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Post by ~summer~ on May 17, 2022 13:23:47 GMT
I will be going to North Carolina probably in June. Flying into Charlotte and spending a couple days in Asheville. I’ve been all over the Northeast but never anywhere in the south. If you had a week to see the area and didn’t mind driving where would you go? I’m thinking I would head to Charleston and the coast. Any suggestions for itineraries or specific lodging appreciated.
Updated below - will stick to just Asheville and it will be August…
Eta - more updates below -arrived last night
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Post by volunteergirl on May 18, 2022 2:39:50 GMT
In Asheville, Biltmore is gorgeous in the summer. Plan on doing the garden tour too.
It’s quite a drive from Asheville to Charleston. Plan on a day for that drive.
Charleston has city tours that we found to be a good introduction to the city. It was such a short trip that we didn’t do anything else, but that should give you an idea about what you might want to explore more.
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Post by zztop11 on May 18, 2022 13:14:18 GMT
That is like a whole other trip. If I were you, I would stay in the area you are in. So much to see. Go to Pigeon Forge and go to Dollywood. She has a museum there (or at least she did when we were there). The music is fabulous. Asheville is a great artsy place. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One week is not that long to see the many things that there are in the area.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on May 18, 2022 13:28:09 GMT
Asheville is a great artsy place. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One week is not that long to see the many things that there are in the area. I agree. Asheville has a fun vibe with quirky bars and places to shop. There's a drum circle downtown on Friday nights that's a hoot to watch and you can join in if you want. Generally they are a number of street performers around the downtown area. Lots of fun craft brewing places. Beautiful day drives out from there to hiking locations with waterwalls and great scenery. Biltmore House. And so much more. I'd save Charleston for another trip. It's easily a whole week in itself. |
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edie3
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Post by edie3 on May 18, 2022 16:16:05 GMT
I love Asheville! So pretty and unique. We went on a wonderful food tour, link and can not recommend it enough! We did the brunch tour and had lots of wonderful food and learned alot about Asheville. |
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Post by beepdave on May 18, 2022 20:49:20 GMT
We took a cruise that left from Charleston, SC and after we got off the ship we drove up the coast to Wilmington, NC. It was a pretty drive and we really enjoyed Wilmington. We made a quick stop at the beach for an hour just north of Myrtle Beach and it was so pretty. It's obviously on the other side of Charlotte, but a different, more beachy vibe than Asheville.
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Post by katiescarlett on May 18, 2022 20:58:54 GMT
Go to Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Parkway!
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Post by lisae on May 18, 2022 21:17:55 GMT
Charleston is hot in June and you will likely have lovely temperatures in western NC. Asheville is warmer than the northern mountains but still far more pleasant than the coast. I agree with others, Charleston is probably a separate trip. The Biltmore House is a must in Asheville, plan on a full day. There are numerous art galleries - some in Biltmore village which isn't on the estate itself and more by the riverfront. These are often actual artists studios.
What do you like to do? There are many hiking options in the area. Hiking for us is no more than a 1 to 2 hour walk so when I say hiking, I really mean walking in the woods. The highlands area of NC (Highlands and Cashiers, NC) has gorgeous waterfalls, some right by the roadside. This extends to upstate SC and to northern GA as well. You could also go to the northern mountains. Blowing Rock is a lovely town. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north from Asheville and there are many stops and it is just a beautiful drive.
Atlanta is slightly closer to Asheville than Charleston if you crave the things a larger city has to offer. Gibbs Gardens in northern Georgia is also a great stop if you like gardens. Greenville, SC has much to offer as well but I admit we have only passed through. I keep thinking we will make a day trip there but we just never seem to.
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Post by Patter on May 18, 2022 22:09:32 GMT
I had typed a whole post but lost it. Dog gone. Well, here is a quick summary.  First, I agree with everyone--save Charleston for another time. There is so much to do in Western NC, that I wouldn't even bother with heading to TN. Here are a few things: *Biltmore House. You will need reservations for the house, and you could easily spend two days there. I was just there a couple of weeks ago for lunch, and it was crazy busy. It's normally not like that during the week in early May but with COVID restrictions lifted, things seemed much more crowded than normal. *Blowing Rock *Boone *Grandfather Mountain *Blue Ridge Parkway *lots of hiking and waterfalls in Western NC, and Asheville has quite a bit too Have a great trip! |
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Post by ~summer~ on May 25, 2022 21:31:57 GMT
Thank you everyone for advice - I will keep this trip just to Asheville - (and maybe Greenville?).
Question - I will be there in august which I assume will be very hot?
Does anyone have a recommendation of a nice place to stay? A quick google search resulted in 2 that looked good but very different: The Foundry (hip and walkable to everything which I like) or the Omni Grove Park Hotel which looks tranquil and has a pool. Any other suggestions?
