3 MOUNTAIN MUST- DOS

ROAD TRIP

The best way to enjoy the beauty of the mountains is to take a ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Constructed as a Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC) project during the Great Depression and considered one of America’s favorite drives, the road stretches from extreme western North Carolina into Virginia. Notable stops include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mount Pisgah, Mount Mitchell State Park and the Grandfather Mountain Resort. Camping and picnic areas are conveniently located along the way. Numerous scenic overlooks provide spectacular views.

HISTORIC SPLENDOR

Just minutes south of Asheville, the Biltmore Estate is a standing reminder of the grandeur of another era. Built in the late 1800s by George Vanderbilt, whose family amassed fortunes in the shipping and railroad industries, the Biltmore House with its 250 rooms majestically displays the Victorian style. Much of the house, gardens and surrounding 8,000 acres, as well as a winery, are open to the public year- round.

GRANDE DAME

Even if you can’t stay here like many U. S. presidents have, you must at least go and see the Omni Grove Park Inn. This 100- year- old luxury hotel sits on Sunset Mountain with views of Asheville’s cityscape and the surrounding mountains. The resort features a golf course designed by Donald Ross, restaurants with floorto- ceiling windows that showcase the looming peaks, and a 43,000- squarefoot subterranean spa, complete with cavernous walls, arches and tunnels.