, it's chocolate, it's ice cream... it's delicious!! (They have a storefront on Tunnel Rd. and sell around town, including at The Chocolate Lounge).
-Greenlife Grocery: A great place to pick up tons and tons of chocolate. They sell prepackaged bars from everywhere (all organic and fair trade of course), as well as packages of local truffles and such, locally- made brownies, chocolate ice cream...

This is not the complete list of chocolate availability in Asheville, but it's a start and it's what to get if you are a visitor and want a local's experience! There are also chocolate shops in Black Mountain, Waynesville, Weaverville- it seems the Asheville area is a chocolate lovers paradise! When you stay with us in your mountain getaway, be sure to have some chocolate on hand to share with your honey (and remember that chocolate is a great gift for any time of year or occasion!!)