Asheville & surrounding

[tmitchell]

Last fall we spent a month in New England, based out of Portland ME. Was a great trip.

Next month we'll base out of Asheville to explore the SE, ending our trip in Charleston. Biltmore is on the list, along with hiking.

Any recommendations in Asheville and/or weekend trips in the surrounding area would be welcome!

 

[audreyh1]

We really enjoyed exploring the area around the Nantahala river. Maybe next month will have some fall color?

I guess that’s a bit west, but we drove through that area before heading to Asheville and the Biltmore one year.

 

[tmitchell]

We really enjoyed exploring the area around the Nantahala river. Maybe next month will have some fall color?

Yes from what I've read October is a decent time for color! I'll check out Nantahala river area, thank you

 

[Montecfo]

Asheville is a great little town, very scenic is microbrews galleries etc. So is Greenville, SC, a bit over an hour away. Scenic but relatively short riverwalk there but it packs a punch.

The Biltmore is definitely a must-see though it has gotten really expensive. BTD!

The Appalachian Trail goes right through there and lots of great hikes to do nearby.

You probably know Charleston well since I did not see questions there. Obviously historic district, the Battery, and the carriage tours are very enjoyable. The town is an eye feast. We also liked touring the Citadel.

Nearby Beaufort, SC is a very pretty and charming spot. Another historic river town. Many movies filmed there and you can do a carriage tour there as well as walking tours of downtown and the waterfront. A bit like a much smaller Charleston.

If you like the author Pat Conroy most of his novels and movies are set in Beaufort, Charleston and surrounding areas. Also this is the Gullah Geechee corridor which includes some really interesting history and culture.

Lots to do. I could do that trip right now.

 

[11522914]

Last fall we spent a month in New England, based out of Portland ME. Was a great trip.

Next month we'll base out of Asheville to explore the SE, ending our trip in Charleston. Biltmore is on the list, along with hiking.

Any recommendations in Asheville and/or weekend trips in the surrounding area would be welcome!

If you're up to it you can take I-40 out of Asheville and head over to Gatlinburg, TN. Beautiful drive and would take about 2 hours. So much to see and do in Gatlinburg. Don't miss the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Make sure you eat breakfast at the Pancake Pantry in downtown Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is very touristy but lots of hiking and waterfalls. It's like Myrtle Beach in the mountains. Stay the night in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and then head down 441 through the Smokies and into Cherokee. You'll want to do a picnic in the Chimneys Picnic Area. Absolutely gorgeous drive.

If you like gambling Cherokee has a full casino. Take highway 19 back towards Asheville.

 

[RunningBum]

The Appalachian Trail goes right through there and lots of great hikes to do nearby.

The AT is at least 10 miles north and west of Asheville, thru Great Smoky Mtns NP.

The Blue Ridge Parkway goes right thru Asheville. Great for scenic drives. It's been a long time since I was on at that end so I have nothing specific to suggest.

 

[audreyh1]

Oh yeah - Blue Ridge Parkway just awesome!

 

[Out of Steam]

Given your screen name, a trip to Mt. Mitchell, about an hour from Asheville, would seem appropriate.

It is the highest point in the US east of the Mississippi River.

 

[skyking1]

We spent a few days there, the Blue Ridge Parkway was a highlight. I love the engineering of the Lynn cove viaduct that put the road
through without harming the vast boulderscape.

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/poi/linn-cove-viaduct/

 

[Midpack]

We love visiting Asheville. If you like waterfalls and hikes, lots of that around Brevard NC nearby - we enjoyed that. Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful.

We’ve been to all the mid-Atlantic cities and towns, Charleston and Hilton Head are our favorites. Savannah, Wilmington, Outer Banks and both Beauforts aren’t as nice IMO. Steer clear of Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach (a touristy dump) unless you’re playing golf.

 

[Palmtree]

We generally hit Asheville a couple of times a years for a long weekend. If you're into beer, it is definitely a craft brew town. I would recommend visiting the River Arts District for a fun few hours. For dinner I would recommend Cúrate, a great spainish tapas place. It is extremely popular so make your reservations far in advance.

 

[Bigdawg]

We love visiting Asheville. If you like waterfalls and hikes, lots of that around Brevard NC nearby - we enjoyed that. Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful.

