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New Directory of Asheville-Area Golf Courses
Posted by admin in Attractions on January 30, 2012
In the right column you’ll find a link to our new directory of Golf Courses in WNC. It covers these five western North Carolina counties surrounding Asheville: Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Rutherford and Transylvania. The courses we’ve listed are in the following cities, towns and counties: Asheville, Black Mountain, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Lake Junaluska, Lake Lure, Maggie Valley, Swannanoa Valley, and Waynesville.
I realize things are changing fast in our area so this list may not be complete. Let me know if I left out a course, or if one has changed from private to semi-private, etc. You can use our Contact Us form or call me at 828-697-2466.
Carolina Diner Reopened Today As Pop’s Diner
Posted by admin in Attractions, Dining on January 23, 2012
I read that the old Carolina Diner in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was renovated and is re-opening today as Pop’s Diner. It sounded like a pretty cool place, so I got up before the sun to see for myself…
It hadn’t opened yet, and staff members were still busy preparing for the 6:30 a.m. opening, but they let me in anyway so I could take some pictures. Leigh Kelley, a writer for the local Times-News, did an excellent job of describing it in her article over the weekend. Here are a couple of pictures inside the “new” 1950s-style Pop’s Diner…
There’s even a gas pump at one end of the dining area. I wondered if it wasn’t put there to inspire crusin’ again on Main Street. By the time the weather warms up I’ll bet the parking lot will be full of 1950s and 60s street rods and muscle cars…
Pop’s Diner used to be called the Carolina Diner. It’s located at 5 Points in Hendersonville, across from Hendersonville High School and Boyd Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick. The address is 860 North Main Street. For an interactive Google map to Pop’s Diner click here.
Ed Gerhard, Bill Mize Guitar Christmas Concert
Posted by admin in Attractions on December 11, 2011
We watched and listened to a delightful performance this past Friday night by fingerstyle guitarists Ed Gerhard and Bill Mize: the 18th annual ”Guitar Christmas Concert” at Jubilee! Community in Asheville, NC…
Asheville at Christmas time is very special, but Ed Gerhard and Bill Mize playing Christmas Carols together put it way over the top… It just doesn’t get any better.
Gerhard is a GRAMMY Award winner who has performed across the U.S. and overseas, and Mize is a Winfield National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion who recently released a CD entitled The Angel’s Share.
Gerhard has two Christmas CDs. One is entitled Christmas and the other is On A Cold Winter’s Night. (I bought one of each. They’re worth every penny — we now have two new favorites!)
If you like soft guitar music, you’ll love these albums. You can listen to clips from Christmas free at CDUniverse here. When I checked, Amazon.com didn’t have free clips, and their prices were higher than CDUniverse. If you buy one of these CDs for someone you like, they’ll be very grateful. And if you buy one for yourself, you’ll be glad you did. (And if you don’t get one for yourself, you’ll wish you did when you hear it!)
Special thanks to my son, Dave Wike, who gave his mom a free ticket for her birthday to attend this event (and for letting me tag along). What a sweet time.
Merry Christmas!
Forest Discovery Center at the Cradle of Forestry
Posted by admin in Attractions on November 9, 2011
We stopped recently at the Cradle of Forestry on U.S. Route 276 north of Brevard. I’m not sure how many times we’ve driven by the sign, but this time we pulled in. I was immediately stunned by the size of the Forest Discovery Center, which you can barely see in my photo…
Our surprise continued inside. It is truely an awesome, educational experience. There are 15 major exhibits to explore; an 18-minute movie to watch; a helicopter simulator ride; and a large gift shop…
Walking through the woods along several miles of paved pathways in the 6,500-acre historic site was most enjoyable…
We couldn’t get over all the restored and reconstructed buildings. Here are just a few of the many historical buildings and displays outside…
It was fun looking inside the buildings, reading the history, and trying to imagine how the first Forest Service students lived — pretty rustic…
The Cradle of Forestry was an exceptionally good experience, one we hope our grandchildren will enjoy next year. (We were fortunate to have stumbled on to it on the very last day of the season. The Cradle of Forestry will reopen in mid-April, 2012.)
