The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 18, 2023 3:39:31 GMT
I hate that I have to start this way, but I do know how to Google, and I have been working on this trip for awhile and will not take all of my advice from the Peas. If these posts annoy you, no need to respond or tell me.
However, I have found that I have received good advice over the years from the peas and maybe those who live, vacation or have been there recently, can help me.
Our family of three generations and eight people are staying in Gatlinburg Tennessee for five days, and we are also going to stay for four days in the Asheville area. The Gatlinburg Vrbo is booked.
Obviously we have to work with what is available, but is there an area we should avoid or seek out in the Asheville area? We have been looking at Lake Lure, Black Mountain, Bat Cave and a bit farther out. We do plan on a day in Asheville/Biltmore and probably Chimney Rock. Will we regret being farther out? We do want views and not in the city. We would like a couple days of just relaxation too.
We will be flying in and out of Asheville.
Any recommendations for lodging? Also interested in what you think is can’t miss or overrated. (Gatlinburg/PF/Asheville and beyond. We aren’t afraid of a long day trip)
Always up for good food recommendations too.
Three teens, four middle aged and one disabled 76 year old. (She is ok sitting out on some things but we try to include her in most)
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Post by Zee on Jan 18, 2023 3:52:13 GMT
I was just in Gatlinburg in May and while I love the mountains and the park, the city itself is kind of like going to the county fair or the carnival. You'll see enough of it in one day. Pigeon Forge used to be the dump of the two but it looked to be better last time. Definitely drive around Smoky Mountain National Park. Going through Cades Cove takes FOREVER because all the cars are just crawling along and it's very popular. Roaring Fork motor nature trail is so beautiful.
Enjoy!
Dollywood was cute when I went but that was 20 years ago.
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Post by auntkelly on Jan 18, 2023 4:07:46 GMT
I'm by no means an expert on Asheville, but my husband and I have been there a few times in the last few years. We've stayed at three different airbnbs right outside of Asheville and enjoyed all of them. Since I know you are a reader, I highly recommend the book The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan. My husband and I read it before our first visit to Asheville and it made our trip so much more enjoyable. We learned so much about the Vanderbilt family, the history of Asheville and the building of Biltmore. We visited several other historic buildings in Asheville which we read about in the book.
I like to visit Lexington Glass Works every time we go to Asheville. They make beautiful hand blown glass pieces right on the premises and you can sit on a stool and watch the artisans at work. Their show room is like an art gallery and their pieces are surprisingly affordable. You can check them out on instagram and see if you might want to go there.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 18, 2023 4:30:18 GMT
Definitely drive some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many options for viewpoints/hikes off the road. Some are short enough that your mom or others can wait (my husband grew up near Asheville and whenever we visit, this is what we do with his mom). Eat some good BBQ of course.  |
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on Jan 18, 2023 7:08:24 GMT
My husband and I were in Asheville in May and stayed at The Residences at Biltmore--which we had stayed at 12 years before and remembered liking so much, we stayed there again. It's right in between downtown and the Biltmore Village area, very conveniently located to all of the Asheville stuff and also to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We spent a day in Black Mountain and absolutely loved that town. We didn't stay there, but we might very well stay there rather than Asheville next time we go back. And I imagine that area would be more likely to have the rural views you're looking for. If you do end up in Asheville, though, definitely look at The Residences.
The Biltmore might be a bit much for your mom, there's a ton of standing and walking, and I didn't feel that the house tour was handicapped-friendly. There are no restrooms in the house, for instance. I frankly felt like it was overrated apart from the gardens and conservatory. Just something to keep in mind.
The River Arts District in Asheville is fun, it's a large warehouse area that has been repurposed into arts and crafts galleries and restaurants. It's easy to take in small doses and just look at as many places as you want and have energy for.
The old train station in Asheville has been turned into a restaurant (the Village Wayside Bar and Grill) and for some reason it just really appealed to my husband and me. We actually ate there twice, which we don't usually do on vacation because we like to try lots of places. The food was good and affordable and we enjoyed the train station vibe.
