Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

We are going to Asheville for a few days. Flying into Charlotte and driving to Asheville. Below is our itinerary. Any thoughts? Changes? Restaurants?

7/2 Drive from Charlotte to Asheville Dinner -Grove Park???

7/3 Day. NC Arboretum Segway Tour. LaZoom Comedy History tour of Asheville. Mast General Store for candy Outdoor concert Shindig on the Green. Overnight Asheville

7/4 Day 2 Biltmore Estates Overnight Asheville

7/5 Day 3 Cataloochee, possible Boogerman Loop Trail? Picnic. Max Patch Bald (Crown Jewel of the Appalachian Trail). Max Patch Loop Hike. To Hot Springs NC through which the AT passes. Hot tub at the river Franklin, Gem mining at Mason Mountain, Perry’s Watergardens. Then take Mountain Waters Scenic Byway to Wayah Bald for picnic and short hike. Then into the gorge, Nantahala Outdoor Center for a whitewater raft trip. Back to Asheville for the night. Any suggestions for White Water Rafting?

7/6 Day 4 To Joyce Kilmer Forest and Cherohala Scenic Byway. Backtrack on Cherohala from TN state line to Robbinsville, take Indian Lakes Scenic Byway, stopping where we want to to see: Lake Santeetlah, continuing loop around to Lake Cheoah, GSNP, and the Fontana Dam, Fontana Lake. jet boat rides on Lake Fontana!

7/7 Home.

Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Day 3 you have way to much to do. I would either do gem mining/Wayah Bald/Rafting one day. Next day do Cataloochee/Max Patch/Hot Springs.

Day 4 will be a lot of driving but doable.

Few Days in Asheville. Thoughts? Suggestions?

7/2 dinner..the views from the Sunset Grill/Chop House at GPI are nice, but the food is not consistent and you can drink on the terrace watch the sunset then eat dinner at the Grovewood Cafe, across the road from the east parking garage at GPI, for a more intimate meal.

7/3 sounds like a great day, leave time to wander the shops in downtown Asheville before Shindig on the Green.

7/4. Check the GPI website and the Biltmore Estates website for July 4th fireworks . There is also a nice display in downtown Asheville.

July 5. WAY too many choices in far-distant venues. I would start with a half-day rafting trip on the French Broad River starting at Barnard , north of Asheville, which you can book through NOC. The French Broad is natural flow, so the water will be wonderfully warm for swimming, falling in, whatever, in July, and more scenic and far less crowded than the Nantahala, which comes off the bottom of Nanatahala Lake and is 54 degrees year round, which is unbelievably cold if you%26#39;re not expecting it.Cheaper, too!

After your rafting trip, drive 10 miles into Hot Springs..eat a late lunch at Paddlers Pub,soak in a natural spring-fed hot tub ( make a reservation!), then drive over the Snowbird Mountains to Cataloochee to be there at sunset when the elk come out of the woods to feed..amazing to see them so close. Spend the night somewhere in Maggie Valley. That way you%26#39;ll be well situated to visit far western NC the following day.

This would be a jam-packed, fun-filled day that you will remember for a long time, unlike gem mining, which you will be disappointed in.

July 6, Day 4, is also a little ambitious with a lot of driving, but doable if you start early.

Have fun!

I definitely agree about day 3. Waaaaaaaay too many activities. Add two more days to your itinerary and you may be able to do most of those things you listed under Day 3.

Day 3, are you planning to go from Asheville first to Cataloochee, then to Max Patch, then to Hot Springs, from there to Nantahala Outdoor Center and back to Asheville? It looks like you are all over a map. You really don%26#39;t have time to include Max Patch. It is going to be a long drive from Cataloochee and part of of it is on a dirt road where you need to use your intuition to chose which way to turn, left or right or maybe straight. If you are using GPS to get to Max Patch prepare yourself to be directed to some strange roads away from your destination. Max Patch is a nice hike with wonderful views and in early May there are fantastic wildflowers but there are so many hiking jewels in the mountains of NC.

