Signature City Asheville

This was FANTASTIC. Anne Peery is a star. She clearly knows & loves the area — its history, architecture, scenery. We got a sense of the damage from Helene—and of the resilience of the city, Trip was a good mix of “lecture” and visits. I think it is fair to say that the all of 15 classmates on this trip would travel with Anne Peery again. I was a bit skeptical about how I would find this trip, because I am not into the arts …but i would do it again in a heartbeat (Of course not everything was perfect, but those things were small potatoes in the overall picture)

From learning about Asheville's past characters to sampling the city's current cuisine, this Signature City experience fills the bill. I'm so thankful that the time of this trip allowed me to see these destination before the storm hit. It's been truly heartbreaking to see videos of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

very informative program about Asheville, NC and the Vanderbilts.

Great experience of a different state and location

Had always heard great things about Roads Scholars. My first trip confirmed what I had heard. Great organization.

This was my 20th RS trip and certainly rates in my top 3. The program was well balanced with history and nature. The speakers were well versed and Anne, our leader was well organized, well spoken and has a great sense of humor. Asheville has wonderful food and a great quirky vibe!! Don't miss out!!

I enjoyed my trip. Our guide was excellent and I loved the hotel and our tours.

Take this trip. You won’t be disappointed. Take it in early November. The weather was great and there’s still a little fall color but mostly because the Biltmore is decorated for Christmas. It’s so tastefully done. The Omni Grove Park Hotel is beautiful. I had a wonderful time. I’m sure you will too.

Exceeded expectations! A variety of activities covering history, craft artisans, nature, architecture and more. Amazing tour leader Anne knowledgeable and engaged with all of us. Enjoyed the journey without handling all the details!

Asheville was my 5th Road Scholar trip. The leader was fabulous! But Asheville did not interest me so much. One church visit would have been plenty. I did not understand the trip to the Grove Inn, which I found boring. Biltmore was memorable, of course. The feeling I got was that Asheville has tried very hard to appeal to tourists. The visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains was very pretty. And the info about the Cherokee Nation was also interesting. But this is one Road Scholar trip that I found boring overall.

The Asheville Road Scholar trip is a good way to learn about the history of Asheville, visit the Biltmore Estate, and experience the vast and growing arts and crafts movement in Asheville. In addition, the food experience is very diverse and not dominated by chain restaurants. A definite plus.

Great program at just the right pace. Informative, entertaining, educational, one of the most enjoyable Road Scholar programs I have attended!

This was a fun and very thorough intro to Asheville! I highly recommend!

Signature City Asheville was a wonderful, though necessarily brief, look at a city that successfully redefined itself over the economic turmoil of the 1900's. It's time to extend our passenger railroads to Asheville again! I heartily recommend this Road Scholar adventure.

If you are "on the fence" about signing up for Signature City Asheville, I encourage you to go! The program is interesting, the attractions are distinctive and the public art is amazing. Our program leader was excellent and other participants were welcoming to this solo traveler.

Tour leader was fabulous. One of the best. Just the right amount of energy and relayed confidence, even when the tour bus didn't show up on the first morning. The presentation of the history of Asheville was great. Hotel was wonderful and location excellent. It would have been nice to have a walking tour option for those of us who could "keep the pace." Since the program was promoted at that level, I don't see why we were bused to the Thomas Wolfe museum. One other participant and I chose to be dropped off there on our way back from the Grove Park Inn and thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the boarding house. That should be included. Lee, the guy speaking about Cherokees was more than I needed. A one hour presentation would have been adequate. I felt no need to hear about the horrors of the Trail of Tears and the many, many ways Native American Indians were treated over the years. Enough. His embrace of their music and culture was touching, but his walk in the woods tour that afternoon at the NC Crafts center was awful. A waste of time. The afternoon at the clay studio and river arts was wonderful, although I think there were better artists at Woolworth's and around town. Very few disappointing moments. Overall this was a fabulous program. I had been to Asheville a couple of times on my own so I wasn't sure I'd feel a sense of wonder and adventure. But I did. Being at the Biltmore estate again was fabulous. I spent most of my time however walking the azalea gardens, the conservatory, and the trails to the waterfalls. Lunch in the upper floor of the Stables was excellent. I sat next to our bus driver who was wonderful and engaging. Kudos for handling all of our group meals so efficiently. I've never been on a trip that succeeded there so smoothly. Add a short walk/ hike in the Pisgah's? Too much sitting on the bus that afternoon. Once again, a shout out to one of the best program leaders I've met.