In Black Mountain, we ate at the Trailhead Restaurant, which was great, and my friend who goes to yearly writer's retreats there raves about Fresh Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta.
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Post by GamGam on Jan 18, 2023 12:27:30 GMT
We really like staying at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. I don’t know how to link it, but if you want to stay somewhere other than Ashville, then drive the Parkway from Asheville and visit Blowing Rock. The town is charming, and has a couple of outstanding restaurants. The Parkway offers hours of beauty and many options for hiking. When we are at Chetola, we rent a condo. The grounds at Chetola are large and lovely. It is our favorite place for mountain visits. We have stayed at the Biltmore hotel, and it is outstanding. Could you do both? chetola.com/ |
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Post by lisae on Jan 18, 2023 12:52:43 GMT
We rented a cabin once near Cherokee for a visit with my stepdaughter and her family. We went into Asheville for the Biltmore. You don't have to be quite that far out. You could look at Hendersonville. There is plenty to do in the area and you definitely don't have to be right in Asheville.
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 18, 2023 16:10:14 GMT
I was just in Gatlinburg in May and while I love the mountains and the park, the city itself is kind of like going to the county fair or the carnival. You'll see enough of it in one day. Pigeon Forge used to be the dump of the two but it looked to be better last time. Definitely drive around Smoky Mountain National Park. Going through Cades Cove takes FOREVER because all the cars are just crawling along and it's very popular. Roaring Fork motor nature trail is so beautiful. Enjoy! Dollywood was cute when I went but that was 20 years ago. Thank you! Those towns seem touristy...cute but touristy. Touristy is fun for a day. I was wondering how busy the park gets since it doesn't have timed entry. Good to know. |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 18, 2023 16:12:29 GMT
I'm by no means an expert on Asheville, but my husband and I have been there a few times in the last few years. We've stayed at three different airbnbs right outside of Asheville and enjoyed all of them. Since I know you are a reader, I highly recommend the book The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan. My husband and I read it before our first visit to Asheville and it made our trip so much more enjoyable. We learned so much about the Vanderbilt family, the history of Asheville and the building of Biltmore. We visited several other historic buildings in Asheville which we read about in the book. I like to visit Lexington Glass Works every time we go to Asheville. They make beautiful hand blown glass pieces right on the premises and you can sit on a stool and watch the artisans at work. Their show room is like an art gallery and their pieces are surprisingly affordable. You can check them out on instagram and see if you might want to go there. Thanks so much for the book rec. I am going to download it ASAP! I will make a note of the Lexington Glass Works. I think we would enjoy that. There is a small glass blowing shop in Duluth that we have gone to many times that my boys were into watching, so I think they would like it too. I know my mom would as well. |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 18, 2023 16:14:59 GMT
Definitely drive some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many options for viewpoints/hikes off the road. Some are short enough that your mom or others can wait (my husband grew up near Asheville and whenever we visit, this is what we do with his mom). Eat some good BBQ of course. If you know of any can't miss shorter hikes in the area (less than three hours or so?), I would love to hear. |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 18, 2023 16:17:01 GMT
My husband and I were in Asheville in May and stayed at The Residences at Biltmore--which we had stayed at 12 years before and remembered liking so much, we stayed there again. It's right in between downtown and the Biltmore Village area, very conveniently located to all of the Asheville stuff and also to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We spent a day in Black Mountain and absolutely loved that town. We didn't stay there, but we might very well stay there rather than Asheville next time we go back. And I imagine that area would be more likely to have the rural views you're looking for. If you do end up in Asheville, though, definitely look at The Residences. The Biltmore might be a bit much for your mom, there's a ton of standing and walking, and I didn't feel that the house tour was handicapped-friendly. There are no restrooms in the house, for instance. I frankly felt like it was overrated apart from the gardens and conservatory. Just something to keep in mind. The River Arts District in Asheville is fun, it's a large