claimed my guide. So naturally I just
had to give him a tap! You’ll learn how
the roof was designed to prevent
snow from cascading down and
damaging the glass solarium. At
the tour’s end, you stop at the
spot George Vanderbilt liked to
take his guests for sunset.
Wine tasting at the Biltmore is
included in your ticket, but I missed
Antler Hill Village and Winery due
to lack of time. To properly see the
estate, gardens and vineyards you
need a full day. Consider advance
reservation at an additional cost for
outdoor extras such as the Sports
Clay School, horseback riding, Segway
tours, fly-fishing, biking and kayaking.
Don’t cut yourself short.
Sourwood Inn
My lodging choice was truly a hidden
jewel; I passed it by twice before
locating the entrance to the Sourwood
Inn off the Blue Ridge Parkway and Elk
Mountain Scenic Highway. Once you
find it, your cares drift away. The
twelve-room retreat sits on one
hundred acres of mountainous terrain
at 3,200 feet elevation, but just ten
10
winding miles from downtown
Asheville. Owner and hostess Susan
Curtis is the sweetest lady ever. You’ll
want to come back just to chat with
her. In fact, 80% of the inn’s business
is return guests.
The bedrooms are spacious, airy
and i nviting, and each comes with
a fireplace stacked with logs and
kindling. All you have to do is strike
a match. The common areas like the
lobby, library and sitting rooms beckon
one to sit and reflect. I’d call the
decor refined rustic, not cutesy
country. Warning: there is no Internet
or television in the guestrooms.
(A television can be found in
the downstairs game room.) My
Smartphone got access, but some
do not. Sourwood was designed to be
a relaxing getaway, so indulge yourself
and escape the high-tech world.
Full breakfasts and afternoon
refreshments come with a stay, and
you may bring your own wine or beer.
The chef prepares dinner on selected
evenings, usually the end of the week
through the weekends. Don’t miss
these; they are bargain priced
gourmet meals from a fabulous chef.
Another hidden gem at Sourwood is
owner Jeff Curtis’s falconry. Make an
appointment to meet some of his
hawks and learn about how they are
trained and later released. Jeff has a
love affair with the birds and loves to
share his passion. Ask about hands-on
demonstrations for groups or hire him
for a hawk walk.
Omni Grove Park Inn
The Omni Grove Park Inn is another
Asheville landmark, a grand dame in
the style of the National Park
Lodges: Old Faithful Inn, Yosemite’s
Ahwahnee and El Tovar. The hotel,
constructed from local stone,
celebrated its 100th anniversary
in 2013. I discovered some hidden
areas in the grand lobby that are
certainly surprising treasures. I rode
up an elevator in the chimney within
one of the massive stone fireplaces.
The secret elevator isn’t that
clandestine, however. It has its own
operator who will gladly take you
for a ride to the 3rd floor Palm
Court. This area, the solarium, is
illuminated by an enormous skylight
and acts as a sunroom or lounge.
The decor and furnishing are
originals in the Arts and Crafts style
of Roycroft or Stickley or copies.
The details in the woodwork and
wall stenciling show the influence
of Native design, again reminiscent
of National Park lodges in the West.
I loved this little hideaway.
The Omni Grove Park earns AAA
Four-Diamond Hotel status and has
hosted many United States’ presidents
and other notable personages over the
decades. The hotel’s real hidden gem