We’ve been to all the mid-Atlantic cities and towns, Charleston and Hilton Head are our favorites. Savannah, Wilmington, Outer Banks and both Beauforts aren’t as nice IMO. Steer clear of Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach (a touristy dump) unless you’re playing golf.

Bet you haven't been to Piney Point, MD. LOL. Welcome anytime. But call first. Good chance I'm on the golf course or umpiring a baseball game.

If you venture over to Beaufort, SC, check out a very cool little Island. I think it is called "Parris". Many family members have been yelled at on that Island. I was a Hollywood (MCRD San Diego) Marine myself. Enjoy your trip.

 

[old medic]

We have lived nearby since 85 and aint seen it all yet. WNC Abortorium if you like plants, WNC nature center if your into wildlife. tons of breweries. La-Zoom tour was funny, if you can tolerate a bike riding beer drinking Nun... with a beard. www.lazoomtours.com
Now if your a Dirty Dancing fan... there's Lake Lure, and Chimney Rock SP.

 

[Ronstar]

I like the Blue Ridge Parkway, but find Asheville a little too urbanized for my tastes. I did like the Biltmore though.

For a good weekend trip - head to the smokies.

 

[2017ish]

We just through the area on Sunday. (From southern NC beaches to Nashville, hit I-40 in West Asheville.) Leaves are just starting to think about changing at the higher elevations along the highway. The occasional tree is getting colorful....

There are some excellent fine dining options in Asheville, as well as the brewpubs. We haven't been there in a couple years, so trip advisor or eater is going to be more up to date than my memory. (And, all of our restaurant reviews are on tripadvisor!).

Agree with everyone that the Biltmore is worth it despite the cost. We bought an annual pass a few years ago to see it and the grounds in each season. Wow! If you are a gardener, don't limit yourself to the mansion itself.

 

[audreyh1]

We really enjoyed the Biltmore, the grounds and their winery as well as the unbelievable house.

 

[MarieIG]

. . .

If you venture over to Beaufort, SC, check out a very cool little Island. I think it is called "Parris". Many family members have been yelled at on that Island. I was a Hollywood (MCRD San Diego) Marine myself. Enjoy your trip.

We picked up a kiddo from there a few years back. He looked like he had been starved and had the ugliest pair of eyeglasses I had ever seen strapped to his head. Per his request, our first stop after he was cut loose was a local supermarket . . .

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Fingers crossed on leaf color this year. Local news here in SW Virginia was saying something about certain wet or dry conditions in the summer (heh, forget which) being bad for fall color. But you never know!

 

[Midpack]

Biltmore is incredible, we’ve been several times and it’s worth the cost once at least.

The after story is fascinating, they don’t talk much about that on site. After years of bonkers spending, the home opened in 1895 after 6 years construction with many rooms unfinished, still unfinished to this day. They seemed to realize the cost to maintain the estate was going to be unsustainable (good planning) almost as soon as it was done, and the dawn of income taxes hastened the insolvency. They started selling off most of the surrounding 125,000 acres to hold on before George died, and his wife Edith continued to sell land. The Last Castle is a great book about the rise and fall of Biltmore/George Vanderbilt.

 

[indiajust]

scottish highlands celebrations, swinging bridge on grandfather mountain, summer festivals in blowing rock, hot springs river rafting and natural hot tubs, walking around boone. I'm more a fan of what's around Asheville than the city itself.

This is the land of the "halfback". Folks who went to FL and only made it halfway back to the east coast. It is carolina, so lots of golf and racing here of course. Premier international training ground for beer making. Bootleg prohibition history. Sites for Hunger Games series.

 

[old medic]

I'm more a fan of what's around Asheville than the city itself.

Living 25 miles as the crow flies for 38 years... most of our trips involving Asheville are passing thru. But its got alot to see.

 

[Out of Steam]

Bet you haven't been to Piney Point, MD.

We've been to a number of places nearby, including Point Lookout and St. Mary's City, MD, as well as Colonial Beach, VA.

 

[FIYes]

If you like Arts and Crafts design, then take a look at Grove Park Inn. Pricey to stay, but go look around…have a drink at the bar.

We went to the Biltmore preCovid and got tickets through Costco. We had been before, but I wanted to see the house decorated for Christmas. The grounds are worth seeing as well as the house.

 

[tmitchell]

Well, this trip had to be canceled unfortunately! My parter's job got moved due to a big loss of accounts and now has to go to the office 3x/wk. WFH was good while it lasted!!