After that Sebastian started working on his solo career and working with a number of bands and even spent time working with Guns and Roses. In 2000 he was approached by Frank Wilderhorn to replace David Hasselhoff in the title role of his successful show,…Read More

After that Sebastian started working on his solo career and working with a number of bands and even spent time working with Guns and Roses. In 2000 he was approached by Frank Wilderhorn to replace David Hasselhoff in the title role of his successful show, Jekyll and Hyde. He agreed and is original run was extended by months and fans even gave him the Playbill award for best male replacement in a Broadway show and the critics loved him. He would later go on to star in the Rocky Horror Pictures Show and Jesus Christ Superstar. I had the privilege of seeing him in both Jekyll and Hyde as well as Jesus Christ Super Star and he was incredible.

He would continue to work in a number of musical genres and even one time considered working in country music. In 2002 he stared in the VH1 reality show. Forever Wild. From 2003-2007 he had a reoccurring role in the hit show, Gilmore Girls, as musician Gill. Last year his album Kicking and Screaming was released making it into the top 50 and winning critical appraise from professionals and fans alike. In August 2011, Sebastian suffered a personal set back as his New Jersey home was flooded when Hurricane Irene pounded the East Coast. Many of his Kiss collection as well as his Skid Row mementoes were destroyed but he was able to save his mementoes from his father.

Sebastian spent over an hour entertaining the sold out crowd with Skid Row fans as well as music from his new album. Even though he is now 44, he is still in great shape and still hot. Female fans still love him. He still sounds as incredible as always and puts on a great, high energy show. He loves to interact with his fans having them to sing along and shaking hands with the audience. One fan held up a guitar for him to sign and he remarked he was kind of in the middle of working, but laughed and signed it any way. He even climbed out on the speakers so he could get closer to his fans. Myself and several of my gal pals sang along, screamed, and got to hold Sebastian’s hands and squealed just like when we saw him in our 20s with Skid Row. During his last song, Youth Gone Wild, he even brought a tiny rocker on stage with him who looked to be all of 6 to 8 years old but who knew the words to the song and even sported the horns.

Sebastian has always had a reputation amongst his fans for meeting his fans. After the show we were told there was a meet and greet in the back. I was so excited for both myself and my friend Rebecca who is a huge fan and had wanted to meet him. She was in front of me and when she meet him he gave her a huge hug and then I could see her talking with Sebastian and he gave her another big hug and this time just held her for a minute and when he was done I could see she was crying and saw Sebastian wiping away tears himself. My friend left with a huge smile on her face and I asked her what he said to her. She explained to Sebastian how much his music had meant to her and how she had been in and out of the hospital for the past 3 years. He asked her what was wrong and she told him about her medical problems. He again hugged her and told her he would be thinking of her and how humbled that when she was so sick she listed to his music to make her feel better. And that is how Sebastian is..a very sincere person who truly loves and appreciates his fans. He was only supposed to sign merchandise that was sold there but signed everything people brought. I brought along my backstage sign from Jekyll and Hyde and he was glad to talk about the show. He seemed to really appreciate it when fans knew him from other than just his bands.

Sebastian can be found on both Facebook and Twitter.

Website: www.sebastianbach.com.

Sebastian is the consummate performer giving his all and putting on a fantastic show for his fans. But he is also a very down to earth person who loves being around his fans. And that just as to his sexiness. If Sebastian is coming to your town, make sure you go see him.

Close

Testament. Testament began their band in 1983 in Berkley California with Eric Peterson, Alex Skolnick, Greg Chastain, and Steve Sousa. Sousa would later be the front man for another thrash band, Exodus, and Chuck Billy would take his place. In 1986 they were signed to…Read More

Testament.

Testament began their band in 1983 in Berkley California with Eric Peterson, Alex Skolnick, Greg Chastain, and Steve Sousa. Sousa would later be the front man for another thrash band, Exodus, and Chuck Billy would take his place. In 1986 they were signed to Atlantic Records and in 1987, their debut album, The Legacy was released and became a top 50 album. In fact Testament would go on to have a number of records in the top 50. This was usual for a thrash band to achieve such a feat. They became successful with hits such as Souls to Black, New Order, and Blessed by A Burden. To date the band has 9 albums, 4 live albums, six compilation albums, and six singles.

In 2000 the band faced a major crisis when lead singer, Chuck Billy, was diagnosed with gem cell seminoma. This is a rare form of testicular cancer but it affected his heart and lungs. After undergoing chemotherapy he was given a clean bill of health and returned to touring with his band. Chuck is a member of the Pomo Native American tribe and is very proud of his heritage dedicating his songs Trail off Tears and Allegiance to his fellow Native Americans. In 2010 he was included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian museum of the Native American which honored Native American entertainers. He was recently honored by a Hard Rock Café for his work with Native American tribes. Today most of the band remains in tact with Eric, Alex, Greg, and Chuck still touring together and have including hard working Gene Hooligan on drums.