The buildings and grounds are meticulously maintained all season by a totally-volunteer crew. (I was shocked to learn that none of the friendly staff members we met get paid for their hard work!) These dedicated people deserve a thank you, so when you drive by this sign next Spring on U.S.-276 north of Brevard, NC, be sure to stop in. You’ll be glad you did…
Christmas Is Everyday Shop in Waynesville, NC
Posted by admin in Attractions, Shopping on November 5, 2011
Before we finished our recent visit to Waynesville, NC, we stopped at our favorite little shop, Christmas Is Everyday. We can’t walk by without going inside. Santa Claus won’t let us…
I’m kidding of course. But Santa looks so inviting it’s realy tempting. We entered, as usual. When we got to the doorway we smelled a beautiful spruce Christmas tree and heard one of our favorite Christmas carols. And once inside, the store was packed with sweet gifts and Christmas decorations…
If you can go inside the Christmas Is Everday shop and not buy something, please tell us your secret. We’ve never been able to do it. And this trip was no different. We bought a gift for each of our nine grandkids.
You’ll find the Christmas Is Everyday shop at 113 N. Main St., Waynesville. Click here for an interactive Google map, or click here to visit the Christmas Is Everyday web site.
Antique Chevy Corvairs Show, Maggie Valley, NC
Posted by admin in Attractions on October 17, 2011
While I was in Maggie Valley this weekend I spent some time at the 2011 ”Vairs in the Valley” car show and I saw some of the most nostalgic cars around. Here’s one of my favorites…
The Chevrolet Corvair was available in a variety of body styles from 1961 through 1969. This Corvair camper at the show reminded me of the 60′s and 70′s hippie era…
In the Corvair pick-up truck both the driver and passenger sat next to the engine, which allowed more carrying room in the back. Notice the side-loading ramp…
Chevrolet also offered this small, fuel-efficient Corvair stationwagon…
Although the second generation body style supposedly had design contributions from both the Corvette and Camaro, it looked very different from anything else on the road…
Corvairs were popular during my high-school years when most of us couldn’t afford them. Now some guys are turning their dreams into reality by restoring and driving them, and joining and volunteering in local Corvair clubs to help others enjoy them.
To see a professional slide show of Chevy Corvairs and the “Vairs in the Valley” event click here or on the picture below of photographer Barbara Sammons and NC Mountain Corvairs President John Nickel…
2011 Petit Le Mans Race at Road Atlanta Raceway
Posted by admin in Attractions on October 5, 2011
Road Atlanta raceway held the 14th annual 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance race last week and I drove down to watch it. Many expected the Audi team to win, and they put up a good fight, but the Peugeot team eventually took its third straight Petit Le Mans…
I know what you’re thinking… Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, isn’t exactly in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And the Petit Le Mans race may not qualify as an “Attraction” for some travelers to the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the mountains really aren’t very far. Their southern end is actually just a few miles north of Road Atlanta near Dahlonega, Georgia.
And the Petit Le Mans is an attraction to lots of people. Many fans actually camp overnight and watch all three days of racing. We sat on “The Hill” at Turn 5 overlooking the “Esses”…
The fans saw lots of high-speed racing. To see a 2-minute video sample of the excitement click here or on the photo below…
Spectators at Road Atlanta can get very close to the racetrack…
And when the cars collide or go off track it can seem a bit too close for comfort…
We couldn’t see everything directly in front of us, of course, but thanks to ESPN we could watch virtually all the action on the entire track via a jumbo screen right across the track…
Part of the fun during the Petit Le Mans is walking through the vendor and dealer displays…
There were all kinds of car clubs, each with their own special parking area — Corvettes, Ferraris, BMWs — you name it. Here’s the Porsche field…
I enjoyed the hospitality at the Michelin sponsorship tent, including a Continental breakfast, lunch, and delicious steak dinner on race day. Here are pictures of the Michelin hospitality tent, inside and out…
The hard-working Michelin crew did a first-class job — thank you, Michelin team!
Visitor’s Note: For additional information on Road Atlanta visit their website here. And for details on the American Le Mans Series and the Petit Le Mans go here.
British Car Club of Western North Carolina Show
Posted by admin in Attractions on September 26, 2011
The British Car Club of Western North Carolina held its 12th annual ‘Autumn in the Mountains’ gathering on Saturday, Sept. 24th, at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina. It was quite a car show, with some beautifully restored cars. To view a slideshow click here or on the photo below…
The event was sponsored by Jaguar/Land Rover of Asheville, Old English Cars, Made in England Sports Car Repair and Nye Performance. After 11 years and the support of their sponsors, the British Car Club of Western North Carolina has donated over $21,000 to local charities. Again this year, Meals on Wheels in Henderson and Buncombe Counties will each receive a donation from the proceeds of Autumn In The Mountains.
To learn more about the British Car Club of Western North Carolina visit their website here.
