Asheville’s Herb Festival is this Weekend

Gardening enthusiasts take note! The Asheville Herb Festival arrives this Friday at the WNC Farmers Market for three days of gardening fun. This year’s festival boasts more than 55 herb vendors offering everything from plants; herbal soaps, lotions and teas; baked goods; dried herbs and flowers; gifts and books. Best of all, parking and admission are free.

Can’t wait for the fun to start? Check out our video of the festival.

Asheville’s Sunny Point vies for America’s Best Breakfast

ABC’s Good Morning America Weekend is scouring the country for America’s Best Breakfast.

With lines out the door, uber-fresh local ingredients and their very own restaurant garden (literally) outside the kitchen door, it is no wonder that Sunny Point Café has made it to the final four to represent Asheville’s Foodtopian Society. In advance of a nation-wide vote scheduled for May 15, GMA correspondent Marysol Castro visited Asheville’s bohemian-chic west side this morning to taste for herself.

The dish? Sunny Point’s Huevos Rancheros: Savory black bean cakes served with Snow Creek chorizo sausage, feta cheese, roasted tomatillo salsa and herb-tossed red skin spuds topped with two free range eggs, cilantro crema and crispy tortilla strips. Mmm…

Don’t Forget to Vote
Fans of Sunny Point Café and Asheville’s farm-fresh food scene should watch Good Morning America Weekend on Saturday, May 15 and vote like crazy. Popular vote counts for half of the competition, with the votes from an on-air tasting with the GMA hosts rounding out the total score for America’s Best Breakfast (click here to see the rules). The winner will be announced live the following morning.

So, Foodtopians unite! Help us spread the word and get out the vote on Facebook and Twitter @Foodtopia.

Vacation Like President Obama in Asheville

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama enjoyed a quick three-day vacation this past weekend in Asheville. And while they had the world at their fingertips, their vacation consisted of experiences that locals and tourists enjoy every day in Asheville.

President Obama’s Asheville Vacation

Wondering how you can experience Asheville like President Obama and First Lady Michelle? It’s simple, just check out their Asheville itinerary. Their visit included activities perfect for everyone, whether it’s your first or twentieth visit to Asheville:

• Lunch at 12 Bones in Asheville’s River Arts District
• Golf and spa treatments at the Grove Park Inn
• Hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway
• A guided tour of Biltmore House
• Dinner at Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village

Check out their complete itinerary.

Plan Your Own Asheville Vacation

Want to experience Asheville like the President? (Sans Secret Service, of course.) Check out the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa’s Ten Presidents Package, available now through August 31, 2010.

I-40 to Asheville, NC Open

Good news for spring travelers! I-40 through the Great Smoky Mountains is now open. Currently, two east-bound lanes and one west-bound lane are open. Getting to Asheville is now easier than ever for those traveling from the west and northwest.

Work will continue through the summer to stabilize specific areas of the mountain and to perform some additional work on the rockslide. About three miles of the westbound lane closest to the mountain will be closed to allow crews to complete work which will include the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh.

Need an excuse to travel to Asheville? Check out our fun and inviting getaways.

President Obama Arrives in Asheville for Vacation

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Asheville for their All-American Vacation this weekend. We were able to catch the excitement of their arrival on video. Check it out!

Why President Obama Wanted an Asheville Vacation

White House spokeswoman Moira Mack revealed why President Obama decided to spend the weekend vacationing in Asheville.

“The president first visited the Asheville area during the campaign, and he liked it so much that he vowed to take his family there. The president and first lady are planning to spend a quiet weekend enjoying some of the many things this beautiful part of the country has to offer,” said Mack.

Want to plan your own romantic vacation to Asheville? You don’t need a presidential taskforce, just check out Asheville’s fun and easy romantic getaways.

President Obama’s Asheville Vacation Makes Headlines

President Obama’s weekend vacation to Asheville has caught the nation’s attention. ABC News delves into President Obama’s All-American Vacation with an in-depth story on Asheville.

While President Obama’s Asheville vacation itinerary is top-secret, ABC News has some ideas for families looking to recreate the magic of a presidential mountain vacation in Asheville. Ideas include:

• Visiting Biltmore House and Biltmore Village
• Exploring the Folk Art Center nestled along the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Supporting the local arts scene by visiting downtown’s numerous galleries
• Sampling the numerous independently-owned restaurants in town

Get the complete scoop on President Obama vacationing in Asheville at ABC News’ web site.

Meteor Shower a Treat for Asheville Stargazers

Going to be in Asheville this week? Then you’ll be here just in time to enjoy the Lyrid Meteor Shower later on this week. Lyrid Meteors are dust particles from Comet Thatcher, and they make their appearance in Western North Carolina around April 22 every year.

Find the Perfect Spot to View Meteors

Asheville is a prime spot to stargaze. A short 10-minute drive places you high atop one of our mountain peaks, far away from the city’s lights. Here, you can gaze upwards without any light interference, and enjoy a clear view of the night sky.

Lyrid Meteors will make their appearance from the northwest between midnight and dawn on Thursday and Friday. Binoculars or telescopes are not necessary to enjoy the show, making this event perfect for amateur and seasoned stargazers alike.

Stargaze Year-round in Asheville

Love the idea of stargazing in Asheville? Check out our tips for enjoying the constellations in and around Asheville.

