I will be going on a girl’s trip to the John Campbell Folk School, near Murphy NC in late March. We will all fly into Atlanta, and after our time at the folk school are looking to spend two to three days exploring. None of us are at all familiar with the area but are thinking about visiting the Asheville or Chattanooga areas. We all like museums, hiking, and would love to get a sense of the local culture. Any suggestions for where to stay and what to do from those in the area are greatly appreciated.
Visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. I went a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I was especially interested in the gardens/the conservatory and landscaping (which Frederick Law Olmsted created/designed). We were there for three days and took the Legacy of the Land Tour, the Behind the Scenes tour as well as a guided tour of the estate. We stayed at the Inn, which is on the property and took a shuttle bus to the Estate (the bus was free). We also toured Antler Hill and the Winery (also on the Estate). Didn’t have much time to explore Asheville–only one evening and we ate at Zambra, a tapas and wine bar. My friend selected it and I wasn’t expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised–it was very good.
Asheville has fantastic breweries and restaurants. The Biltmore is not to be missed. Chattanooga is fun- but isn’t NC, of course. The aquarium there is great.
Thanks for the Biltmore info. We were tempted to check it out, primarily because of the Olmsted connection, and your info is really useful.
Just going to also suggest the Biltmore. It is really amazing.
I worked for a summer near Asheville in Black Mountain, NC while I was in college. You have to take a day for the Biltmore. Have lunch in one of the many restaurants and leave time for the winery and the gardens. After you have made the drive up to Asheville, the beauty of the Blue Ridge will draw you in and you will want to spend some time in the mountains!
A day trip to the Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area would be perfect if you want to do some light hiking. Lake Lure is a small charming little town that is absolutely gorgeous with Lake Lure opening up to the mountains around. Go up into Chimney Rock Park where you can choose a variety of routes to Chimney Rock (elevator, nice easy walking path,etc.) or adventure out some more. There is a beautiful waterfall you can hike to. Many movies were filmed in this area “Dirty Dancing,” “Last of the Mohicans.” Your weather in March is bound to be a bit dicey but I would think you could still get out a little bit. We have stayed many times at the Lake Lure Inn and Spa. It is not hip and modern and decked out with every modern luxury but it is a total throwback to the golden age of hotels. Think “Somewhere In Time” and it is right on the banks of Lake Lure and the view just can’t be beat.
Enjoy your trip! I am jealous…love NC!
Biltmore is wonderful , but can be costly. Check out their website, but definitely a nice trip. On your way from Atlanta to NC, you may want to stop in Greenville SC. Nice small city with great restaurants and a nice downtown park. Asheville, Hendersonville , Cashiers and Highlands are all nice places to visit. Brevard is another option.
I would recommend going to Brevard, NC and then also hiking at Gorges State Park. Gorges has some nice hikes and nice waterfalls.
Weather could be an issue.Early or late March? The Biltmore is one of my favorite destinations. We enjoyed the city of Asheville as well and stayed at a Marriott property on the edge of town on points that was walking distance to all of the brew pubs, restaurants and art galleries. Loved exploring Brevard as well and hiked the area where the first Hunger Games was filmed. http://brevardnc.com/businesses/hunger-games-waterfall/
Oh, yes- look online for Biltmore coupons. We did and saved a decent amount of money.
Weather is unpredictable in March. You should make both indoor and outdoor plans. There are so many great options available to you, so you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Be flexible in your expectations, have Plan B and Plan C in your back pocket, and you’ll have a great time.
The Biltmore is great! One year I drove to D1’s school in Chapel Hill to pick her up for the summer. We stayed in Asheville overnight and did the Biltmore tour. I sent a photo to D2, and she was very confused. She texted “Are y’all in France?!?!” That place does look like one of the French castles, and the gardens are spectacular.
Thanks for this great info. We are definitely in the “planning the trip is half the fun” camp so we’ll dig into all the places mentioned here. Any Chattanooga area stuff we should consider or do most of you think sticking with N.C, would be a better option?
I think sticking with NC is a better option-Chattanooga’s ok, but if you want to see it for the aquarium just go to the one in Atlanta, instead. Plus the roads are super twisty, hilly and windy going from Chat to NC, unless you want to go down 75 back into Atl, then back up 85 again (which I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re a glutton for punishment). There is so much to see and do in the carolinas. Remember to bring a coat.
I am a huge fan of Chattanooga, but it really deserves a trip of its own. Plus, as mentioned above, the twisty mountain roads between NC and Chattanooga are challenging for both driver and passengers. Chattanooga has really developed their downtown area, plus they have water activities, historic areas, and the local mountains to explore. So enjoy NC and then you can plan another girls’ trip to the Chattanooga area.