Asheville, North Carolina

 

Asheville located in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains is a beautiful city with plenty for the outdoor enthusiast to do. From driving the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Downtown Art District this beautiful city has something for everyone.

Our first stop on our weeklong trip was The North Carolina Arboretum. The arboretum and botanical garden is located in the Pisgah National Forest and is near the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is no admission charge at the Arboretum, but you do need to pay for parking.

There are many hiking trails and exhibits to chose from at the arboretum. The Bonsai Exhibition has an extensive Bonsai collection. Bonsai uses cultivation techniques like pruning, potting and grafting to develop small trees the shape and style of full size trees. 

During our visit the arboretum had a delightful LEGO exhibit throughout the grounds.

This gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains is along one of the trails at the arboretum. Can you find it?

If you enjoy scenic areas and hiking  Chimney Rock State Park is a must stop when in the area. This State Park is 25 miles southeast of Asheville and has spectacular views and a variety of incredible hiking trails. Don't miss Hickory Nut Gorge which is part of the State Park, but is located on the other side of Main Street, additional hiking opportunities are available there and it is often less crowded.

Hiking up to Chimney Rock requires you to scale approximately 500 steps. You can cut through Crevice Pass or pass by Gneiss Cave, a talus cave that is currently closed to the public due to White Nose Syndrome. A climb up to Pulpit Rock is rewarded with incredible views. If the steps aren't for you there is an elevator available.

We chose the Hickory Nut Falls Trail for our hike during our visit. This trail is 1.4 miles round trip and takes about 1-hour. This trail takes you to the bottom of a 404 waterfall. This waterfall was featured in the movie, "The Last of the Mohicans". If you need something a bit more challenging head up Exclamation Point Trail and discover for yourself how it got the name. A series of steps and switchbacks will take you to the top of Hickory Nut Falls.

On your way back from Chimney Rock State Park stop at Pearson's Falls, located just off route 176, between Tryon and Saluda, NC. The 1/4 mile trail leads to a gorgeous 90-foot waterfall. There is a $5 entry fee per person and be mindful of their hours. If you arrive before they open at 10am you will be waiting outside the gate and possible on the road. Be sure to leave your pets home for this stop, as only service dogs are allowed.

This gem was discovered tucked away in the mountains by Charles William Pearson as he was scouting the area for Asheville-Spartanburg Railway, now the Southern Railway. Pearson bought a parcel of land around the falls and lived there for the remainder of his life. The property is still privately owned and operated by Tyron Garden Club.

Hendersonville is located 22 miles south of Asheville and makes an excellent half day stop. Downtown Hendersonville offers more than 100 shops, 25 restaurants  and several craft breweries to choose from. The Visitor Center is located at 201 South Main, stop in to pick up information on things to do. 

Hendersonville is also known for the Famous Painted Bears. They are located on all most every street corner on Main St.

Jump Off Rock is 10 minutes from Hendersonville, but set the GPS for this drive. There are signs but the turns are easy to miss on the winding roads. 

Amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains await you when you arrive, as well as three hiking trails each a with a different level of difficulty. Legend states that Jump Off Rock was the place that a young Indian maiden jumped from the rock upon hearing that her love was killed in battle. Some have seen her ghost at the rock on moonlit nights.

A drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile recreational motor road that is part of the National Park Service.  It is one of the most scenic roads in America.

 

The Blue Ridge Parkway uses a milepost system to help you find breathtaking overlooks, waterfalls, tunnels, hiking trails and other points of interest.

Asheville exits are between milepost 382 and 393. We recommend you take this road slowly and turn on your headlights ahead of time, so you are prepared for the tunnels. Traffic can sometimes be quite heavy so for easy access back onto the Parkway, stop at overlooks on your side of the road and hit the other ones on your return trip. If you are traveling in a sports car or motorcycle you might want to check out the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. This road has 318 curves in 11 miles with no intersecting roads or driveways. Caution: If you are prone to motion sickness this road is not advised.

Finally, a trip to Asheville is not complete unless you stop at one of the 26 craft breweries in Asheville. Yes, we said 26, in fact the region has 60 craft breweries, so there are plenty to chose from. Our pick for this trip was New Belgium Brewing located at 21 Craven St. When the weather is nice sit outside on the patio that overlooks the French Broad River and enjoy a bite to eat from the food truck. Unfortunately, at the time of this post, tours of the brewery are not available due to Covid19. But, definitely put it on your list of things to do when they reopen. Always drink responsibly.

ADVENTURE ON!

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