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North Carolina

Signature City Asheville

Program No. 21758RJ

Discover Asheville’s unique qualities as you join experts to explore art deco and arts and crafts architecture, delve into the arts district and learn the story of this American gem.

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6 days

5 nights

12 meals

5B 3L 4D

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Asheville

Asheville History & Field Trip, Chocolate Factory

Asheville

Biltmore Estate & Gardens, Antler Hill

Asheville

Cherokee History, Blue Ridge Parkway, Music

Asheville

Thomas Wolfe Home, Omni Grove Park Inn, Grovewood

Asheville

Program Concludes

Asheville

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At a Glance

Head for the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to discover the art deco architecture, thriving arts scene and unique history that make Asheville a signature American city. Hear expert analysis on the Vanderbilt family’s influence on the city, and learn why the preservation of the downtown makes it a living museum of mid-century architecture. Join experts on explorations of Asheville’s most significant sites and historic properties like the lavish Biltmore Estate, and enjoy the artistic and culinary delights of Asheville’s thriving downtown.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to two miles daily. Elevations up to 5,722 feet. Getting on/off trolley and bus. Standing for some lectures in museums.

Best of all, you’ll…

Experience the best of Asheville on a host of field trips, including an expert-led discovery of the revived River Arts District.
Enjoy a daylong visit to the magnificent Biltmore Estate with plenty of time to soak up the home and gardens on your own.
Survey Appalachian history and culture at iconic sites like the Blue Ridge Parkway and renowned downtown landmarks, and dine at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Kevan Frazier

Kevan Frazier is an Asheville native whose family settled in the Asheville area in the late 1700s. He is the author of “Legendary Locals of Asheville,” which details the pioneers, educators, artists and others who have had a lasting impact on Asheville. Kevan is a former member of the history faculty and administration at UNC Asheville, where he served for 17 years. He holds a doctorate in history from West Virginia University.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Lee Knight View biography

Raised in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, Lee is a folk singer, story teller and outdoor leader, performing at concerts, workshops, festivals and schools. He shares his knowledge of the natural world leading hikes, canoe trips and guiding whitewater rafts. Lee has collected and shares Cherokee legends and plays the Cherokee flute and rattle, as well as the Native American drum. He also plays the five-string banjo, guitars and the Appalachian dulcimer.

Kevan Frazier View biography

Kevan Frasier View biography

Kevan D. Frasier is an Asheville native whose family settled in the area in the late 1700s. A longtime member of the UNC-Ashville faculty and administration, Kevan had a keen ear for absorbing stories of the history of his hometown told by his grandfather, a long-serving detective for the Asheville Police Department. Kevan loves to help people — visitors and locals alike — learn about his lovely mountain town that has been transformed into a trendy small city while holding tight to its traditional roots.

Anne Peery View biography

Anne Peery has traveled extensively in the Southeastern United States. She has served in various leadership roles including the Executive Director of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Anne holds a B.S. in education from Mississippi State University. She has worked with a volunteer group making medical-grade PPE for first responders in the Big Bend region of Florida.

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

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Signature City Asheville

Program Number: 21758

Lady on the Hill: How Biltmore Estate Became an American Icon

by Howard E. Covington Jr.

From Publishers Weekly: Set amid thousands of lushly landscaped acres in the North Carolina mountains, the Biltmore estate is a 250-room Gilded Age mansion stuffed to the rafters with objets d'art. Writing a very authorized business history rather than an architectural appreciation, journalist Covington celebrates the estate's transformation from quasifeudal folly to lucrative tourist mecca. Built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt, who played lord of the manor to hundreds of tenant farmers and servants, the estate passed in the 1960s to his grandson William Cecil, whose tight-fisted budgets, canny marketing initiatives and rapt attention to customer service turned it into a profitable museum of robber-baron privilege, selling more tickets than Colonial Williamsburg. The author's sycophantic account of this not unduly exciting saga is mainly a tribute to Cecil, who wrote the afterword. Covington defends the Biltmore owner's model of private, for-profit historical preservation against charges of commercialism leveled by nonprofit preservationists, repeats his complaints about inheritance taxes, extols his entrepreneurial daring, salutes his Biltmore restoration projects ("surpassed what many had seen anywhere") and raves about "customer satisfaction reports... comparable to those enjoyed by a five-star resort." This anodyne hospitality-industry success story will find a place in the Biltmore gift shop, but probably nowhere else. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Asheville's Historical Architecture

by Richard Hansley

Asheville Mountain Majesty

by Lou Harshaw

"Sometimes called the Paris of the South, Asheville is known for its grand mountain views, rich and diverse culture, deep-rooted artistic heritage, historical architecture, and the legendary Biltmore Estate. Author Lou Harshaw - historian, teacher, lecturer, and lifelong resident of Asheville - gives a firsthand look at the history and development of this magnificent city by drawing upon a host of historical sources and an extensive oral tradition. The result is a journey through time that documents the emergence and evolution of one of America's most attractive and intriguing cities."

The Rise of Asheville: An Exceptional History of Community Building

by Marilyn Ball

As newcomers flocked to Asheville over the last fifty years, they joined with locals to breathe new energy into the city. Sometimes called the Asheville One Thousand, these folks didn't necessarily intend to be entrepreneurs, community organizers and business leaders, but when they saw a challenge, they rose to it. Stone Soup became a gathering place and laid the foundation for Asheville's natural food culture. MANNA Food Bank emerged to help solve hunger. And the River Arts District turned into a vibrant cultural center for upcoming artists. Join author Marilyn Ball as she traces the bonds of community that gave rise to Asheville today.

Built for the Ages: A History of the Grove Park Inn

by Bruce E. Johnson

Asheville's Historic Architecture (NC) [Paperback]

by Richard Hansley

Asheville, known for its architectural diversity and intriguing Art Deco style, has been fortunate in attracting brilliant architects who, with imaginative foresight and design expertise, have created lasting testaments in brick and stone. Local architectural enthusiast Richard Hansley recounts the history behind dozens of Asheville's most prominent buildings and historical neighborhoods in Asheville's Historic Architecture. Discover how Douglas Ellington, Richard Sharp Smith, James Vester Miller and Tony Lord influenced this busy metropolis, as landmarks like the Jackson Building, the Grove Park Inn and the Art Deco City Building were constructed along the city's thriving streets. These buildings have stood the test of time and remain as breathtaking in concept and appearance today as when first completed.

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At a Glance

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