As you can see, we are here back in NH where it is cold, grey and not very spring like. We had a fantastic time in Western North Carolina, doing what we do best, seeing the highlights, lowlights, sampling the local beer and wine, local art and just enjoying ourselves. Our weather was very good, only one morning that had dense fog, but it fined up beautifully. Let me just recap our five day stay in Asheville NC.
Day one, the afternoon we arrive we tour the town of Asheville, getting our bearings and finding LAB, or Lexington Ave. Brewery. Very good food, local music and excellent beer that they brew on location.
Day two, drive over to the Great Smoky Mountain NP, we walked 20 feet of the Appalachian Trail, crossing the border into Tennessee, and driving around the park. From there we drove to Gatlinburg TN which, as far as we are concerned, we never have to go near again, and if we thought Gatlinburg was bad, the next town Pigeon Forge was even worse. The main street was lined with arcades, go cart racing, Dollywood (Dolly Parton's theme park), the Titanic theme park, and so on and so forth. We were so stunned we forgot to take pictures, because honestly no words can describe this place.
Day three, we went to the Biltmore, the home of George Vanderbilt built in the late 1890's. it is modeled after French chateaus and designed by Richard Morris-Hunt, and the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park in NYC. The place is absolutely amazing and I highly advise anyone visiting the area to go see it.
Day four. It started out with a very dense fog so we decided to go to the Western NC Arboretum. It is a very beautiful garden, well layed out, and as the fog lifted it had a wonderful view of the Blue Ridge. Lunch was back to LAB for more good beer and food.
Day five, our last day we spent the morning down at the River Arts District or "RAD" in Asheville. Our first thought upon seeing a few tired mill buildings was "this is it?", for all the things we had read about it it just didn't seem right. After having a cup of coffee and finding a map and book describing all the artists, we found it encompasses many blocks down by the river and railway. The artists have taken very run down warehouses and shops and turned them into very cool galleries and studios that you are welcome to walk through. After a few hours of gallerying, we decided to drive some of the Blue Ridge Parkway and went up to Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, who knew? I always that that distinction belonged to Mt. Washington or Mt. Kathadin. Then at last to the airport for that all important hurry up and wait. we did make all of our connections eventually arriving home at 2:30 am Thursday morning.
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