TOURS AND WHAT TO SEE OR DO IN THE ASHEVILLE AREA?

We have chosen four different tours.

Tour No. 1 (Thursday) Biltmore Estate
Tour No. 2 (Thursday) Unique trolley tour of Ashville with several stops to get on or off
Tour No. 3 (Friday) Folk Art Center located on the Blue Ridge Parkway - includes lunch
Tour No. 4 (Sunday) Biltmore Estate (same as Tour No. 1)
Tour No. 5 (Sunday) DuPont Forest Waterfall

TOUR DETAILS

Tour No.1 - Biltmore Estate - Thursday October 15 - will leave our hotel at 8:30 a.m. and depart from Biltmore at 2:30 p.m. to arrive back at our hotel about 3:00 p.m. The Biltmore home, built by George Vanderbilt 113 years ago, is America’s largest home with 250 rooms. The Biltmore Estate covers several hundred acres in a landscape wonderland designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park in NYC. There is much to do and see in the mansion and on the estate including the winery, formal gardens, quaint restaurants, and shops for your viewing, dining, and shopping pleasure.

Tour No. 2 Trolley Tour of Asheville - Thursday October 15 - will leave the hotel at 9:00 a.m. for the Asheville Visitors center. Departure from the Visitors Center is at 2:00 p.m. to return to the hotel at 2:30 p.m. When you arrive at the Asheville Visitors Center you may look around or immediately board a special trolley bus. You will have many opportunities to get on and off to visit areas of interest or to shop in the hundreds of shops. Perhaps you’d like to find a place to eat, or visit the juried craft fair which will take place the weekend of the NCS Convention at the Asheville Civic Center. There will be hundreds of crafts for sale as well as regional music and entertainment.

Tour No. 3 Folk Art Center - Friday October 16 - will leave our hotel at 9:30 a.m. and cruise along a short stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway to arrive at the FAC around 10:00 a.m. The tour includes a box lunch served at the FAC picnic area. Departure will be at 1:00 p.m. to arrive back at the hotel 1:30 p.m. The Folk Art Center is the home of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and exhibits traditional and contemporary crafts of the Appalachian region as well as live demonstrations by the crafts people.

Tour No. 4 Biltmore Estate - Sunday October 18 – same itinerary as shown for Thursday (Tour No. 1) leaves the hotel at 9:30 a.m. and departs Biltmore at 4:30 p.m., arriving back at the hotel at 5:00 p.m.

Tour No. 5 DuPont Forest Waterfall - Sunday October 18 - will leave the hotel at 9:30 a.m., depart from waterfall tour area at 3:00 p.m., and arrive at the hotel at 3:30 p.m. There will be several stops to see various waterfalls - most only a short distance from where the bus drops you off. On this tour you can get on and off at various stops along the way with opportunity to purchase snacks at one of the stops. Another bus will be along in a short time so you can resume your journey to the next stop.

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