Visiting Asheville, North Carolina

Air Travel without Car Rental

 Asheville Regional Airport is served by Delta and US Airways and other airlines.  If you do not wish to rent a car, find information on shuttles, cabs, and other transportation here:  Airport Ground Transportation

Information is also conveniently located in the baggage claim area. You may also reach Airport Ground Transportation at 828-681-0051 (toll-free: 888-288-9915).

You can visit Asheville's historic downtown, River Arts District, Biltmore Village, Grove Park Inn, Montford District and other points of interest with Gray Line Trolley Tours  or Asheville Historic Trolley Tours hop-on and hop-off tours and cabs can take you into the Biltmore Estate or  to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Folk Art Center. City buses are also available.

If attending the Lake Logan Fearless Writing Retreat, you can arrange shuttle service through the management at Lake Logan.  It is necessary to notify them early with flight information so that the schedule can be arranged. Contact Lake Logan at 800-616-0095 or see their website at http://www.lakelogan.org.
 

Renting a Car

If you wish to rent a car, you may do so at the Asheville airport or choose to fly to a neighboring airport. 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 also 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
http://www.ashevillenc.com/

Tours of Asheville highlighting women's contributions to the city's history
http://www.herstoryasheville.com/index.html

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