Asheville NC Vacation

We had a major snow in Asheville, NC, starting Friday, December 18, 2009, which blanketed this beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain area in gorgeous white, shimmery snow!  We had guests in all of our Asheville Vacation Homes (vacation rental cabins, chalets, cottages) that week, and the surprise white Christmas snow was an added bonus to their trips.  I was able to get to the Biltmore Estate to take some pictures of their magnificent property.  The Biltmore staff was out early and had cleared the way to the Biltmore House.  It was spectacular!

The Biltmore Estate House just after a Decembr snow fall - www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

The Candlelight Night Time Tours are still going on at The Biltmore House through January 2, 2010.  It is indeed spectacular and well worth your visit.  Our guests often comment that “the Biltmore Estate was even more than we expected.”  And that is also what they also say when they stay at our Asheville Vacation Homes cabins, cottages and chalets, as pictures can’t quite portray the actual luxury, comfort, and total vacation feel of our homes as experienced in person. 

You are invited to spend your mountain vacation in Western North Carolina with at one of our vacation rental cabins where we promise to pamper you with wonderful amenities.  We also are authorized Biltmore Estate ticket agents and have discount tickets good for two full consecutive days for less than the cost of the one day ticket gate price!  Call us at 828-274-9777 or email at joyah@aol.com  For details see our website: www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

 

The main gate into the Biltmore House compound was intriguingly decorated with snow, elegant and mysterious at the same time. Photo by Robert Bowles of www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

In the business of pleasing vacationers for many years, the owners of www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com have established their luxury vacation rental homes in Asheville, Fletcher, Arden and Hendersonville, NC to be the best choice in what vacationers are looking for.  Located in beautiful settings, each home is thoughtfully and elegantly furnished with every comfort in mind:  Hot Tubs; Massage Chairs; Jetted Bath Tubs; King and Queen Beds with absolute top quality mattresses and sumptuous bedding; Gas Log Fireplaces; High Speed Wireless Internet; Pet Friendly; Child & Baby Friendly with playrooms, outdoor playgrounds, cribs, high chairs & strollers….are some of what you can expect in these lovely homes.  Chose a vacation rental cabin with 50 mile views or with its own private lake or nestled at the edge of a forest. 

To see a listing of the homes with photos, pricing and availability calendars:  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com or call at 828-274-9777 or email at joyah@aol.com 

The Secluded Rose Cottage sleeps 9 guests and is a charming mountain home!

Always curious to see what our Rose Cottage guests might have for them, our neighbor's horses visit across the fence for their apple or carrot treats!

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.