Asheville, N.C., provides visitors with an intriguing blend of Old Southern charm and modern convenience. Popular local attractions include the famous Biltmore Estate, America's largest home (8,000 acres, 250 rooms); the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains; golfing; shopping; spas; and the downtown River Arts District. Asheville has something for every traveler, including upscale inn accommodations for the most discerning.
Asheville's historic 1889 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage offers 11 guestrooms, each named for a distinguished poet, like Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson--and, as a charming touch, each room features books of poetry by the given poet. For breakfast, enjoy a three-course meal of delicate fruit baked in a brown sugar sherry sauce, mushroom tarragon souffle and homemade cinnamon maple caramel pecan rolls. (Early check-out guests may also enjoy a continental breakfast.) The inn has beautiful, relaxing gardens that guests are free to enjoy, and offers convenient proximity to downtown Asheville.
1889 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage
173 E. Chestnut St.
Asheville, NC 28801
800-485-3045
whitegate.net
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa offers a complete resort experience, with upscale accommodations, golfing and a full-service spa. Stay in one of the resort's themed rooms--choose from the Fabulous Fifties, The Gatsby, The Spa, and more--or in the three-bedroom cottage, ideal for families and groups. Shoppers will enjoy the new tree-lined shopping promenade, located in the Vanderbilt Wing. The Grove Park also offers regular seasonal events, as well as a variety of dining options, including a visiting chef series featuring meals prepared by area chefs.
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
290 Macon Ave.
Asheville, NC 28804
800-438-5800
groveparkinn.com
The 1891 Cedar Crest Inn is "one of the largest and most opulent residences surviving from the 1800s." This charming pink Victorian house, located just three blocks from the Biltmore Mansion, features architectural details and carved woodwork designed by the Biltmore's artisans. The four-acre estate features terraced lawns and flower gardens, with 10 guestrooms, two carriage house rooms and two guest cottage rooms. Rooms feature old-fashioned luxuries and modern conveniences. Rooms are decorated with period antiques, and lavish features include (in some rooms) Jacuzzi tubs, grand claw-foot tubs and gas or wood-burning fireplaces. Breakfast is served every morning in the dining room or on the veranda, and guests may request a continental breakfast in bed.
The Cedar Crest Inn
674 Biltmore Ave.
Asheville, NC 28803
828-252-1389
cedarcrestinn.com
