Asheville NC Vacation

Restaurant Review:  P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Biltmore Park Town Square, 26 Schneck Parkway, Asheville NC 28803, (828) 681-2975, www.pfchangs.com

Recommended by Stephanie Joy Johnson for our www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com guests of our vacation rental cabins, cottages and chalets.  You’ll find this restaurant just off Interstate 26, Exit 37 heading east, left at first light signal on Schenck Parkway and it’s down about a block on the left….just follow the signs. 

I first noticed PF Chang’s because of the magnificent eleven foot tall horse statue at the entrance.  Newly built in Biltmore Park Town Square, this restaurant is a blend of upscale bistro with 12^th century China.  Even though it was 4:00 in the afternoon mid-week, this elegant restaurant had a number of tables already filled.  As I was led to my table, I discreetly peeked at what people were eating as I passed by.  The portions looked generous and the food was colorful and well presented….I was hoping tasty as well! 

I was pleased to be told that each dish is prepared to order with very fresh, quality ingredients and there is even a special gluten free menu available on request.  It was a challenge to decide what to order from the many items, but with a friend’s recommendation I made my selection.  My appetizer was a little slow in arriving so when the entry arrived before I was ready for it, my waitress immediately apologized and ordered a new entry prepared that would be fresh when it was served 10 minutes later.  Now I call that attention to freshness!  I ordered the Sweet Ginger Peach Tea (as good as it sounds), Chang’s Vegetarian Lettuce Wrap (firm iceberg lettuce shells with the very delicious filling that you roll up in the shell) and Ma Po Tofu (delicious sauce, tender flavorful tofu, and broccoli).  The generous portions were enough for two people.  The dessert tray looked tantalizing but I was way too full to order more!  Next time, I think I’ll order dessert first!  I want to try the Great Wall of Chocolate….an extremely rich slab of chocolate cake which from the size of it looks big enough to serve 4 people!  I’m definitely coming back!

Elegant ,comfortable dining

Ginny spots the attractive horse at the entrance....

To our Asheville NC cabin vacation rental guests who are particular about the quality of foods you cook with and eat, I highly recommend shopping for your groceries at the beautiful new Earth Fare in South Asheville.  This is a full service grocery store and café devoted to the health conscious.  If you are gourmet cook, you’ll enjoy all the fine ingredients you can find here.  I especially appreciate that the store is well laid out and the friendly staff is extremely helpful whenever I’ve needed assistance. 

 I never thought I’d go into a grocery store just to admire how beautiful it is, but Earth Fare on Hendersonville Road changed my outlook forever (I love the floors)!  The elegant and sophisticated ambiance is a perfect setting for the vibrantly colored (and, of course, organic) fruits and vegetables, immense cheese and wine selection, countless isles (well, maybe you can count them, but this IS a large store!) of packaged foods, frozen foods, chemical-free meats, teas and coffees, bulk foods and spices, herbal remedies and supplements, chemical-free cosmetics, deli counter with delicious already prepared foods, decadent dessert counter (including the “World’s Best Carrot Cake” by our good friend Avi at www.WorldsBestCarrotCake.com) ….and not to forget the salad/hot foods bar where you can load up your plate (priced by the pound) and have it to go or eat it in their dining area.  As with all organic stores, the prices will be a bit higher than the conventional grocery store…and well worth it!

Ginny wheels her cart to the cheese deli and huge wine selection

Visit the Earth Fare website for more details: http://www.earthfare.com/storeinfo/1200/details/3111  Their address is 1856 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28803  Phone:  828-210-010

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson of Asheville’s premier luxury vacation homes, cabins, cottages and chalets.  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com 

Beautifully Presented Organic Produce, Earth Fare, Asheville NC

Earth Fare on Hendersonville Road for Healthy Groceries & Cafe

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson, www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

Recommendation to guests at our Asheville and Hendersonville NC vacation rental cabins and cottages:  If you happen to be in the town of Hendersonville, NC and would like to visit a wonderful used home furnishings store, I think you’ll be pleased with the many and varied items found at the Old Towne Market.  Thirty (30) different dealers have set up shop in the 16,000 SF building displaying an immense inventory of gorgeous furniture, lamps, rugs, decorator pillows, pottery, Fiesta dinnerware and just about anything you would put in a home.  There’s an assortment of pretty jewelry, unique gift cards, and other delights.  Most items are quality used (along with new and some antiques) but not the dusty antiques that dominate so many antique stores.  I often find here very distinctive and reasonably priced items I use in our Asheville and Hendersonville vacation rental homes.  I am often complimented on the unique items in my vacation cabins and it’s because I’ve been blessed with having such wonderful stores such as the Old Towne Market to shop. 

Old Towne Market with 16,000 SF of unique used & new home furnishings

30 Dealers offer an assortment of delightful home furnishings

Be sure to stop by when you’re in the area.  You’ll find the Old Towne Market located at 822 Locust Street, Hendersonville NC 28792, 828-693-0855.  It’s just a block parallel to Asheville Highway (Hwy 25) and a few blocks north of downtown Main Street.  Where North Main Street turns east at Five Points, Locust Street will be the first street on the right.  Go down several blocks and the building is on the left.

Wearable Art Store is highly recommended to our Asheville & Hendersonville NC vacation cabin rental guests.  It will make you smile!  “Mona! The Cottages”, 308 Davis St, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739, (828) 693-1611, www.monapaints.com, Open 11 AM to 5 PM Tues – Sat. 

