Places to go
March 21st, 2008 categories: Places to go
PLACES TO GO and things to do
Biltmore Estate
 Created by George Vanderbilt, the Biltmore Estate is “America’s largest home” with a 250-room, French Renaissance chateau, English walled gardens and European Winery. Constructed between 1889 and 1895, Biltmore Estate houses an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and gymnasium. Opened to the public in 1930, Biltmore also features 8,000 acres of forest, farmland and rivers from its original 125,000 acres that once included Mount Pisgah. I-40, Exit 50. Asheville. 800-624-1575. www.Biltmore.com
Blue Ridge Parkway
 Spanning the Appalachian Mountain chain from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky National Forest in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is considered to be one of the premier scenic drives in the country. Built in the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, the Blue Ridge Parkway is equipped with visitors centers that offer free maps and information and markers to enhance the appreciation of the natural landscape and history. Trails along the parkway range from easy to strenuous and offer opportunities to catch a glimpse of wildlife. Recreation areas throughout offer campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, lodges, restaurants and gas stations. 828-298-0398 (recorded park information) or 828-271-4779 (headquarters). www.nps.gov/blri.
  Botanical Gardens at Asheville
 Adjacent to UNC-Asheville, the Asheville Botanical Gardens features more than 700 species of plants native to the Southern Appalachians, representing the botanical diversity of Western North Carolina. Open year-round, Asheville Botanical Gardens charges no admission, but welcomes donations. The garden also hosts weddings and other groups. 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville. 828-252-5190. www.AshevilleBotanicalGardens.org
Cataloochee Valley Elk
 Absent from the area for more than 150 yers, elk have returned to the Great Smoky Mountains through a special program designed to restore the elk population. Visitors can watch the released elk along with their baby calves, which usually appear around the beginning of the summer. I-40 to Hwy. 276, off Cove Creek Road. Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 865-436-1200. www.nps.gov/grsm/nativescience/elk.htm.
Cherokee Indian Reservation
 Just one hour west of Asheville Adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation offers opportunities to explore Cherokee culture - past and present. The reservation features a recreated vision of a 1750s Cherokee village, a newly renovated museum and 200-foot Mingo Falls. Outdoor enthusiasts can go mountain biking, tubing or trout fishing, and others can place their bets at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. The area offers a range of campgrounds and lodging facilities. I-40 to Exit 27; West on I-74 to Exit 74. Cherokee. 800-438-1601.Â
Chimney Rock Park
 Located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville, Chimney Rock Park features 75-mile views overlooking beautiful Lake Lure. Recently purchased by the state park system, Chimney Rock Park also includes hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous, 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls, a Nature Center and a number of special events. Some scenes from the movie “The Last of the Mohicans” were filmed along Cliff Trail and Inspiration Point. Hwy 64/74A, Chimney rock. 800-277-9611. www.ChimneyRockPark.com
 Dupont State Forest
 Spanning 10,400 acres, this state forest has more than 80 miles of road and trails. Known for its abundance of waterfalls, Dupont State Forest also offers some of the best mountain biking in the region, particularly along the granite domes of Cedar Rock Mountain. The forest is open to hunting, fishing, hiking and horse-back riding as well. Off U.S. 64 between Brevard and Hendersonville. 828-877-6527. www.DupontForest.com
Hot Springs
 At the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River, Hot Springs is a resort town with the only natural hot mineral springs in the state. Hot Springs Resort and Spa pumps the soothing mineral waters to outdoor hot tubs. It also offers massage therapists, suites and a campground with RV hookups and primitive sites. Off U.S. 25 North. www.HotSpringsNC.org
Maggie Valley
 In western Haywood County, Maggie Valley is at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area offers antique shops, endless outdoor activities and dozens of bed and breakfasts. You can go horseback riding at Cataloochee Ranch or skiing at the Cataloochee Ski Area. 800-334-9036. www.SmokeyMountains.net www.Cataloochee.com www.Cataloochee-ranch.com