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Post by lisae on May 25, 2022 21:45:00 GMT
Thank you everyone for advice - I will keep this trip just to Asheville - (and maybe Greenville?). Question - I will be there in august which I assume will be very hot? Does anyone have a recommendation of a nice place to stay? A quick google search resulted in 2 that looked good but very different: The Foundry (hip and walkable to everything which I like) or the Omni Grove Park Hotel which looks tranquil and has a pool. Any other suggestions? I don't know anything about the Foundry. The Grove Park is a historical hotel. It's in a beautiful location on a hill overlooking the city. I haven't stayed there in years and I know they have redone a lot of it so I won't speak to the rooms. There is also a spa. We love the art gallery on the grounds next to the hotel. However, the food is really just average. Beautiful location but there are far better restaurants in Asheville. Also, because of the location, you have to drive to everything. It isn't that these things would keep me from staying there but they are my observations from many visits over the years for dinner. (My parents loved going there.) As for heat, Asheville isn't really that much cooler than we are in the foothills of NC - about 4 degrees lower than Charlotte temps. You have to get up into the northern mountains to really cool off. The heat/humidity is more a matter of comparison based on what you are used to in summer temps. |
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Post by Zee on May 25, 2022 21:45:11 GMT
Thank you everyone for advice - I will keep this trip just to Asheville - (and maybe Greenville?). Question - I will be there in august which I assume will be very hot? Does anyone have a recommendation of a nice place to stay? A quick google search resulted in 2 that looked good but very different: The Foundry (hip and walkable to everything which I like) or the Omni Grove Park Hotel which looks tranquil and has a pool. Any other suggestions? Tons of VRBO options to choose from if you prefer that route, which I do. Pigeon Forge is OK, Gatlinburg is like a carnival and not ina good way, the mountains are perfect, stay out of Cades Cove if you go to the Smokies unless you enjoy sitting in your vehicle for 2 hours for an 11-mile one-way loop from which you can not escape. Roaring Forks Motor Trail is better IME. Skip Cherokee NC. Greenville is a cute area. Never been to Asheville but I've been all around the rest of the area and heard great things from friends who have been there recently. Full of things millennials love, like beard oil and microbrews and axe throwing (ok to be fair that's all over the South and North too). Never been to Charlotte. I'm on my way home from a VRBO in the woods in the Smokies 🏞️😁 |
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Post by Patter on May 25, 2022 21:47:10 GMT
I was just in Asheville last weekend. So much to do. I would skip Greenville, SC. The two don't even compare IMO.
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Post by ~summer~ on May 25, 2022 21:53:04 GMT
It will just be me so I don’t think I need a Vrbo - my ideal is a hip hotel with a rooftop bar, pool and walking distance to the restaurants and ideally a trail I can run on in the early morning from the hotel. Too much to ask for?? |
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mich5481
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Post by mich5481 on May 25, 2022 22:19:01 GMT
It will just be me so I don’t think I need a Vrbo - my ideal is a hip hotel with a rooftop bar, pool and walking distance to the restaurants and ideally a trail I can run on in the early morning from the hotel. Too much to ask for?? I don't think this has a pool, otherwise it works. It's in Boone, and I saw it on PBS travel show about the NC mountains. thehorton.com/Boone is way better temperature wise than Asheville in August. Just make sure your visit doesn't coincide with move in at App State!! |
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edie3
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Post by edie3 on May 25, 2022 22:32:06 GMT
I had friends stay at the Grove and she wasn't impressed. Her room had water leaks.
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Post by lisae on May 26, 2022 1:46:39 GMT
It will just be me so I don’t think I need a Vrbo - my ideal is a hip hotel with a rooftop bar, pool and walking distance to the restaurants and ideally a trail I can run on in the early morning from the hotel. Too much to ask for??  Then you need to scratch the Grove Park from your list. It doesn't meet any of those requirements. |
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Mystie
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Post by Mystie on May 26, 2022 21:50:13 GMT
My husband and I got home yesterday from a week in Asheville. We stayed at The Residences at Biltmore, which is right in between downtown and Biltmore Village, a very convenient location. The studio rooms have kitchenettes and washer/dryer, some have small balconies. It's a really attractive place with a lovely pool and hot tub area. It felt very homey.
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on May 26, 2022 22:38:49 GMT
I think sticking to Asheville is a great idea. If you want to see a couple of small towns with cute shops and other stuff, check out Black Mountain, NC and Hendersonville, NC. They are not really close enough to do both in one day, but each of them are fun places to see.
Also, Asheville is about 2 hours from Charlotte. What time does your plane arrive in Charlotte? If late, you may want to spend the first night in Charlotte and go to Asheville the first day. Late afternoon rush hour traffic getting out of Charlotte can be a nightmare.
Hope you have fun, please update after your trip!
