Max Patch Bald

So many guests at the cabin mention Max Patch Bald as one of their adventures that I think it must be time to put up some information about it. I have a link here to Max Patch. They say it better than I could. I have been up there many, many times and do love it. I have never done it at night though and I understand the stars are unbelievable. I'm going to do that soon and when I do I'll tell you all about it. Meanwhile, there are some other hikes in the area which are longer for all you serious hikers. Lemon gap is one and does however require a car shuttle. That is unless you can hike about 14 miles in one day. Then you could go out and back.

Rainy Day Triple Play

Here's an idea the next time you find yourself on a rainy day and unable to hike or bike or do anything outdoors. Head for downtown Asheville and more specifically, Biltmore Ave. Three things within easy walking distance of each other (and a parking ramp right there to boot!). First (and you can mix up the order anyway you like) take in a campy art or foreign film at the Fine Arts Theatre They show only the best slightly offbeat and independent films. For instance, they were the first theatre in town to play "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Little Miss Sunshine". They have great popcorn too(and you won't have to mortgage your house to pay for it). They have a variety of beers and they even have cream soda! Now that's a carry over from my childhood? Then head on over across the street to browse the Mast General Store. There you will find just about everything imaginable, from hiking boots to bulk country candy. They even have some home furnishings. The twig rocking chair in the cabin came from Mast. Be sure to say hello to Carmen when you're in there, she's the general manager and your closest neighbor when you stay at the cabin. So when the popcorn has worn off and you've had your fill of country candy, just go a few doors down from the Mast and almost directly across from the theatre and you'll be at Doc Chey's Noodle House. Wow! This has become my favorite downtown restaurant, and I almost always eat there in conjunction with seeing a movie across the street. You won't be disappointed. The food is outrageously good and the price...just right. If you're feeling extra outlandish because you're on vacation and you deserve to over indulge, there is a wonderful ice cream shop right there sorta next to the theatre. So go ahead, have the time of your life! Asheville is always fun no matter what. I say do it!

The Best Hot Steak Sub and More

I am a dyed in the wool meat eater. I'm not proud of that because I do dearly love all animals, but I just seem to do better with eating meat. And I love a good steak sandwich. So I have been "testing" steak sandwiches in the area for years and I keep coming back to "My Father's Pizza" in Black Mt. Honestly, hands down, they serve the very best Hot Steak Sub anywhere. I'm not getting a kickback for every steak sub they sell to my guests and they probably will never even know I'm plugging their place, but people, I have to tell you, if you are not a vegetarian and you love a good steak sub, this is the place to go! And if you do go, you may want to spend an afternoon exploring Black Mt. It is a little touristy town just East of Asheville, very cute and very artsy, and not far at all. Here is what you get on the sub: first of all, lots of thinly sliced steak (and I do mean lots)"grilled to perfection", onions, and mushrooms. mild banana peppers, cheese and mayo. It will be over-flowing, and I think the secret to their success, (besides the ingredients) is the roll that it comes on. Now I am always in search of the perfect roll too and I can't find one any place that can top their roll! It is so good that I once threw a large party and special ordered their rolls for my honey baked ham and swiss cheese subs,(another one of my favorites). So folks, this is insider information and you can either take it to heart or throw it out.(Please just don't throw me out if you are offended by my carnivorous ways:-) And here's a tip for you who are vegetarians...you simply must visit "The Laughing Seed" in downtown Asheville. It is totally veggie and very good. One of our guests left a note saying that despite being meat eaters they loved the "Laughing Seed". Also for you vegans out there, I understand from a guest that "Nine Mile" is a superb new vegan restaurant. Also I'm going to add another vegetarian restaurant to the mix; I have heard from guests that Rosetta's Kitchen in downtown Asheville is wonderful. And there you have it. There are so many great restaurants in Asheville and the immediate area that you should have plenty of great eats while you're vacationing at Treetop Mountain Vista!

A Stroll Down N. Lexington Ave. Asheville

Start at the corner of N. Lexington Ave. and Walnut St. to begin your stroll along some of Asheville's most interesting shops and restaurants. You'll find quite a variety of offbeat and unusual places;ethnic restaurants, boutiques with vintage clothing, garden shops, antique and art galleries, coffee shops, a used record and cd shop, crystals, minerals and whatever shops. Alongside many of the shops are terraces, alleyways leading to other shops and gardens, also outdoor eating areas. N. Lexington is an historical site.

Mount Pisgah

Why is Mount Pisgah important to guests staying at the cabin? Because you have a birds eye view of one of the highest and most famous mountain peaks in Western North Carolina. Perhaps even in the Eastern United States. Mount Pisgah is only a 15 minute drive from the cabin. And for those who are very hearty and used to hiking difficult (as in steep) trails, the Mount Pisgah trail offers a wonderful challenge. I've hiked it a few times myself, but not recently :-) The view from the top is awesome. For a hearty meal while you're up there, just drive a little further to the Pisgah Inn. They serve 3 meals a day but close briefly in between meals. For more information about the Mount Pisgah hike and other "best hikes" in the area just click on the link provided. Here's what one web site had to say about Mount Pisgah:

Overlook Description

"The peak of Mount Pisgah, once part of the Biltmore Estate, can be reached by a winding trail from the parking area. The estate became home of the first U.S. forestry school, as well as the heart of the Pisgah National Forest.

Near by at milepost 408.6 is Mount Pisgah.

In the late 1800s industrialist George Washington Vanderbilt, while building his grand Biltmore Estate in Asheville, purchased Mount Pisgah and thousands of surrounding acres for a private hunting retreat for family and friends. The nearby 16-mile Shut-In Trail (a National Recreation Trail) is part of a longer route that Vanderbilt originally created for his hunting parties.

