Air Travel without Car Rental

If you do not wish to rent a car after your arrival at Asheville Regional Airport, served by Delta, USAirways, Northwest, and Continental Airways, with connecting flights from Charlotte, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Newark, you'll find Airport Ground Transportation conveniently located in the baggage claim area. Transportation is available via sedan, limousine, or van. For all options (car rental, taxis, and shuttle/limousine) go to http://www.flyavl.com/. You may reach Airport Ground Transportation at 828-681-0051 (toll-free: 888-288-9915) or make reservations online at http://www.ashevillelimousine.com.

Another option can be arranged through the management at Lake Logan.  They contract with Altran Community Transportation for  shuttle service from the Asheville airport to their facilities.  It is necessary to notify them early with flight information so that the schedule can be arranged.  The fee is $50 for 1 or 2 passengers and $25 for each additional passenger each way.  This is a considerable savings over other shuttle prices so the advance planning is well worth your time.  Contact Lake Logan at 800-616-0095 or see their website at http://www.lakelogan.org.

Depending on your time and day of arrival/departure in relation to the retreat,  ClarityWorks will arrange to either meet your shuttle in a central Asheville location and take you to the retreat or meet you at your motel.  It is important that you  discuss this when you register for the retreat before you make final travel arrangements.

Renting a Car

If you wish to rent a car, the closest airports outside of Asheville are Greenville-Spartanburg, SOUTH Carolina (1 hour); Charlotte, North Carolina (2 hours); Knoxville, Tennessee (2 hours); and Atlanta, Georgia (4 hours).

Staying in Asheville

There are a multitude of reasons to plan to extend your stay in the Asheville area by coming early or staying after the retreat: the Blue Ridge Parkway; the Great Smokies National Park; the Biltmore Estate House and Gardens; white water rafting, hiking, golf, and other outdoor activities; an array of galleries with incredible arts and crafts; and fabulous restaurants. The area has a rich writing heritage as well with the homes of Thomas Wolfe and Carl Sandburg.  F. Scott Fitzgerald and O. Henry lived and wrote here. Among the region’s well-known writers are natives and residents: Valerie Leff (Better Homes and Husbands), Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons), Wilma Dykeman (The Tall Woman and others), Gail Godwin (Father Melancholy’s Daughter and others), John Ehle (The Lion in the Hearth and others),  David Hopes (A Sense of Morning), Tommy Hays (In the Family Way and The Pleasure Is Mine), and there are many many more!

If you wish to stay in the area, you will need to rent a car and make hotel reservations in advance, especially in the fall. ClarityWorks recommends you stay in downtown, or the Biltmore or Montford areas. For bed and breakfasts in the area,  for a list see http://www.ashevillebba.com.    For motels and hotels, see http://hotel-guides.us/north-carolina/asheville-nc-hotels.html. This site sorts by various criteria such as area and cost.

Other Information Links

Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau  http://www.exploreasheville.com

Guide to all things Asheville, NC
http://www.ashevillenow.com

Distances between  Asheville and cities within 350 miles
http://www.ersys.com/usa/37/3702140/distance.htm

White water rafting http://www.usaraft.com/river_rafting/nc_rivers.php

Blue Ridge Parkway and trails
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org

Great Smokies National Park http://www.great.smoky.
mountains.national-park.com

Biltmore House and Garden
http://www.biltmore.com

Local and area tours http://www.ashevilletours.net/tours/tourType.cfm/ttid2/2510