A LOOK AT ASHEVILLE, NC

A LOOK AT ASHEVILLE, NC
The area was settled by early English, Scots and Irish. Is it any wonder to see things reminiscent of their homeland, such as rushing streams and beautiful coniferous woodland. All the ruggedness of the Highlands can be found here nested in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Evidence of their lasting presence were found here in the Appalachian Mountains whence folklorist researchers found an untapped source of British folk music still in tits original form as illustrated in the movie The Dream Catcher. Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain etched out a story about an applicant family during the Civil War.
A Hannibal film, Patch Adams, Lost of the Mohicans and The Clearing all were filmed here. The beauty of the mountains attracts another kind of visitor, the filmmaker, who chooses its gorgeous verdant mountains rivers and streams for some of Hollywood's memorable movies. We have beauty, culture, music, and art in abundance here, all waiting for the vacationer to come and visit.
There is no shortage of activities and interests to enjoy in Asheville, North Carolina. Just a short drive from downtown Asheville lies in the majestic Biltmore House, whose foundations stretch across 4 acres wall-to-wall. It is the largest privately owned home in America. Biltmore Estate has an exciting program of events that include horses and trail riding, and carriage rides. It boasts America's most visited winery and it is a haven for people who want to ride their own horses on the estate's Ride Biltmore Trail, passes for which can be purchased directly from the estate. There are 80 miles of meandering horseback riding with various degrees of difficulty to suit most levels of competency.
Asheville itself is one of the very few cities of its size, 70,000 people, that can boast having its own symphony, ballet company and opera company, whose performance are more than enough to wet the pallet of the most serious arts connoisseur. Not only can Asheville boast these three performing art forms, it is host to many other art events through out the year including Belle Chere, a yearly street arts festival with musical visitors from all over the world, LEAF festival, and Shindig on the Green.
The French Broad Rive Walk with its artisan studios are waiting with unique works to amaze and delight its visitors. The timeless Tordoresque buildings of Biltmore Village are reminiscent of something found in ye olde' England.
Hiking on the endless Blue Ridge Mountain parkway trails include Graveyard Fields Trail, a mountain top hike where the tectonic plates once came together underwater and still have remnants of a once sandy bottom. Devil's Courthouse was labeled by American Indiana folklore as a mysterious place. Many trails include patches of wild blueberries to enjoy before resting by a rock formation.
-by Peter Collins