Today the area adjoining the Parkway is part of the Pisgah National Forest and is still playing host to nature enthusiasts. Equipped with lodge, restaurant, campground and more, Mount Pisgah has the distinction of having by far the highest elevation of any developed area along the Parkway. Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions.

The recreation area is the one area on the Parkway frequented by the black bear and visitors are advised to watch for them. Elk and buffalo were gone by 1800; beaver disappeared by 1900. The mountain lion, or panther, is thought to have disappeared by 1920."

To get to the Parkway and Mount Pisgah coming from the cabin you would take the driveway (Little Stoney Fork) and at the bottom make a right. You will then be on Black Oak Cove Rd. At about 1/2 mile it ends at Hwy 151, (otherwise known as Pisgah Highway). Make a left at the stop sign and go about 4 miles up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once there you will make a right and in a few miles you will see a sign for the Mt. Pisgah trailhead. If you want to dine out just keep going about a mile past that (maybe less) to the Pisgah Inn. You'll be driving through the Pisgah National Forest as soon as you leave the driveway. The cabin sits on private land but is surrounded by Forest Service Land. You'll feel like you're at the Parkway the whole way up. It takes only a few minutes to drive it but a few hours to hike it. It is straight up and winding but very wild and natural. You'll even pass a lovely little water fall on your way. My neighbor and I had "trained" with our dogs for weeks to hike up to the top of 151 and back and finally one very rainy day we decided to "just do it". We were ecstatic at our accomplishment! To celebrate we came back and got a vehicle and drove back up to have lunch at the Inn. What fun I had living there and you'll have loads of fun too!

Come see "America's Largest Home" the Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is located in the heart of Asheville, NC, just 20 minutes from Treetop Mountain Vista. You don't have to travel to Europe to experience a castle. It's right here, and George and Cornelia Vanderbilt called it home for many years. The estate is beautifully landscaped over several spectacular acres. This time of year especially, the gardens are a sight to behold. They also have many special programs going in honor of Spring, some of which are: Guided garden walks, Free seminars at A Gardener's Place, Biltmore Backyard Wagon Tour, Our Secret Walking Tour, The River Bend Farm Walking Tour, and many more special events.

The estate also has wonderful restaurants and gift shops. If you've never been, you must experience the lunch buffet at the Deerpark Restaurant. You simply won't believe the gorgeous array of delicious foods, prepared by expert chefs. They also have a special Sunday Brunch you won't want to miss. (no I don't get a kick back from the Biltmore, I just want my guests to experience the best while visiting the Asheville area :-) Be sure to get on their web site at www.biltmore.com or call toll free 800-413-9787 to purchase tickets or get more information.

Bistro 1896

Bistro 1896 is a fine restaurant in downtown Asheville, right on Pack Square. It is my favorite place to have lunch any day of the week or brunch on Sunday. My very favorite meal there is Chicken Marsala, absolutely delicious! "The Bistro" (as I fondly refer to it) is a cosmopolitan establishment with down to earth prices. They have an outdoor seating area to dine in the open air when the weather warms up a bit, (which it is ready to do any day now). Note the cool band playing out front! You never know where you're going to find musicians plying their art in town. Today I ducked into Mast General Store, just down the street from "The Bistro" and heard a great little country trio playing Folk/Irish music. Asheville is just plain a fun place to be. Really, Really Cool Beans!!!

The View~Beauty in the Clouds

I've asked myself many times..."just what makes the view up here so great? What is so special about it anyway"? I've come to understand, it is because up here, whether sitting on the deck or relaxing in the living/bed room, you feel like you're one with the view. Maybe it's because the cabin sits high on the land and the land is high up on the side of Buzzard Knob, but I always feel as though I'm in the trees, looking out at more trees and even more trees and then the majestic Mount Pisgah. If I pay attention, I can just barely see cars parked at one of the scenic turnouts on the Blue Ridge Parkway. At night in the winter, I'd often watch lonely car lights snake their way up Hwy 151 off in the distance, heading straight up to the Parkway. Of course winter is a fairy land when on a crystal clear night, a zillion stars seem to sprinkle over the tree tops. And during a full moon, you won't need a night light at all. The cabin is located 12 miles from Asheville, NC and is easily accessible.

Mayfel's Downtown Asheville

Today we went to Mayfel's to have lunch. Mayfel's is a Louisiana, country, cajun style eatery. Not too hot and spicy though for those of us who don't necessarily like it like that. Their decor is loads of fun and it felt very festive esp. with it being the afternoon of New Year's Eve. The place was packed. Our waitress was especially helpful, giving us information to pass on and also adding whipped cream to the ambrosia when I said it just wasn't sweet enough. I had "Fried green tomato benedict" and Phyllis had "Crab benedict" made with real crabmeat. It was very good indeed. On the menu is the story about how the name "Mayfel" came about.
The name Mayfel is short for Mary Felonise, my grandmother's given name. While attending boarding school, she was teased with the name, "Mary fell on your knees." So she shortened it to Mayfel. We take pride in preparing everything from scratch in order to provide wholesome food for you. We buy local when possible. All meals are made to order,so some may take a little longer. Grandmother Mayfel wouldn't have it any other way.
The room is full of whimsical items hanging from the ceiling and lights. The atmosphere is very homey. We will definitely be back! Winter hours find them closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Open at 8:30 AM on weekends and they do serve brunch those days as well as holidays (which today qualified as). The rest of the time I would suggest calling because it gets just a little confusing. They can be reached at 828-252-8840. They are located right smack downtown in Asheville across from Pritchard Park. (More on Pritchard Park another time.)