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9-Nights Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA

Price: $5,925 - # of Days: 9 days
Spectacular National Parks Of Eastern UsaDiscover the spectacular National Parks and eclectic cities of the Eastern USA on this 10-Day guided tour. Revel in wide open spaces, stunning landscapes, iconic city sights and enjoy a bounty of food, music and art. Starting in Washington D.C., enjoy the spe...

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7-Nights Coasts and Mountains of the South: Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Charleston & More

Price: Please call for rates - # of Days: 7 days
MODERATE | SELF-DRIVE: The American South is rich in mesmerizing scenery, history and graceful, often enthralling, architecture. The Great Smoky Mountains rising along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina are simply stunning and the beaches between Charleston and Savannah are delightful. Both ...

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Overview

Introduction

Nestled firmly between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has many great qualities that attract a truly diverse population, hence the city's moniker: "Asheville: Discovery, Inside and Out."

Although Asheville is nationally known for the Biltmore Estate, George W. Vanderbilt's palatial home built in the 1890s, it represents just one of the attractions the western North Carolina city has to offer.

Since the railroads created easier access to western North Carolina in the late 19th century, swarms of people have been drawn to Asheville's magnificent beauty and hospitable climate. People-watching from one of the city's many outdoor cafes reveals its character more than any tour could: Among the constant flow of tourists, you'll see plenty of young professionals and hippies, retired couples, street performers and mountain folk.

The number of attractions in Asheville is astounding for such a modest city. In addition to the Biltmore Estate, you'll find seemingly countless restaurants of almost every variety, museums, art galleries, theaters, cozy pubs, breweries, eclectic shops and pristine natural attractions. Nearby Pisgah National Forest is a favorite place for locals to squeeze in a weekend hike or simply relax in the woods.

If you're strolling through downtown on a Friday night, you might happen upon an odd sight. In Pritchard Park, hundreds of people of every description, both young and old, gather to dance to the rhythms of a local drum circle. Strange as it might seem at first, it's sights like these that may just entice you to stay in Asheville for good.

Must See or Do

Sights—The Biltmore Estate; the Pack Place museum complex at Pack Square; the Basilica of St. Lawrence; the Thomas Wolfe Memorial; the Grove Park Inn; the Grove Arcade Public Market; the River Arts District.

Museums—The Asheville Art Museum; the Folk Art Center off the Blue Ridge Parkway; the Smith-McDowell House.

Memorable Meals—The sumptuous Sunday buffet brunch at the Grove Park Inn; dinner and a movie at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company; fresh-brewed coffee at Charlotte Street City Bakery; breakfast at the Early Girl Eatery; Sunday brunch at Jerusalem Garden Cafe; Caribbean fusion cuisine at Salsa's; vegetarian fare at the Laughing Seed Cafe.

Late Night—Green Man Ales and live bluegrass at Jack of the Wood; live music and dancing at The Orange Peel; a late-night snack at Barley's Pizzeria and Taproom or Rosetta's Kitchen.

Walks—Strolling the streets of historic Montford Historic District; stretching your legs on a trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway; touring the gardens at the Biltmore Estate; exploring the eclectic shops lining Lexington Avenue; a walk through time along The Asheville Urban Trail.

Especially for Kids—Scaling the walls at ClimbMax Indoor Climbing Center; exploring interactive science exhibits at the Asheville Museum of Science; bead-making classes at the Chevron Trading Post & Bead Company; a visit to the WNC Nature Center.

Geography

History

The site of present-day Asheville was originally an intersection of Cherokee Indian paths. When the land beyond the eastern slopes of the Appalachians began to open up to European migration, a town planner named John Burton purchased the deed to a small crossroads settlement and founded Morristown in 1794. In 1797, the town was incorporated and became known as Asheville in honor of North Carolina Gov. Samuel Ashe.

Growth was slow during much of the next century until the railroad made access to the mountains easier in the 1880s. Asheville's population boomed as summer people from the east migrated to its cooler, less oppressive climate. One of these people was 27-year-old George W. Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the incredibly wealthy shipping and railroad tycoon. George loved the area surrounding Asheville so much that he purchased 125,000 acres/50,600 hectares of it and began to build the Biltmore House, which would become the largest private residence in the U.S. The completion of this mansion marked the beginning of a period of great expansion for the city of Asheville.

The peak of this expansion occurred in the 1920s as much of the architecture seen in downtown today, including art-deco, Gothic and neoclassical styles, was added to the city's skyline. However, as in the rest of the country, the Great Depression devastated Asheville's economy. But Asheville took a different route than many other U.S. cities: Property owners decided to pay their loans rather than sell off their mortgages. Though it took them until 1977 to climb out of debt, the end result was that the city's remarkable architecture survived the demolition ball. More than 80 buildings in Buncombe County are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Outsiders still flock to this resort city in the mountains. Since the mid-Nineties, it has undergone yet another revitalization, with more than US$200 million devoted to creating one of the most attractive downtowns in the Southeast.

Potpourri

Asheville was the second city in the U.S. to use electric streetcars, beginning in 1889. In the old photographs of the city dating back to the booming 1920s, their presence is ubiquitous.

Second only to Miami, Asheville has the largest collection of art-deco architecture east of the Mississippi River. One of the best examples is the S&W Cafeteria building on Patton Avenue, across from Pritchard Park.

Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a degree as a doctor of medicine, began her medical studies at a private girls' school in Asheville. A metal bower of medicinal herbs surrounds a bust of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell on Patton Street.

The first forestry school in the U.S. was founded when George Vanderbilt commissioned Carl Schenckt to manage his 100,000-acre/40,500-hectare forest (much of it later became part of Pisgah National Forest). Today, the U.S. Forest Service commemorates this event with its Cradle of Forestry Museum, located about 20 mi/32 km southwest of Asheville. Numerous hiking trails are located near the site.

Old Highland Mental Hospital, tucked away in the Montford district of Asheville, housed some world-famous patients. Some even found the environment conducive to creativity. Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of the famous U.S. novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, was treated at Highland, and she painted a picture of one of the old trees planted in front of her building. Zelda died in a fire at the hospital in 1948. The hospital is now closed, and some of the buildings have been sold.

Even before Zelda Fitzgerald was admitted to Highland Hospital, F. Scott Fitzgerald had traveled to Asheville many times to visit his friend and fellow author Thomas Wolfe. During his stays in Asheville, Fitzgerald wrote several op-ed pieces for the Asheville Citizen Times, the city's main newspaper that still runs today.

Famous architect Rafael Gustavino loved his creation, the Basilica of St. Lawrence, so much that he opted to remain there for eternity—his remains are interred in the building.