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Last Updated: 7:52 a.m., Friday, July 3
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It's a Baby Shower - For the Homeless Animals of Buncombe County!
Asheville Humane Society is holding a baby shower the entire month of July for the shelter animals! The summer months bring lots of homeless kittens and puppies to our shelter who need our special care. More details
UNC Asheville's Concerts on the Quad Hosts an Evening of WNC Music and Stories Monday
UNC Asheville's Concerts on the Quad summer music series will continue this Monday, July 6 with an evening of stories and music, highlighting the two earliest cultures of Western North Carolina. Noted Cherokee storyteller Lloyd Arneach will share his traditional stories at 7 p.m. Popular mountain musicians Laura Boosinger, Josh Goforth and Raymond McLain will play at 8 p.m.More details
Workshop Designed for Landowners in Western North Carolina
July 10 - 11
Are you a landowner or manager interested in learning more about managing your land in western North Carolina? If so, you are invited to attend the “Discovering Your Land: Basic Land Management Skills” workshop at the Cradle of Forestry in America on Friday, July 10, from 9:00-5:00, and Saturday, July 11, from 9:00-noon. More details
Now is the Time to Prepare for Hurricanes and Flu Season
As the American Red Cross ramps up for another hurricane season, disaster response this year could bring an unusual complication: widespread flu caused by the swine flu (H1N1) virus.
" We in the Red Cross are very aware that not only are we as a country responding to H1N1, but we have to continue to respond to disasters in that environment,” says Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Disaster Services for the American Red Cross. More details
Application Deadline Approaching for APD’s Junior Police Academy
The Asheville Police Department’s Junior Police Academy will be offered to teens ages 15-17 from July 13-17. It is free for all who attend. More details
YWCA Receives $64,000 Grant
The YWCA of Asheville received a grant for $64,000 ($32,000 a year for 2 years) to continue to provide Drop-in Child Care service to women of low wealth who are seeking economic self-sufficiency.
Securing affordable child care is one of the most critical barriers for women seeking economic self-sufficiency. More details
Baldor Electric Co. Announces $4.8 Million Expansion in Weaverville; 32 New Jobs
Baldor Electric Co., an international supplier of industrial electric motors, mechanical power transmission products, drives and generators, announced that it is expanding its Weaverville operations. The company plans to invest more than $4.8 million and create 32 jobs during the next three years. More details
130 Graduate from APD’s G.R.E.A.T Program
A group of 130 students will mark their graduation from the Asheville Police Department’s G.R.E.A.T. program in ceremonies at 8 a.m. and at noon on Monday, June 29th at Asheville Middle School. G.R.E.A.T., or Gang Resistance Education and Training, was taught by the APD’s School Resource Officer Unit in morning and afternoon sessions before the students took their regular summer school classes. More details
78th Annual City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships Begin Tuesday
The 78th Annual City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships will be held July 7-19 at the Aston Park Tennis Center, highlighted by both the Junior and Adult Tournaments.
The Junior Tournament will be July 7-9 with a modified feed-in consolation format. More details
Back-to-School Supply Drive Underway Through July 24; Asheville.com a Drop-Off Location
Hands On is once again holding a school supply drive to benefit local elementary and middle school students served by Children First and Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. This year's Day of Caring School Supply Drive runs from July 1 through July 24, and there are several drop-off spots around town for those who want to contribute. More details
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Flat Rock Playhouse
July 22 – August 16
Flat Rock Playhouse presents Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a love story that charms with warmth and wit, onstage July 22 – August 16. The musical is loaded with foot-tapping songs, wonderful dance numbers, and an enjoyable story that is old-fashioned in a way that couldn't be gotten away with today.More details
APD Urges Safety Over Holiday Weekend
Each Fourth of July, fireworks accidents are a major concern for police and other public safety workers.