Truly enjoyed our tour of Asheville with the highlights being an informative presentation on the history of Asheville, an equally informative presentation on the Cherokee nation, and, of course, the tour of the Biltmore on a warm, blue sky day. The Cambria hotel could not have been better located.

The hotel was beautiful,but I thought the bathroom for safety in the shower needed a safety grip bar,shower door that closes,non skid floor and soft towels would help

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We just came home from The Road Scholars “Signature Asheville “ This was our Road Scholar program. The weather was great and the leaves on the trees were the perfect autumn color. The program was well organized and the pace just right. We met interesting people from all over the country. We learned a wide range of subjects about Asheville, NC.

This was my first Road Scholar trip, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Kevan Frasier and Lee Knight were terrific. Their talks were highly informative and well presented. The Biltmore home and grounds were amazing. Even though we were probably a couple of weeks past prime leaf peeping the mountains, the Blue Ridge did not disappoint. I'm not sure I understand the point of visiting the Grove Park Inn. We had been given the history of the Inn both from Kevan Frasier and our trolley tour guide. The visit really just turned into a shopping opportunity. Wandering the halls of the Inn looking at photos/sketches of the famous people who had stayed at the hotel was not enticing. I think the time would have been better spent on an architectural tour of the city or visits to local museums. I was not able to leave a star rating, but I would say 3.5 to 4.

Asheville, North Carolina, a rewarding and glorious learning experience. Don't miss this value packed opportunity. Lynn and Pete Wilmot

While the visit to the Biltmore Estate is certainly a major highlight of this trip, the city of Asheville and its great arts and food scene is great reason to take this trip. Lots to do and see.

This was a wonderful trip, and out guide was exceptional!

This was my first RS trip and it definitely won't be my last. Interesting speakers, great leader and a beautiful part of the U.S.

This was a great, positive experience. The area was very walkable where we stayed and the presenters were outstanding!!! Everything was ON TIME! Best of all, it was within a leisurely driving distance for us...no planes or trains. Beautiful country!!

Asheville is awesome! It is a hidden gem for the foodie, historian, art lover and those who would benefit from a little mountain air.

This was my first Road Scholar trip and I attended as a solo traveler. I was matched with a great roommate and met wonderful people also interested in learning and exploring. We had the just the right amount of scheduled time vs free time. I will definitely be taking more Road Scholar trips!

I usually enjoy Signature City programs, but this one was disappointing. There isn't much to do in Asheville so most days were a brief activity in the morning followed by unscheduled "free" time in the afternoon. This is listed as a Keep The Pace program, yet we barely walked at all. This is the first time I have ever been bored on a Road Scholar trip. Considering the cost, I expected much more content to be provided.

Sadly, we had to leave this program after my husband fell during our Biltmore field trip. We were fortunate that we were able to hear the excellent history lecture, see some of Asheville on the trolley tour and enjoy a great deal of the Biltmore (very impressive) before his accident. Tour leader Anne Peery was a fabulous support after his fall, arranging for a wheelchair and providing guidance for our withdrawal from the program. Although the group size was too big at 37, group members were extremely kind and supportive. We stayed on in Asheville at the fabulously-located hotel and enjoyed several excellent meals in the hotel and at the Grove Arcade across the street. Although sorry to miss the rest of the program, we were very glad to have taken this trip that we’d originally planned to take in 2020.

