2008 Asheville Visitor Guide - Any Way You Like It - (Page 7) this tour is for you Park the car. Why drive yourself around Asheville when there are tours to fit every taste? If you’re a beer aficionado, don’t miss the Asheville Brews Cruise, a tour that stops at three of the city’s finest breweries for samples, personalized tours and VIP treatment. History buffs and first-time visitors love the trolley tours, which take you by all of the city’s major points of interest on a guided excursion. Asheville Historic Trolley Tours and Gray Line Trolley Tours depart from the Asheville Visitor Center. Other tours include a walking tour of the Montford Historic District, ghost tours, Segway tours, Asheville’s Urban Trail and the LaZoom Tour, a funky purple bus with comedic tour guides. wow, what a view Experience Asheville’s natural beauty by taking a leisurely drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic road that’s often called “America’s Favorite Drive.” “The parkway is a great way to beat the summer heat because it’s much cooler as you climb up to higher elevations,” Martha Bogle says. “It’s awesome in the spring, too, because of all the wildflowers. And fall is incredible with the brilliant colors of the trees.” The Folk Art Center, at milepost 382, is another must-see. “It has a variety of mountain crafts made by juried craftspeople,” Bogle says. “They really are works of art.” “I encourage people to get out of their cars, have a picnic at a roadside table and hike some of the wonderful trails in the Craggy Gardens and Mount Pisgah areas,” Bogle adds. “The views are incredible, and it’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of town.” martha bogle Martha Bogle has been deputy superintendent at the Blue Ridge Parkway for three years and has spent more than 25 years of her career in government service. more than you imagined Whatever the reason, people from all walks of life are drawn to this remarkable place. If you’re a first-time visitor, be prepared for your stay to be bigger than you imagined. The scenery is inspiring, the streets are pulsating and there’s an endless variety of places to explore and things to do. Want a real deal? Pick up a two-, three-, or five-day Go Blue Ridge card and explore the 25-county region encompassing Asheville – designated by the U. S. Congress as the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. The explorer and the bargain hunter in you will be satisfied. BILL RUSS – PHOTO COURTESY OF NC DIVISION OF TOURISM, FILM AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Maybe it’s the sweeping mountain views and the delightfully cool climate. Or maybe it’s the creative energy you can almost feel in the air. FOR MORE blueridgeparkway.org nps.gov/blri exploreasheville.com 7 http://www.exploreasheville.com/what-to-do/activity-details/index.aspx?guid=a1647ebe-7122-4e37-8044-a09e4525bd63 http://www.exploreasheville.com/what-to-do/discover-downtown/tours/index.aspx http://blueridgeparkway.org http://nps.gov/blri http://exploreasheville.com
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