Now I am a fan of all three bands and I am a huge fan of Testament in general, but Chuck Billy is the reason I was here. I absolutely love the Chuck and have had a major crush on him for decades now. I used to date the lead singer for a band that was touring with Testament, and when Jon was doing sound check or what ever he needed doing, I spent allot of time on the Testament bus hanging out with Chuck. He has always been in my top 5 sexiest rockers. And when I met Nick, one of the first things I noticed about him was he looked an awful lot like Chuck Billy.

Testament always takes the middle place when the band performs and put on a killer show for 45 minutes and I always love when they sing Souls of Black since it is one of my favorite songs. They may be hard core thrash but you can always understand what Chuck is singing. They put on a killer show and the fans loved them and seem to respond to them more than the other two bands. Despite Chuck’s illness he still is great in concert and the rest of the band still run and thrash just like when I saw them more than two decades ago. Time hasn’t slowed them down one bit. The band, especially Chuck, always interacts with their fans from the stage. I know at both shows where I saw them I got oodles of attention from Chuck and plenty of guitar picks from Chuck (even though Chuck is the lead singer, he does have his own guitar pics). I know the guys around me liked it because they were bouncing off me and they were getting pictures. I ended up with them down my shirt, in my shoes, and even my purse!

Chuck Billy and Greg Chastain are especially known to come out and talk to their fans. Chuck may not always if he isn’t feeling well but you can pretty much count of Greg hanging around the bus or in the club and talking. When I seen them in Charlotte back in the fall Chuck came out to talk with fans much to my delight though I am sure the people I moved out of my way didn’t appreciate my Chuck enthusiasm. But I love my Chuck and got a bit carried away when I seen him. So this time I had taken one of my favorite pictures I had taken when they played in Charlotte and had it blown up. Even though he wasn’t feeling well that night, he sent a roadie out and got our pictures and signed them for us with his apologies for not feeling well and not coming out. It was very cold that night and my feet were hating me, so Nick went and retrieved our Durango from the parking lot and left me by the band busses where it was warm. As I was waiting for him I hear knocking on the window and it was Chuck waving at me. So even though I hated not getting to talk to Chuck this time, I was just appreciative that he sent someone out to get out picture and signed it for me. One of the many reasons why I am a huge fan.

Website: www.testamentlegions.com

Death Angel.

Death Angel began their head banging career back in 1981 in Concord CA. The majority of the thrash bands at the time were from the San Francisco Bay area of California at the time. In 1985 they release their first album, Ultra Violence. Their songs include the song Ultra Violence, Thicker than Blood, and Voracious Soul. The band played from 1981 until 1991 and members at the time went their own way after feeling the record companies were trying to turn them into more glams bands. In 2001 they reunited for the Thrash of Titians concert which was a benefit for Testament’s Chuck Billy to help with his medical expenses from his cancer. The band has continued to play ever since then. Today the band consists of Mark Osegueda, Rob Cavestasy, Ted Agulliar, Will Carroll, and Damien Sisson. The band is still known for having most of their band members be of Filipino descent.

Just like the other bands, Death Angel still manages to give their audience their moneys worth. They played for 45 minutes and the crowd loved these guys. Mark who is know 45, still trashes and smashes along since his younger band mates and his waist length dred locks are all the place. Again these guys like interacting with their fans and seemed to like this venue better than when I saw them at the Filmore since there is no barrier at the Orange Peel and Mark got right down with the audience when he had fans singing along.

Mark is generally always out in the audience after their song and more than willing to talk to fans. Nick got to meet him in Charlotte. After Testament played, I knew I would loose my spot if I had to go to the bathroom but couldn’t wait any more. When I came out of the ladies room and we headed towards the back of the club, I saw Mark talking to do fans. Now I absolutely love my fiancé, but I still get giddy when I get to meet a band member. And when they are gorgeous like Mark, I get 10 kinds of giddy. Mark gladly posed for a photograph and then Nick and I went to watch Anthrax. Much to our surprise Mark followed us and we ended up talking to him for about 45 minutes. He was so sweet and even good naturedly made fun of himself over the Charlotte show where he came out and said "Glad to see you Raleigh" and Joey said "hello Myrtle Beach". He is very sincere about hanging out with his fans and never makes you feel like you your bothering him. Later one when we sent to the other side of the club we went to the bar to get drinks and there was the yummy guitar player Damien Sisson. He also gladly posed for pictures and talked to fans.

