Sunday

Make breakfast with other travelers in Sweet Pea’s attractive kitchen area, then check out with the front desk and make your way to the Biltmore Village. The Biltmore Estate remains America’s largest home and is the former residence of George Washington Vanderbilt II, who amassed an enormous fortune through railroads, steamboats, and other business ventures. At $54 a person for a weekend ticket, admission to the Bilmore’s sprawling grounds is a bit of a splurge, but the home and grounds are drop dead gorgeous, and a completely unique piece of Americana. The gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, architect of Central Park and the Chicago World’s Fair, feature breathtaking color, texture and ambiance. Tickets include tours of the house and grounds and a complimentary wine tasting in the family’s famous winery.

Before leaving, grab a bite at the Village Wayside Bar and Grille, casual dining in the village’s original train depot. Try the absolutely decadent wedge salad, a generous slice of iceberg smothered in bleu cheese dressing, bacon, tomatoes and avocado. The Grille’s famous Rueben features turkey slow-roasted and brined in house-made sweet hibiscus peach tea. This $16 lunch will stave your appetite as you head home.

Alternatively, if spending $108 on tickets will break your budget, spend your last day on one of Asheville’s historic trolley tours. Thirty-eight dollars will buy you and your companion an all day pass on the white trolleys, which provide a humorous and informative tour guide and a ride to Asheville’s historic and cultural highlights. There are too many fascinating stops to go into great detail, but they include the Thomas Wolfe State Memorial and Historic Site, the Asheville Art Museum and the Historic Basilica of St. Lawrence, all fine destinations. A personal favorite is the historic Mast General store, whose candies are unique and delicious. Some of the stops on the tour do not open until 1 p.m. on Sunday, so be sure to check the hours of operation. Tours leave from the Chamber of Commerce on the hour, starting at 10 a.m., and include admission to Thomas Wolfe’s boyhood home and a free sample from Chocolate Fetish.

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Sweet Peas Hostel
23 Rankin Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
828.285.8488
www.sweatpeashostel.com

The Asheville Urban Trail
828-259-5815
http://www.ashevillenc.gov

Malaprop’s Bookstore and Café
55 Haywood Street •
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
828-254-6734
www.malaprops.com

Crêperie Bouchon
62 1/8 North Lexington Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828-350-3741
www.creperiebouchon.com

Boca

68 N. Lexington Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
828-285-8828
http://www.bocaasheville.com

The Folk Art Center
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 382
Asheville, NC  28805
http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/folk-art-center/general-info.php

Chai Pani
22 Battery Park Avenue
Asheville, NC  28801
828-254-4043
www.chaipani.net

The Biltmore Estate
1 Lodge Street
Asheville, NC  28003
800-411-3812
www.biltmore.com

Asheville Historic Trolley Tours
36 Montford Avenue
Asheville, NC  28801
828-258-6101
www.ashevilletrolleytours.com