Top 10 FREE Things to do in Asheville THIS WEEKEND

Image by ~libby via Flickr

Just because the economy is down doesn’t mean your weekend should be also!

1. Explore UNC-Asheville or Warren Wilson College! UNC-Asheville, which has more than 3,600 students, is located near the heart of the Asheville community. Explore the changing foliage on campus, the vibrant student life or venture just off-campus to the beautiful botanical gardens. Warren Wilson College is located in the Swannanoa Valley- ten miles east of Asheville. The College has more than 900 students, and the campus features hiking trails throughout.

2. Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Even if the weatherman is calling for a bit of rain this weekend, the Blue Ridge Parkway will be sure to brighten your day! Take out that Western NC map and drive along the breathtaking views, making sure to stop at the many drive-offs to take perfect pictures! 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway!

3. Parade of Homes: The annual showcase of beautiful Asheville cabins, homes and gardens comes to town Oct. 10-11 and 17-18 noon until 5pm. See the some of the nicest luxury cabins in North Carolina!

4. Art in the Park: For three Saturdays in October, artists from the area and the region come together in Pack Square Park, bringing a buzz of creativity and excitement to the area! Oct. 10 and 17th are the final two Saturdays! You don’t want to miss this!

5. Friday Night Drum Circle- This 8-year tradition of local citizens dancing and playing music is a perfect way to spend a Friday evening. Bring your own percussion instrument or just enjoy the music and buzz.

6. Browse the unique stores and sites in Downtown Asheville: This is the tried-and-true standout for locals and tourists alike. With more than 200 shops, restaurants, galleries, etc., everyone will have a good time from morning to night!

7. Asheville City Market: This producer-only market is located at S. Charlotte St. in the Public Works Building lot. Come every Saturday through Dec. 19 from 8am-1pm for fresh local produce! Save money, support our local economy by cooking at your favorite mountain cabin!

8. The Botanical Gardens at Asheville: These gardens may be the most beautiful in the area. The 10-acre preserve is just off the UNC-Asheville campus and features native plants from the Southern Appalachian area.

9. Asheville Urban Trail: Don’t just limit your idea to hiking as getting away climbing mountains near your cabin in Asheville or sprawling wildlife. Take a different approach on the Asheville Urban Trail! This 1.7 waking tour throughout downtown Asheville provides a glimpse of history and culture during this 30-stop hike.

10. The North Carolina Arboretum: Located on more than 430 acres of natural beauty, the NC Arboretum features cultivated gardens, 10 miles of hiking/biking trails and indoor and outdoor exhibits for all to enjoy. Get out there in on of those beautiful North Carolina mornings and if you are daring, take the “A Glide Through Nature” Segway Tour!

What are you doing FREE this weekend?

Carolina Mornings wants to know!

Honoring Father's Day @ Carolina Mornings

Father's Day will be honored @ Carolina Mornings
for the entire month of JUNE!

How? Thank you for asking.

We will be celebrating Fathers, Uncles, Grandpas, Sons and Husbands by giving them the gift of experience! How many men need more ties, shirts, mugs? Do the men in your life really want more "things"?

Or said in another way, How many men ever say:
"you know, I really have enough time to play golf or to go on a whitewater rafting trip".

Well at Carolina Mornings, Asheville's exclusive Mountain Discovery Pass (MDP) gives our Men (women and children) FREE golf, rafting on the French Broad River, cruises on Lake Lure and Trolley Tours around Asheville.

So imagine giving the man in your life a day to himself to play golf while you spend the day shopping downtown in Asheville's boutiques and unique galleries (unless you too want to join in the golf - Why not)?

Staying at one of our mountain vacation getaways is always a wonderful experience. Add free activities, good food and company and VOILA: A delightful, one of a kind gift is wrapped in a weekend to cherish for years to come!

Vacations and Value Added Benefits

Take Mom out for some outdoor adventure! Along with our Mother's Day Specials, every reservation will still get FREE daily activities. Yes, every day you can play a round of golf, rafting on the French Broad River and trolley tours all for Free! Yes Zippo, Nada, Rien, Nothing-well except you do need to book a vacation rental with us. Small detail, but nonetheless a great giveaway. This is what we call value added to your accommodations. Nowhere else in the Asheville Mountain area can you receive such amazing gifts. We are not talking $5 or $10 off these activities, we are saying "one free admission for each of these every night of your stay". I think this is awesome and so proud to have the Mountain Discovery Pass available for all of our guests! And by the way, even if your mother is not around this weekend, you can still come and go out and play with Mom in mind.

FREE SKIING @ SKI THE WOLF

Where else can you get more value from your vacation getaway than securing a vacation rental with Carolina Mornings, in Asheville, NC ? With every night of your stay, not only do you get a fully furnished vacation home nestled in the mountains, downtown or the countryside, but you get a FREE, yes FREE ski lift ticket good at SKI THE WOLF, located 30 min north of Asheville, NC, each and every night of your stay!
Has any other vacation rental company in this area offered such a great deal? I do not think so. In addition you can also play a free round of golf at Reems Creek Country Club, take a free trolley tour of Asheville and play inside Fun Depot. We call this free package our Mountain Discovery Pass. MDP. Our guests our treated with many extras, at no additional costs. Our vacation mountain getaways give visitors more bang for their buck!

Election Day in Asheville

We are very politically motivated here at Carolina Mornings, so we want to say - please, please GO VOTE today if you haven't early voted already. We don't care if you vote for Obama or McCain, or the write-in of your choice... as long as you pick the right candidate. Just kidding!

Really, exercising your right to vote feels really good when you do it, so go get in line! In Asheville, polling places are open 6:30 am - 7:30 pm, and as long as you make it to the line before 7:30 (even if it's at 7:29) you are guaranteed to get in to vote.

And if you need more incentive than that, a lot of companies around the country are providing freebies to voters.

Just a few corporate locations that I've heard word-of-mouth about:
Ben & Jerry's will give you a free scoop of ice cream between 5-8 p.m.
Starbucks will give you a free cup of coffee.
Krispy Kreme will give you a free red-and-blue star shaped donut.

As far as local Asheville businesses, I've only heard about West End Bakery offering free coffee.
Has anyone else discovered local freebies? Please share by leaving a comment! Thanks :)

At all of these places, your word should be enough to get you these offers. As I understand it, law prohibits the trade of products for votes, so this marketing attempt must be a courtesy to everyone without proof being shown.