Website: www.deathangel.com

If you get a chance to see these guys when they are in your town, make sure you go see them. Despite the fact these guys are now middle aged; they still put on a great show for fans. And the guys are really some of the nicest guys and love to interact with their fans. And despite the fact that glam bands were always known for their looks, these guys are pretty hot. I was a bit upset to find out to find that another one of my favorite bands, Overkill, was asked to be part of this tour, but scheduling conflicts kept them from touring. For a great night out and to see 3 of the best thrash bands around, go see these guys if you can.

All three of these bands can be found on both Facebook and Twitter.
Close

Just in case you’re not familiar with these bands, let me give you a little history. Heavy metal is a genre of music that became popular during the 80’s. It features lighting speed riffs and the musicians generally have long hair and tattoos and often…Read More

Just in case you’re not familiar with these bands, let me give you a little history. Heavy metal is a genre of music that became popular during the 80’s. It features lighting speed riffs and the musicians generally have long hair and tattoos and often wore black leather and metal spikes. There are a number of divisions within the heavy metal genre and even more subcultures. Metal, glam metal, sleaze metal, thrash metal, speed metal, and death metal are just several of the labels of metal. These bands are known as thrash metal which kind of rebelled with the pretty boy hair bands of the day and have faster, pulse pounding riffs, and the singers often have more of a grunt than actual signing. Females are general fans of glam metal and all its subcultures while thrash metal and its divisions are often made up of males. Back in the day it wasn’t unusual for me to go to a thrash show and be the only girl there. I am pretty much a fan of most metal labels and have been a fan of all 3 bands for several decades now.

Anthrax.

Anthrax is one of the most well know of thrash bands and one of the most visible. They were one of the first thrash bands to gain national recognition and in 1985 they were the first thrash band to be signed to a major label and were signed by Island Records. They are considered to be one of the grandfathers of thrash along with Metallica and Megadeth though they never quite received the recognition the other two bands have had.

The band began in 1981 in New York with Scott Ian and Danny Liker and singer John Bush. In 1983 Joey Belladonna took over as vocalist for the band and the band became to gain national recognition. But Joey is generally recognized as the original singer of the band since he was the singer as the band was gaining recognition. This debate was brought up on a recent episode of That Metal Show where the topic was what singer did a great job talking over for another singer and Joey was mentioned. But was not added to the list since most fans think of John taking Joeys position several years ago.

In 1989 MTV featured a contest where the band would come to some lucky (or unlucky) fans house and play then trash it. In 1992 the TV show Married With Children featured an episode where Bud won such a contest and featured the band. The band has also been seen WWE Raw, News Radio, Cheers, and Ask Dr. Ruth. They have been a part of numerous video and movie soundtracks. They often work with rap musicians including Public Enemy and have worked with other artists as varied as DimeBag Darrel and Roger Daltry. The band did have one dark spot in their history. After the Anthrax breakouts near 9/11 the band had doubts if they should continue to use their name since the deaths that occurred from the disease, but decided not to let the bad guys win and kept their name.

Scott Ian and Charlie Benante are the only band members to be featured on all their albums. To date the band has released 10 albums, 20 singles, and an EP. And 2 years go the band toured as part of the Big 4 tour which included Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer selling out major venues all over the world. At one point their roadie, John Connelly took over the vocals and he would later join forces with original member Danny Liker and formed Nuclear Assault (another favorite band of mine). From 2007-to 2010 Joey Belladonna left the band, but much to fans happiness, he is back and touring with the band. Some of their most popular songs are Almost the Living, Into the Most Pit, Judge Dredd (and was featured in the movie of the Sylvester Stallone action movie of the same name) and Indians. Many of the bands have also worked on their own solo projects. Today the band consists of members Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, Frank Bell, Charlie Benante and Rob Caggiano.

The band is always high energy and consistently put on a show for their thongs of fans. They are known to enjoy moshing and run around on the stage even though the members are now all middle aged. The band played fan favorites including the songs I had listed and newer materials. Joey’s voice is still as strong and as powerful as always and the members still sound as they did several decades when I first saw them. The fans still respond to the band and sing right along with their favorite songs. They played for over an hour to the sold out crowd and came back for 3 more songs for their encore. Today it is often a family affairs since they often have their families on the road with them and you can see their kids enjoying watching dad work!

The band does like to encourage their fans to get into the mosh pit. This is an open pit where generally male fans run around and ram into each other like batting rams. Never understood it and it looks really stupid for middle aged guys to do it. Also many clubs do not want mosh pits or at least have an area just for that so other fans don’t get hurt. So as much as I love the band I thought it was very stupid of them to encourage that and body suffering since those caught were promptly escorted out!

