Biltmore Estate
1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
(800) 411-3812
George Vanderbilt first visits Asheville, North Carolina in 1888. He falls in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains and he has found the perfect location for his country home. In 1889, the 250-room French Renaissance chateau construction begins and takes over a six-year period to complete. It is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet.
The Blue Ridge Highway
195 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 298-5330
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is is simply amazing. Take a relaxing drive along the stunning long-range vistas and see close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands.
The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 252-2711
The Omni Grove Park Inn is a historic resort hotel on the western-facing slope of Sunset Mountain within the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was built by Edwin Wiley Grove, owner of the Tasteless Chill Tonic. In the late 1890s, Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic sold more bottles than Coca-Cola. Grove arrived in Asheville in 1900 and found the mild climate so much to his liking that he purchased a large tract of land on Sunset Mountain. Grove's idea was for a lodge grand enough to match the grandeur of the surrounding mountains. When Grove could not find a local architect who grasped his concept, he entrusted the project to his son-in-law Fred Loring Seely, who had no formal training in architecture or the building trades. Seely designed a magnificent lodge which was built of native uncut granite boulders quarried from Sunset Mountain.
Skybar in Downtown Asheville
18 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 225-6998
Enjoy a drink with a view from the terrace of the SkyBar at the historic Flat Iron Building. Ride the original building elevator, as the elevator operator calls the top floor, for long-range mountain views. On the menu are cocktails, beer, wine and appetizers. While you're there, get your picture taken under the SkyBar sign, which is updated to include the current year.
