Asheville, North Carolina: An Appalachian Gem

The Biltmore Estate is America’s biggest home and it’s located in the city of Asheville.
This estate was created by George Vanderbilt over a century ago as a retreat for his family and friends. Today the Biltmore House is open to the public. It is a 250-room chateau-inspired mansion filled with wonderful works of art and period antiques.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the home and stroll through the magnificent gardens designed by America’s first landscape architect. You can sample the wines at their winery and enjoy the forests, farmlands, and rivers located on this 8000-acre estate. Many annual festivals and other events are held here also. There are venues inside the mansion and outdoors in the estate gardens which can be rented out for weddings and other private celebrations. (For more information please visit Biltmore.com.)

Next, check out Chimney Rock Park, located 25 miles southeast of Asheville. It offers breathtaking 75-mile views, hiking trails and a 404-foot waterfall. No visitor can resist going to the top of Chimney Rock. It is from here that you see that amazing 75-mile views. Visitors can get to the top of Chimney Rock in about 20 minutes by taking the Outcroppings Trail. Or, you can ride a 26-story elevator to the top in about 30 seconds. Chimney Rock Park also features Hickory NutFalls. There are two trails leading to the top, a steep climb, and one that is a leisurely stroll. The trail is surrounded by hardwood forests that include rare wildflowers, birds and other animals. Hickory Nut Falls showcases rushing water cascading down an amazing 404-foot drop. At this writing (Sept. ’06), admission to the park is $14 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-15. Children five and under are free. (Visit chimneyrockpark.com for additional information.)

What about a train ride? The Great Smokey Mountains Railroad (GSMR.com) provides year-round train rides through the Great Smoky Mountains and crosses 25 bridges over about 50 miles of track. . Visitors will go through tunnels, cross valleys and transverse river gorges. There are many several excursions to choose from including a gourmet dinner run on Saturdays. They also have a Mystery Dinner Theatre Train on Friday nights during the summer. The trains leave from Bryson and Dillsboro, and these towns are about an hour west of Asheville. (Visit gsmr.com for schedules and more details.)

Have a desire to swing high up into the wild blue yonder? Visit Grandfather Mountain, featuring the Mile High Swinging Bridge. It was built in 1952 to give visitor’s access to the breath-taking view the mountain’s Linville Peak. The bridge is high though it is not really a mile above the ground. The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm and sits above a mile in elevation. The bridge is easy to access. You need to climb 50 steps to reach the Swinging Bridge. Grandfather Mountain is a recognized nature preserve with several miles hiking trails. The Linville Gorge is often called the “Grand Canyon of North Carolina.” (Check out blowingrock.org for more information.)

Near Grandfather Mountain, are the Linville Caverns. Carved deep beneath Humpback Mountain, these caverns were created by nature. For centuries, slowly moving water has been carving out a maze of underground rooms and passages. Amazingly, the caverns were originally discovered in the 1800’s by men who were intrigued with the sight of fish swimming out of the mountain. When you visit, dress for cool temperatures – it’s a cool 58 degrees year round. (Visit linvillecaverns.com for details.)

Get a rush going down a natural 60-foot waterslide? 11,000+ gallons of water rush down the rocks every minute and empty into a six – seven-foot deep pool of clear mountain water at Sliding Rock. It’s open all year but the bathrooms and changing rooms are only open from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The lifeguards are also on-duty only during this short period. (Check out ncwaterfalls.com for more information.)

For the sports enthusiast this is plenty going on – golf courses, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, horse back riding, and all type of water sports.

There are many hotels, motels, & B & B’s in Asheville, including one that is managed by a former business associate. Unfortunately I don’t recall which one it is. There are also many campgrounds to stay at during the spring, summer and fall.