I had a great time at the show and loved signing right along with the band. And while Anthrax does have female fans, they are still mainly a male fan base. This show though, we had to watch the band from the side of the club. After Testament my bladder was yelling at me and I had to go to the ladies room. I knew as crowded as it was I would never get back to the front, so we just left and came back and enjoyed the show from the side. Now when I saw them in Charlotte I was right up front and got allot of attention from Joey who at one point even grabbed my camera from me and took my picture after taking plenty of him. Joey should stick with the day job of being a lead singer! But even though he has gotten a little older (and so have I) he is still absolutely gorgeous. This concert also featured the unexpected return of Scott Ian. Some weeks before he had been hospitalized for an infection and was due to be out longer, so fans were glad to see Scott back and in full force. Unfortunately Charlie was not at the show. His mother had become terminally ill and he left the tour for a while to be with here. Testament drummer Greg is on of the hardest working guys out there doing double duty with both Testament and Anthrax! And doing a great job with both.

Website: www.anthrax.com

Close

Overview.If you have read my previous journals, you will notice some changes to my journals. I have a new relationship with my fiancé, Nick. This was our first trip away since becoming a couple. We have a love of heavy metal music. So this will…Read More

Overview.

If you have read my previous journals, you will notice some changes to my journals. I have a new relationship with my fiancé, Nick. This was our first trip away since becoming a couple. We have a love of heavy metal music. So this will be the first of many Nick and Suzie’s adventures and many of them will center around of our love of all things metal.

When I saw on Facebook that one of my favorite bands would be playing in Ashville and it would be right around Nick’s birthday, so we decided to go up to Asheville and then to Winston Salem to hit 2 great concerts.

The first leg of our trip took us to Asheville. We stayed at the Best Western of Asheville Biltmore East. We had 2 nights in Asheville and the room was great. The bed was oh so comfy. And the location is great.

The first night we had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We initially went there since they were supposed to have had wrestling pay per view, only to get there and find out they were not having the event. Since it was late and we were tired from the drive, we just stayed and ate anyway.

The next day after picking up our concert tickets, we went in search of lunch. Nick is part Italian and part Irish (like me..at least the Irish part) and loves subs and pizza. We head away from downtown towards the Biltmore house and spy Lenny’s Sub Shop and decide to stop in for a few subs.

Later that evening we head out to the Orange Peel, which is considered one of the top 5 concert venues by Rolling Stone Magazine. We were there to see the thrash metal trio of Death Angel/Testament/Anthrax. I am a huge fan of all 3 bands but in particular Testament as I love their lead singer Chuck Billy. We had just seen the band in Charlotte only some months earlier, but couldn’t wait to see them again. One again they put on a great concert for the sold out crowd.

Before heading to the Orange Peel to see Testament, we stopped by one of my favorite restaurants…the Mellow Mushroom. I have been to several other locations and this location was just as great as the others. Their pizzas here are great. And this location was once a gas station and has that same funky vibe going that the other locations have.

The next morning we headed out for our next destination…Winston Salem. We were trying to find a place for Nick to get an old picture enlarged. While riding around we spotted a number of pizza places near each other. Waiting to go somewhere other than a place we could go at home, we decide on Marco’s NY Pizza.

While in Winston Salem we stayed at the Quality Inn Coliseum. It was ok given the fact we were only staying for the night. Beyond that, I don’t think I would even consider it.

After checking in to our hotel and headed to meet my friend Rebecca and her hubby Eric, we were starving. So we all headed to one of their favorite places for more pizza. We headed to Brick Oven Pizza which has a delish pizza buffet.

We rounded out our rock and roll road tour by heading over to Ziggy’s club to see former Skid Row lead singer, Sebastian Bach. Now Sebastian has made a previous appearance in an earlier journal when he magnificently played the lead role in the Broadway show, Jeckyl and Hyde. But tonight he would be returning to his metal roots with a new band and still singing some fan favorites.


Suggestions.

As always my first suggestion is go to the visitor’s web site at www.exploreasheville.com. They have an on line visitors guider’s guide or you can order a copy by mail. Granted I use several resources when planning my trips but I still love it when I go to my mailbox and a glossy visitor’s guide greets me. I still love curling up on my couch and looking through the visitors guide to see what I can find. Winston-Salem’s website is www.visitwinstonsalem.com

There are also several other website sites out there devoted to Asheville. www.romanticasheville.com, www.ashevillenc.com, www.westernncattractions.com, and www.visitnc.com are among those ones I use on a regular basis.

On Facebook? So is the Asheville CVB. Just like them for updates and trip planning ideas.

Got a smart phone? The Asheville CVB also has an app for that and it’s free!
Asheville is a year round destination. Winter brings guests to the Biltmore Estate for the candlelight tours as well as nearby skiing. Spring time brings an explosion at the Biltmore Estate with the grand gardens and the Festival of Flowers in April and May. Summer brings a respite from the heat found elsewhere in the Carolinas. Fall abounds with the beauty of the changing leafs that bring visitors by the thousands to this area to do some leaf peeping.

