Escaping to NC ... suggestions?

8 years ago

I'm soon flying to Asheville, renting a car, poking around that vicinity and Waynesville, then northward on or near the Blue Ridge Parkway to Rockville, MD near DC (to a sing-out of Gilbert & Sullivan operas - my other passion) and then reversing the trip, including maybe some of the Shenadoah area. First 3 nights In Hendersonville, NC, where I'll visit Bullington Gardens, Bat Cave, Lake Lure, and Chimney Rock - where I have a few childhood memories. I don't do heat well, especially walking in it, so thinking I'll schedule DC for a cooler season. Suggestions? What would you do?

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jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Yeah Irma, you should enjoy Biltmore as I did a little over 30 yrs ago after reading 3 books on that one-of-a-kind family. A couple of facts, - some may have been forgotten !

1. It was young George Vanderbilt's idea, total construction took over 12 yrs. and was started around 1895 - 1900, as best I can recall.

2. Young George used his entire $10.1 M inheritance to built it, ( approx $200M today ). He was broke at the end, but a Vanderbilt never really goes broke does he ? Not with all the trust funds and relatives in the US !

3. The original total land the huge home was built upon was 125,000 acres of gorgeous, North Carolina, virgin densely wooded forest, ( can you imagine ? ) !!!!!!!

4. He hired Mr Frederick Law Olmsted to design the vast grounds,..the same guy who designed Central Park in Manhattan 50 yrs earlier !

Just a details freak here,..enjoy the 2 + hr tour as we did,..am sure youse guys will be wide-eyed as well ! LOL

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Comments (7)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Irma, that sounds like fun! Have you previously been to Biltmore in Asheville? You will be almost on top of it... if you have never been, it might be something you would like to do:

Biltmore Estate

The other thing I would 100% absolutely recommend (more than the Biltmore) is biking the Virginia Creeper Bike trail. It is just a couple miles north of the North Carolina-Virginia border. It is a 17-mile bike trail... all downhill! It is gorgeous and lots of fun and anyone who can ride a bike can do it. (My mother and father did it quite easily in their 70s.) I've done it twice - once in June and once in October - and both times were just wonderful. Shady, you coast downhill the whole way, some good places to eat along the trail... takes about three-four hours. Here are two different links - both with good information.

Virginia Creeper Bike Trail

Virginia Creeper Bike Trail

Enjoy your travels!

Carol in Jacksonville
irma_stpete_10a thanked Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
irma_stpete_10a
Original Author
8 years ago
Carol, that is what I hoped for... something wonderful I have never heard or thought of! Thank you!
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Pea
8 years ago
Ashville has a wonderful art community. Lots of potters. If i was to go to ashville i would be looking up some of those potter's to go visit. Highwater clay is out of ashville too...that would be on my list to go to too. But i am a potter so clay attracts me.
irma_stpete_10a thanked Pea
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
8 years ago
If i was going to NC as you are, and looking for another site or two in the area that would be worth seeing,..my two cents suggest the following,..all in SC ! ( We here are driving up after Labor Day for a 6 day sightseeing trip,...our first ever ! )

1. Hobcaw Barony, near Georgetown,..16,000 acres of an old 17th century rice plantation,..the former home of Bernard Baruch ! More than a few of the old homes and slave quarters still standing,..an old church or two also !

2 Charleston,...need I say more ?

3. Edisto Island,..you mention " Kum Bai Yah " there and the locals will smile and invite you in for some tasty corn bread !

Please post the details after you return ! :o)
irma_stpete_10a thanked jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
sharon2079
8 years ago
I went to Ashville, a few years ago to get a white collie. A fun trip, and a beautiful companion.
irma_stpete_10a thanked sharon2079
whgille
8 years ago
Irma, your trip sounds very entertaining, I don't have any tips but I wish you a lot of fun!

Silvia
irma_stpete_10a thanked whgille