On day 4, are you going back to Asheville or spending one night somewhere else? Are you planning to take Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville? It is the most spectacular drives in NC and you need to stop often at overlooks, maybe take a little hike here and there. With your very limited time I can suggest Devils Courthouse, Graveyard, maybe take a detour to Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Waterfalls. But after that you won%26#39;t be able to do everything you want to do on day 4.

I wouldn%26#39;t go to Biltmore July 4. I think I rather spend this day in the Arboretum but some people like all festivities and crowds so maybe this is what you are looking for. There are several trails in the Arboretum and not far away from it there are trails from the parkway. If you have a time then Craggy Gardens are spectacular, views incredible on a clear day and a drive on the parkway extremely scenic. I took a promotional Segway tour at the Arboretum some time ago and truly I wouldn%26#39;t want to pay for it. It takes you to not the most important parts of the arboretum and you won%26#39;t have a time to look around and stop. I visit the Arboretum very often and only once I saw two people using Segway. Those things are always just stored at the lobby. Walking around on your own feet, stopping, enjoying gardens, bonsai, trees, flowers is more rewarding, imho. Ask for a map of hiking trails. You can get from the Arboretum all the way to the lake.

When you are at Biltmore I suggest Bistro at the winery for lunch or dinner. If you want to eat the Inn make sure you have reservation.If you are there on July 4th be prepared for mad crowds.

I just read Mangonboat%26#39;s post and I%26#39;m also voting for rafting near Barnard. She/he gave you great suggestions not only about rafting from Bernard but also about going to Hot Springs after your rafting trip then driving to Snowbird Mountains and Cataloochee for sunset and finally spending that night somewhere in Maggie Valley.

I appreciate all your suggestions. I have a few questions. How far is Asheville and Maggie Valley from Cherrokee? Our son is going to be in Cherrokee, NC. Is there anything special to do in Cherrokee? What do you think about the Smoky Mountain Train ride. We are going to be traveling with my parents and in laws and don%26#39;t want to make the trip too rigorous.

Thanks for all your help.

Travelling with seniors, I would prioritize Biltmore which will be a tiring but wonderful day. If they like to shop or see galleries, then Biltmore Village just outside the estate and Downtown Asheville will appeal. Also don%26#39;t miss the Blue Ridge Parkway which can be taken at your own pace, pulling over to enjoy or stretch. There is a brand spankin new BRP visitor center in Asheville, I haven%26#39;t been but it looks pretty good and would give you an overview. Also in Asheville off the BRP is the Folk Art Center

See: http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx

Cherokee is the NC gateway to the Great Smokys National Park which should be your third major place to see. It%26#39;s about an hour from Asheville via I40 and Great Smokies Expressway or 3+ if you take the Blue Ridge Parkway (with stops). The Oconoluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum at the park entrance in Cherokee is a good level walking area and the rangers are so helpful. Pick up a park map. From there you should drive into the park and see what appeals, historic Mingus Mill, overlooks. I would caution that Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in GSNP is reached by a paved but fairly steep 1/2 mile climb at a 6000%26#39; elevation which could be challenging if your seniors have health issues It%26#39;s beautiful but so are the many overlooks. Here is the official National Park Service Website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

I love that you are taking your parents and inlaws on the trip. I have wonderful memories of travelling with my mom and grandmother when they were getting on in years, it was hard at times but now I wouldn%26#39;t trade it for anything.

';Unto These Hills'; is an outdoor drama performed at Cherokee almost every night during the summer and it is a beautiful, poignant insight into a history and culture most Americans are not familiar with.

If you have time , go to your local library or bookstore and pick up ';Thirteen Moons';, Charles Frazier%26#39;s second novel that got bashed by critics, mostly because it wasn%26#39;t Cold Mountain ( a hard act to follow). It is rich in minimally fictionalized places, history and country you will be in the middle of when you visit.

scars