Asheville is also located relatively close to so many major destinations in the NC Mountains. People often include stops in Asheville when traveling to other destinations.

This is one of my favorite destinations. I have written several other journals on this top destination. Just look up my other journals for more ideas on things to do.

It is a good idea to have your hotel room booked in advance. During major festivals and holidays, the place is packed. UNC Asheville is here so certain of the year such as the beginning of the fall semester, homecoming weekend, alumni and parent’s weekend will require advanced planning. Asheville has a number of hotels and beautiful B&B’s. You will find something to fit any budget.

One place that I can suggest that I did not have enough to do a journal on is French Broad Imaging located at 5248 Hendersonville Rd. (828) 575-2170. They are on Facebook and a great place for your photography needs. Nick had a picture taken of him and Sebastian Back taken in 1987. He wanted an enlarged copy to have Sebastian sign it. I remembered seeing it the day prior during our travels and suggested we stop by and see if they could help us. Sure enough they were able to make him an 8 x 10 copy and cleaned it up so it looked better than the original. The staff was helpful and great to work with.

Need a great way to organize your travel plans? One of my favorite is Trip It. You enter your entire information on your plans and if you have your plans emailed to you, Trip it automatically fills in the information for you. Then when you’re ready to go just print it out and be on your way. www.tripit.com and they have an app as well. And it’s free. It is Facebook compatible.

If you have a smart phone..embrace all the travel apps out there. About 90% of my apps are travel related. I have travel logs and travel planners on my Iphone. I also love rating places through Stamped and Google Places. With the exception of a few apps, I only use free apps. So you can get plenty of them for free. Many of them such as Stamped are Facebook compatible.

Ways to Get Around

Once you’re here, unless you are just staying in the downtown area, you will need a car to get around. Asheville does have it’s own airport (www.flyavl.com). Charlotte Douglas (CLT) is about 2 hours away and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) is about an hour away. You can pick up a car at the airport.

Like most other major cities, parking downtown can be tricky. There is a parking deck near the Grove Park Arcade and that is your best for parking downtown if you are going to be a while. Very few downtown locations have their own parking lot and parking is generally on the street with meters.

Once you are here, there are tons of fun and exciting ways to get around. Explore Asheville by trolley, Segway, Land Rover, bicycle, or take to the air with a hot air balloon ride.

You are right at the Blue Ridge Parkway. So why not take off one of the most popular parkways in the country and enjoy the sites? If you see lots of people gathered around..well just pull over safely and join them. Lots of people gathered around generally means a wildlife spotting or something really beautiful.

Please note that if you do not have a car and wish to visit the Biltmore Estate, please make sure your hotel offers a shuttle. There are several hotels near the ENTRANCE of the estate. Unfortunately George valued his privacy and it is a 3 mile hike to the actual home.
Close

Although a pretty decent value for the $24 a night (cash only) price tag (for a bed in either a three or six bed dorm room), with two other options for hostels in the Asheville area (both of which take plastic and are in the…Read More

Although a pretty decent value for the $24 a night (cash only) price tag (for a bed in either a three or six bed dorm room), with two other options for hostels in the Asheville area (both of which take plastic and are in the heart of downtown, while Bon Paul's in a $10 cab ride away from downtown, or a $1 bus ride, with no late night or Sunday service), the value of staying here seems to fall a little short.

First off, I will say that Bon Paul's has access to a hot tub, while the two other Asheville area hostel do not. When I first arrived, I was stoked! A hot tub! But, I ended up not using it. So, for someone who places a high value on that, then it would be worth it.

For me, one of the most important things in a hostel/hotel environment is the friendliness of their staff. Compared to Arthaus and Sweet Peas, Bon Paul's fell short in this regard. The attitude that I picked up from the staff was something along the lines of: you're staying in my house (they all live there), don't bother me. Not, you are a guest of mine, how can I help you. They are incredibly strict on their check out policy (I think every hostel/hotel in the world allows you a late check out). The current manager does not have a warm and friendly attitude, but rather has more of a dictatorial demeanor. I just didn't feel very comfortable there. So, just a disclaimer, this is based on my own personal experience, and everyone has their own perceptions of reality. But, I was not the only one who felt this way when I was staying there.

On a different note, the accommodations were average. The beds did not have an actual mattress, but rather was just vinyl stuffed with some sort of cotton or other material. Kind of like what you would find on a cot. Plumbing was a little below average. Toilets clogged up easily (maybe it's just me!). Also, the sink in the upstairs bathroom was clogged, though one of the staff members did fix it.

Contrary to the previous poster, there was no TV that I could see, and I just stayed there in the summer of 2010.

Internet was great! Wireless worked flawlessly.

Towels cost $1.

