Blue Ridge trip planning
June 8th, 2009 by judy c
Dogs of Asheville Image ; Taken by Flickr user
There are some things that you just don’t leave home without when packing for vacation: Passport? Check. Toothbrush? Check. Swimsuit? Check. Fido? …???
Well if you plan a visit to Asheville, North Carolina anytime soon, you’ll be able to check that one off of your list too. That’s because Asheville is positioning itself as a top dog-friendly destination and I had the chance to experience it firsthand this week with my dachshund pal, Moose. Here’s how our trip shook up – where we stayed, where we ate, and what we did – from my perspective, as well as Moose’s.
Hotel: – 1 Skyland Drive, Arden, NC
My take: I love how inexpensive the pet deposit is here – only $25 for the ENTIRE stay! When I saw that the hotel wasn’t in Asheville, I was dreading a long commute into downtown, but the hotel is located right on the edge of Arden, making it only about a 10 minute drive to and the downtown scene. The pet-friendly rooms are located on the first floor in a segregated wing (I suppose to limit the disturbance to any other guest) and they provide complimentary “poop scooper” bags to aid in keeping the grounds pristine.
Moose’s take: I loved the large grassy area where I could run around and sniff. Some hotels have just a small patch of grass for my potty breaks, but this hotel’s lawn was bigger than my backyard at home! My only issue is that I like peace and quiet. My human owners don’t have the super-bionic hearing that I do, so they couldn’t hear the racket that the other dogs were making in the neighboring rooms – but I could and I kept barking at the door in an effort to get those rascals to calm down. That’s something that I never do at home.
Dinner: – 675 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC
My take: This restaurant isn’t located in the heart of downtown, but it was worth the 2 mile drive to get there. They are very dog-friendly, allowing well-behaved and leashed four-legged friends to dine with you in the outside seating area. The pizza was pretty greasy, but tasted great and they brew their own local beer.
Moose’s take: There were lots of friendly dogs here and the staff was just as friendly. They offered me fresh water in a dog bowl! I got in trouble though because I didn’t want to sit still – I wanted to PLAY with the other dogs. Finally my owners banished me to the crate in the backseat of our parked car, so I don’t think that I can give an impartial review of this place.
Entertainment: Asheville and the Central Mountains Area
The following sites ranked “two paws way up” among Moose’s favorite locations:
• – While you can’t tour the inside of the home, the winery, or the indoor shops with your dog, the immense grounds (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) are completely pet-friendly and breathtakingly beautiful.
• – The only place that your dog can’t go is in the elevator that rides you straight to the top of the mountain, but dogs are welcome everywhere else. You (and your pet) won’t experience another view like it.
• – Lots of paved and dirt paths, bbq area, river outlooks, and a 1 acre dog park tucked away to play. Located along the picturesque French Broad River at the intersection of Amboy Road and Riverview Drive.
• – Just walk around the downtown area and window shop / people watch. Many of the stores even allow you to browse around with your pet in tow. Just make sure that you ask first.
Additional Resource: Our friends at ExploreAsheville.com have an excellent . Be sure to check it out and let us know what else would you recommend when traveling with your dog to Asheville.
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March 16th, 2009 by admin
The editors of Blue Ridge Country, an outstanding magazine that highlights the heritage and history of the Blue Ridge area, have compiled a list of events taking place this spring in North Carolina. You can find a full list of Spring Happenings on their website and a partial list of events below with information on nearby attractions. Enjoy a day out with the family and experience some of these local treats while you take advantage of the Go Blue Ridge Card program.
