Wife and I are planning a fall vacation to the area in late October. I would rather spend our time playing golf and shopping than stumbling around the Biltmore House. Any sugesstions for golf, shopping and dining?

Cap'n,

I'm about 2 hours away so I'm not real up to date on all the stuff there. Actually the Biltmore House is pretty cool. Get the tape players for the tour, they point out the real Rembrant's in the bedrooms. If I remember correctly, the most impressive part was the back patio. Huge by itself overlooking a mountain range. I think the quote was, when he moved in he owned everything he could see...

To score big with the boss, find the Blue Ridge Parkway and head South. Look up the milemarker first, and go see the Pisgah Inn for dinner. They have a website. It was a 40's style roadside motel with a simple restaurant and an outstanding view of the mountains. The food is still simple and now goes through way upscale. Worth it for a fun dinner.

Not sure about golf... sorry. If you are into hiking there are a large number of waterfalls that can easily be found off public roads.

Chuck

The Grove Park Inn is kinda cool. It's a grand old hotel.
There's a golf course there.

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Hey, what's wrong with the Biltmore House? I've been there a lot of times and love it. There's plenty on stuff to do in Asheville. It's a great town for the arts, music, woodworking, hiking, camping, etc. etc.

I think there's a lot of golfing etc. there, too. I'm not a golfer, though. The Grove Park Inn is nice. It may even have a golf course. It's very nice.

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Rheems Creek is a great course on North side of Asheville. Actually the mountains are loaded with great courses. Do some googling to find them.

Steve
Johnson City , TN

The Grooove Park is basically in Biltmore Forrest neighborhood in downtown Asheville and the golf course is great. There are like softconsult said, probably 20 golf courses out of the valley within 15 miles of downtown. I don't know that late October is going to be good golfing weather up there unless you playing in gloves and a coat. Be forwarned, Capn, that there are more hippies (albeit driving range rovers) in downtown Asheville per capita than in Athens, if you get my drift.

I did the search in GolfNetwork and found about twenty! That's why I was hoping some locals could narrow it down for us! Thanks for the suggestion! BTW, I don't have anything against the Biltmore or the Grove Park Inn. I would just rather avoid the usual tourist attractions and get more of a feel for the neighborhood.

I'm thinking about a road trip/job hunt this October or November, too. Wikipedia makes Asheville sound like the Santa Fe of the South. Is fall the Frantic Tourist Season? Where's a reasonably-priced place to stay?

The Pisgah Inn sounds great. Any neat breakfast places?

Clothes . . . would a sports jacket and a sweater be enough, or should I bring a heavier coat?

How's the cost of premium gas right now?
.

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The last two weeks of Oct. and the first week of November are the "Leaf Peepers" season. Everyone will be booked. If you want to stay at the Pisgah, then book yer room NOW for the 2007 season!

Breakfast places? Just pick one! Those people know how to cook breakfast!. Avoid the usual franchises. Any hotel will have a good breakfast menu.

Weather can be tricky. Prepare for anything. We've worn shorts and tee shirts and we've also had to wear 30 degree clothes.

As for premium gas........ you'll know when you get there. Btw, just as an aside note, if you have to worry about the price of gas then maybe you shouldn't travel.

Urk. The last thing I want is to be stuck among crowds. Would the second week of Nov. be better? Or could I just stay at someplace other than the Pisgah? (I had it in mind for dinner, as CSchmidt mentioned; I hadn't thought about staying there.)

And of course I worry about the price of gas. We all should. It's called budgeting. I just need to have some idea so I can plan, that's all. . . .

(My original plan was Albuquerque, which I love. But it involves air travel, standing in long pointless lines, and having my nose hairs searched -- and driving for three days is out of the question.)
.

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

My niece and nephew live there. She drives a green 83 240D that is in dire need of a paint job.

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