We enjoyed walking around the Visitor Center, learning more about Zebulon Vance and the area. We…read morealso enjoyed looking at the buildings on the grounds. Very nice historic site!

The Vance Birthplace is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Weaverville, NC. Admission to the…read moremuseum is free. With Covid, masks are required and the front entrance is closed. You enter through the back of the visitor's center. I did not know much about Vance before coming to his birthplace. I was familiar with Vance County and monument in Downtown Asheville and schools named after him. I wasn't aware that Vance was a NC Governor or in the US Senate just his white supremacy. I still have a difficult time figuring out why all these places were named after a man filled with hatred. The museum did do a great job of telling the history of both Vance and the enslaved people. The Vance family moved to the property once home to the Cherokees. The enslaved put in the labor for the Buncombe Turnpike and farm. The Vance family owned 18 slaves and Zebulon Vance owned 6 of them. Outside shows how life would be on the plantation.

Hiked this since '95. Much of the ruins are buried under downed trees toppled by Helene though…read moretrail has been cleared. If you're from lower elevations expect the hike from the parkway at the Tanbark tunnel to wind you. Bears are not unusual & it's easy to surprise each other on this hardpacked trail. I tap my hiking staff frequently to avoid this. Don't leave items of value viewable in your vehicle at the parkway. Please refrain from leaving toilet paper along the trail!

The hike is worth checking out if you are in the Asheville area for more than a month. Otherwise…read moreperhaps prioritize other hikes. The parking area was kind of a joke...it only fit 3 cars, maybe more if the people didn't park like jerks. I enjoyed the hike but be forewarned that if you come on a weekday morning like we did, it's a bit eerie because it is almost TOO quiet. But if you are lucky enough to not encounter any bears you'll have a grand time. Maybe bring a knife or bear spray if you have bear anxiety like me and you'll feel better The hike gently slopes with the switchbacks and isn't too strenuous at all but not too boring either. The payoff at the top isn't a view, but rather the remains of the lodge which included several buildings. It's neat and I enjoyed seeing it and picturing what it would have been like 100 years ago. There is an informational sign. The hike down is very enjoyable and quick as it is all downhill.

When I first moved to Asheville (lived there for 7 years) I was fascinated by the Monteford…read moreneighborhood with this Historic cemetery nearby. I took a stroll there and came upon Thomas Wolfe's gravestone. "The mountains were his masters. They rimmed in life. They were the cup of reality, beyond growth, beyond struggle and death. They were his absolute unity in the midst of eternal change." Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

What a lovely place for a walk! Beautiful homes, many that have been restored to B&B's, are…read moreeverywhere. The Queen Anne style homes are my favorite! Check out Riverside Cemetery where Thomas Wolfe is buried. We miss the Montford Park Players who put on the outdoor Shakespeare Festival. Due to Covid they've been shut down. It's a really fun evening so let's hope they'll be back next year. We will definitely be there for that! Definitely recommend a walk around on a beautiful Fall day!

this is the first lookout tower i have ever been on & it was REMARKABLE. below is some hopefully…read morehelpful information about the lookout tower. is it scary ? - the very simple answer is yes. it is pretty scary especially when you go on a windy day & the entire tower shakes while you walk on up it. however, you should know what you are getting yourself into. you're climbing a lookout tower on the top of a mountain! it's not easy but, it is worth it. don't look until you get to the top! sadly the very top of the lookout tower is locked but, you can still sit right below it for the same experience. bringing kids & dogs - starting with kids, i think you should only bring your kids when they reach the age where they won't wonder off of the side of a mountain. that age may vary, it really depends on the trust you have with them. as for dogs, i think they will love the trail but not so much the tower itself. while i was there i saw multiple dogs attempt a few stairs & then run back down in fear. i don't blame them haha! directions - i honestly just used apple maps for directions but, i will try to describe where to go in case you can't use apple maps. there is a campground called mount pisgah campground & it is very close to the lookout tower. it is on blue ridge parkway. if you are looking at the entrance to the campground you need to turn left & continue down blue ridge parkway until you see the first pull off / walking path to the right. from there you make your way up the path. it is a short walk however, you will be walking up in a incline for the most part. some websites say that the trail is on forest service road 450 but, i don't know how accurate that is. recommendations - if you go in march, i suggest bringing a sweater / jacket. the higher in the mountains you get, the colder it gets. i also recommend that you bring a water no matter the time of year. in conclusion, this is a must do! it is an easy little walk with a scenic drive on the way up & down the mountain. it will take you maybe three hours at most.

We've been traveling to Lake Lure for a number of years and have always parked our RV up the…read moremountain at Apple Valley Farms MotorCoach Resort for a week or so but spend a lot of time here with friends that also stay in the area at their timeshares in Rumbling Bald Resort - We always meet for lunch at La Strada's upon arriving then for cocktails at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn both located in the downtown area, this has been an annual tradition that we have come to love. We also spend time on the lake renting pontoon boats and cruise Lake Lure visiting lakeside restaurants and enjoying this beautiful lake and area. Unfortunately that wasn't the case this year, it was a different experience and no words or photos can do what has happen to the area justice, the world changed for the people and businesses of Lake Lure and the surrounding communities specifically Chimney Rock and Bat Cave when Hurricane Helene caused major devastation on September 27, 2024, when the Broad River overflowing its banks and destroying much of the infrastructure in the area. The storm brought flooding, mudslides, and widespread destruction to this western North Carolina region and although much progress has been made in the year since the flash flooding it still has a way to go before the area returns to some since of normalcy. Although the Town of Lake Lure was spared the brunt of the storm, the lake filled with debris and the damn was breached devastating the economy here. Having met so many locals here I know first hand they are very resilient and still depend on their neighbors for the most part through the continued recovery - we weren't going to let this terrible event stop us from returning here less than a year after the destruction, we felt visiting here would be more about supporting the community, they have worked hard to get back to living, everyone that I have spoken to appreciates the people that have returned to support their economy by spending money at the local businesses. I know it may take years for the area to return to the pristine place it once was but I have no doubt it will thanks to the people who call this home...