There is a full library in the living room. Kitchen was just fine. Access to plates, cups, cooking utensils. But they don't have paper towels or napkins. When I asked about this, they just said we just don't have them.

Location is OK. They are right on the bus line, that does go directly into downtown. Bars and restaurants are within walking distance, including the best Mexican restaurant in Asheville! But, downtown has many more options for entertainment.

Overall, given the fact that there are two other hostels in Asheville with extremely courteous staff, wireless internet, full service kitchen and laundry (Sweet pea has coin operated machines. At Arthaus, the staff actually offered to do a load for me for $5), I would not go back to Bon Pauls. But, if you place a high value on a hot tub, then that's your place!Close

After many years of visiting the grand and glorious Biltmore Estate, I finally made it to their much anticipated Festival of Flowers held annually every April and May. The home is the largest private estate in the US but is open year…Read More

After many years of visiting the grand and glorious Biltmore Estate, I finally made it to their much anticipated Festival of Flowers held annually every April and May. The home is the largest private estate in the US but is open year round for the public to tour. The estate is the former home of George W. Vanderbilt of the Vanderbilt family that owns several other mansions that are open to the public as well. The 250 room mansion was open in 1895 after 6 years of work. It is still owned and ran by George’s family. In addition to the mansions, visitors can enjoy the Biltmore Winery and their famed Biltmore Gardens designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted who designed the gardens at Central Park in NY.

Only a few miles down the road, visitors can also enjoy The Smith-McDowell House . The mansion, which is the oldest surviving brick structure in Buncombe County, was built in 1840 for James McConnell Smith. The Smith family were friends of the Vanderbilt family. The home is open to the public to tour.

We also managed in 2 tours on this weekend trip! Our first night we took a tour with Ghost Hunters of Asheville . We took their downtown ghost tour. Not only do you get to hear ghost stories but you get to use those same nifty gadgets such as the EMF meters and dowsing rods just like you see Jason and Grant from The Ghost Hunters use.

Now thoroughly hooked on Segways, we took the Moving Sidewalk Tour with Wes. We toured the downtown area and since it was just John and I, and we know what we are doing, we also got to visit several historic districts.

Since our current President had ate at 12 Bones restaurant, we figured we would too. President Obama and Asheville have a thing or two to learn about ribs though. One night we had some authentic southwest cuisine at La Paz and had some home cooking the next morning at the Corner Kitchen . Both restaurants are located in the historical and charming Biltmore Village , just at the entrance of the estate. We also had pizza at Barley’s Pub and Taproom.

New to Asheville and the village, we stayed in the 4 diamond rated The Grand Bohemian Hotel . While the hotel it’s self is just beautiful, the treatment we received here was one of the worst experiences we have had in all of our years of travels. This is not the place if you do not look like you belong to a country club,

Suggestions

You can always count on my #1 suggestion being start by going to the CVB. Their website is www.exploreasheville.com. You can order one of their beautiful visitors guides to have in your own hot little hands. Or just browse around and see what this entire wonderful city has to offer, see what events or going on while your in town, or read articles on some of the wonderful people, places and things in one of my most favorite places.

While Asheville is known for the Biltmore Estate, and yes you should visit, there is more to see than just the big mansion. Plan to spend a long weekend or more exploring this marvelous place.

Asheville offers up year round excitement. In the winter The Biltmore Estate has their candlelight tours, nearby ski resorts are full, and the mild winter weather makes it a great time to explore. Spring brings beauty everywhere from the famed Festival of Flowers at Biltmore to wildflowers found hiking the Great Smokey Mtn. National Park. Summer brings relief from the muggy summers elsewhere in the Carolinas. Cherokee is nearby and the have their award winning play "Unto These Hills" during summer months. Fall brings people from all over the country as leaf peeping is a popular hobby and hotel fill up with people who just want to go see how nature colors this season naturally.

Look at my past journals. I have several journals on Asheville and the surrounding areas. The mountains of NC hold a special place in my heart and I love to visit and then share with all of you!

Certain times of the year, you will certainly need to make advanced reservations. Fall weekends and the last 2 weekends before Christmas through New Years are extremely poplar times to visit and it is often hard to find last minute reservations.

Love B&B’s? Asheville has plenty. Just look at the CVB website for more information.

Getting Around

If you’re flying in, Asheville does have an airport (AVL) www.flyavl.com. The airport is located about 15 minutes from downtown.

Unless you’re flying in and staying in the downtown area, you will need a car rental to get around. You can pick up one at the airport.

Take the I-40 drive in. It is just beautiful, especially in the fall.

You need a car to get out to the Blueridge Parkway, which is not to far away.

Once you get here, there are plenty of fun and exciting ways to get around. You can get around by Segway, trolley, foot, horseback, balloon, intertube, just to name a few.