Darling Mona! Cottage in Hendersonville, North Carolina

 Kooky, Funky, Fun, Unexpected are the words that some to mind when I first visited Mona! wearable art (and more) store.  As soon as you see the cheerful wildly painted exterior of Mona’s Cottages, not to mention the brightly painted vintage car outside, you’ll know the whimsical, colorful and eccentric treasures that await you inside!  Everything you can wear on your body…clothes, jewelry, shoes, handbags, accessories….is full of bright color and whimsy.  What you find here is original wearable art….I mean VERY original art! Bring home one-of-a-kind gifts or indulge in something totally unique for yourself!

One of the cheerful rooms in the cottage

 Mona, creating another master piece in a small area at the back of the store, greeted us with an offer of fresh popcorn and chatted away about her creative work.  She pointed out the unusual sweaters she stylishly created from recycled clothing.  There is a huge wall of distinctive hand-painted shoes and more wearable art that can be seen in one stroll around the cottage. 

So, wander around again from room to room to take it all in!   You might call ahead for directions or check a map.  Although the cottages are close to downtown, they are in a vintage neighborhood a few blocks back from Hwy 25 at the south edge of downtown Hendersonville…just past the Fresh Market.  It’s worth finding this out-of-the-way treasure.  It will make you smile!

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson from www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com where you will be deliciously spoiled with all the luxurious amenities at our cabins, cottages, chalets and homes. 

We have successfully designed vacation cabins and cottages in Asheville, Fletcher and Hendersonville, North Carolina that are extremely child friendly and we would love to share our ideas on how to set up one of your own.  There is nothing more exciting to children on vacation than to be in a home with areas especially designed for their pleasure!  And it’s a big bonus to parents for their children to be thoroughly entertained during their week stay at one of our kid friendly homes. 

We find our one and two bedroom homes are primarily rented by couples for romantic getaways and honeymoons with less call for children’s needs.  In these homes we supply the basic Pack N Play, small stroller, high chair, toy box and soft blankies.  It is the 3+ bedroom homes rented by families with children that we refer to in this article.

We love to be excessive…and impressive…in what we offer our guests!  With so many vacation homes from which to choose, we endeavor to offer the most and the best so potential guests will select one of our vacation rental homes for their stay.  With that said, here is an idea of how we attract guests with children to our Asheville vacation rental homes:

OUTDOOR PLAY GROUND EQUIPMENT:

We purchase the Playnation brand Premium Wooden Play Systems.  They are well-built, heavy & strong for years of constant use.  The largest system is at our White Stone Lake Manor, a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 4000 square foot home on several acres with a private lake.  Family reunions are often held here usually with 5 or 6 children.  This playground has a covered fort (kids love to sleep there in the sleeping bags we provide), 3 swings including a toddler swing, 2 slides (one is an enclosed spiral), climbing rope wall, tire swing, clatter bridge and picnic table.  We place benches nearby for the parents to comfortably supervise their kids. We also provide kid size crash helmets.  This elaborate Playnation system costs about $6000 and the smaller systems at our other homes are closer to $2000. 

INDOOR PLAY ROOMS:

These cheerful rooms are devoted to a child’s fantasy & imagination….murals, bright colors, as many exceptionally soft stuffed animals that will fit (which is several hundred at our largest home), and, if it will fit, a walk-in play house (these we purchase at Toys R Us – about $400 - $500).  The playrooms, filled with children’s toys, games, books, & soft blankies, provide countless hours of play for the kids.  We also have a variety of kid movies they can watch on our TV/DVD/VHS throughout the home.

Colorful Kids Play Area at the Rose Cottage

Note:  We suggest that you do NOT provide crayons, marker pens or paints.  Clean up after children is a major housekeeping chore when guests leave but crayons marked on walls is something you do not want to encourage.  It’s also good to avoid putting breakable decor in the home. 

BABIES:

It is a great relief for parents traveling with small infants (who seem to require a great deal of special paraphernalia) to find our homes equipped with a full size crib with bumper pad & bedding, high chair, stroller, infant bath tub, playpen, child gates, etc.  Although used for the entire household, another necessity with babies and children are a full size washer and dryer! 

CHILDREN:

In addition to the playroom and outdoor equipment, children appreciate chairs and picnic tables especially their size.  Parents also appreciate the colorful kids tableware for their children….plastic plates, cups (including sip cups) and silverware.  We provide quick inflate/deflate twin air beds since you never know where kids want to sleep.  We have plenty of twin bedding as well as children’s sleeping bags. 

BIGGER KIDS:

Teens and adults like the Play Station game player with games, foosball table, badmitten, croquet, board games, etc.  If you have plenty of spare room in your home, consider putting in a pool table.  And, everyone loves a huge big screen television!

WHAT TO CHARGE:

Cleaning is much more extensive and expensive that with only adults.  We find fingerprints in all the glass doors & windows, toys & game pieces hidden in the oddest places, baby spit-up just about anywhere that one needs to be a detective to find!  We also have a large investment in what we provide for children.  So, we consider children and infants as full fledged guests and charge accordingly. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE EXAMPLES OF OUR CHILD FRENDLY HOMES:

www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

Stephanie Joy Johnson

828-274-9777

www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

You’ll be outrageously spoiled staying at our luxury vacation homes.

Cribs are greatly appreciated by traveling parents!

Playroom with walk in Play House at the White Stone Lake Manor

Playroom with Play House & Jungle Mural at the View Chalet, Asheville NC

Kids Play Ground at Rose Cottage

Welcome to Asheville NC Vacation! We will be giving information on a regular basis about Asheville NC. Everything from basic tourist information to Asheville Vacation Rentals. Categories will include area restaurants, attractions, rentals and “things to do” and much much more.

Stephanie
www.AshevilleNCVacation.com

See our vacation rentals
http://www.ashevillevacationhomes.com/