Attractions for Guests of Asheville Cabin Rentals

Asheville, North Carolina is a town on the move. Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville began as a modest trading community. Over the years, people began discovering Asheville's charms and the town became known as the playground and home of famous celebrities like F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Thomas Edison, and Thomas Wolfe. Asheville has also developed a reputation as a thriving artistic enclave. Mountain craftsmen and artists have flocked to Asheville hoping to capture the scenic beauty and rich Appalachian traditions. Vacationers staying in cabins in Asheville NC can browse local artist studios and galleries to find the perfect keepsake or gift.

Of course Asheville is also a jumping off point for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to spend time in either the Blue Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains. An active vacation for guests of Asheville NC cottages can include hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, mountain biking, skiing, and just about anything else you can imagine. Put on your life jacket and enjoy a thrilling white-water rafting trip down the French Broad River. Golfers will want to tee it up at the Grove Park Inn Resort, which was designed by famous golf architect Donald Ross and has been frequented by golf royalty like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

The most famous area attraction is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC. The 250-room French Renaissance-style home, built by George Washington Vanderbilt, is the largest single-family house ever built in the United States. Guests of Asheville cabins can still see the original furniture, tapestries, antiques, and art work that were here when the house opened on Christmas Eve, 1895. Accomplished architect Richard Morris Hunt patterned the estate after three French chateaus he saw on his travels. The house has four acres of floor space, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The 125,000-acre grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous landscape architect who designed New York's Central Park. Just outside the gate is Biltmore Village, a cluster of shops and boutiques where visitors staying in Asheville area rentals can shop for fine antiques and mountain crafts. The Biltmore Estate (800-624-1575) is open 365 days a year; hours and ticket prices vary by season.

Guests of Asheville NC cabin rentals can also tour Asheville's oldest home, the 1840 Smith-McDowell House (828-253-9231), and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial (828-253-8304), the acclaimed author's boyhood home.

One of the most popular Asheville, North Carolina tourist attractions is the North Carolina Zoo, featuring natural-style habitats and a 37-acre African Plains exhibit. Among the most popular animals are polar bears, sea lions, river otters, alligators, elephants, gorillas, baboons, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras. The Asheville zoo is open every day except Christmas. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. April through October and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November through March. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 2-12.

The so many fun things to do in Asheville, North Carolina, you're sure to have a fabulous vacation. Asheville North Carolina cabins make the perfect home base for a mountain getaway. Other popular accommodations in the Asheville area include Black Mountain rentals and Hendersonville cabin rentals. Reserve your Asheville area accommodations today for a vacation to remember!