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edie3
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Post by edie3 on May 27, 2022 2:26:58 GMT
Have a great time and book that food tour!!
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PaperAngel
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Post by PaperAngel on May 27, 2022 5:22:50 GMT
Consider staying at The Inn on Biltmore Estate (or the casual Village Hotel or spacious Cottages also on property) or on the outskirts of the Estate in Biltmore Village (e.g. Grand Bohemian Hotel). See also the other tabs on the links above for things to do/events & dining options in the area. Hope you have a fun, relaxing, & safe trip! |
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 17, 2022 15:12:28 GMT
Update: in Asheville now! I ended up booking a beautiful vrbo in a historic brick building since I will be here a week and my kid is staying with me part of the time. We landed in charlotte from sfo yesterday at 3pm - then due to lightening storms they shut down the tarmac and we had to wait 3 hours to get checked luggage (we had no choice to check luggage) - all while absolutely starving - then grabbed our rental car and made the gorgeous 2 hour drive to Asheville and finally had delicious steak and salmon (and wine) dinner at Bone and Broth at 8pm (barely making our reservation) Some observations compared to CA: - everything is green and beautiful, blue ridge mountains spectacular and cloud formations also spectacular - driving patterns are completely different (no aggressive driving, no weaving in and out, people just stay in the left lane) - saw two massive confederate flags - charlotte airport was completely packed. Lots of men in baseball hats lol. - warm and muggy (of course) - I’m enjoying it, I brought my cute sundresses that I rarely get to wear at home. We have lots of stuff planned - walking tours, food tours, breweries, bbq, river arts district, massage in a salt cave, rooftop bars, hiking, waterfalls, day trip to Tennessee (again, never been) - but planning to skip the Biltmore. I have tons of notes on where to eat, drink and hike but last minute tips welcome. Once I get some good pictures I’ll come back and update |
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on Jul 17, 2022 15:24:08 GMT
Some observations compared to CA: - everything is green and beautiful  This Californian agrees! I was also amazed at yards with no fences and the lack of concrete sidewalks. I never realized how many block walls and how much concrete California has. |
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Post by Patter on Jul 17, 2022 15:32:48 GMT
Enjoy! We love Asheville but find the roads quite narrow. Several people we know have blown out tires due to the drainage grates being so "deep." Be careful if driving in the right lane in a lot of places. Also, if Juicy Lucy's isn't on your list to eat, we love it!
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edie3
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Post by edie3 on Jul 17, 2022 16:20:42 GMT
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Post by lisae on Jul 17, 2022 16:54:12 GMT
Welcome to North Carolina! Sounds like you have many wonderful things planned. We are very green. Would you believe that we have had a dry spring and summer compared to normal? It has been raining lately.
You came out of Charlotte on a weekend which helped with the traffic a lot. I don't think Charlotte drivers are aggressive but it is much busier on weekdays and worst on weekdays during the school year.
I probably mentioned this before but I love the Grovewood Gallery at the Grove Park Inn. The food at the Inn isn't that good imo but the view from the terraces off the lobby in the hotel is gorgeous. It's off Charlotte Street if you find yourself with an hour or two free.
ETA: the NC arboretum is also in Asheville - about 20 minutes out of town if I remember right.
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Post by Legacy Girl on Aug 1, 2022 19:37:29 GMT
@~summer~ (and others in the area), will you please share some of your favorite restaurant choices in Asheville? We're fairly casual and middle-of-the-road as far as price-point goes, but we might choose to do a nicer dinner one evening. We'll be there later this month. I've noted the restaurant choices made up thread. Thanks!
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 1, 2022 19:50:52 GMT
I really liked Bone and Broth - the steak was delicious.
For casual we loved White Duck Tacos - we went to their downtown location and the location on the river. They have different tacos such as chicken tiki masala taco (which was amazing).
We also went to Chestnut which is very popular. I liked it but didn’t think it was amazing.
I was bummed we were not able to get to: Curate (I tried but couldn’t get reservation here), Chai Pani, and Rhubarb.
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Post by Legacy Girl on Aug 1, 2022 20:51:29 GMT
I made a Bone and Broth reservation just now, and we'll also check out White Duck Tacos, for sure. Thanks for the great tips!
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 1, 2022 20:58:33 GMT
I made a Bone and Broth reservation just now, and we'll also check out White Duck Tacos, for sure. Thanks for the great tips! its not in the heart of the fun downtown (though it has easy parking) - if you want to be right downtown - then I’d try rhubarb or chestnut. |
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First, I agree with everyone--save Charleston for another time. There is so much to do in Western NC, that I wouldn't even bother with heading to TN. Here are a few things:
This Californian agrees! I was also amazed at yards with no fences and the lack of concrete sidewalks. I never realized how many block walls and how much concrete California has.