• Please note : Other than media or print requests, I do not allow my materials to be reproduced. They are my works and experiences and I own the rights to them. I do not allow anyone to use my materials if they are not properly credited.
Close

If you're short on cash during your visit, no worries. You don't have to go to the Biltmore to have a good time. There's plenty to see in Asheville that won't cost you much money. 1. You're right by the Blue…Read More

If you're short on cash during your visit, no worries. You don't have to go to the Biltmore to have a good time. There's plenty to see in Asheville that won't cost you much money.

1. You're right by the Blue Ridge Parkway, which offers hundreds of miles of gorgeous scenery and hiking. Of course, you're not going to be able to go the full length of this road, but you can hop in your car and go for a very pleasant drive, stopping at viewpoints along the way or with the plan to park and hike in the woods. We enjoyed a short drive through tunnels, along the curving road, and I could imagine just how brilliant this would be in the autumn when the leaves are on fire.

2. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial House is located in the heart of the city at 52 N. Market Street next to the Renaissance Hotel. Faulkner was a fan of Wolfe's, and he is another important American writer from the South. His first and probably most famous novel, Look Homeward, Angel is set in Asheville and features many real landmarks such as the home though it's named "Dixieland" in the book of fiction. You can tour this home for $1 (!!!!) every day of the week except Monday. Unfortunately for us, we stopped by too close to closing on Sunday afternoon and could not go inside. However, if you happen to be here when the museum is closed, there is another option that will give you a brief overview of the home's history. There's a cell phone number posted beside the house sign that lets you call a narrator who offers a recorded overview of the significance of the house. There is no charge for this other than regular cell phone charges for the call.

(I ended up touring this attraction on my second trip to Asheville, and this was a wonderful thing to do. The tour is a little under an hour, so it gives you a good feel for the author as well as the boarding house. My friend who was with me was not familiar at all with Wolfe, but she liked seeing things like the cherry pitter in the old-fashioned kitchen. There's something for folks interested in architecture/history and literature alike.)

3. The Basilica of St. Lawrence located at 97 Haywood Street is a gorgeous church to see on the inside and worth a visit. A living Roman Catholic church, it is not a museum. However, if you have any interest in architecture or religion, it's worth a look. Notice the exterior is in the Spanish Renaissance style. You can go on-line and get information about the interior before you visit so that you can look for special features. Of course, one needs to be respectful of times when mass is in session, but we were able to go into the church on a Sunday between services. The stained glass windows are gorgeous. Most of these were made in Munich, Germany. The oval shaped ceiling is an amazing thing to see. You can make a contribution if you'd like to help with preservation of this building, but entrance is absolutely free. We lingered here for about twenty minutes. There is a gift shop inside as well though it was closed on our visit. It goes without saying that if you are a Christian--especially a Catholic--you would be welcome to worship here as well during your visit. Close

We started the weekend out by visiting the grand and glorious Biltmore Estate . This incredible mansion was built in1895 and was the home of George Vanderbilt. The home is the largest private estate in the US and is open to the public to…Read More

We started the weekend out by visiting the grand and glorious Biltmore Estate . This incredible mansion was built in1895 and was the home of George Vanderbilt. The home is the largest private estate in the US and is open to the public to tour.

While this place is incredible anytime of the year. At Christmas is become a magic wonderland and guests can take the Candlelight Tours in the evening and see the home is all is glory.

While here make time to visit the Biltmore Winery which is the largest wine producer in the country and the winery is the most visited in the US. Once your done looking around, stop in at the tasting room and then on to the massive gift shop and bring the Biltmore legacy home with you.

Even in the dead of winter, guests to the estate should stop by the beautiful Biltmore Gardens . The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park in NYC. In fact the gardens are listed in the book 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die . The greenhouse is awash with the colors and plants of the holidays.

But while you’re here make the time to visit downtown Asheville. This vibrant and eclectic city is a haven for artists and art lovers. The city has the second largest collection of art deco buildings outside of Miami. Just walking downtown is a treat for the eyes. While here stop in at the magnificent Grove Arcade for some one of a kind shopping.

One of the best ways to see the city is by trolley with the Gray Line Trolley Tours . The tour highlights some of the best of the city and you can hop on and hop off along the route.

That evening we took a tour of the more unearthly kind. We had fun listing to the stories of the souls who still haunt this city with Ghosts and Haunts Tours . We even got to hear about a well know ghost story that started in Asheville and ended in Florida.

Asheville is a place for food lovers. During our visit we stopped by The Early Girl which was a suggestion of several IGO writers. As always, I follow in the steps of Rachael Ray when I am in town by going to Tupelo Honey . Before going to the Biltmore House we made a stop at what is billed as the swankiest McDonalds at the McDonald’s at Biltmore Village . We ended our trip by stopping by The Burger Meister before heading home.