warehouse area that has been repurposed into arts and crafts galleries and restaurants. It's easy to take in small doses and just look at as many places as you want and have energy for. The old train station in Asheville has been turned into a restaurant (the Village Wayside Bar and Grill) and for some reason it just really appealed to my husband and me. We actually ate there twice, which we don't usually do on vacation because we like to try lots of places. The food was good and affordable and we enjoyed the train station vibe. In Black Mountain, we ate at the Trailhead Restaurant, which was great, and my friend who goes to yearly writer's retreats there raves about Fresh Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta. All great and specific info! I will make a note of the places. My mom has been to the Biltmore (probably 25 years ago). She thinks she can do it if she takes it slow. I was going to look into what it says about handicap accessible. She will have a scooter but she can walk. |
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Post by Patter on Jan 18, 2023 17:36:03 GMT
I personally would not recommend staying in Hendersonville because of having to travel on I-26. It is a mess! I am in Asheville several times each month but have family to stay with. Juicy Lucy's isn't far from Biltmore or the Residences at Biltmore. It's a great burger place (and wings, steaks, etc.). They have amazing milkshakes too in very fun flavors! Papa's and Bear is a great Mexican restaurant not far either. Parking downtown Asheville is a nightmare, and the later it gets in the day, the worse it is.
We personally love Biltmore and have season passes. But we enjoy a lot of the other things. A lot of times I go over and don't even go through the house. Note you will have to have reservations to get in the house now (even if you are a season pass holder).
Also, my friend has a house in Black Mountain, and it is a great place. It's not far from Asheville at all. Definitely easier to get to Asheville on I-40 than I-26.
Have a great time, and enjoy NC!
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Post by ~summer~ on Jan 18, 2023 17:45:42 GMT
I stayed at an adorable Vrbo in Asheville - but it was in the city (above an excellent cafe and nice restaurant).
I loved exploring the city of Asheville and really loved exploring the River Arts District.
We also did hikes off the blue ridge parkway which was amazing.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 19, 2023 3:06:07 GMT
Definitely drive some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many options for viewpoints/hikes off the road. Some are short enough that your mom or others can wait (my husband grew up near Asheville and whenever we visit, this is what we do with his mom). Eat some good BBQ of course. If you know of any can't miss shorter hikes in the area (less than three hours or so?), I would love to hear. Some of these are much shorter than three hours, but if you drive a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can stop and do multiple of these: Linville Falls/Gorge Craggy Pinnacle Flat Rock Overlook Rough Ridge Overlook Mt. Mitchell (you can drive to the top and there are several hikes from here, depending on time/effort, or you can park at a parking lot a little below and hike up to the summit) Art Loeb Trail (we hiked Black Balsam Knob, Tennent Mountain, Sam Knob - can do a loop with just Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain) - this one is really nice and not hard - but it can be super busy, would want to go early depending on day you are visiting (weekday likely better) The AT near the Roan Highlands is nice - we did a one way fifteen mile hike, but you can do an out and back that is shorter from different trailheads - Carver Gap is a popular one and scenic Hawksbill Mountain |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 19, 2023 15:07:26 GMT
If you know of any can't miss shorter hikes in the area (less than three hours or so?), I would love to hear. Some of these are much shorter than three hours, but if you drive a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can stop and do multiple of these: Linville Falls/Gorge Craggy Pinnacle Flat Rock Overlook Rough Ridge Overlook Mt. Mitchell (you can drive to the top and there are several hikes from here, depending on time/effort, or you can park at a parking lot a little below and hike up to the summit) Art Loeb Trail (we hiked Black Balsam Knob, Tennent Mountain, Sam Knob - can do a loop with just Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain) - this one is really nice and not hard - but it can be super busy, would want to go early depending on day you are visiting (weekday likely better) The AT near the Roan Highlands is nice - we did a one way fifteen mile hike, but you can do an out and back that is shorter from different trailheads - Carver Gap is a popular one and scenic Hawksbill Mountain Thank you! That helps give me some focus. |
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