The Asheville Police Department will conduct high visibility patrols this Independence Day weekend and is urging residents and visitors to exercise caution and obey all fireworks laws as they enjoy the holiday.More details
Songcatchers Music Series Presents The Blue Ridge Rounders Sunday
The first concert of the Songcatchers Music Series at the Cradle of Forestry will be held on Sunday, July 5 and feature the Blue Ridge Rounders old time band. Transylvania County’s East Fork Gals open the program at 4:00 p.m. After a short break the main concert will begin.More details
Celebrate the Wonders of Bamboo at The NC Arboretum
July 11 - 12
The American Bamboo Society’s Southeastern Chapter hosts the third annual Bamboo Festival at The North Carolina Arboretum on July 11 and July 12.
Visitors will learn about the artistic value and functionality of this remarkable grass during the third annual Bamboo Festival, which features lectures, demonstrations, crafts, plant sales and a raffle. More details
Cycling Volunteers Install Bike Lockers
Volunteers for the city of Asheville recently assembled bicycle lockers in the hallway linking the Rankin Avenue parking deck to Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. The lockers are part of the ongoing implementation of the city’s comprehensive bicycle plan, which was adopted in 2008. More details
Tourists Team With W.A.R. For "American Pride"; Tickets
on Sale Now
The Asheville Tourists and the Wrestlers Alliance Revolution will join forces on Sunday, July 26, to offer a doubleheader of professional baseball and professional wrestling at McCormick Field. Tickets for this special event will go on sale at the McCormick Field box office at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 22. More details
The Nature Conservancy Joins “United We Serve” Initiative
The Nature Conservancy is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.
“In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever,” said Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. More details
Asheville Lyric Opera Announces New Season Lineup
Asheville Lyric is pleased to announces its eleventh season. Mainstage productions and special events are below.More details
Fall Lineup Announced for the 14th Annual Flat Rock Music Festival September 25-27
The 14th annual Flat Rock Music Festival is gearing up for another festival season in the Blueridge mountains, and this year's fall lineup is going to bring plenty of people and musicians back to the mountains. Music Lovers from all over the Southeast make Camp Ton-A-Wandah their fall destination spot where they can always find good friends, great music and a family filled weekend at the Flat Rock Music Festival. More details
Have Fun; Safety is Key While Swimming
Did you know that many families with young children plan on enjoying water fun this summer, and half of those families plan to swim in an area with no lifeguard on duty?
The American Red Cross recently surveyed more than 1,000 adults on their water safety knowledge.More details
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Buncombe County Special Olympics Looking for Athletes
Buncombe County Special Olympics is always seeking athletes to compete in the Special Olympic Games throughout the year. Special Olympics offer Olympic-type individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities and activities for lower ability athletes. More details
UNC Asheville Hosts Art Exhibition by Inmates at Avery Mitchell Correctional Facility
For more than 10 years, UNC Asheville has offered college classes at four regional correctional facilities. Inmate students have studied meteorology, psychology, public speaking and art, among other classes. Recently, art instructor Heather Lewis taught basic drawing classes at Avery Mitchell Correctional Facility in Spruce Pine. More details
Bele Chere Needs You to Volunteer!
The City of Asheville is inviting the community to "Chere the Fun" by volunteering for the 2009 Bele Chere Festival Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26. Now in its 31st year, Bele Chere is a celebration of the region's art, music and culture and one of the largest free street festivals in the Southeast -- all of which is made possible by all of volunteers who contribute their time and talents. More details
FENCE Named As N.C. "Major Equestrian Asset"
A study of the state's equestrian industry conducted by the North Carolina Rural Center, released this spring, named FENCE as one of four "major equestrian horse trials water jumpassets" in the state.
The study was commissioned by the North Carolina State Assembly in 2007 to determine the size and economic impact of the state's historic relationship with equines.More details
ASPCA Offers Summer Safety Tips to Help Pets Beat the Heat
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) reminds animal lovers how to keep pets safe and happy when summer arrives.
