Another Guest Shares!

I must admit...I truly love hearing from guests about how much they enjoyed their experience at Treetop Mountain Vista. It lets me know I'm doing something right:-) I especially like this one because it gives so many great recommendations for restaurants and places to visit in the area. As a long time resident here I sometimes overlook the gems in my own backyard. Happy vacationing!!!

Dear Nancy,
This is the first opportunity that I've had the chance to write to you about our fabulous experience in your lovely cabin. Wow, the peace, the energy there, the gorgeous views, and the wonderful hot tub.

I especially want to thank you for taking the time to make a truly accurate representation of your cabin on VRBO. I felt so prepared and so welcomed in your sweet cabin. Your blog was wonderful and I took many tips from it as well as some from your former guests who had written in your guest book. I read the entire thing!

I have some suggestions that I would like to share with you as well! We went BACK to My Father's Pizza but unfortunately, we didn't realize they weren't open on a Tuesday. However, we had lunch at the little restaurant across the street called, The Veranda. My, my, my! What a find! I had perhaps the best roast beef sandwich that I have ever had in my life! It was served on cibiatta bread with swiss cheese (or maybe it was provolone) and a generous wonderful horseradish sauce. I dipped it into the au jus for a little bit of heaven!

In downtown Asheville I had been instructed by a friend to pick up some brews at Bruisin Ales. They were a laugh riot in there as well as a big help getting some locally unattainable brews to bring home to my Ale Club. We also had dinner at a place called LAB (Lexington Ave Brewery). They don't sell anywhere but onsite and their chocolate stout was superb! All their brews were a paltry $3.50/pint! And the food, fabulous! My partner had the pork shank and it was falling off of the bone.

Lastly, on our trip to Brevard, we found a little place on Main St. called Marco Trattoria. This was perhaps one of the best meals that I have ever had. They serve their meals on artwork that the proprietor's wife makes herself! My partner had a seafood orcheitte that was enough food to serve 4 people! He said the scallops were to die for. I wanted to try one even though I am allergic! The salad we shared, a heart of romaine with a warm gorganzola & cherrywood bacon was sublime.

We definitely would like to return to Tree Top. We are dying to see the NC Arboretum in bloom. We enjoyed it immensely anyway but can only imagine what it looks like at the end of spring.

Thank you again, Nancy, for making such a glorious getaway for others to share.

With much appreciation,
Sage

A Guest's Impression!

It is with much delight that I include here a post about Treetop Mountain Vista from a blog by Jane Rochelle. Jane and her husband Frank have been guests at Treetop three times. Since their first visit Jane has been creating her own blog filled with lots of insights and folksey information about what's going on in her life. It is definitely worth taking a look and I include here a link to her wonderful blog: "Teeny Tiny Pieces". Jane, I want to thank you for putting into such eloquent words what I could not have done so well. You have a gift!

Searching for a place to stay when my husband and I are ready for a getaway is a tedious task. We are both hopeless romantics, and we each have our own (wonderful) way of dreaming up impossibly romantic weekends, and then driving ourselves a little crazy trying to find a place that meets our expectations. I scrutinize the listings on vrbo.com, playing detective, putting together a floorplan based on the clues I find in the photographs, and trying to determine how a place might feel. This can take days, sometimes weeks.

When we went to the mountains of NC in 2008 I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted lots of windows so that we could enjoy the mountain views. I wanted a hot tub with no roof overhead so that we could count the stars. I wanted a comfy place to cook and eat local food, and I wanted privacy, to enjoy all of the above.

For that particular trip, I found Treetop Mountain Vista, “Asheville’s Coziest Cabin.” It has become one of our favorite places on earth. When we visit, we venture away from the cabin during the day, for a hike on the parkway, a swim under waterfalls, a nap after a picnic lunch, or to pick blueberries. But we’re always happy to return to ‘our cabin’….the place where I found the courage to paint, and to write again. The place where my husband and I reconnect with each other, and with the source of our creation.

We sleep with the windows open…the crickets and frogs sing us to sleep. We awake in the morning to leaves rustling in the breeze, and birds singing outside the window. We lose count of hours in the hot tub as we watch shooting stars, and find ourselves in awe when we, once again, realize that the stars aren’t spinning, we are! We sit on the simple deck, bathed in candle-light, enjoying each morsel of food we’ve prepared together. Need I mention privacy?

There are times when I set myself up for disappointment by creating expectations that I’m not willing to work for. Maybe I even expect someone else to do the work, search the listings for me…I wind up frustrated. Then there are times when I know exactly what I want, and am willing to take the time to find it. Every now and then, when the stars are aligned and blessings abound, I discover something even better than I’d imagined.

(PS….even before Frank knew I was working on this post, he was chatting online with Nancy, the owner, about this coming weekend. We’re having a last-minute getaway, and there’ll be snow in the treetops! Can’t wait!)

More information about Treetop Mountain Vista can be found at:

http://www.vrbo.com/150727

Enjoy A Slideshow Tour Of Cabin

An Amazing Place: Bent Creek Experimental Forest.

If you love to hike and or mountain bike then this is the place for you. It is very easily accessible no matter what the weather and very easy to get to from Treetop Mountain Vista. The cabin will have a brochure with trails and lots of information about the area. There are 26 trails and connectors in the Bent Creek area and they are all labeled as to use. All are suitable for hiking and 23 can be used for biking. The map gives the miles, rating and color of blaze. Most of them are very short, but many of the trails inter-connect so you can plot your own course for the length desired. There are a few over 3 miles and a segment of the famous Shut-in Trail shown on the map is 13.9 miles. (The Shut-In Trail is mentioned in another post on this blog; "Winter Hiking"). The entrance to this area is accessed right before the NC. Arboretum (highlighted in a post of its' own on this blog)on Hwy 191. For more information about the Bent Creek Experimental Forest phone: 828-667-5261 or check out their web site by clicking on the title of this post above.

The North Carolina Arboretum

While visiting Asheville you simply must check out The North Carolina Arboretum. No matter what you came to the area for, you can get it all right here. The Arboretum has hiking and biking trails. A magnificent bonsai collection, numerous gardens, art exhibits, classes and too many other projects and items to mention here. Just go on their web site and be blown away with the pictures and raft of information. They also have a cafe and gift store. To get directions from Treetop Mountain Vista just use Google or Mapquest and put in starting point : 40 Little Stoney Fork, Candler, NC 28715 and destination : North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville . Depending on which search you use you will get directions using the Parkway (mapquest) or main hwys (google). Their web site also gives directions. There is a small parking fee of $6 per motor vehicle.

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!