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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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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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 Grove Park Inn.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Kevan Frasier
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.

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

Profile Image of Lee Knight
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.
Profile Image of Kevan Frasier
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.
Profile Image of Anne Peery
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.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Nov 10 - Nov 15
  • May 05 - May 10
  • Jun 16 - Jun 21
  • Aug 11 - Aug 16
  • Sep 08 - Sep 13
  • Sep 15 - Sep 20
  • Oct 06 - Oct 11
  • Oct 13 - Oct 18
  • Oct 27 - Nov 01
  • Nov 10 - Nov 15
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024 Itinerary Differences: This date falls over the 2 month Christmas celebration at the Biltmore Estate. More than 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees adorn the home and the estate, the centerpiece being a 35-foot Fraser fir. A daytime visit to Biltmore features fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and the sparkle of thousands of ornaments from Biltmore House.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Nov 10 - Nov 15
  • May 05 - May 10
  • Jun 16 - Jun 21
  • Aug 11 - Aug 16
  • Sep 08 - Sep 13
  • Sep 15 - Sep 20
  • Oct 06 - Oct 11
  • Oct 13 - Oct 18
  • Oct 27 - Nov 01
  • Nov 10 - Nov 15
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024 Itinerary Differences: This date falls over the 2 month Christmas celebration at the Biltmore Estate. More than 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees adorn the home and the estate, the centerpiece being a 35-foot Fraser fir. A daytime visit to Biltmore features fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and the sparkle of thousands of ornaments from Biltmore House.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5 B 3 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Asheville
D
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 5:00 -6:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the conference room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and fill out menu choices. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. At orientation the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Dinner: At the hotel.

DAY
2
Asheville History & Field Trip, River Arts District
Asheville
B,L,D
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; riding about 5 miles, approximately 3/4 hour riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles; paved city sidewalks. slight inclines.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be joined by a local historian who will tell us about Asheville from its beginning as a crossroads for Native American Indians into one of the highest ranked destinations in the country over more than 200 years. We’ll learn about its history and how it became a storehouse for music, culture, arts, crafts, Art Deco architecture, and how it came to be known as the “Paris of the South.” We’ll also hear about the coming of the railroad and its role in the city’s history as well as how it was affected by the 1929 stock market crash. We will board our trolley which will take us to see places we cannot walk due to distance. We'll stop at the The Cathedral for All Souls, built by George Vanderbilt as the parish church for the village adjacent to the Biltmore House. It was seen by Vanderbilt as the connecting piece for the daily life of all persons, all souls, in the region. The church is situated in the hub of a fan-shaped group of streets that is Biltmore Village.

Lunch: At Pack’s Tavern, built in 1907. An underground passage that led from the building’s basement to other buildings in the vicinity was used during the Prohibition era to distribute illegal “moonshine” to people who didn’t respect the dry laws.

Afternoon: We’ll board our coach for a field trip to the River Arts District. Former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals, contain glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries. Galleries and studios run along a one-mile stretch along the French Broad River. The trip to the River Arts District is a "must see" because Asheville is known as an artist colony and therefore, must be included in a signature city program. We will have a pottery demonstration by the Odyssey Clay Works. We’ll return to the hotel after our field trip.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Biltmore Estate & Gardens, Antler Hill
Asheville
B,L
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven terrain at the Biltmore Estate and grounds, standing up to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach and set out on a field trip to the extraordinary Biltmore Estate. We will have individual audio guides for our self-directed exploration as we meander through this singular achievement of Gilded Age living that was completed in 1895. We’ll get a glimpse into the luxurious living areas of the Vanderbilt family, lovingly restored to the grandeur of their time, filled with priceless, carefully-preserved artworks and furnishings.

Lunch: At Biltmore.

Afternoon: Our field trip will continue as we explore the Estate Gardens and Conservatory. The gardens, formal and informal, were designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed parks throughout the U.S. including Central Park in New York City. Present-day horticultural experts work diligently to preserve Olmstead’s vision. The Conservatory, designed by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, features hundreds of exotic plants nurtured in several purposely designed “rooms” beneath an expansive glass roof covering more than 7,000 square feet. We will be able to see the Palm House, Orchid Room, Exhibit Room, and Cool House. The conservatory was carefully placed at the lower end of the garden so as not to obstruct the view from Biltmore House. Leaving the gardens, we will ride to the Biltmore Estate Winery and adjacent Antler Hill Village with time to see and do what interests each of us most. George Vanderbilt appreciated fine wines and it was his grandson, William A. V. Cecil, who developed Biltmore’s vineyards and winery in the 1970s. Antler Hill includes a barn and farmyard recalling the lives of those who lived and worked on the estate more than a century ago with demonstrations by blacksmiths, craftspeople, woodworkers, and more. We will ride back to the hotel after our exploration of the one and only Biltmore.

Dinner: On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Cherokee History, Blue Ridge Parkway, Music
Asheville
B,D
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; sidewalks, moderate inclines.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be joined by a long-time resident of the Southern Appalachians, a folksinger-folklorist for more than 30 years. We’ll learn about Cherokee and Appalachian history and culture as it relates to Asheville and the surrounding area.

Lunch: On your own to have what you like in downtown Asheville.

Afternoon: We will regroup in the hotel lobby at an announced time and board the motorcoach for a field trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. At 469 miles long, it connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. We’ll travel to one of the overlooks to see the beauty of the mountains and understand why this is called the “Blue” Blue Ridge. We will visit the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Folk Art Center, a museum of Appalachian folk art and crafts. We’ll return to the hotel after our mountain field trip.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: As a special highlight, we’ll enjoy a performance by a folk musician who plays instruments including the fretless five-string banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, Cherokee flute, rattle, water drum, guitar, and mouth bow. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and has earned a reputation among folk music performers for his authentic style and traditional rhythms. We’ll hear traditional Appalachian and Adirondack mountain music.

DAY
5
Thomas Wolfe Home, Omni Grove Park Inn, Grovewood
Asheville
B,L,D
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 3/4 mile and standing during field trips. At Thomas Wolfe home, no elevator to second floor; approxkimately15 steps down/up-to/from dinner location.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll board our motorcoach for a field trip to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial where we'll see a film about the life and times of Thomas Wolfe. As the website states, “Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, ‘Look Homeward, Angel.’ Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and the Old Kentucky Home boarding house earned the historic Victorian home a place as one of American Literature’s most famous landmarks.” We will then ride to the grand Omni Grove Park Inn. This beautiful hotel has captured the hearts of many travelers who sought the peace and tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grove Park Inn has withstood time to secure a permanent spot as a landmark in history. During a self-directed exploration, we will have an opportunity to view the Inn’s historical displays.

Lunch: At the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll take a short walk behind the Grove Park Inn to Grovewood Village that once housed the Biltmore Industries weaving and woodworking operations. A docent will lead us through their classic car and textile museums. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some “down” time to explore independently, enjoy the hotel amenities, or just relax.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Asheville
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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