“Summertime is a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and enjoy themselves, often with a beloved pet by their side,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Midwest Office, which also houses the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. More details
Feed Summer Hummingbirds for Entertainment, Beauty
Hummingbirds, which artist John J. Audubon called "glittering fragments of the rainbow," are once again darting around flowers and feeders in the Carolinas.
Thousands of residents enrich their summers by feeding hummingbirds. More details
2009 Waterfowl Conservation Stamp and Print
Now Available
“Wigeon Trio,” the 2009 North Carolina Waterfowl Conservation Stamp and Print, is now available through the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s N.C. Wild Store.
Signed and numbered regular edition prints with mint stamps is selling for $145. More details
Marshall Senior Center Receives Energy Facelift Through A-B Tech's GIST
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler and A-B Tech officials marked the completion of the first project of the college's Global Institute for Sustainability Technologies (GIST) with a ribbon-cutting recently at the Marshall Senior Center.
The center prepares 250 to 270 meals a day and offers activities for Madison seniors. More details
Get Involved in United We Serve-As a Red Cross Volunteer
For people wanting to make a difference, the summer of 2009 is going to be memorable.
President Obama recently announced a campaign of service called United We Serve which is a call for Americans to come together to help improve communities around the country . More details
BCS Bus Driver Places 10th at State “Roadeo”
A Buncombe County school bus driver placed 10th at the North Carolina State School Bus “Roadeo” in Raleigh recently.
Neal Brown, driver at Cane Creek Middle School, placed third in the Buncombe County Schools’ School Bus “Roadeo,” third in the regional competition, and 10th in the state competition. More details
BorgWarner, Warm Company & Wilsonart Announce Investment & Job Creation Projects in Henderson County
Business and government leaders recently gathered at the Henderson County Historic Courthouse to announce three job creation and investment expansions for BorgWarner, Warm Company and Wilsonart. Earlier in the year, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners expressed their support of the proposed expansion projects and extended economic development assistance to encourage the projects to take place in Henderson County .More details
Biltmore Hosts Annual Summer Evening Concerts July 23 - August 1
Biltmore invites guests to enjoy a talented mix of performances during its annual summer concert series. Warm breezes and stunning sunsets set the stage for concertgoers to listen and watch their favorite performers from the South Terrace lawn of America's largest home.More details
UNC Asheville Offers Required Teacher's Course Beginning July 18
Registration is now open for Effective Teacher Training, a required course for teaching and substituting in some North Carolina public school systems, including Buncombe County and Asheville public schools.
Effective Teacher Training will cover a wide variety of subject areas, including North Carolina public school policy and course of study, behavior management, substitute packets, emergency procedures and legal issues. More details
Pet Food Drive at Buncombe County Public Libraries This Summer
Buncombe County Public Libraries are having a summer pet food drive to help Meals on Wheels restock their pet food pantry. Please bring unopened dog, cat or bird food to any Buncombe County Public library in June, July or August. More details
Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine Holds Fifth Annual Photo Competition
The award-winning Wildlife in North Carolina magazine is partnering with UNC-TV for its fifth annual photo competition.
