Part VI: Get to know historic Asheville, NC!

The final destination of our Mountain Discovery Pass from Carolina Mornings takes you on a tour of historic Asheville for FREE!! When you stay in one of our beautiful mountain vacation cabins, Carolina Mornings provides sooo many things to help you enjoy your stay! One is the Mountain Discovery Pass, designed to give you an inside look at incredible mountain town and what it has to offer. We have discussed the other four freebies offered in the MDP (see previous blogs below), and now I want to share with you the journey on the White Trolley Line. This tour takes you on a leisurely jaunt through some historic places in Asheville- the beautiful Montford neighborhood, Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Village... just to name a few of the sites you will see. Touring Asheville in such a way gives you an insiders view of some of the beloved sites in the area, and the foundations of Asheville.
So get out your calendar, gather with the family, and let Carolina Mornings help plan a wonderful retreat for you and yours (don't forget to bring Dog- many of our rentals are pet- friendly!!)

Where the lights are brightest in Asheville, NC

While staying in one of our Asheville vacation rentals this holiday season, might I suggest some scenic viewing for a festive spirit? Although our mountains are mostly bare during the month of December, our town has many spectacular things to see! One great thing to do on a chilly night is to visit our holiday light displays. Our historic neighborhoods, such as Montford, Biltmore and Kenilworth, offer my favorite displays because you get to see the lights embellishing beautiful and historic homes. You can peruse these neighborhoods free of charge, and find yourself viewing and understanding the charm of this mountain town. As mentioned in a previous blog there is also Biltmore House (you can get 2 free tickets when staying with Carolina Mornings!), where you can both tour the gigantic house and enjoy their display of lights throughout the property. Not far from Biltmore is Lake Julian, known in these parts for their 9th annual display of lights that are bright. You can tour the park for $5 a carload. If you are feeling really festive and want to see more of western NC, you can travel the 2 hours to Christmas Town USA in McAdenville, NC. This is their 54th year of holiday brights, and although I have yet to go, it seems a wonderful display. Besides driving, you are also encouraged to walk through Christmas Town; actually, the only way to enjoy the decorated bridge up close is on foot.
So start off with some eggnog and hot cider back at your holiday getaway, then head off to see displays of the night.

Asheville, NC and its Seasonal Sizzle

Fireworks in December?? Yep, here in Asheville we don't think fireworks are just for July!! Amongst the many, many holiday activities going on around town, we celebrate the holiday season with Saturday night fireworks in downtown Asheville. Starting Saturday, December 5 at 7pm, and running through Saturday, December 19 (Saturdays only!) Asheville lights up the night with a plethora of colors and intensities at the Seasonal Sizzle at Seven. The fireworks display on the 5th caps off a full day of holiday events, from the Dicken's Festival (mentioned in an earlier blog) to different Market celebrations. Looking for a great time to load up the family and head to Asheville for a mountain retreat? Well, this is it! The weekend of Dec. 4- 6th has been discussed in quite a few of our entries, with festivities and great chances to pick up holiday gifts (remember The Big Crafty on Dec. 6!). Come and stay in one of our Asheville vacation rentals with your family (we even offer pet-friendly getaways!) and join the fun. Can't make it that weekend? Then join us for the Seasonal Sizzle one of the following Saturdays, and still have a ton of options for celebrating and shopping! Come visit western NC and see why Asheville is sizzling!!

Charles Dickens in western NC??

A Christmas Carol


Yes, it is Dickens in Asheville!! For the weekend of Dec. 4- Dec.6, Biltmore Village will be transformed into a Victorian Dickens-esque village, complete with songs in the street and roasting chestnuts for the Biltmore Village Dickens Festival. Bring your kids and giggle while pretending together to be in Dickens' A Christmas Carol, even enjoying pieces of the tale put on by local performers.
Biltmore Village is well-known to those living in Asheville or those returning for a visit. There is much to see and do in this part of town while staying in one of our Asheville vacation rentals. The infamous Biltmore House gives the area it's name, and Carolina Mornings offers you two free tickets to Biltmore for a visit to the historic (and gigantic!) site when staying with us in a few properties. You can't miss Biltmore Village during the holidays as a guest in our town!!
The village is also a great place to find gifts, from the small, locally-owned boutiques to the larger shopping center full of name brands. During the Dickens Festival, the shops will be open later and the employees will don Victorian- era garb. What a great place to appease both your need for holiday shopping and your child's need for a fun time?!

5 reasons to come to Asheville, NC in the winter:Reason #3 The Big Crafty

I love crafts! I love all kinds of crafts, from hand-knitting to felting to jewelry-making to bookworks to artistically-created clothing. I love to craft myself, and I love to see what the creativity and talents are of other artists (after all, we are all artists when we let ourselves be!). And if you are like me, we tend to find ourselves with a list of too many things to make and not enough time to make them all. For this, amongst many other things, I LOVE The Big Crafty, a gathering twice a year of local artists and craftspeople selling their wares. Not much of a secret, but I'll tell you anyway: it is a great place for purchasing holiday gifts!! The final fair of 2009 is held on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 12p-6p at Pack Place in downtown Asheville, NC. There is a raffle (which I won last year:) and, because it is a free event, you can put more money towards beautiful and fun pieces. Don't forget to buy something nice for yourself! Not only is the bounty affordable and the fair free, there is yet another way to save money: the three times I have gone, they also had FREE DELICIOUS BEER! Brewed in Black Mountain (30 minutes from Asheville), Pisgah Brewing Company is my favorite local brew by far, and one of my top three beers of all time. And at The Big Crafty, they are giving it to me!!!! I'd have to say, this event is actually one of my top three favorite events that takes place in western NC.
So come and stay with us at one of our Asheville vacation rentals for a pre-holiday getaway. Enjoy a fun shopping excursion while you are here; besides The Big Crafty, Asheville is known for its shopping.

