Tuesday, January 10, 2006
2006...Asheville is HOME
ASHEVILLE is dazzlingly replete with arts, culture, history, a sense of community, remarkable recreational amenities AND both a cosmopolitan and earthy flair. If you are the kind of person who enjoys folk art showcases, historic Civil War landmarks, first-rate museums, art galleries and exhibition halls, music, dance and theater you will feel right a home here. If you like good food, locally grown and organic foods are plentiful. Welcome HOME to the mountains, tailgate markets, friendly folks and places to stop for refreshments and good conversation.
For a list of places to eat and places to stay please contact WELCOME@Asheville1031Realty.com or simply contact the Asheville Visitor Information Center: http://www.ashevilletransit.com/visitors/visitor.htm
Area attractions, sporting events, festivals and cultural events and mountain vistas provide visitors with many exciting places to explore and activities to enjoy. Asheville offers visitors the charm of a small city along with a stimulating urban environment. With its vibrant downtown filled with restaurants, galleries, craft and antique shops and wonderful architecture, you will want to stay and stay.
WHERE TO STAY
If you are planning to be in the Greater Asheville area for a number of days…perhaps looking for investment property, acreages and historic properties to renovate our clients recommend the following:
1. The Grove Park Inn Resort is one of Asheville’s (in fact one of the South’s) oldest and most famous grand resorts. Built on about 140 acres it boasts massive granite boulders and an imposing presence. Mr. Grove himself approved of this architecture in 1913. Close to downtown Asheville's it is both luxurious and convenient The Inn is a remarkable feat of engineering you and your family will not soon forget. (704.252.2711) http://www.groveparkinn.com/ While you are there, stop by the Antique Car Museum/NC Homespun Museum Asheville.
2. Another favorite of our clients is the Inn at the Biltmore Estate this is a Four-Star establishment. http://www.biltmore.com/plan/stay/stay.shtml The Biltmore Estate itself features a 250 room European chateau built in French-Renaissance style by George Vanderbilt, grandson of tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt and furnished with priceless antiques and art. It is the largest private home in America, a winery--where Biltmore wines are available for tasting--and the gardens and grounds.
3. Voted one of the Top Three Country Inns is the Richmond Hill Inn which features 37 well-appointed rooms in the historic Mansion, Croquet Cottages, and Garden Pavilion. You'll enjoy the professional service of the finest Asheville hotel with an intimate setting of the grandest bed and breakfast inn. http://www.richmondhillinn.com/
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES OF INTEREST & THINGS TO DO
Our offices are convenient to downtown Asheville, the local coffee shop and bakery and the historic district. We are close to the Botanical Gardens in Asheville, so you may find one or more of us enjoying this ten acre area of native plants located just off Broadway on Weaver Blvd.
Asheville’s outstanding early twentieth century architecture including structures of national significance is worth your attention. Pack Place is a focal point of the restored downtown district and includes the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Gem & Mineral Museum the Cultural Center and performing arts theatre. Nearby is the Thomas Wolfe Memorial the famous novelist's boyhood home. This is the boardinghouse depicted in the novel Look Homeward, Angel.
A scenic drives, natural treasures or hiking and horseback riding may be on your agenda. Possibly make time to take a leisurely drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are many points from which you can access walking and hiking trails through peaceful woodlands and alongside mountain glades. Some even lead to exquisite hidden waterfalls and magnificent overlooks. Nature trails lead to inspirational natural wonders of Western North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of beautiful, winding road that links the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee to the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia. Less than an hour’s from Asheville is the town of Marion, where you will discover Little Switzerland and Emerald Village open to the public for mining precious and semiprecious gemstones. Or explore Chimney Rock, the giant 26 story-high monolith within a 1,000-acre park.
And horse lovers, consider an excursion to our neighboring Polk County and the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center with its 210 acre steeplechase course, show rings, a carriage trail and many horsemanship events.
We really enjoy the Folk Arts Center. It is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway in East Asheville. Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, it has been dedicated to preserving Appalachian crafts and craftsmanship for over 70 years now. It is open 7 days a week, year around, and here you will find a fine craft gallery, craft shop and even storytelling events. We've heard tales about the fly-fishing in our moutnain streams that get more incredible every year! By the way, if you are an avid angler, you can expect any number of small mouth bass, crappie, several varieties of catfish, and perch to FLY on to your rod…or so they tell us.
For our wintertime visitors, when viewing acreage is probably the easiest and you can see the land and what looks most attractive to you, skiing is very good at the Wolf Laurel Ski Resort. This may be a good vacation/second home place for you to ask us about, as well. It is only a 35 minute drive from Asheville.
For more information and investment properties with an ECO-edge….please contact natureWalker@Asheville1031Realty.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR and all good things for you in ASHEVILLE.
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