· Mountain Man Tractor Pull, March 7. Jackson Park, Hendersonville
· RiverLink’s River Front Bus Tours, March 19, April 16, & May 21. City Hall, Asheville
Nearby attractions: Thomas Wolfe Memorial and Smith-McDowell House Museum
· Scandinavian Heritage, March 22-28. John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown
· Melange of the Mountains, March 26. The Gateway Club, Waynesville
Near by attraction: Ghost Town in the Sky
· The True Story of Bats, through May 10. NC Arboretum, Asheville
Nearby attractions: Gray Line Trolley Tour of Ashevilleand Colburn Earth Science Museum
· Headwaters Gathering: Southern Appalachia at the Crossroads,March 27 – 29. Warren Wilson College, Asheville
Nearby attraction: Biltmore
· River of Words & Art, April 3 – 26. Pack Place Community Gallery, Asheville
Nearby attraction: LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour of Asheville
· Spring Bass Classic Tournament, April 11 / HiYak Festival, April 17-19. Fontana Village
Nearby attraction: Wildwater Rafting (40 minute drive)
· Appalachian Growers Fair, April 18. Appalachian Women’s Museum, Dillsboro
Nearby Attraction: Dillsboro Rafting
· Spring Hike Week, April 19-24. Historic Fontana Village
Nearby attraction: Nantahala Outdoor Center Rafting (40 minute drive)
· MerleFest, April 23 -26. Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro
· Thunder in the Smokies, April 24 – 26. Festival Grounds, Maggie Valley
Nearby attraction: Ghost Town in the Sky
· Historic Johnson Farm Festival, April 25. Hendersonville
· Pioneer Day, April 25. Mountain Gateway Museum Grounds, Old Fort
· Wildflower Walk and Plant Sale, April 25. Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Boone
Nearby attractions: Tweetsie Railroad, Mystery Hill, and Horn in the West
· Greening up the Mountains Festival, April 25 – 29. Sylva
Nearby attraction: Dillsboro Rafting
· Birding and Wildflowers, April 26 – May 1. The Swag, Waynesville
Nearby attraction: Ghost Town in the Sky
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
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November 27th, 2007 by susan j
Balsam Mountain Inn, photo courtesy of
From cozy bed and breakfasts to the grandeur of Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway has plenty of places to stay during your next trip. Here are some of our picks:
is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Part of the National Registry of Historic Places, this 100 year old inn is short drive away from Mast General Store and Dillsboro River Company. Pet-friendly room are available by request.
is run by the owners of Banner Elk Winery, so many of the rooms are cleverly identified with the names of wine (for example, the Cabernet Grande Fireplace Suite, which is swathed in rich shades of red and accented with dark wood furniture). Two of the bedrooms have fireplaces for a romantic weekend getaway.
has appeared on Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 100 Hotels for two years in a row. The Inn features an outdoor pool and hot tub, as well as a library and in-room movies. Breathtaking mountain views and elegantly decorated guest rooms make for a memorable stay.
offers lodge accommodations or quiet secluded cottages for a relaxing family or couple’s vacation. This family-owned establishment is a short drive to Linville Caverns and The Historic Orchard at Altapass.
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Blue Ridge Card.
November 2nd, 2007 by susan j
Photo uploaded by
For those of you who are planning a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall or winter, we’ve just unveiled a new sightseeing option. The Blue Ridge Explorer Pass lets you choose 4 attractions to visit anytime during a 30 day period, plus gain free admission to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and special discounts at area restaurants and stores. Choose from top area attractions including Biltmore, Chimney Rock Park, The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Wheels Through Time Museum, and others. Happy travels!
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Blue Ridge Card.
October 29th, 2007 by susan j
Asheville will get a taste of Hollywood November 8-11 with the Asheville Film Festival. Last year the festival attracted over 8,000 people and over a quarter of them were visitors. Here’s a sneak peak at the 2007 festival:
- This year’s festival features 93 films (14 of which were shot or produced in Western North Carolina).
- starring Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman is this year’s opening film.
- in French and English concludes the festival.
- Over the four day festival, movie pros will offer 12 professional development seminars including new technology from Apple.
- Academy award nominee Tess Harper will receive the festival’s Career Achievement Award.
Tickets to individual screenings are $7 in advance, $8 at the door (or buy a “Cinemtic 6-Pack” for $39). Click here for ticket information.
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Blue Ridge Card.
October 23rd, 2007 by judy c
The Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall
Photo uploaded by
It’s not too late to see the foliage change and the seasonal flowers bloom along the Blue Ridge Parkway this season! According to VirtualBlueRidge.com, “wildflowers still dominate many areas, as Sunflower, Ironweed, Goldenrod, Beebalm, and Joe-Pye Weed light up the roadside especially in the agricultural lands adjacent to the Parkway.”
But catch the color while you can because the strong rain and wind expected later this week will force the leaves to decorate more of the ground than the trees themselves.
For weekly recorded updates about the foliage, dial the Blue Ridge Parkway Information Line at 828-298-0398 ext. 7. Click here for a listing of tree species’ along the Parkway, as well as details about they colors they burst into during fall.
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Blue Ridge Card.
October 22nd, 2007 by susan j
Saturday and Sunday November 10 and 11, the Asheville’s River Arts District offers two days of open studios and festivities. Currently in its 14th year, the Studio Stroll lets visitors chat with local artists about their work, watch live demonstrations, and enjoy the sense of artistic community found in the old factories and warehouses lining the French Broad River. The Studio Stroll is free. Many of the art studios are close together and offer ample free parking.
While in Asheville, you might also want to visit Biltmore, Chimney Rock Park, and Grove Arcade.
Planning a trip to
the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Blue Ridge Card.
