Asheville Legendary Inns

Patti at Cumberland Falls August 19th, 2008

There are times in the life of an innkeeper that one feels as though every possible permutation of human experience has been related to you by a guest.  Today, one trumped the usual.

I was pouring the orange juice so that it wouldn’t be quite so cold when the guests arrived when a gentleman staying in one of our rooms enters the dining room.  We exchanged morning pleasantries and in a bit he makes “the announcement.”   It would seem that though he and his wife have checked in for 3 nights and had stayed just one—- they were going to be leaving. 

Anxious to identify and immediately rectify, if possible, the problem causing such a decision I asked what the problem was. 
His response, totally deadpan was, “The birds sing in the morning.”  There are two very beautiful mature trees in the front of our property.  One, on Ohio buckeye and the other a Linden tree.  Both are exquisitely lovely and birds do seek their branches to rest a bit before flying on their way.

There was, I must admit, a certain liberation in my impotence to FIX that particular situation.  The birds do sing.  I cannot quiet them.  Nor do I want to.  I did offer another room less proximal to the trees but hey, this is North Carolina, there are trees everywhere.  There are birds in them and God love them– they sing!

• Fun guest stories , Hints from innkeepers
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Lynn at 1900 Inn on Montford August 19th, 2008

With Olympic fans’ eyes on the summer games in China, we might keep our “eye on the ball” locally, and enjoy a Labor Day weekend game at McCormick field. The Asheville Tourists play the Augusta Greenjackets on Sunday, August 31st at 7:05pm. What could be better than wrapping up the season with a cold beer, a hot dog, and baseball? FIREWORKS, of course! Stay after the game for a great view of the spectacular fireworks display. 

• What's up in Asheville
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Valerie at Abbington Green August 17th, 2008

You probably have seen Asheville, North Carolina on the lists of “Best Places to Retire” and “Best Places to Live” and even “Happiest Communities”. You may also have heard that Asheville has a great many artists.

But did you know that Asheville has more working artists per capita than any other city in this country? Well, apparently it has. And that means that the experience you have in Asheville, whether you visit or live here, is very much an experience that puts art in your path.

And art has many facets..crafters who make glass and fabrics and woodworked items and pottery and jewelry, and artists who paint and sculpt and construct…Asheville has it all.

Not to forget the performing artists…musicians,actors and dancers and singers. The full spectrum of  all those  gifts, you can find here. The creative energy that artists add to the community is palpable.  You can feel it and see it everywhere. Be sure to  make plans to sample them on your next visit to Asheville.

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Cathy at Albemarle Inn August 17th, 2008

Being locals and innkeepers busy at our inn, my husband and I don’t often go downtown on weekends.  However, last Friday we had a meeting near the Grove Arcade and decided to stay for dinner.  Although we had intended to go home the wonderful summer scene around the Arcade drew us in. The warm evening air, people dining at outdoor tables, laughter and a special upbeat feeling enticed us to take a walk around “our” town -  something we hadn’t done in quite a while.  Our walk took us down Battery Park and then as we turned the corner onto Haywood Road we picked up the sound of drum beats.  We had heard about the street happening called ”The Asheville Drum Circle” but had never experienced it.  Pritchard Park, at the intersection of Haywood and College Streets, becomes alive every Friday night with the sound of drummers.  It started relatively quietly, with what appeared to be a few regulars playing together.  But as night fell, people of all walks of life started arriving with drumsof all types. Some appeared professional, most were amateurs.  They either went down into the circle or sat on the circular stone steps that lead down into the cirlce.  In front of us we noticed an adorable little blond haired boy of about 4 years old who was with his mother.  He was happily beating on a little drum and keeping perfect time.  There must have been 50 or more musicians and the beat became primal and intoxicating.  Dancers of all types, some in African/style dress, a few belly dancers,  men still wearing their button-down shirts from the office, and just regular folks went down into the circle and danced with amazing spontaneity to the ever building heartbeat of the drums.  We went home on a natural high from what had clearly been one of Asheville’s unique experiences - wonderful energy, a mix of cultures and Asheville’s slightly offbeat but amazing artistic talent on display.  If you go next Friday, you will probably see us.

• Uncategorized , What's Up in Asheville
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Valerie at Abbington Green August 10th, 2008

If Asheville, NC is on your itinerary, and you are a “chocoholic”, you’ll like this little story.

I have a son-in -law who is definitely a ‘chocoholic’, so I told my daughter about a place in Asheville that would be a ‘must see’…and also a ‘must taste’. It’s called The Asheville Chocolate Lounge. Well, my daughter told my other daughter about it…and my 4 year old granddaughter Adrianna overheard the conversation about the Chocolate Lounge.

So the next time I talked to Adrianna on the phone, she said, “Is there a Chocolate Lounge where you live?” “Why, yes”, I replied. Then she said, ” Are the tables made of chocolate? Are the chairs made of chocolate? Is the waste basket made of chocolate?”  Ahh, the mind of a child…so literal and yet so complex! So I said,” I think that the things that you eat there are chocolate. And when you come to visit me in Asheville, we’ll go and check it out.”

So we did.  And the sipping chocolate and the cakes and the ’single-source’ truffles and everything we tried was wonderful! Perhaps you will want to put that on your list of unique and fun places to visit in Asheville.

