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!!

NC welcome centers help celebrate tourism!

Yesterday began the kick-off of travel and tourism celebrations across North Carolina, as we stop to appreciate the impact tourism has on our state and local economies. Today is the official state Tour and Travel Day, with all day events in downtown Raleigh. Welcome centers across the state plan to have food and beverages and all day events May 13-15. Stop by one near you (see below)!


From CarolinaNewsWire:

North Carolina Celebrates Tourism’s Impact With Tour and Travel Day and National Tour and Travel Week
05-12-2009

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Beverly Perdue will proclaim Tuesday, May 12, 2009 as Tour and Travel Day celebrating travel and tourism as a major state industry that is vital to the economic stability and growth of North Carolina. Tour and Travel Day is celebrated as part of National Tour and Travel Week.

A full-day of events is scheduled in Raleigh on May 12 and at North Carolina State Welcome Centers throughout the state May 11-15 to celebrate North Carolina’s tourism industry and to create better awareness of the industry’s contribution to North Carolina’s economy.

As part of Tour and Travel Day in Raleigh, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority presents a Pit Crew Challenge with state legislators as well as NASCAR displays and activities between the N.C. Museums of History and Natural Sciences. At noon, state legislators will face off in a House vs. Senate Pit Crew Challenge to see which team is faster at changing the tires on a real NASCAR race car.

Also included in Tourism Day, organizations from around the state will have informational booths located in the N.C. Legislative Building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The N.C. Travel Industry Association (NCTIA) is coordinating exhibit booths that provide an opportunity for lawmakers to meet tourism industry officials and learn about the positive impact of the industry.

2009 Travel and Tourism Day
Welcome Center Celebrations

5/13/2009
I-26 East, Polk County 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I-77 North, Surry County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

5/14/2009
I-95 North, Northampton County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

5/15/2009
I-26 West, Madison County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I-77 South, Mecklenburg County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I-85 South, Cleveland County 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I-85 North, Warren County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I-95 South, Robeson County 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tourism Facts:

• Travel in North Carolina generated more than $16.5 billion in tourism-related expenditures in 2007. Figures for 2008 will be released at the event.
• The tourism industry directly employs more than 190,000 North Carolinians with a payroll of $4.2 billion.
• Tourism in North Carolina generates more than $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
• Visitor spending in North Carolina has increased 27.3 percent while state and local tax revenue is up 20.7 percent over the last five years.

National Travel Facts

Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries, with $740 billion in direct travel expenditures.

National Tour and Travel Week is an annual event commemorated by states, cities and organizations across the nation. National Tour and Travel Week was first established by Congress in 1983 to increase awareness of the travel and tourism industry's economic, social, and cultural contributions to the United States. The public knows about tourism’s direct impact on businesses like attractions, hotels and restaurants. But less well known is the indirect economic impact of tourism on the businesses that keep attractions, hotels and restaurants running—businesses such as hardware stores, carpet and window distributors and manufacturers, plumbing and construction companies. When tourists come to North Carolina, businesses and citizens win.

For more information on events at North Carolina Welcome Centers throughout the state, go to www.nccommerce.com/tourism/TourismWeek.

Media Contact:
Wit Tuttell, NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
(919) 733-7420, wit@visitnc.com