My brother Mark and I welcomed our LA (Lower Alabama) cousin Natalie to the "Land of the Sky" for a multi-day visit- her first trip to Asheville since we've been here. The double rainbow opening was perfectly bookended by a family of bears that stopped by after our last meal together. Below the images I shared a word cloud that highlights some of the activities and places enjoyed by Natalie. And there was so much more! For example, the home meals we had were as good as anything! Below the word cloud is what Natalie actually accomplished. It was pretty close to the original "flexible agenda" Mark and I had drafted. She covered a lot of ground, yet had ample time to rest and kick back. But to explore Asheville, you truly need a minimum of 5 nights. There's so much to do.
Who needs a simple star signaling your arrival when there's a double rainbow?!?
click here for a video of the bears
Mark & Nat's cocktails at The Grove Park Inn
Thursday 8/17
Late Arrival
10 PM chicken pot pie, salad, caramel cake
Friday 8/18
10 AM - 2 PM Driving tour - Montford, Downtown, River Arts District, Biltmore Forest and Grove Park Inn
11 AM Tour Black Walnut Inn (circa 1899) @ 288 Montford Avenue with owner Lori White
12 PM Lunch @ Little Pigs BBQ
2 PM Back to cottage, rest and unwind
5:30 PM Wine & nibbles
6 PM hamburger steaks, baked potatoes, roasted carrots, salad, caramel cake
7 PM Drum Circle, SkyBar at sunset, several breweries on South Slope
Saturday 8/19
10 AM North Asheville Tailgate Market
1 PM Burger and perfect Bloody Marys @ Juicy Lucy's
2 PM Day Garden & Bonsai Garden Tours in Biltmore Forest
6:45 PM Dinner at Chestnut
Afterwards: Shindig on the Green
Sunday 8/20
11 AM Drive to Brevard. Lunch at Blue Smoke BBQ food truck
Pisgah National Forest & Blue Ridge Parkway - Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, Cold Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, Pisgah Inn, Mt. Pisgah, view of Biltmore Estate
4 PM Back to cottage to rest
5:30 PM Celtic Service, Trinity Episcopal Church
6:30 PM Pack’s Tavern for dinner
8 PM Grove Park Inn for sunset and drinks in the lobby
Monday 8/21
1 PM Gather on Town Mountain for light nibbles & Eclipse Party
2:38 PM eclipse at peak - darker and 10 degrees cooler
4 PM Eclipse Party ends, friends depart
7:30 PM Greek chicken, rice and haricots verts & Kade’s Swiss Roll for dessert
8:15 PM mom and three cubs arrive to backyard
Tuesday 8/22
2 PM lunch @ Buxton Hall BBQ
2 PM lunch @ Buxton Hall BBQ
3 PM Funkatorium t-shirts
4 PM off to airport
4:30 PM last selfie!
Click here to see where Natalie stayed.
And here's more of that rainbow! I followed it all way to the airport!
4:30 PM last selfie!
Click here to see where Natalie stayed.
And here's more of that rainbow! I followed it all way to the airport!
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