Need to escape to a safe "Haven"?!

Well you are IN LUCK!

You can escape to this safe "Haven"... The Carolina Mornings Asheville vacation rental "Wilderness Haven." Featured as this week's CM Asheville Rental of the Week, we hope that you find peace and relaxation and come take one of our Asheville vacations soon!

What do you get with Wilderness Haven?

- The log cabin of your Asheville vacation rental dreams.

- 3 bedrooms, 2 baths

- WIFI (for you workaholics!)

- Gas fireplace

- Game room

- Unbelievable views

- 20 minutes from Asheville

- Easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge parkway and hiking trails

Can't believe it? Take a look at our video:

Like what you see? Stay at Wilderness Haven! Or check out our other cabin rentals in Asheville, NC and book your Asheville vacation TODAY!

Thanksgiving in Asheville: Who is preparing the meal??

Image by Mr. T in DC via Flickr

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and now would be the time to plan your holiday visit to western NC! Gather together with family and stay in one of our pet friendly Asheville vacation homes! Many of our vacation rentals have specials this season, so start preparing for your Asheville Thanksgiving.
There are plenty of options for gathering and eating. I think the best idea is to order a quality natural or organic turkey from Greenlife Grocery or Earthfare, get some local ingredients for the trimmings, and spend a lovely day with the family in your celebration home. Start a fire in the fireplace, set up games for the kids, and get your dog a bone to share in the feast.
If cooking your Thanksgiving meal doesn't sound like a vacation getaway to you, there are plenty of delicious options around the town (one thing Asheville is known for is the food!) One such option provides the best of both worlds: no cooking, but still relaxing in your cabin! Offered is an eight person meal (complete with dessert) prepared just for you and ordered through our infamous 12 Bones Smokehouse. Besides the turkey, 12 Bones has fixin's such as dried cherry corn pudding and sausage and apple stuffing...mmm...
If you are looking for an Asheville night on the town, many of the restaurants will be open on and around Thanksgiving. From a buffet at Grove Park Inn's Blue Ridge Dining Room to a vegetarian delight at Laughing Seed Cafe, Asheville will surely have something for your celebration! And remember to share gratitude for your getaway!!

5 Reasons to Come 2 AVL in the Winter: Reason #1 Gingerbread & Asheville- Where People Win Prizes 4 Playing With Their Food!!

Now that the autumn leaves are off the trees and the air is nippy, one may think that Asheville is no longer a destination for family travel. However, this is far from the truth! Asheville begs to have families with and without children come and play. It is that time of year again- time to cozy up for the cold and prepare yourself for a fun-filled holiday season. Why not bring the whole family including your 4 legged furry member to our pet friendly Asheville, NC vacation rentals and enjoy your holidays in the mountains? Asheville has so much to offer this time of year to enjoy with your family!
Reason #1:
One of my very favorites is the National Gingerbread House Competition and Display held every year at the Grove Park Inn. From Nov. 18, 2009 -Jan. 3, 2010 take a gander at this free public display Mon- Thur any time of the day. This is a national competition, so there are entries from around the US. Grove Park now offers guided tours of the gingerbread exhibit, which amongst other things gives you a little knowledge on the gingerbread artists. I am amazed at what people can do with gingerbread and candy-it is truly phenomenal! If you will be visiting western NC earlier than this, don't worry- there are earlier gingerbread displays! Beginning Nov. 7 and running every Saturday through January 2 (5pm) is the Asheville Legendary Inns Gingerbread Tour. You will enjoy a tour from Gray Line Trolleys to "four of Asheville's historic Legendary Inns," visiting exhibits based on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." If you aren't going to be visiting Asheville for the holidays but know someone who is, this makes a wonderful gift (why not buy a Carolina Mornings Gift Certificate and give a gift of experience)! So, grab the kids (and the dog), reserve a mountain cabin in Asheville, NC and enjoy the holidays on us! And while your at it, leave the dog curled up in the cabin and show the kids when it's okay to play with their food!

Leaf season in western NC- come on, kids, get your hiking boots on!

Image by Carolina Mornings via Flickr

What better way to enjoy autumn than to explore the wonders of leaf season in Asheville, NC! From the middle of October into November the mountains are teeming with vibrant seasonal colors. Plan a family trip to stay with Carolina Mornings in one of our beautiful Asheville vacation rentals, and get out to enjoy the wondrous sights these mountains have to offer! Get the kids all layered and ready if it's nippy and get your hiking boots on!
Warren Wilson College is a short distance from downtown Asheville and the school offers quite a few hiking trails. The area surrounding is beautiful in it's foliage, much of it adorned with the school's own farm animals. Take a minute after the hike to explore Warren Wilson's farm!
Take a quick and scenic drive out to Black Mountain to enjoy the lovely trails at Montreat College. Montreat is known in the area as a great place to hike with the kids because it offers scaled hiking, from easy to difficult. All levels of hikers can find a trail here. Plus, there is a great playground to end the hike with!
And, as always, there is the wonderful Blue Ridge Parkway. A drive along the Parkway is a sight to definitely see during leaf season, and there are trails shooting off into every direction. Get a panoramic view from Craggy Gardens or Mt. Pisgah, or head even further in either direction for more spectacular views. Keep in mind that during this time of year there may be road closures on the Parkway, so check in with the Parkway headquarters before you go.
There are so many places to enjoy hiking with your kids in and around Asheville, too many to list here!! I have listed some of my favorites for hunting season, so as not to worry about keeping a constant eye out!