“It’s a natural partnership. We encourage outdoors photographers to watch the award-winning PBS show ‘Nature’ on North Carolina Public Television as a great way of learning about the wonderful world around us,” said Greg Jenkins, Wildlife in North Carolina editor. More details
Bele Chere "Last Band Standing" Voting Now Open
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department and WNC magazine announce that online voting for Last Band Standing: Road to Bele Chere 2009 is now open. Music fans can vote online at www.wncmagazine.com/lastbandstanding until Wednesday, June 24 for their favorite band out of over 50 western North Carolina bands competing in Last Band Standing. More details
Summer Food Program Provides Free Meals for Children
During the summer, when schools are out, children who usually get free or reduced-price school meals may not be getting the nutrition they need. To help make sure they are not going hungry, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals for those kids in communities across North Carolina. More details
Blowing Rock to Host Start of Fall Cycle North Carolina
Bicycle Ride
Blowing Rock has been chosen Host Town for the start of the 2009 Cycle North Carolina Fall Ride. More than 1000 cyclists from 40 states and three foreign countries will gather in Blowing Rock on Saturday, Sep. 26 to begin the weeklong, 475-mile, recreational trek along the state’s scenic back roads from the “mountains to the coast.” More details
GED Program Sees 450 Completers Over Past Year
A-B Tech GED graduates celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends in a packed Ferguson Auditorium June 4. The program graduated approximately 450 individuals during the past year and about 100 of those graduates were in attendance at the annual Recognition Ceremony. More details
Asheville Heart Surgeons and Mission Hospital Receive Top Ranking
Asheville's heart surgeons and Mission Hospital have again received the top 3-star ranking for quality of cardiac surgery from the world wide organization Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
It is the third year in a row the society placed Mission in the top tier of its ranking system, a recognition received by approximately 10 percent of hospitals which perform cardiac surgery. More details
MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College Announces Summer Schedule
The public is welcome to attend the morning lectures and evening readings in fiction and poetry offered during the Master of Fine Arts Program for Writers’ summer residency at Warren Wilson College. Events last approximately one hour. More details
Enjoy an Extra Day of Adventure this Summer: The Health Adventure is Now Open on Mondays
Families can now enjoy an extra day of smart fun as The Health Adventure opens to the public on Mondays. The museum will be open seven days a week through the end of August. More details
Law Library Reopens to the Public
The newly renovated Buncombe County Law Library has reopened to the public. The Law Library is on the 10th floor of the Buncombe County Courthouse and the hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More details
Emma Fourth Graders Rewarded for Generosity
Twenty-one Buncombe County fourth graders from Emma Elementary School were treated to a three course meal at Olive Garden on Tunnel Road recently. The students attending the luncheon are members of the class that raised the most money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Pasta program at Emma. More details
Mission Awarded for Innovative Efforts to Improve Employee Health Mission Hospital is the recipient of the Annual Prevention Worksite Award for innovative efforts to improve the health of their more than 6,000 employees, including healthy food, tobacco quitting and physical activity programs.
At its 11th Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, NC Prevention Parters (NCPP) and statewide health leaders honored standout leaders dedicated to improving the health of their community through prevention. More details
Four Tourists Named to South Atlantic League All-Star Team
Four members of the Asheville Tourists have been named to the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division All-Star team, which will meet the Northern Division on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia. The contest will mark the 50th anniversary of the annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game. More details
A-B Tech Automotive Program Receives National Certification
A-B Tech's automotive training program received recertification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for five years.
To achieve the recognition, the program was self-evaluated on ten standards including learning resources, student services, equipment, facilities, instructional staff and cooperative work agreements, followed by an on-site evaluation. More details
BMW Manufacturing Announces Expansion to Landfill Methane Gas Program
BMW is investing another $12 million to expand the capacity and efficiency of its landfill methane “Gas-to-Energy” program.
The new system, which is nearing completion, will include two new highly-efficient gas turbine generators capable of producing 11,000 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. More details
Flat Rock Music Festival Emerging Songwriter Contest and Showcase
An Emerging Songwriter’s Contest and Showcase and a unique and remarkable musical lineup are the hallmarks of the Flat Rock Music Festival, to be held Sept. 25-27 in scenic Flat Rock, N.C. Deadline for the 2009 Emerging Songwriter Contest submissions is August 14th, 2009. More details
Kids Corner Market Provides Summer Fun at Asheville City Market
The Kids Corner Market, a new series of free kids’ activities at the Asheville City Market, is offered every Saturday throughout the summer. Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is organizing The Kids Corner Market to get children excited about fresh, healthy food and physical activity. More details
REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!
