Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, people come for the Arts & Crafts festivals, music, beer, dogs, and the eccentric mix of hippies and blue bloods. But in the spring and fall the best reason to come is to see the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.
For the best view of the mountains, one stays at the historic Grove Park Inn. The inn was the idea of Edwin Wiley Grove whose vision was something both grand and simple. The exterior stone was made with granite from the mountain itself. Grove chose Sunset Mountain with its view of the mountains for his site. His son-in-law, Fred L. Seely was architect and builder, and, though only an amateur, completed the project in 11 months and 27 days. The Grove Park Inn opened on July 1, 1913.
Distinguished guests who came to relax at the inn include Eleanor Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
