Asheville, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Biltmore House and Gardens
Day One - 16 September 2021 - The Drive 🚘
We started our trip from Nashville at 8:37 am and took Interstate 40 eastward to Asheville, North Carolina. Along the way, we took a break at our usual stopping place, the Caney Fork Rest Area, to re-charge our batteries, loosen our legs and lighten our loads. Then, we headed to Cookeville and stopped at McAllister’s Deli, where we had a Reuben Sandwich - it was amazing! After a satisfying lunch, we hit the road again and arrived in Knoxville where we stopped for gas before continuing our journey.
The drive from Knoxville to Asheville down Interstate 40 is absolutely breathtaking as you meander through the mountains. On the way, we stopped at the North Carolina Welcome Center to stretch our legs again. My car was relieved for the rest, as it had many more miles and elevation to go before we reached our final destination - the Bent Creek Lodge.
Day Two - 17 September - Blue Ridge Parkway to the Craggy Gardens and onwards to Mount Mitchell
We had an amazing breakfast prepared by the staff at the Inn before starting our journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway. At first, we went in the wrong direction, but after realizing that Apple Maps was correct, we turned around and headed towards Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. During the drive, we stopped at many overlooks to take photos of the breathtaking mountains and valleys below.
On our way to Mount Mitchell, we passed through Craggy Gardens and finally reached the summit. The view from the top was stunning, giving us a 360-degree panoramic view. We took obligatory selfies and other pictures of the surrounding mountains and trees. The clouds were rolling in and out, and we were lucky enough to experience them kissing the summit. After a while, we started making our way back down. The descent seemed much shorter than the climb up. Before leaving, we stopped at the visitor center and gift shop, where we each bought an obligatory mug and sticker. I even used the highest port-a-potty to empty my bladder!
As we made our way back to Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we stopped at the visitor center in Craggy Gardens and made another obligatory purchase of a mug. We decided not to go on any hiking trails since it had rained recently, making the rocks slippery. Upon our return to the lodge, we relaxed briefly before heading out for a late lunch/early dinner.
Day Three - 18 September - The Biltmore House
On the third day, we had reservations to tour the Biltmore House at 10:30 am. We drove there, but made a wrong turn. Eventually, we found our way back to the entrance and parked our car. As we walked to the house, we were awestruck by the iconic stairway at the end of the lawn in front of the house. We took an obligatory selfie and more pictures of the house from the viewpoint.
Since we were early for our appointment, we explored the koi ponds at the side of the house between the lawn and the azalea gardens. Closer to our appointment time, we headed back to the entrance for the house tour. We entered the house and instantly were amazed by the grandeur of what George Vanderbilt had built. We spent about an hour and twenty minutes touring the house, with ample time to take photos of each room.
After touring the house, we went to the old Carriage House, where we found some cafes, an ice cream shop, and gift shops. I had a milkshake, and my friend had their fourth cup of coffee for the day. They sold the usual overpriced items, but I ended up buying a book about the Biltmore House and Gardens, along with yet another sticker and a refrigerator magnet. After a brief break for our legs, we headed over to the Azalea Gardens and Conservatory.
The Azalea Gardens were amazing and the Conservatory blew our minds away with all the plants and flowers inside. At the time we visited, they had a model train snaking its way through the conservatory, which was an experience in and of itself.
After the conservatory, we headed back to our car and made the winding five mile drive through the estate over to Antler Village where we had a small sandwich at the Kitchen Café located inside the lobby of the Village hotel. We stopped at the Creamery afterward for yet another ice cream. It was a nice stop before we continued on the five mile winding drive out of the estate.
Day Four - 19 September - The drive back home 🚘
After enjoying a lovely weekend in Asheville driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway and visiting the Biltmore House, we headed back to Nashville. We retraced our route along Interstate 40 and stopped at the Tennessee Welcome Center after crossing from North Carolina into Tennessee. Next, we stopped at the Crossville rest area before continuing on to Cookeville. Here, we made a pit stop to refuel our car before driving through wind and rain back to rainy Nashville. I was grateful for the rain on the way back instead of on the way there. This marked the end of an unforgettable trip complete with a beautiful drive there and back.
Using points from my Capital One Venture card, I managed to offset some travel-related expenses, which significantly reduced the overall cost of the trip.