The Land of the Sky
Asheville has become a prime vacation destination thanks to its artistic population, thriving beer scene, elaborate downtown shopping, and love of the outdoor lifestyle. A stay at Early Blue Motel gives you the perfect blend of proximity to the action and a serene setting to retire to at the end of the day.
Mountain Biking: Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Bent Creek is known as the quick fix trail network for Asheville professionals, but it is a fantastic and varied trail network in its own right. Anywhere else in the country it would be a prime regional destination that would draw mountain bikers for hundreds of miles. Bent Creek’s 6,000 acres features over 44 miles of trails, and visitors can also enjoy Lake Powhatan Beach, and a playground, pumptrack, and jump line at Bent Creek Community Park.
Mountain Biking: The Riveter
Riveter is a relatively new addition to the Western North Carolina outdoor scene, but has established its position as a premiere fitness and training center for bikers and climbers (not to mention a fantastic place to drink a beer)! The climbing features an awesome kids zone and slide, vast bouldering area, up to 55 foot tall walls, auto-belays for solo climbing, and plenty of top rope and lead options. The biking features over eight jump lines, a pumptrack, skills progression features, wall rides, a pro shop, and a high energy vibe. This place is guaranteed to wear your kids (and you) out!
Kayaking: French Broad River
The French Broad is one of the oldest rivers in the world, and offers up a tremendous amount of opportunities for recreation across the course of its journey from the mountains of Western North Carolina to the Tennessee, Ohio, and eventually Mississippi Rivers. From the Class V kayaking of the North Fork near Rosman to the pastoral float through the Biltmore Estate to the town run through Asheville, and finally the excellent intermediate whitewater sections north of Woodfin, the French Broad offers something for everyone to enjoy the water.
Sierra Nevada Brewing
Sierra Nevada Brewing’s tagline is “family owned, operated and argued over.” With this authentic approach to business, the brewery’s selection of Asheville for their HQ2 was cheered by the community, and the campus is a must-visit for any WNC vacation. It’s clear as soon as visitors turn off the roundabout and onto the approach road that the visit will be an experience. Drawing inspiration from the approach road to the Biltmore Estate (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted), Sierra Nevada’s driveway reveals a sprawling and world class facility… a veritable Promised Land for beer enthusiasts. Once on campus, visitors are treated to a food menu that is beautiful in its simplicity, optional facility tours, rotating taps, several bars, and several event venues that are utilized for concerts, weddings, corporate events, and other gatherings.
Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate is one of Western North Carolina’s biggest tourist draws, and belongs on anyone’s bucket list. Harking back to the Gilded Age, the structure and grounds are steeped in American and world history, and to this day remain the largest home in the United States. The home was envisioned and brought to fruition by George Vanderbilt, with the help of the best architects, construction minds, and artisans of his time. George was grandson of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, who created the vast majority of the railroads in the United States, and was one of several titans of industry who invented the hostile takeover that eventually resulted in modern anti-trust legislation. The home is a captivating experience for the entire family, and the Vanderbilt heirs, the Cecils, are philanthropic and engaged members of the Asheville community.