Archive for August, 2010

Nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains as if it were a misty figment rather than a stone-and-timber town, Asheville is both a grand gesture and a quiet note. Asheville was settled as early as 1784; it wasn’t necessarily a quiet mountain hollow. Subjected to Native American and Civil War conflicts in the hundred years afterwards, the town didn’t take on a more prominent profile until the late 19th century.

Blue Ridge Parkway; considered “America’s most scenic drive,” the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway meanders through changing vistas of natural beauty, touching on stellar mountain views, hiking trails, and picnic sites.

Chimney Rock Park has as its centerpiece a monolithic, jutting rock that rises 315 feet above the ground and affords astounding views of the surrounding terrain. A network of trails invites exploration, and you can look out over the landscape at sites like Inspiration Point and Peregrine’s Rest.

Smith-McDowell House Museum, Asheville’s oldest home is Victorian in style and was built around 1840. The red-brick structure was a rarity in the days of log cabins, and it was built using slave labor.

Biltmore Estate “castle on the hill” resides on an 8000-acre estate, complete with manicured gardens, woodlands, and an award-winning winery (the nation’s most visited). Built in the late 19th-century by George Washington Vanderbilt II, the chateau-inspired home is an opulent example of the wealth acquired during America’s Gilded Age. The magnificent 250-room mansion ranks as the largest private residence in the country.

The North Carolina Arboretum 60 acres of the arboretum are expertly cultivated gardens that showcase a variety of flora, including one of the most extensive bonsai collections in the US.

Asheville Art Museum in the Pack Place Education, Arts and Sciences Center, this museum houses both permanent collections and visiting exhibits of 20th- and 21st-century American art.

ClimbMax Indoor Climbing Center offers an exciting, weatherproof environment where athletes and novices can enjoy roped and unroped climbing to heights ranging from 40 to 225 feet. The facility also offers beginner’s classes and outdoor climbing.

Car rental services in Asheville NC are available from Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Thrifty and Triangle to name a few.

try car-rentals.com and avail best car hire services