Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina.
It is a beautiful mountain city on the east side of the Smoky
Mountains. The University of North
Carolina, Asheville has a campus here which gives the area a college vibe. The beauty of this area is indescribable. It certainly didn't
hurt that we arrived just at the peak of the fall colors.
We stayed at Bear Creek RV Park & Campground
81 South Bear Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 253-0798
camping@ashevillebearcreek.com
Amenities include…
Full hookups
Tent areas
Wi-Fi (signal was hit and miss)
Cable TV
Swimming pool (seasonal)
Playground
Laundry
All
of the sites are paved and you will find that some are wider and/or longer than others. The majority of the campground is on a hill but the bottom is
mostly flat and fully wheelchair accessible. We chose a spot at the
top to take advantage of the view. The entire campground would be accessible in a scooter. The campground is located at the South-West corner of Asheville. Other than freeway access, there is nothing close by and a vehicle is necessary.
There are
quite a few interesting and fun things to do while you are in Asheville.
Although our primary mission for the trip was to find a new location to
live, we did manage to do a few touristy things.
THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
The
Blue Ridge Parkway was built to connect Shenandoah National Park to the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Parkway is America's longest
linear Park. It runs 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia.
Although the Blue Ridge Pkwy. is not an actual "National Park", the land
on either side of the road is owned and maintained by the National Parks Services. Construction began during Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt's
administration, September 11, 1935. It took 52 years to complete.
Originally called America's Scenic Highway, the name was changed by
Congress to the Blue Ridge Pkwy.
While in the area make sure you
take an amazing scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Pkwy. It's hundreds
of miles of jaw dropping gorgeous. Be prepared for nonstop picture
taking. We couldn't get enough and did the drive twice. Once at the
beginning of our stay and one at the end. Each time was completely
different. My husband is a cyclist and went back for a long ride through
the breathtaking beauty.
Along
the route you will find several designated viewpoints to safely get out of
your car. The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is accessible to wheelchairs but some of the amenities may not be. There is a Park Ranger there so you can learn more of the history and
buy plenty of souvenirs. Parking, scenic views, and the visitor center are easily accessible. There are also hiking trails and a picnic area(unsure of accessibility). Due to freezing of the bridges,
certain areas of the park are closed to vehicles during winter. I recommend a visit
during Fall(Leaf Season). Make sure you bring proper attire as it gets cold as you go up the parkway. Make sure the camera is fully charged with plenty of disk space.
BILTMORE ESTATE
The
Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned residence in the United
States. The mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt in 1895.
The architecture, antiques and gardens are stunning.
* Advice… If you are a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility,
you will be told to have someone drop you off at the mansion and then
drive back down, park your car and take the shuttle back. The trip will
take that person up to 45 minutes. After touring the mansion someone
will have to take the shuttle back, get your car and take you to the
gardens. In the rebel spirit we parked in the lot behind the Gardens and toured
the gardens first. We walked from the Gardens to the Mansion. A scooter could easily navigate the walk but a manual chair would probably need assistance on the hills.
The
mansion does have an elevator that was built for Vanderbelt's mother.
However, one of the floors is inaccessible and another is closed to the public. They have a
video tour of what you missed (It is more of a slideshow and it feels a bit cheesy). The wheelchair discounted price is around $50. A two day pass is
available but personally I don't think it's necessary. Also, if you have
hearing or visual limitations you are able to take the audio tour for
FREE. Wine-tasting is also available. You have to drive a couple of miles to the winery, which was originally a dairy farm. The wine tasting is
really more of sampling before you buy. THE GOOD NEWS IS… they don't
seem to limit your samples. The winery, mall, and parking were easily accessible. There is an elevator in the winery to get to the tasting room and store.
Arrive early to avoid the crowds.
BILTMORE MALL
The Biltmore Mall is an outdoor mall with shops, restaraunts, book store, movie theatre, and more. It is completly accessible and even has a water fountain for dogs.
DUPONT FOREST
The Dupont Forest is in between Hendersonville and Brevard. It has amazing beauty, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. There are trails of all types. From narrow trails that can be difficult in spots to groomed fire roads that would be no problem for a scooter and mostly accessible to a rugged manual chair with assistance. I am not 100% sure but my understanding is that some of these roads are opened to vehicles as well.
RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS
Neo Burrito – Biltmore mall, Asheville
Vinnys Italian restaurant – 641 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville
Flat Rock Wood Room BBQ - 1501 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Black
Mountain is a small town close to Asheville. You will find a lot of
shops and restaurants. I highly recommend lunch at Black Mountain
Bistro. They have a killer chicken berry salad. I swear that I would
drive across the country just to have that salad again!