When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. More details
Workshop Designed for Landowners in Western North Carolina
Are you a landowner or manager in need of management assistance? Carl Alwin Schenck founded the Biltmore Forest School in 1898 to assist in managing the vast holdings of George Vanderbilt in Asheville, North Carolina. More details
Tickets On Sale for "Baseball and Beers" at McCormick Field
Tickets for the first-annual “Baseball and Beers” festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, from 4-8 p.m. at McCormick Field are on sale at the Asheville Tourists box office as well as Ticketmaster outlets. The event is being sponsored by the Asheville Brews Cruise and Wild Wing Café, with more than 30 vendors featuring hand-crafted beers from throughout the Southeast providing their products at the ballpark. More details
Flat Rock Playhouse Apprentices Perform Sandburg Shows Through August 15
The 2009 Flat Rock Playhouse Apprentice Company is now performing 30 minute selections from Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Lincoln Biography. These fun and engaging performances are entertaining for all ages. More details
Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Summer Workshops
Local writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with UNC Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program's summer workshop series. The program will offer four workshops in poetry and prose. More details
"A Beautiful View" Playing at NC Stage Through July 19
North Carolina Stage Company presents "A Beautiful View", by Daniel MacIvor, running through July 19, 2009 in its off-Broadway style theatre in downtown Asheville. "A Beautiful View" stars Anne Thibault (simultaneously performing in "I Wrote This Play To Make You Love Me" at NC Stage) as well as the actor and musician B----, of the indie rock band B---- and Animal. More details
City's Youth Leadership Academy Students Surpass $100,000 in Awarded Scholarships
The 19 students in the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) have earned more than $100,000 in college scholarships to help them finance their higher education.
In addition to the $2,000 scholarship awarded by the City to each CAYLA participant, the seven CAYLA seniors have been recognized by many other foundations and organizations, including the Dell Corporation, I Have A Dream Foundation, the Paddison Family Foundation, the Civitan Club and the Rotary Club. More details
UNC Asheville Offers GRE Test Prep Class
Registration is now open for a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) prep course offered by UNC Asheville's Professional Education Program. Classes will meet on UNC Asheville's campus beginning July 7.
The GRE prep course will meet for four consecutive weeks from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 7-30. More details
Make Plans to Give Blood This Summer
What are your plans for this summer? While you’re thinking about that trip to the beach or the mountains, or how to keep the kids amused while they’re out of school, have you thought about making an appointment to give blood? More details
Sliding Rock is Mother Nature’s Chilly Answer to Water Parks
Water parks are everywhere, and with the summer heat, young kids (and their parents) start thinking about whether they would rather go to Charlotte’s Carowinds or Atlanta’s Six Flags or even one of the parks over in Pigeon Forge. The “true” water park aficionado might also want to make plans to visit Mother Nature’s very own – and original – water park, Sliding Rock. More details
Is There Hope for the Hemlock?
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is in the mid to late stages of destroying the Eastern Hemlock throughout the Southern Appalachians. DuPont State Forest depends on both the Carolina and Eastern Hemlock to provide deep shade for its cold water trout habitat. More details
Industries for the Blind Adds Jobs in Asheville
The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC) and Industries for the Blind (IFB) announced the awarding of an over $4 million federal contract that will bring 21 jobs to Buncombe County. IFB is a self-supporting not-for-profit organization that has won many prestigious awards over the years, most recently receiving national recognition for having the highest growth in jobs for the blind for an unprecedented five out of six years.More details
Get Your Shortcake Ready; North Carolina Strawberries Are Hitting the Market
It’s the time of year North Carolina strawberry lovers wait for — the start of the local strawberry season. It is a season so tantalizingly short that when fresh berries start hitting the market, they typically find eager shoppers. More details
The Legacy Continues: SHCG New Members Exhibition at the Folk Art Center Main Gallery
Becoming a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild is no easy task. The first criteria for membership is living in one of the mountain counties of the Southern Appalachians.More details
City of Asheville’s Online Vendor Registration
The City of Asheville has an online registration for vendors interested in being considered for projects and initiatives related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Vendors are asked to complete and submit the form via city’s website at www.AshevilleNC.gov/EconomicRecovery. More details
Eat Smart, Move More, Go Green
As energy prices rise and warnings trigger questions about food safety, a growing number of consumers are "going green" and stores are offering organic foods and eco-friendly products to tap into consumer concerns about their health and the environment. How can we Eat Smart and Move More, while also being environmentally friendly? More details
Brevard College Unveils Highlights of 2009-2010 Artist Series at the Porter Center for Performing Arts
Rediscovering the musical threads of tradition and diversity that have been the hallmarks of its first decade, Brevard College’s upcoming Artist Series will include a chart-topping Celtic band, a Medieval vocal quartet and a mini series showcasing tomorrow’s rising stars, among others.
