Asheville, North Carolina

On a recent business trip to Asheville North Carolina, our work team flew from Chicago, IL to Charlotte, NC; a quick 1-1/12 hour flight. Southwest Airlines flys direct to Charlotte, putting you in a great position to reach Asheville in about 2 hours by car. The muted dusty blue-gray mountain views from the plane, prepares you for the beauty you are about to see once you are on the ground.

After several days of hard work, our team decided we needed a break and decided in our “off hours” to explore some of the natural wonders of this beautiful state has to offer.

On our last day, we took to the mountains, planning our pathway along the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway; to stop at several vistas along the way to our dinner destination. Luckily, our plan set us on our way close to the golden hour, making the the views of the mountains more spectacular than expected. With each stop we made, the elevation at every viewing location increased and views became more jaw dropping. You can safely pull off the road at each of these locations that are clearly (marked by name and elevation). A map will be attached at the end of this post.

Within the Pisgha Mountains was a highly recommended place to have dinner; Pisgha Inn, roughly 45 minutes from Asheville. Situated roughly 5,725 feet above sea level, this inn provides excellent views of the area, offering lodging, lunch or dinner at the restaurant and a charming gift shop. Adirondack chairs face the mountain view and a beautiful steel-cable deck with granite ledges wraps around the back of the inn for relaxing conversation and epic photo opportunities.

Dinner was excellent. The salmon dinner and quail are highly recommended and their desserts are just as delicious.

At the time of this post, the inn is open April through October, but please call to check before making the drive. Also, dinner reservations are recommended, as they seat the inn guests before walk-ins.

On my recent visit to the Allen Centennial Garden in early October of 2018, the garden was still full of color and texture, despite the cooler temperatures. This little gem is located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The hustle and bustle of student life seems to disappear the moment you step past the wrought iron gate.

Admission to the garden is free. Street parking is hard to find, but a parking lot, a few yards away and across from the tennis courts, has a nominal $2.00 fee.

Themed gardens include; English, Japanese, French, Italian, shade, edible, pond, and a Victorian garden. A printed map is available for a self-guided visit.

This is a definite must see if you are a garden lover. A slow stroll through the grounds can be accomplished in under a half hour.

When traveling through Paris; the most romantic city in the world, you might miss this little gem as you make your way to the Louvre. Nearly every tourist wants to rush to this museum to see greatest masterpieces of art ever created by man, but nestled in-between the Louvre Museum and Place de la Concorde (1st arrondissement), you will discover Le Jardin des Tuileries. Created in the French formal garden style by Andre Le Norte, the gardener of King Louis XIV in 1664, this public garden gives the tired traveler a point of respite with a spectacular view. Pull up a green metal chair to the edge of the large round fountain pond, put your feet up on the ledge and relax! The locals bring a bottle of wine, bread and cheese to enjoy while chatting about the events of the day. This point of relaxation gives one a chance to enjoy the giant Ferris wheel in the Place de la Concorde and the massive details of the majestic Louvre buildings. Rest your feet here and get ready to see the greatest art show on earth. The Jardin des Tuileries itself contains statues of Rodin and Giacometti and is free to the public.