Downtown Asheville, NC

My first trip to downtown Asheville! I am in love! Get along home, Cindy, Cindy - I am ready to move! I never thought I could find a town I would love as much as Boone, but then Asheville is like a king-sized Boone. Every street is like King Street. The Arts, crafts, entertainment, food...etc. WOW!

My daughter, Hannah, and I spent three days in downtown over the Labor Day weekend. It was out first mother-daughter trip and we had a BLAST! We drove up Saturday morning and found ourselves in the middle of all the action before 11:00am. The shops were so cool and the people so diverse. We had an early lunch at the Havana Restaurant. The Cuban food was really good and the place was beautiful.

Saturday night found us at the Asheville Community Theatre enjoying the comedy "Scotch Tomedy IV: Get Your Mind Out of the Butter.” Too funny. It had been a while since I attended a play - especially a comedy. It was a great way to start the evening. Later that evening, we enjoyed live music and good food at Hannah Flanagan's Irish Pub. Mom had to call it quits earlier than daughter. Must be showing my age.

We were up early Sunday morning. We visited the Basilica of St. Lawrence, which contains the largest free-standing dome in North America. Amazing. Washington, DC is the only other place I have seen anything to compare to this cathedral. After leaving Hannah at the Asheville Mall, I headed to Biltmore Village and the All Souls Cathedral. I was fortunate enough to be privy to a rehearsal by the organist and flutist. Ava Maria seemed to be my own personal concert as I sat in the peacefulness and beauty of the cathedral. Sunday evening found us walking Pack Square Park, enjoying the lights and fountains.

Monday morning we headed out for a road trip to the Grove Park Inn and the Riverside Cemetery. The Grove Park Inn was as magnificent as the Biltmore House in its own way. Such a beautiful place with the most spectacular view of downtown. The Riverside Cemetery was massive. It held more history than one person could ever know. From Civil War and pauper graves to German soldiers to Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry. Well worth the trip to see these two landmarks.

We headed back downtown to the Mellow Mushroom and one of the best pizzas I have EVER had. We finished off our day with one last walk down Pack Square Park. Neither of us wanted to go home. I am just waiting for the next trip (and it is going to be sooner than you think - I already have reservations!)

Asheville was like a trip into another world, and only 1 1/2 hours from home. Maybe I won't have to move to enjoy more of this area, just fill up the tank and take off!