Confirmed: President Plans Spring Vacation in Asheville

It’s been confirmed! President Obama and the First Family will enjoy a family getaway to Asheville next weekend! Full of history, culture and natural adventures, an Asheville vacation is perfectly presidential as the spring wildflowers rejuvenate the mountains and farm-fresh flavors fill our local restaurants.

President Obama isn’t the first president to plan a mountain retreat to Asheville, find out what Obama did on his last visit through town (and check out a great travel deal) via the Ten Presidents Package from the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. For more tips on how to plan an affordable vacation fit for the leader of the free world, check out our Cool Asheville Savings.

Rumors are flying as to exactly where the Obama family will stay and what they will do in Asheville. So, we decided to offer some suggestions...check out our Top 9 Vacation Ideas for President Obama.

We will be tweeting updates, insider tips and presidential sightings, just follow @AshevilleTravel on Twitter (#ObamaVaca).

President Obama, Enjoy Your Asheville Vacation

Local news outlets in Asheville are reporting that President Obama and the first family are vacationing in Asheville next weekend. President Obama, we salute your excellent taste in vacation spots!

To make your visit a little more enjoyable, we have some suggestions for your getaway:

• We know you enjoyed your lunch at 12 Bones during your campaign trail stop in Asheville. We’re pleased to announce 12 Bones has opened a second location in South Asheville, which is open on Saturdays. Come get your blueberry chipotle ribs, jalapeno cheese grits and corn pudding!
• Our tailgate and farmers markets are in full swing and filled with local fruits, vegetables and herbs. We recommend taking home a CSA box for the White House kitchen or buying some plants for the While House Garden.
• Check out Biltmore House, America’s largest home. We’re sure you can pick up some decorating tips for the White House. Plus, you can see the thousands of tulips that are in bloom in the Walled Garden during Festival of Flowers.
• Word is that Bo has been a good dog. Bring him along and let him show off at Chimney Rock Park’s sixth annual Bark in the Park.
• Get away and unplug from the stress of managing the free world by cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s the patriotic thing to do, because the Parkway was named “America’s Favorite Drive.”
• Groove to the beat by checking out Asheville’s drum circle on Friday night. Everyone from suits to local musicians to tourists will be there, so you and the family can blend in without the need for pesky Secret Service.
• The first Beer Summit was a landmark idea. Find a new brew for your next meeting by checking out our microbrew scene. (Asheville was named East Coast Beer City USA, after all.)
• Get outdoors and enjoy the scenic beauty that awed pioneers and explorers centuries ago. Plan a family hike using our handy online reference tool that lists hiking trails in Western North Carolina.
• Support Asheville's fun and funky art scene by strolling downtown's local art galleries, checking out artists at work in the River Arts District and popping into the Asheville Art Museum.
• Avoid the media, press and curious onlookers by escaping to one of our great spas. During your campaign, you stayed at the Grove Park Inn. If you haven’t already, check out their spa, it was ranked #13 worldwide by Travel & Leisure’s “World Best Hotel Spas.”

Tailgate and Farmers Markets Open

Asheville’s tailgate and farmers markets open this weekend. Check out one of the area’s 12 local markets for a chance to sample local flavors from neighborhood farms.

ActionFest & Chuck Norris Take Over Asheville

ActionFest, the first film festival devoted exclusively to action films, arrives at Asheville’s Carolina Cinemas this week. The fun begins April 15, continues through April 18 and includes a special guest appearance by Chuck Norris!

Highlights include three world premiers, three North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, nine regional premieres and rare theatrical screenings of select Chuck Norris films.

All-inclusive event badges and individual tickets can be purchased online at www.actionfest.com or at the Carolina Cinemas Asheville box office.

Spring Blooms on Show at NC Arboretum

Outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and flower aficionados, take note! The North Carolina Arboretum celebrates spring blooms this May with three major flower shows:

• American Rhododendron Society’s Southeastern Chapter Annual Show, May 1 and May 2: Hundreds of blooms are on display at the Education Center during the show, including many favorite mountain plants. Afterwards, visit the National Native Azalea Collection at the Arboretum to see native blooms in their natural habitat.


• Spring Dahlia Tuber and Cuttings Sale on May 8 and May 11: The Carolinas Dahlia Society and the NC Chrysanthemum Society celebrate the season with their Learning from Dahlia and Mum Society experts. Learn how to produce plants with show quality blooms. Chrysanthemum Cuttings will be for sale on May 8; tubers and dahlia plantlets will be for sale on May 11.


• Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society’s Annual Exhibit on May 29 and 30: Roses of every color and size are featured during the exhibit with educational programs rounding out the event. A rose sale will be held in conjunction with the exhibition, which will include the sale of rose fertilizer and soil amendments.

Shows and events are free for Arboretum Society members or for daytime guest who pay the the standard parking fee of $8 per personal motor vehicle.

Explore Asheville’s Best Hikes

Spring’s warm temperatures and colorful blooms mean now is the perfect time to hit local hiking trails. Whether you’re a novice or experienced hiker, Western North Carolina has the perfect adventure for you.

Need help deciding where to go? Check out our new hiking page that includes a round up of Asheville’s most popular trails. Hit the trails immediately with our recommended hikes that are just outside of the city, or get off the beaten path with hikes within a 45-minute or 90-minute drive of Asheville.