Asheville NC Vacation

COME SEE WHY EVERY YEAR….

THERE ARE OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS TO THE BILTMORE ESTATE IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA!  

OUR GUESTS MAY PURCHASE DISCOUNTED TICKETS GOOD FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF JUST  THE ONE DAY GATE PRICE!!!

Listed in the Top 10 of American Institute of Architects

“America’s Favorite Architecture”

The world famous Biltmore House, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, is America’s largest home with an astounding 250 rooms.  It sits like a precious gem in the heart of 8000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Styled as a French Chateau, you can imagine as you wander through the multitude of rooms, what life must have been like in a real live American Castle! 

Plan to spend a day….better yet 2 days….touring this exquisite home with its priceless treasures and exploring the fabulous gardens and grounds.  There are self-guided tours, audio tours as well as very special behind the scenes guided tours of the home. 

Visit the many spectacular gardens throughout the year to experience the ever-changing seasonal display of flowers, fields and forests.  Wander the many garden paths and trails throughout the grounds, by the peaceful Bass Pond or by the French Broad River that flows past the Estate.  Take a 90-minute motor coach tour to hear stories about the history of the land and its former residents. 

Visit the restored Conservatory of amazing exotic plants and flowers.

Take a tour of the Biltmore Winery and visit the Tasting Room to sample the award-winning wines.   

Enjoy fine dining at a number of special restaurants throughout the Estate…or indulge in the goodies served at the Bake Shop or the Ice Cream Parlor. 

Shopping!  It’s always a delight see the varied and delightful selection of goodies to buy at their gift shops!

Outdoor Experiences at the Biltmore Outdoor Center include:

• Sporting Clays School where you learn the techniques of shooting clay targets with a Beretta shot fun
• Biking – daily trail passes and bike rentals
• Fly-Fishing School
• Morning Woods Walk at River Bend Farm where you can see historic sites and structures of the beaten path.
• Wagon Tour of River Bend Farm
• Land Rover Offerings including Land Rover Experience Driving School or a Ride-Along Expedition

You can see why one day may not be enough to experience all this fabulous Biltmore Estate has to offer.  WE OFFER OUR GUESTS AT www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com TICKETS GOOD FOR 2 FULL  CONSECUTIVE DAYS for the price of just a 1 day gate ticket….and AT A DISCOUNT!

With our tickets:

• You save money from the gate entry price,
• We accept VISA and Master Card – NO Sales Tax charged
• You can avoid waiting in long ticket lines,
• There is a free wine tasting ticket included,
• Tickets are upgradeable to season passes,
• Children ages 9 and under are FREE,
• And best of all, our tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one day! 

Just give us a call to order your tickets and we’ll have them waiting for you when you arrive.  Or if you decide last minute, just give us a call and we’ll drop them by.  

You deserved to be spoiled!

We are authorized ticket dealers

www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

828-274-9777

Come visit the Biltmore House and stay in your own luxurious home.  Make your reservation at one of our Asheville NC luxury vacation rental cabins, chalets, cottages & homes.  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

Restaurant Recommendation for our guests at our vacation rental homes in Asheville & Hendersonville:  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com 

You would never know passing by this bright blue little building on Highway 25 (3987 Hendersonville Rd) in Fletcher (half way between Asheville and Hendersonville NC) that the some of the tastiest food around is served here!  Let the full parking lot clue you in that locals know where to find really great food!  You immediately feel welcomed in the fun and relaxed atmosphere.  Sit inside with the blue sky ceiling filled with stars and planes or in the patio out back where there’s even a full size playhouse for your kids (they also have a great kid’s menu).

It’s not your ordinary fare of burgers or country food….the menu is filled with delightful food combinations that will have you coming back again and again!  We often order the “Trio Salad Plate” for a sampling of their dill chicken salad, pesto penne and hummus with pita & veggies.  Another of our favorites is their Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette & hot Grilled Chicken. There’s a selection of about 20 wonderful wraps made with sun dried tomato flour tortillas and tofu can be substituted for meats in you prefer.  Try their Blackened Chicken wrap or their Sesame Veggie wrap. They have Super-duper Sandwiches and “Bodacious Burgers” and delicious “Cosmic Chicken” choices.  Vegetarians will find a huge selection!  Of their delightful side dishes, served as part of your menu selection, their Sweet Potato Fries are the best we’ve ever, ever tasted! 

The Blue Sky Café is open for lunch and dinner from 11 AM – 8 PM and is closed on Sundays.  You can also order your meals “to go.”  Their phone number is 828-684-1247.  Located at 3987 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, NC.  The full menu is on their website at www.ILoveBlueSkyCafe.com 

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson and Robert Bowles, owners of Asheville & Hendersonville luxury vacation rental cabins, chalets, cottages and homes where you deserve to be spoiled!  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com   We have Discounted Biltmore Estate tickets that are good for 2 consecutive days instead of just 1 day.  No waiting in lines!

Ginny eyes her sweet potato fries....the best anywhere around! Robert & I are sharing the Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette & Grilled Chicken

Ginny decides where to sit....always enchanted by the playful atmosphere.

Ginny spots her favorite Blue Sky Cafe where she dines on a regular basis!

Our most favorite pizza in the whole wide world is served at this funky North Asheville NC restaurant & movie house that has been voted “Best Pizza In WNC” for 7 years in a row. Here you can watch $3 first run movies that are ready to leave the big screen.  Theater times are 1 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM and 10 PM.  This theater only seats 150 people, so with these prices it’s best to go way early, especially for the evening shows….better yet, buy your tickets the day before.

In case you want to try our favorite highly recommended pizza, it’s the “Shear Delight” with a pesto base, portabella mushrooms, walnuts & gorgonzola cheese….be sure to request it on the poppy seed crust!  What can be better than to watch a big screen movie in comfortable chairs and eat a great meal–there’s a big selection to choose from, especially the pizza!   However, if you’re not in the mood for pizza, there is a large menu selection of unique & yummy appetizers, salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, pastas, and more!   If you want to experience their tasty food, but not quite up for a movie, they have a full restaurant and pub there as well.  Yes, a pub…I should mention this is also a micro-brewery serving 8 of their own specialty beers, from their most popular pale ale “Shiva” to the dark ales.  See ya at the movies!Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, 675 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville  NC 28803.  828-254-1281.  Click on a picture to visit their website for more details. 

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson of Asheville’s luxury vacation cabins, chalets, cottages and homes:  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com   828-274-9777.  YOU DESERVE TO BE SPOILED and you will be outrageously spoiled at our vacation rental homes!!!  Buy your discounted BILTMORE HOUSE TICKETS from us…save money, no waiting in line and tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one!

Ginny got here plenty early to make sure she got in! The pizza is ordered and will soon be ready!

Funky place with the best pizza anywhere...and $3 movies!

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