My kick ass bosses (woohoo Back2Health!) took the staff on a much needed weekend getaway to Lake…read moreLure. Apparently the best way for staff to bond is through jello shots and 20 ft dives into a lake. ;-) I'm not really big on the outdoors but this place was awesome. In one weekend I saw deer, a beaver, and squirrels. I'm pretty sure had I woken up early, gone out onto the balcony, extended my arms and sang, birds would have come to me. Our rental house had a pontoon boat, a paddle boat, and a canoe. The lake is huge, the water is so clear, and I really need to find out if the guy who owns the castle is single ;-) Water was cold-ish but so nice to swin in. Tiny little fish nip at your feet but nothing scarier than that. Consider it a free fish pedicure. Ingles is an awesome and huge grocery store. You must taste the pistachio muffins.

Trolley day hop on & night ghost tour tickets and board here! So excited to go 7 stops all around…read moreand I got the scoop on rooftop bars and sunset watching spots! On my way to iron district, river side, pack square etc

When I searched for a visitors center in Ashevile, NC., I kept coming up blank. I eventually…read morestumbled on the Asheville CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VISITORS CENTER. So, if you're like me and can't find the visitors center - try searching for the Chamber of Commerce's site. _________ This is a large, well-staffed visitors center - catering not only to Asheville but to all of North Carolina. There is a large, FREE parking lot where you can leave your car for the day while taking a trolley tour of Asheville. The center has tons of travel literature and can assist with hotel/motel bookings and other travel stuff. There is also the requisite gift shops which does offer some uniquely North Carolina products. The staff was very pleasant and quite helpful. The parking was FREE and We caught the Grey Line "hop-on / hop-off" trolley here. Great place to start any visit to the Asheville area.

We stopped at a restaurant in Black Mountain for breakfast last weekend after leaving Asheville…read more We immediately thought the area looked like a cool place and noted they also have a Hampton Inn by Hilton near the exit from I-40. We decided to come up over the 4th of July holiday weekend and booked our stay. We arrived on Sunday afternoon after driving from the Winston-Salem area and making a few stops along the way. We had eaten at Hillman Beer in Old Fort so we decided to park and walk around the downtown area. We noted several breweries and outdoor areas including a small park and food trucks options. There are plenty of free parking lots as well as ample street parking along with public restrooms. We also did not expect to find out that Roberta Flack was born here in 1937. We learned, the town is named for the old train stop at the Black Mountain Depot and is located at the southern end of the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Southern Appalachians. We spent a couple of days in and around Black Mountain and feel like it is a special little spot.

It was mid-week when I decided to drive up the mountain on a crisp September morning out of Chimney…read moreRock to "The Little Town that Rocks!" yep Black Rock, NC a.k.a "The Front Porch of Western North Carolina," breathe deeply and take in the clean mountain air, and relax. This small town is locate just 15 miles from Asheville although it seems much more remote than it really is, especially as you navigate the numerous switchbacks while climbing the mountain - my speed probably never exceeded 45 mph as I took in the scenic countryside while transversing the unfamiliar route as the locals pushed my driving skills as they seemed to be racing their way to hell, most of the curves here are closer to 180 degree turns verses the normal 90 degree turns most non-mountainous people are used to so take advantage of the turn-outs as they appear and let the speed demons make their meeting with the grim-reaper or the other entities that live in this isolated section of the twilight zone, I've never seem a better tuned suspension on a 1980 F-150 than I did today, this cat was bending the needle as he pushed me for a few miles before I could give him room to go around. Now don't get me wrong this ain't no hick-town, my first stop was an ultra modern Starbucks, so I was able to get my non-fat, no foam latte fix while still having five bars on my iPhone, looks like this town is already a step ahead of SpaceX and it's StarLink satellite program. We took some time to explore the historic downtown that's filled with lots of shops and little restaurants, it's apparent the economic development committee has a plan in place to capture the interest and dollars of visitors that happen to stop by. Although our visit here was short we did get to experience some of its small town charm but wasn't here long enough to see any of their struggles. Although I didn't get to experience it Black Mountain owns and operates the Black Mountain Golf Course which is home to the famous 747yd, par 6 17th hole, which at one time the longest hole in the world, now that sounds like a birdie opportunity to me...

Our library is an enormous element helping to make up the culture of our little town. The…read morelibrarians are helpful, kind, generous, intelligent and efficient. Also funny. I visit the Black Mountain Library every day. These librarians showed me how to take advantage of the various programs offered. These are some of the finest citizens in our town. Much respect and affection for the guardians of knowledge and culture who serve us all with skill and a smile.

Happened to be in town for the biannual library sale so of course I had to stop by! The staff…read moremembers working were all so sweet, kind, and helpful, and the books at the sale were in great condition. Even after spending just half an hour here I felt at home and welcome. I love this library!