Ken Burns Documentary Highlights Great Smoky Mountains Park

One of Western North Carolina’s most precious treasures—the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—is highlighted in Ken Burns' documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” this week.

Tune into PBS on Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to see the how the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created. The fourth installment in the series, titled “Going Home,” highlights the involvement of Horace Kephart and George Masa, men who were strong champions for the creation of the park.

Both men used their talents to capture and document the raw beauty of the region. Kephart was the author of “Our Southern Highlanders” while George was a photographer. It was their profound ties to the land that made them advocates for the creation of a local National Park, which would benefit future generations.

Nonstop Flights from Chicago to Asheville Coming in December

Good news for those looking to escape the Windy City this winter, United Airlines will offer two nonstop flights from Chicago to Asheville Regional Airport beginning December 17.

Flights will leave Asheville at 6:30 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. Flights from Chicago will leave O’Hare International Airport at 2:10 p.m. and 7:00 pm. Flights will be on a 50-seat regional jet.

Fall in Asheville

Editor’s Note: We are pleased to welcome guest blogger Shao Zhi Zhong, the foodie blogger associated with friedwontons4u.com. Shao planned a perfect fall adventure focused on all things local—including locally grown food!


The colors. The smell. The breeze. In Asheville, fall is a hit on all your senses. Walk down any of the awe inspiring trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway and you will be visually stunned by the fall foliage of golden yellow and red leaves. If you’re looking for something a little different, the North Carolina Arboretum has both indoor and outdoor activities and exhibits. There’s something to offer for everyone, and Asheville’s local farmer markets and seasonal goods will provide you the fuel you need for your full day of exploration. So check out a list of local markets, and lets get going!

For beginner hikers or those traveling with families, the Carolina Mountain Trail, located at the North Carolina Arboretum, is one out of the nine trails the Arboretum has to offer along its 10 miles of hiking and biking trails. The Carolina Mountain Trail is a 1.2 mile trail that weaves through three different types of forest (pine, mixed hardwood and ericaceous), and is a great place to start exploring fall in Asheville before moving on to more challenging trials along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Energize yourself for a full day of activities with some of North Carolina’s juiciest apples. Varieties that are grown in North Carolina include Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, and Galas. After exploring the trail, round out the day with the Arboretum’s outdoor and indoor activities, exhibits, formal gardens, and even Segway tours.

After a day of activities at the North Carolina Arboretum, spend the next day exploring Asheville’s breathtaking fall foliage and mountain peaks on more challenging trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at milepost 418.8, the Graveyard Fields trail is full of life with a mix of young trees, low shrubs and rolling hills. It also boasts two waterfalls on its 3.2-mile trail. You can picnic near the waterfalls and enjoy a meal with some of Asheville’s local produce. Salads are always a picnic favorite and local delights such as Bamboo Pickles and freshly made goat cheese from Round Mountain Creamery, Spinning Spider Creamery, or Three Graces Dairy would go well with a variety of greens. Fruit salads are also another great way to taste what Asheville has to offer. Melons, which are a fall crop in the mountains of North Carolina, would go along nicely with locally grown fall berries. You can also find cantaloupes and personal size watermelons, which are very popular and perfect for picnics, at many of the farmer markets in Asheville. Always make sure to end your meal with something sweet, and chocolate truffles from local chocolatiers including UliMana, the Chocolate Fetish, and French Broad Chocolate Lounge will satisfy that sweet tooth.

Another great beginner trail along the Parkway is Black Balsam located at milepost 420.2. Its surrounding rolling mountain means there are plenty of great spots to view mountain peaks and an array of fall tones. Black Balsam is also a recommended spot for camping. After reaching the trail, reward yourself with a cup of sweetened tea from Asheville Kombucha Mama’s and a homemade sandwich featuring local Asheville goodies. Wake Robin Farms and Farm & Sparrow are known for its brick oven baked breads, and will go perfectly with any of Asheville’s local delis providing ready-to-eat meats such as summer sausage, country ham, and ring bologna. Don’t forget to dress up your sandwich with mustards from locally made Leslie’s “Must Have Mustards” and Lusty Monk.