The 2009-2010 season at Brevard College’s Porter Center for Performing Arts is about “rediscovery,” explains Technical Director Rick Nelson. More details
Volunteers Build and Donate Squirrel-Nesting Boxes
The Mountain WILD! chapter of the N.C. Wildlife Federation has built and donated 72 wooden nesting boxes for endangered Carolina Northern flying squirrels in the western part of the state.
The boxes – three times the number the Asheville-based group donated last year – will allow biologists to keep better track of the species, a key component in observing where the squirrels live. More details
Biltmore Announces Antler Hill Village
The Biltmore Company, which operates the National Historic Landmark Biltmore in Asheville, has announced that it will break ground on a new guest attraction, Antler Hill Village. Located adjacent to the Winery and River Bend Farm on its grounds, the area will be open to guests as part of daily admission to Biltmore. More details
Feeding Bodies and Warming Hearts: Providing Safe, Nutritious Meals to Home-bound Seniors
Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County, Inc. delivers hot and cold nutritious meals to 550 homebound seniors five days a week throughout the area. Each weekday, volunteers load up picnic coolers and deliver food and drink to clients on each of the 38 routes. More details
RiverLink Expanding Volunteer Information Sessions
RiverLink is expanding its volunteer information sessions. Sessions will now be offered the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10am and 5pm. More details
Asheville Urban Hub Rising
Biltmore Park Town Square is a construction zone today with stores, condos, apartments and parking decks rising from the George Vanderbilt family's former dairy land. But by late next summer, this will be Asheville's Next Big Thing – a commercial and residential hub similar to Birkdale Village in Huntersville. More details
Looking for Creeks, Stream, and Parts of Rivers to Adopt
RiverLink is looking for a few good streams! If you know a section of the river - a creek, a stream, or a tributary, or the main stem of any river in the French Broad River watershed - that is in need of care, attention, and litter pick-up, please call Riverlink at 252-8474, ext 118 or ext 110. More details
Help Save the French Broad!
As far back as the Cherokee Indians, the French Broad Watershed has attracted people with its stunning natural beauty and clean water. For the first time in over three decades, the river is declining and threatened as never before. More details
Asheville Ranked #1 on Relocate America's Top 100 List
Asheville has recently been named Relocate America's number one spot to live in the country. 2007 marks the tenth year compiling this list of the best places to live in the United States.
More details
Regional and National Blood Supply Low, Donations Urgently Needed
The nation’s blood banks, represented by the American Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks, and America’s Blood Centers, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies.
The need for blood always increases during the winter months, when weather, sickness, and the holiday bustle keep some donors away.
More details
Asheville Among Frommer's Top Worldwide Destinations for 2007
The votes are in! This year, the editors at Frommer's Travel Guides and Frommers.com scoured the globe and polled their stable of authors and experts to identify twelve surprising, thriving, or emerging travel destinations, and Asheville is among those chosen. After careful thought and consideration, Frommer's announced the following picks of the places not to be missed in 2007.