Our home away from home was the grand Homewood Suites which gave us great mountain views. This place is perfect for visiting families or those who will be staying a bit longer than vacation time. The elegantly decorated rooms feature a kitchenette and fridge. Which were greatly appreciated since it meant we could bring our leftovers back and have a way to reheat them.

Suggestion.

My first is easy to guess. Start by going to www.exploreasheville.com and order your visitors guide or just explore the site. When in town stop by the visitors center located on Montford Dr. Where the have a wealth of information on this charming city and her neighbors.

Don’t just come here for the Biltmore House. I have to admit I have been here on several occasions to see the Biltmore Estate, but never took the time to explore Asheville. What a huge mistake. This place is seeped in history and beauty. Take the time to explore the downtown area which boasts the second largest collection of Art Deco buildings outside of Miami. There is truly something here for everyone.

This is a haven for artists and art lovers. You can find one of a kind galleries in the downtown area and on out into the River Arts District. It makes window shopping here a real treat.

Always check the forecast before you come and plan accordingly. I didn’t and had sweatshirts and long sleeve t’s. I woke up Saturday to find it 62 degrees at the end of December in the mountains!

Don’t leave anywhere without your camera. This gem is nestled within the eye popping Blue Ridge Mountains and beauty surrounds every of this place.

Asheville sits in the perfect location for mountain getaways. It is the place to day trip to or from. So if the mountains are your vacation destination, plan on spending some time in this gracious city.

Film fans will love this place as well. Numerous films have show cased this cities immense beauty including Hannibal, Patch Adams, My Fellow Americans, Forrest Gump, Ritchie Rich, The Last of the Mohicans, Mr. Destiny, and Bull Durham

Getting Around

Visitors to the city can arrive by flying into Asheville Regional (www.flyavl.com) which has dozens of flights daily and where you can pick up a rental car.

If you’re not driving in then you will need a rental car. This place is spread out and even if you’re simply going to stay in the Biltmore Village and go to the Biltmore House, you need a car. Distances between locations on the massive estate are measured in miles not feet!

Driving here from I40 is a pure delight for the senses. You can see our famous Blue Ridge Maintains as they loom closer as you get into the city.

Like most other major cities, parking downtown can be a nightmare. Take advantage of the parking garages rather than wasting time trying to find a parking meter. While we were here, parking was $2 for the whole day.

While here take the time to drive the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. Millions of people come every year to see part of this 469 mile scenic wonders that is become one of American’s favorite drives.

Once you’re here there are lots of fun ways to get around. You can get around by trolley, bus, Segway, bike, raft, 4 wheel, and the best way..by foot. This is certianly a walking city.

Close

Tsali has the best known trail network in the Southeast for mountain bikers, and its popularity is well justified. There are four trails, two of which are over ten miles, two of which are around seven miles. The trails are available on alternate days, so…Read More

Tsali has the best known trail network in the Southeast for mountain bikers, and its popularity is well justified. There are four trails, two of which are over ten miles, two of which are around seven miles. The trails are available on alternate days, so that horseback riders can use the trails a few days a week. The best trails - the two longer loops - are open for bikers Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. There is a $3 parking fee. The trails skirt along Lake Fontana, and they have few technical sections - these trails are made for speed, not root jumping. There are long stretches of downhill that will get your adrenaline pumping like a roller coaster. You may also see wildlife - on my trips there I've seen dozens of deer and even a bobcat. Visit http://www.mtbikewnc.com/ for directions and information. For a good meal afterwards, go to the Jarrett House in Dillsboro for a huge, all-you-can-eat, Southern-style meal. Happy riding.Close

Although we were able to get our sewer system fixed right away, the axles were another story. We just happened to have this experience, however, pre-Labor Day, and after Labor Day, Tom Johnson puts on their Annual BBQ and fireworks. So even though they got…Read More

Although we were able to get our sewer system fixed right away, the axles were another story. We just happened to have this experience, however, pre-Labor Day, and after Labor Day, Tom Johnson puts on their Annual BBQ and fireworks. So even though they got our axles fixed just prior to Labor Day weekend, we decided to stay for the celebration.

These people go all out. Barney Fife brought out his patrol car (and gave all the kids, young and old, and ride), vendors brought out their wares, and TJ brought out the food and entertainment. They started Friday evening with a bonfire and a band, then Saturday morning they fed us all breakfast. This they followed with a barbecue feast and more outstanding entertainment that lasted well into the night, topping it all off with a magnificent firework display.

I am definitely planning on being back there for 2006. The people were helpful and friendly, a real top-notch group. I understand that they are adding new sites and lots more in 2006 to their Rally Park, and I can't wait to check it out. I plan to get there early. Last year it was a first-come, first-serve basis and the sites filled up quickly.