Asheville Trip Report
 

I just returned from a business trip to Asheville. I am a fairly frequent visitor there and I do love to go. Here's a short report.
1. Where I stayed: The Grove Park Inn, Sammons wing. Great public rooms, nice view from the room and excellent beds. Nice and abundant linens, first class housekeeping. Awful pillows, take your own.
2. Visit to the spa: Yes, it is lovely. I had a pedicure with hot stone massage which gave me a day admission to all spa facilities. I love, love, love the waterfall pools. It was a very nice day. Cat did the pedicure and she was an excellent technician. I had champagne to relax me during the pedicure and WOW that's nice.
3. Other spa? You bet! At Leah's suggestion I went to the Secret Garden in Weaverville (about a ten minute drive on Merrimon, US25). Lisa was the esthetician who did my services. At about half the price of GPI, these are world class treatments. Great place and highly recommended. Thank you, Leah.
4. Where I ate:
In Weaverville I had meals at Stony Knob Cafe and Wellbred Cafe. Both were very good. Highly recommended.
In Asheville:
a. Blue Ridge Dining Room at GPI. Good food, nice service, very large dining room with a manageable noise level.
b.Grovewood- this is in the arts shops just across from the Vanderbilt wing of GPI but not affiliated with the hotel. Food was very very good, service was OK, atmosphere was nice. Enjoyed patio sitting with mountain views. Great Key Lime Pie.
c. GPI spa cafe: Very good, but not a good price value. Service was excellent.
d. Savoy: OMIGOSH, fantastic food. Outstanding. Off the charts. Loved it. Affected service, but prompt. Highly recommended. Atmosphere is not much, but did I mention the food?
e. Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village. Very good food, rushed and unimpressive service.
f. Early Girl Cafe, great spicy crabcakes, well informed service, good food.
Stony Knob and Grovewood each got two visits. I like them and they were convenient.
Special Place: I went to Miya Gallery in Weaverville after my wonderful treatments at Secret Garden. They have a very lovely collection. I also went to the galleries at Grovewood, the Highland Crafts Guild shops and Bellagio. All very good quality with an interesting variety.
Love Asheville and already planning my next visit.

Very interesting, cmcfong, thanks for this report. I've always wanted to visit Asheville, it sounds like a nice place. :-)

PM, I think Asheville has much in common with Austin. It has a bit of a "hippie' vibe, great restaurants, outdoor activities, gorgeous scenery and a wonderful arts scene. Go when you can!

Sounds wonderful, cmcfong. Sorry you didn't find the ultimate milkshake in Asheville. Maybe it was hiding in Mt. Airy all along :-)

When I was on a "vortex" red jeep tour in Sedona (I know, big mistake) the guide said that Asheville is THE place in the east to be for spirtual energy. She even shared a vortex map - and sure enough Asheville was right there! :-)

A good friend moved there and is raising her child there and absolutely loves it!

Glad you treated yourself, cmcfong - you deserved it!

The trip was great and I am planning a return. Could use that vortex feeling now!!!! Oh, and the search for the ultimate milkshake continues........