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Lynn at 1900 Inn on Montford August 7th, 2008

The Blue Ridge Parkway, created as a WPA project of the 1930’s, remains a jewel of a national park in the crown of the world’s oldest mountain range- Appalachia. It is best cruised slowly ( the only possibility with a maximum speed limit of 45mph). There’s simply no need to rush with panoramic views and turnouts at the scenic overlooks. It is a remarkable drive, but one must plan ahead to ensure happy trails: the parkway is currently closed between Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell. For the latest information on closures, visit www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm. Options for an Asheville based visit to the parkway include the Folk Art Center (828) 298-7928 milepost 382, the NC Arboretum at mi.393, or a hike up Mount Pisgah at mi. 408. Whatever your plans, keep an eye to the weather- the parkway can be treacherous when foggy or stormy. When the skies are clear, the vistas are astounding!

• Hints from innkeepers , Mountain life
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Valerie at Abbington Green August 4th, 2008

In and around Asheville are some really wonderful places to ride dirt bikes and road bikes. There are books and maps and internet sites to look up specific places to go that will suit your skill and stamina…and some that will really test your skill and stamina!

The Dupont State Forest has some beautiful places to ride and some great waterfalls, so you can get cooled off part way through your trek. Or for road bikes, just ride the road along the French Broad River from Asheville up toward Marshall. The road winds and the river edges form a small canyon-iike area along the side of the road.

So if you’re thinking of bringing your bicycles to Asheville, do a little checking online to scope out the places that will fit your plan. Whether you just want a little scenery as you take a leisurely ride, or whether it’s flat out, heavy workout that will make your day, Asheville has all that nearby.

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Cathy at Albemarle Inn August 3rd, 2008

At the Albemarle Inn we wait all year for the summer peaches - and they’re finally here in abundance.  All the farm stands are full of wonderful South Carolina peaches - fragrant, ripe and ready to eat.  So many things to do with them.  What to do first?  Of course you can make peach pie, peach muffins, peach topping for pancakes.  All great choices, but my favorite herb, lemon verbena,  is also at its peak in the inn’s herb garden.  What we love to do at the inn is to make a syrup with the seeds of 1/2 a fresh vanilla bean, 2/3 cup of honey, 2/3 cup of peach nectar, a little lemon and some lemon verbena from our garden.  Then simmer it until its bubbling. The whole kitchen smells incredible while its cooking.  Then we cut the peaches in wedges and toss them in the warm syrup.  Serve on anything, but we like to put the mixture over cold sorbet.  The contrast between the warm peaches and syrup and the cold sorbet is lovely on a hot summer morning.  Another suggestion is to do what Larry and I do at home - toss peach halves in a little oil and cinnamon and grill them until they’re soft.  Its like the inside of a peach pie. 

• Recipes , Uncategorized
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Aaron at Biltmore Village Inn July 30th, 2008

Parking is a big issue in Asheville, and in Biltmore Village. This weekend especially, with the Antique Show downtown and the Biltmore Arts & Crafts show in the All Souls Cathedral churchyard, parking is going to be tough. One way around is to get the Antique Show inn ticket that includes the trolley, which goes both places. Or you can get a day trolley ticket.

Otherwise, parking in the Village is particularly tough. With the addition of parking under the new storefronts on Brook Street (the north side of the village, near the old depot), there is more parking, but during the show, you’ll be better going onto Reed Street behind the Village, where there is a fair amount of onstreet parking. In a pinch, you might end up on Dodge, which runs in front of Biltmore Village Inn. Then you have a bit of a hike downhill, but that’s better than a parking ticket.

Downtown, the best parking garage for the show is the one right next to the Grove Arcade (Google Maps can help you orient yourself). Also, Otis Street, which runs past the garage and one block west of the Grove Arcade, has onstreet parking. Unfortunately, those meters are limited to two hours.

In any case, be very careful, since towing is expensive–make sure that you look for signs in any lot that looks empty. Although it’s not legal, some of the merchants and professional offices downtown have very small signs in hard-to-read places. Although the locals will sometimes fight an unfair tow, it’s almost impossible for out-of-towners. So don’t risk a tow that will spoil your visit.

A talk with your innkeeper can help a lot in sorting out the parking.

• Hints from innkeepers
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Patti at Cumberland Falls July 30th, 2008

I was in the garden today.  It is a place of refuge for me where things seem to “make sense”.  A simplicity exists there.  Largely, in a garden with effort, making careful plant selections and finding each plant a spot in which it should flourish & feed and water accordingly- the desired result will most likely occur.

In a world often seen in chaos,  populated with people struggling to find their voice and understand that of others, in the face of rising gas prices, uncertain economic times, famines, genocide and war- it seems to find one’s garden in relative peace and thriving to be such a gift as not to be deserved by mere mortals.

So for today, as I deadhead my flowers and bring beauty to this small space of land that I am merely a custodian of for my time here on this earth; I am grateful.

Grateful for the time outside in the bright sunshine,  grateful for this lovely space and grateful that in not having to deal with work and other time contraints for just this time spent here in this garden…. I can just BE.  Grateful that when I am able to find that space I can be mindful of all the people in this world living in adverse circumstances,  all those struggling against mighty odds and I pray for a time when our country will again be at peace and the voices of war have been silenced.

Patti

• Garden Thoughts
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