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Asheville, North Carolina

I spent the majority of March, 2001, in Asheville reviewing the member inns of the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association. It seems to have taken on a rare, outside of San Francisco, CA, 1960's laid-back approach towards life; a live and let live philosophy.

There are definitely four seasons in Asheville, something a lot of this country doesn't get. Sure, I got here before the flowers really bloomed. It's hard to see the four seasons if you wait on the flowers. Next year, try Asheville in January, February or March. The rates are lower and some flowers are available. It's a relief from the heat of the lower states and a much milder winter than you'll find in the north.

Everyone I met promoted Asheville as a retirement location. They actively recruited doctors and other professionals to the area. You add arts, theater, crafts, and the beautiful North Carolina mountain ranges with the trails, waterfalls and activities and you have a winning vacation or relocation spot in hand.

Asheville Facts:

  • Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina.

  • Outside magazine rated Asheville #3 as one of the top 10 cities "where you don't have to give up good living to live a good life."

  • Vacations magazine rated Asheville one of its top 10 getaway destinations.

  • More art deco architecture built in the late 1920's and early 1930's can be found in downtown Asheville than in any other southeastern city except Miami Beach.

  • One of America's most esteemed authors, Thomas Wolfe, was born and raised in Asheville.

  • The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival held on the Fourth of July in Asheville is the oldest of its kind in the nation.

  • North Carolina's largest downtown street festival, Bele Chere, is held each July in downtown Asheville and attracts more than 300,000 people during the three-day event.

  • Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet, located about 20 miles northwest of Asheville.

  • There are 52 golf courses open to the public within 60 minutes of Asheville, about 75 hiking trails, three rivers for whitewater rafting, two llama trekking outfitters, one indoor rock climbing site, one hot air ballooning company, numerous tennis courts, two bicycle companies, two ski resorts, various rock hounding opportunities, more than 10 campgrounds and assorted fishing holes.

I'll end this with a short story I came across about George Vanderbilt. See ya in Asheville!

George Vanderbilt came to Asheville in 1887. During his stay, at the Old Battery Park Hotel in Asheville, he had an excellent view of the French Broad River and the Blue Ridge Mountains. He soon afterward began purchasing 125,000 acres of land upon which to build his dream of a country estate similar to the large estates of Europe. This became Biltmore Estate.

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