Highly recommend this trip to Asheville!! It's amazing to see the Biltmore and the Grove Park Inn as they are breathtaking accomplishments of the early 1900's! The only negative was a cold spring, and the flowers were just starting to bloom. The travel to the various venues was well organized; food provided was excellent; and the hotel room was beautiful, roomy and centrally located to Asheville downtown. All the Road Scholar personal were exceptionally helpful and attentive with a special call out to Anne Perry, Group Leader, for doing an excellent job.

A delightful 4 days in Asheville with a well-organized program that offered a variety of experiences (art, nature, history, the Biltmore!) and interesting programming. Pleasant pace, wonderful food, top notch tour group leader.

There is more to Asheville than I knew. Signature City Asheville showed us the history and culture of the area in a comprehensive and well-organized program. The accommodations were top-notch, the food was wonderful and varied, and the excursions were focused on interesting places with an appropriate amount of time.

Thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Asheville. The hotel was situated in a great location in downtown Asheville which allowed us to make the most of our "on your own" time. Christmas at the Biltmore is not to be missed!

Asheville is a great area to explore. The tour of the Biltmore Estate was very enjoyable as well as the other areas we visited in the area. The speakers and presentations were very intereting. Accomodations and meals were very good.

This RS program was a great way to visit Asheville for the first time. I may never get back there, but I learned a lot about the city and the area, and now have a greater appreciation for this beautiful part of the US. Our instructors were outstanding, and Johnny, our group leader, who is an Asheville native, made us feel like welcome friends to his town from the first minute to the last. I'd heartily recommend this RS program to anyone wanting to get a taste of Western North Carolina.

Signature City Asheville was a well-paced interesting program. It was an easy way to see this delightful city without having to do a lot of research and scheduling arrangements. I highly recommend this tour.

Signature City Asheville is a great experience. It is a fairly short program but packed with activities that will broaden your knowledge of western North Carolina and its culture. Asheville itself is a lovely small city. I would visit it again.

This program was very informative and was lots of fun. Asheville is a great place with lots of interesting activities.

If you have never been to Asheville, this is a great way to experience it and the culture of the area. It's just the right amount of time and activity for people even in their 80's who are pretty fit and eager to learn. Late September or into October can provide Fall weather, Fall color without being too hot or too cold.

If you appreciate the American story, like to watch artists produce their work, enjoy hearing live music of "the hills and valleys" of the Appalachians, and are awed by the mountains moods and changes, this is the Road Scholar tour for you!

My first Road Scholar experience proved to be everything I had hoped it would be. As a single traveler I felt welcomed and part of the group at all times. I hope to go on another one.

Wonderful experience! Gail is a fantastic Leader. The food and facilities were very good and the educational component was very informative.

Road Scholar does a very detailed and informative job. I admire their level of organization. Kudos for you guys from Massachusetts. A RI admirer.

Interesting cultural experience! This lively active program acquainted me with Asheville and beyond. So scenic between the art deco influence in Asheville and the awesome wonder of the Blue Ridge Mountains I was constantly seeing something new and enjoying it!

My friend and I had never been to the Carolina’s so after a cruise In New England we went to Ashville. We loved everything we did there. Our tour Guide was John Layton was great. He helped me learn how to use Uber so we could go to the Billy Graham training center. We made many friends that I hope we see again at another Road Scholar trip.

I highly recommend the Signature City: Asheville trip. John was a great leader, who made sure we all gained the most from our experiences. A nice mix of sightseeing, educational presentations, and exposure to the city and a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The itinerary was well-organized and well-paced, tying seemingly disparate parts into a full picture of this beautiful area of the U.S. Susan, Sarasota, FL

This is a truly wonderful experience and a glimpse of a storied family during the "gilded age".

Highly recommend Asheville as a signature city program. Hotel and activities are wonderful and instructors are a cut above. Our group leader John Layton is exceptional.