Asheville, NC accomodations?
 

I'm looking for a bed and breakfast for a two-night anniversary stay. Preferably, something in the mid-price range (max $200/night). Any noteworthy experience out there? Also, activity recommendations would be appreciated!

If you are going to Asheville, you have to go to the Biltmore Estate. I highly recommend it along w/ the audiotour. They also have additional specialized tours - garden tour, rooftop tour, "Behind the Scenes", "Servant's Tour", etc. I spent the entire day there and wish I had purchased a discounted ticket for the 2nd day. They also have a great winery and tour and tasting. Lunch in the "stables" is fun - sit in one of the stalls, and I believe, dinner is suppose to be good at the winery. I stayed in a great B&B in the historic district - sorry, can't remember name - but a 20-25 minute drive to Biltmore- so you have to decide which side of town you want to stay in. There are a lot of B&Bs in Asheville so either ck their Chamber of Commerce or search engine for B&Bs. The downtown is fun to walk around it, and see if a concert will be going.

When are you coming here, Sara? That will make a big difference in what rooms are going for.

I will be traveling in May, which I suspect is high season! I will definitely check out the Biltmore Estate - any other recommendations? We are in our 20s and love nothing better than to explore a city by foot, or go hiking - the more active, the better!

Well, for your B&B and an elegant dinner how about the Richmond HIll Inn.

I've also heard of Albermerle and Cedar Crest Inns, but I'm not able to discover whether or not they are within walking distance of downtown, which is preferable.

I have heard the Richmond Hill Inn is nice. I have not stayed there before. When you go to Biltmore rent the audio tapes for the walking tour. Also, you can rent horses and go riding check out their web site for fun, active things to do. You may have to make advance reservations for some of the activities.

I can't specifically recommend a B&B, but I can say that the ones in the Montford area are (as far as I know) the only one's that are remotely within walking distance of downtown. It would depend on your definition of walking distance.

Richmond Hill is nice, but it's a large-ish complex...might not be the intimate thing you are looking for. Grove Park is definately not a B&B, but if you can get it for a good price it might be what you are looking for.

I would not worry about what side of town to stay on. It is not far from one end to the other.

There is hiking galore, and in May, the Mtn Laurel will be blooming. A good trip might be to drive west on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down 276 to the Pink Beds recreation area for a nice hike. You could also find a mountain bike tour co in Asheville and ride for a half day. Some of the best mtn. biking in the country is found around Asheville.

I loved the Haywood Park Hotel, which is right downtown. It's not a bed and breakfast, but it's a really nice hotel w/in walking distance to fantastic restaurants and shops; you can explore the whole city on foot from the hotel. We had a huge room; we barely needed a car, except to visit the Biltmore and drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was pretty cold while we were there, but we had fun bundling up and wandering around. I liked the downtown hotel much better than the bed and breakfast I stayed at there before. Fantastic breakfast just across the street at Early Girl, too.

http://www.romanticasheville.com/bedandbreakfast.html

Try this link for b&b photos and distances to downtown. Also see the top 20 romantic things. I've done about 1/2 of them...mostly the free ones...not the $4,500 suite one. If you choose to do the Cold mountain hike, I will point out that they don't call it Cold Mountain for nothin' Bring a coat, even in May.

Fall and the Holiday season are peak season for Asheville. May is shoulder season.

I would pick either the Grove Park Inn & Spa or The Richmond Hill Inn.

If you want romance and quiet, I'd pick one of the B and B's, but I like Haywood Park because of its downtown location.

Very pricey but oh so fabulous would be the Grove Park Inn and spa. Even if you don't stay there, you need to see the place and to have a drink on the veranda.

Go for a drive on the Parkway, hike or picnic if its warm, or walk around the funky shops downtown. If you want cheap local color, open 24 hours, The Hot Shot in Biltmore Village, also a good browsing place.
Consider also Hot Springs, a rather isolated spa town about 40 minutes away. The hot springs are inexpensive and there's a gorgeous b and b there, The Mountain Magnolia. Had lunch there in the summer and toured the lovely grounds.
http://www.bnbfinder.com/bedandbreakfast/level3/15382

Can't add much here, especially when someone's already posted about romanticasheville.com, which is exceptionally helpful.

However, if you want to explore Asheville on foot, there's really no better way to do that than to walk the Urban Trail. It will take you past most of the public art and best architecture downtown. There are 30-something "stations" where you'll find an artwork and an interpretive plaque. Best of all, each artwork depicts a person, place, or thing important to Asheville's fascinating history! Be aware though, that due to construction downtown, at least one Urban Trail station (Guastavino's Monument, across from the Basilica of St. Lawrence), has been removed.

And I don't know if this is mentioned on romanticasheville.com, but if you like gardens and still haven't had your fill after Biltmore, go to the botanical gardens at the university, and the arboretum. In May, both ought to be wonder to behold. In May at the arboretum, they may have even already planted the Quit Garden, which is a large garden of flowers planted in traditional Appalachian quilt patterns -- and that's not something you see every day.

Edit... that Urban Trail station has only been temporarily removed, and will be rededicated when the City finishes building an Art Deco parking garage and mixed-use project at the corner of Haywood and Page.

So, any Ashephiles reading this, take a deep breath and calm down.

Tee hee and all that.