Military Officer - April 2006 - (Page 54)

under shimmering rays of sun pouring through a skylight into a sumptuous pool, surrounded by stone walls, cascading dual waterfalls, and magical golden and rose light displays that turn the water a cerulean blue. I know now there are still fantasylands for grown-ups, and one of them is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains north of Asheville, N.C. Here the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa rises majestically above the city skyline offering a spa environment that is, to say the least, otherworldly. The inn was built in 1913 with granite mined from nearby Sunset Mountain. The spa, which opened in 2001, offers 40,000 square feet of treatment space and sumptuous, escapist surroundings. Part of what makes the Grove Park’s spa so unique is that it is located almost entirely underground, with sculpted tunnels of granite leading from room to room. But this is only one among many of Asheville’s unique and sometimes even decadent offerings. This small mountain city has experienced a renaissance in recent years. It is a destination in and of itself, boasting a downtown district rich with an eclectic mix of art, dining, music, and theater. The surrounding mountains offer enough activities to keep visitors occupied for weeks. never quite able to ﬁt in all the activity. Not only is the city surrounded by some of the east’s tallest and most majestic mountains, but it also has some equally striking architecture, with more art deco buildings in the downtown district than any other southeastern city besides Miami. These historic structures, many of them restored to their 1920s and I AM FLOATING weightlessly Architecture, arts, and simpler fare And that’s probably why I keep returning to the Asheville area year after year on long weekend trips, 54 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2006 Shopping downtown is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. ’30s heyday appearance, form an upscale, urban backdrop to the city’s many cultural offerings, including popular Pack Place, the center of Asheville’s hip renewal. Situated on busy Pack Square, this education, arts, and science center houses the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, The Health Adventure, and Diana Wortham Theatre. No matter the interests of your traveling partners, there’s plenty for everyone to do here, from eyeing 20th and 21st century art and ogling gemstones to evening performances by traveling theater troupes. One of the best ways to explore downtown is on the Asheville Urban Trail. Visitors can pick up cassette and headset tours at Pack Place and tour downtown on foot while exploring 30 sculptures depicting the city’s history. My downtown wanderings led me to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial on Market Street. The Victorian boarding house that served as the boyhood home of the author of Look Homeward, Angel recently reopened following a lengthy restoration and provides an intimate look at the home immortalized in Wolfe’s best-known novel. One block over on Broadway is a collection of antique galleries, bookstores, restaurants serving everything from sushi to pastries, and the always bustling Mast General Store, where shoppers can splurge on barrel candy and shop for outdoor clothing in an old-time general store setting. And be sure to test the mix of musical waters here, from jazz and blues at Tressa’s on Broadway to street musicians on drums. On Patton Street, the old Kress and Co. ﬁve-and-dime today houses the Kress Emporium, where the works of dozens of local artisans are on display and available for purchase, including handmade jewelry, hand-thrown pottery, paintings, and stained glass. PHOTO: COURTESY ASHEVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - April 2006

Military Officer - April 2006 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Lap of Luxury Magic Carpet of the Rails Blue Ridge Wonderland Salud, Santé, Cin Cin! Cover Story: Wounded Warriors On Duty MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Calendar Advertising Index Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - April 2006

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