For the more adventurous and experience hikers, Mount Pisgah, located at milepost 407.6, is the trail for you. From the perch atop the trial, Shining Rock Wilderness, Cold Mountain, Asheville and Mount Mitchell are all visible. Although it is a rockier and longer trail (1.5 miles one-way) than the previous ones, that shouldn’t stop you from bringing along some treats to enjoy the view with. Light and portable treats such as smoked trout and trout jerky from the Sunburst Trout Company are perfect for snacking. One of its most popular items is Jennings Jerky. Lightly smoked and full of protein, it’s a flavorful alternative to regular beef jerky. Crackers are also another great portable snack, and what better way to enjoy it then with salsa from Fire from the Mountain Salsa and fresh fruit jams from Imladris Farm, a sixth generation farm.

Nothing enhances amazing scenery more than good food, and regardless of what you decide to pack, always include something that’s local. Enjoying goods grown and produced in the area you are in is the best way to experience and appreciate nature’s surroundings. From the family friendly trails at the North Carolina Arboretum, to the more challenging Mount Pisgah in Blue Ridge Parkway, and the abundance of local goods and produces, Asheville truly has something to offer for everyone.

Good-Bye to Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze passed away yesterday evening after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Asheville fans are particularly sad at his passing, because it was his signature role as Johnny in “Dirty Dancing” that put nearby Lake Lure on the map.

Filmed in 1987, “Dirty Dancing” was a low-budget film that used Lake Lure, NC as the backdrop for numerous scenes in the movie. When the film became a blockbuster, fans flocked to the area in an effort to capture a bit of magic from the film.

The infamous lake where Johnny and Baby practice lifts is Lake Lure. Johnny’s cabin and other cabins used in the movie were also located nearby. Although the buildings no longer exist, the movie put a little-known southern town on the map with a simple little phrase: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Nanci Griffith Performs for Parkway Benefit

Music lovers take note, some of the most acclaimed names in the industry take the stage on November 14 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale for this incredible evening of music that benefits the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary.

The evening will be hosted by local Grammy-award winning musician and storyteller David Holt and will feature:

• Grammy winning singer and songwriter Nanci Griffith, who has recorded 19 albums including her newest release, The Loving Kind.


• The Blue Ridge Bluegrass All-Stars, which includes Doyle Lawson, Sammy Shelor, Bryan Sutton, Tim Surrett and Jim VanCleve.


• The Warriors of AniKituhwa, the official cultural ambassadors of the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will perform native dances.

Purchase tickets at the Asheville Civic Center box office or at Ticketmaster. General, reserved seats are $35. A Patron ticket is also available for $75, and offers premium reserved seating and access to the patron reception prior to the event.

Local Beer Scene Expands to South Asheville

Beer lovers rejoice! The Thirsty Monk, a Euro-pub that made its mark in downtown Asheville by serving premier Belgian beers and American craft beers, has expanded into South Asheville. The new location on 1836 Hendersonville Road will tempt with 30 drafts brews ranging from local to European. The south location offers outside seating, darts, to-go cooler, and a modest menu.

Fall Color Prediction for Asheville

Asheville’s been blessed with a sneak peek of fall weather this week. Cool mornings, clear, crisp afternoons and brisk evenings. It’s no surprise we began to wonder around the office what sort of autumn Asheville would experience.

A little research and a call here and there revealed we are in for a particularly fantastic leaf peeper season:

“Every year is a good year for autumn color, depending on where you are in Western North Carolina. We finally had a normal rainfall year. As of September 1, the Asheville airport reports only one inch above ‘normal’ precipitation. With good growth on the trees, we have all the foliage we need for great fall color. As long as autumn develops normally with cool nights and dry days–and October is typically one of our driest months–it should be a colorful season.” –Biltmore Director of Horticulture, Parker Andes

“Drought-stressed trees show more color and turn, more or less, simultaneously. So, our wetter year could make the colors appear more gradually. We don't know what the weather will bring, but fronts that give us cold nights and bright sunny days will start the process in a couple weeks at high elevations, which will be vibrant very soon, and continue down to the low elevations. The later color from oaks and hickories will be nice at the end of October and early November.” –University of North Carolina Asheville Assistant Professor of Biology, David Clarke

“Compared to when I was growing up, I think it tends to stay warmer and we see the color later in the season. This was a more typical summer, like the kind I remember as a kid…cooler and wetter.” –Western North Carolina Native, Steve Woody

Click here for more information about fall color in Western North Carolina.