North Carolina Arboretum
 This 434-acre center focuses on education, economic development, research, conservation and garden demonstration of a diverse range of vegetation, including a new Bonsai Exhibition Garden. Walking trails are equipped with markers explaing the natural sights. Located along the Bent Creek Watershed, the Arboretum welcomes more than half a million visitors each year. 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way, Asheville. 828-665-2492. www.ncArboretum.org
 Old Pressley Sapphire Mine
 Calling itself “one of the best kept secrets in Western North Carolina,” the Old Pressley Sapphire Mine in Canton is the discovery place of the world’s two largest sapphires including the 1,445 carat sapphire calle the “Star of the Carolinas.” The mine offers opportunities for mining sapphires, moonstones and other precious minerals. 240 Pressley Mine Road, Canton. 828-648-6320.Â
Pack Place
 A central location for a blend of Asheville’s culture and history, Pack Place houses the Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum, Asheville Art Museum and Health Adventure. Pack Place regularly holds workshops, lectures, public programs and educational opportunities in addition to its diverse display of visual art and is adjacent to Pack Square Park, currently under construction. 2 Pack Square, Asheville. 828-257-4500. www.PackPlace.org.
Pisgah National Forest
 Names for the mountain from which Moses saw the promised land, Pisgah National Forest spans more than a half million acres of forest surrounding Mount Pisgah. The forest features the Cradle of Forestry, a 6,500-acre outdoor museum that commemorates early forestry conservation in the United States. The ast forest offers plentry of opportunity for camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking as well as scenic views of Linville Gorge and Looking Glass Falls. 828-877-3265. www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc.
 Riverside Cemetery
 Located in the Monford Historic District, this cemetery is the resting place of former North Carolina governor Zebulon Vance and literary giants Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry. Thousands of visitors come to Riverside Cemetery, which offers guided tours and commentary on figures from Asheville’s past. 53 Birch St., Asheville. 828-350-2066. www.ci.Asheville.nc.us/parks/riverside.asp.
Smith McDowell House Museum
 As the first mansion built in Asheville and the oldest surviving structure in the city, the Smith McDowell House Museum was once the home of mayors, a Confederate major and friends of the Vanderbilts from Biltmore Estate. The museum hosts a Victorian Christmas Celebration and the grounds are home to the Buncombe County Civil War Memorial. 283 Victoria Road, Asheville.
828-253-9231. www.wnchistory.org.
Thomas Wolfe House
 One of the most recognized literary figures of the 20th century, Thomas Wolfe composed highly autobiographical works that referred to his childhood in Asheville. The novel “Look Homeward, Angel” includes the Old Kentucky Home boarding house run by Wolfe’s mother. The visitors center features exhibits on Wolfe, his family and his literary works. 52 N. Market St., Asheville.Â
828-253-8304. www.WolfeMemorial.com.
Urban Trail
 As a guided tour or an independant excursion with a map, this “trail” leads you through the historic landscape of downtown Asheville. The tour marks distinct eras from four centuries of Asheville’s history:  Frontier Period, Gilded Age, Times of Thomas Wolfe, Era of Civic Pride and the Age of Diversity. View architecture, neighborhoods and historical markers through this 1.7-mile stretch that also features a replica of Thomas Wolfe’s size 13 bronze shoes. Guided tours run April through October. For self-guided tours, audiocassettes and headphones can be rented from Pack Place.
828-258-0710. www.UrbanTrails.net. Â
Western North Carolina Nature Center
 The Western North Carolina Nature Center seeks to educate its visitors about different aspects of nature through hands-on learning. The Main Exhibit Building allows visitors to touch artifacts from Asheville’s natural, mountain history as well as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects that are both common and extinct. Also, a Petting Area, Otter Habitat, Nocturnal Hall, Predator Habitat, Educational Farm, Log Cabin from the early 1800s and a Nature Trail are included in the Nature Center. 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. 828-298-5600. www.wildwnc.org.