More details
ECO Seniors Club Looking for Energetic Retirees Interested in Environmental Issues
Are you an energetic retiree interested in environmental issues? Would you like to meet with likeminded folks to discuss ideas and do projects?
More details
Enjoy a Walk through Asheville History on Urban Trail
Asheville’s Urban Trail, an entertaining, informative, and artistic walk through Asheville history, is 1.7-miles of architecture and memories from earlier times in this engaging mountain city.Started in 1991 by a group of dedicated volunteers who were determined to put downtown Asheville’s best foot forward, the Urban Trail has evolved into a fairly complete walking tour of Asheville’s historic and present day world. More details
Legends and Geologic Facts Equally Intriguing at The Blowing Rock
Legend has it that after a Chickasaw maiden’s warrior love had leapt from the Blowing Rock, she prayed daily to the Great Spirit to return her warrior beloved to her and was granted her wish when the brave was blown back up by the winds surrounding the rock. Geologists with the US Geologic Survey estimate the metamorphic igneous rock to be about 1,055 million years old and have determined the wind comes from a flume formed by the rocky walls which sweeps the wind up, along with any objects in its current . More details
River Access Guide Offers Helpful Info about Using the French Broad River
Have you ever wondered where to put your boat in the French Broad River, or where you might find the best fishing holes? Do you want to know where to camp along the river, or stop to see an historic site? More details
The Horticultural Legacy At Biltmore Estate Having Lasting Impact on Forestry
In the the shadow of Biltmore House, America’s largest private residence, are some of America’s finest formal and informal gardens. Here, too, is the birthplace of the first scientific school of forestry in the United States. More details
Explore the Great Outdoors at Chimney Rock Park
Chimney Rock Park, located just north of Lake Lure, NC, in the stunningly beautiful Chimney Rock Gorge, is an ideal place to explore some of North Carolina’s most scenic mountain tracts – yet all within easy reach of the comforts of restaurants, cozy inns, and easy chairs. Chimney Rock Park has several outdoors activities in February and March that encourage visitors to get outside, breathe the fresh air, and stretch their legs. More details
Grandfather Mountain, a Globally Recognized Nature Preserve
Most visitors to Western North Carolina probably recognize Grandfather Mountain’s famous swinging bridge, and more than likely enjoy visiting its restaurant and souvenir shop. Many thousands of travelers stop by Grandfather Mountain during the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, one of the largest gatherings of Scottish clans anywhere in the country. What some visitors might not know, however, is that Grandfather Mountain has been a globally recognized nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary for over 100 years.More details
New Walking Trail Guide for Asheville and Buncombe County Now Available Online
Quality Forward, Mission Hospitals Foundation, and Tortoise & Hare Running Outfitters have collaborated on a new walking trail guide for Asheville and Buncombe County, and the guide is now available both in print and online. The new guide, which contains information on 17 different walks, offers suggestions all over the city and county.More details
Treasured Waterfalls, Mountain Scenery the Reward of Scenic Drive through Gorge
As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, many visitors to Western North Carolina find themselves drawn to any number of the region’s pristine waterfalls for the visual entertainment and cooling respite that they offer from the day’s heat. But some of these popular spots require a bit more hiking, climbing, and crawling over rocks, boulders, and trails than some folks are willing or able to do.More details
Folk Art Center Programs Share Simplicity of Traditional Crafts
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, located in the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway just east of Asheville, is a membership guild of some of the finest craftspeople in the country. Some of these guild members generously share their knowledge of crafts and Appalachian culture with the public through a series of free educational events that take place year-round at the Folk Art Center. More details
A Tour of the Winery is a Great Addition to Biltmore Estate Visit
The most visited winery in the United States isn’t located in the Napa Valley. Perhaps a surprise to some, it is at the Biltmore Estate, quietly nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, where fine food and wine, paired with elegant entertaining, have been traditions since the end of the 19th century.More details
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