Hi I am taking some overseas friends to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina , we have two/three days there.
Where should we stay, Ashville or Boone or elsewhere? Due to the short time we would only do some hiking ( no golf or other sports), please if some one is familiar can you recommend an area ( we are coming from Charleston, then going to back to Miami), and if in the area you know of a nice hotel please tell us. we are kind of really LOST...Thank you

I would stay in either Asheville or Brevard. Down in the Cashiers/Brevard area there are many stunning waterfalls, some of which require hiking and some of which are on the road. Let me know if you decide to go that route, and I can recommend a few great ones. If you stay in Asheville, you could also spend half a day touring Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the U.S.; it is modelled after several French chateaux. This area is particularly beautiful in mid to late October when the leaves are changing.

Maybe you can help me too. We are visiting Charleston for the first time in October. Where are the best beaches for public access? Particularly places where we can get on the beach for sunrise photography, but also places where we can rent chairs and umbrellas. I know the parks don't open this early. They don't have to be the same beach. Please e-mail me if you can help.

Graziella, that's a nice way to show your friends a slice of the U.S.! I'd suggest staying in either Hendersonville or Brevard, rather than Asheville. The Grove Park Inn, roughly midway between Hedersonville and Asheville, is a historic old hotel; the kind where people use to spend the entire summer. The area is also rife with chains, all of which are pretty much interchangeable.

Pisgah National Forest lies between Hendersonville and Brevard, and there are numerous easy hiking trails that begin along U.S. 64. For the prettiest scenery, take one that follows the French Broad River. The National Park Service has a welcome station on U.S. 64 with trail maps.

If you have two or three days, work in a half-day at Biltmore. You didn't say what time of year you'll be doing this trip, but Biltmore follows the seasons quite nicey, with autumn festivals, Christmas decorations, etc.

Hello Neal and Hello Dan, Thank you very much for both replies full of useful information.
Yes, I feel it is a neat idea to take our friends to visit Charleston whose historic district is so fascinating.
I have heard of the Groove Park Inn,.... wasn t really sure, now I am sure. Thank you Neal.
Our friends will certainly appreciate that kind of place to stay and following a few trails is exactly what we were looking for.
I visited Biltmore some years ago and of course felt I was some place in France... also the forest is beautiful,..unfortunately we are going at the end of September, no way of changing dates since they are visiting the US.
Dan I am sorry I know nothing about beaches in the Charleston area,... I could tell you about Miami Beach because that is where I live.
Thanks a lot Graziella
PS Neil :I thought you favor the European Forum ..I always enjoy your answers, my good luck that this time you are helping me.

My favorite spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Mount Pisgah Inn.
It has decent rooms, a great view, and a nice dining room. We have been there several times and look forward to going back when we get through running around the Canadian Rockies and Switzerland.
The Blue Ridge Parkway in that part of NC goes through some very spectacular territory. Unfortunately, in leaf season, the Inn is probably booked solid. So if your trip is in October, be prepared to find many motels already sold out, particularly on weekends.

Hi Graziella,

I'm sorry i'm not actually replying to ur msg. I am as much a stranger to those parts as u may be, probably more.
But if u don't mind i'd like to pitch into this forum and ask the others a few Qs.

Hi Neal, Dan and Bob, is DEC, say around Christmas time, a good time to go there for about a week or so ? What exactly cud we cover in one week's time ? Is it likely to be very crowded then ? We want to get back b4 New Yr's eve.
I'd appreciate some feedback.

Do u happen to know of any other places that wud be ideal at that time ? We live in Santa Clara, California.
thanks.

You could introduce your visitors to a quintessential American: Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Carl Sandburg, with a visit to his 285-acre home at Flat Rock, NC (near Hendersonville, about 25 mi south of Asheville). It's a lovely spot -a National Historic Site and tours of the home are available (do a net search "Carl Sandburg+North Carolina"). Sandburg also won a Pulitzer for his biography of Abraham Lincoln and was a newspaperman and children's author.

Graziella, the suggestions regarding the Carl Sandburg farm and Mt. Pisgah Inn are both excellent; let me second both recommendations. At end of September, you'll be a little ahead of the autumn color, though the foliage should be 10% color or better.

Bhavana, late December is probably the worst time of the year to be in the Blue Ridge. It will be cold (40-50 degrees) and almost certainly wet. The leaves will be off of the trees and it goes "squish" wherever you walk. I love the Blue Ridge, but not in December!

Thank you all for your great suggestions.
Graziella.

Graziella,

Hope this reply is not too late but do not stay at the grove park inn as it is under total renovation. Lots of construction cranes spoiling the view.
We just returned from that area 2 weeks ago. Have fun !

graziell, neil, dan, and bud.

This is the first time I have ever entered a chat room and I am so glad I did. By reading some of your messages it has given me some insight, but I could really use all of your help. Graziella, you just came back so I am eager to hear. Especially since I am trying to get on line for a scenic, yet fast way to get to NC, any suggestions? Oh and how long did it take?
My husband, and I have never been to North Carolina and we are eager to hear what you did? Also, Neil, Dan and Bud I am coming from Miami as did Graziella and I was told to leave before sunrise drive until dinner and stay somewhere, have dinner and rise early the next morning to arrive by 12pm. I was hoping you had some suggestions as to where I should try and reach that night to stay. I was hoping for a quaint little b&b or a non-big city type town. Any suggestions????

We are scheduled to stay in the town of Beach Mountain mid November. How does that sound? I hope not too cold. We are really eager to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Thank you in advance.

Iliana

I have never driven this route and have spent very little time in inland areas of South Carolina. I would think you are looking for something within two hours south of the NC border (maybe three). So concentrate on this area for a place to stay. Sorry, I can't tell you the best route. Or maybe the mountains of Georgia?

I would head north on I-95 and stop in Savannah, GA. Wonderful little city with great B&Bs. No one has mentioned Blowing Rock,NC (15 minutes from Boone). We spend a lot of time in NC and this is absolutely our favorite spot. Very quaint, wonderful shopping and dining and fabulous hikes and scenery in all directions. The town does a great job keeping commercialism to a minimum. Recommend contacting their chamber.

Hi Everybody,
Thank you so very much for all the valuable information, guess what/...?
We couldn t make it because of huricane Floyd, instead we drove our friends to Naples, or I should say evacuated...
They are back in Rome now, so we thought of going alone the two of us this week end, and
we got Irene !!!!!!!!
I always felt I have good luck weather wise , always enjoyed our trips with no great problems but ....I am begining to wonder ...but because I was born in May and I am from Tarus we are determined to go, and I let Irene know.... So long Graziella

... but then, how many hurricanes have your friends from Rome ever been in? They certainly went home with something to talk about!