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Do people from the triangle head up to the mountains at Christmas time? I was thinking of gathering the whole family there and wondered if that was a reasonable idea......and then, as I am new to the area, I have no idea where to go! We recently went to Black Mountain and the Biltmore which was lovely. I would love to rent a log cabin/home and spend a week there celebrating Christmas and the New Year - anyone have any suggestions/ideas?
We have thought about maybe doing it, but haven't yet done so over Christmas.
Obviously the Biltmore at Christmas is special - if you haven't done their candlelight holiday tour it's worth doing.
A bit southwest of Asheville is the Balsam Mountain Inn - I think it would be a wonderful place to spend the holidays. (And they have various holiday events - hanging the greens, caroling ...)
The area north of Boone is also very nice, although perhaps a bit more remote.
Sure you could do that. Boone/Blowing Rock is about an hour closer than Asheville. We have a family home in Boone (MIL's) and go up there quite a bit. We haven't done Christmas/New Year's because she winterizes it after fall and shuts it down for the winter. Costs a lot to pay for heat if you're not using it.
When I was younger, our family did some mountain Thanksgivings like the OP suggested (we were in VA, near one of the ski resorts).
Not sure if it would make a difference to OP, but you'd be less likely to have issues with winter weather for Tday than Xmas. Neither is a huge threat, nor are they a zero threat.
In either case, there are lots of rentals that should be available. The ski resorts offer houses that can accomodate a lot more people, which is good for a holiday gathering. (and ski resorts would be empty at Tday, not at xmas, I assume....)
IMO, any time in the mountains is good time. Go for it, I say....
I would love to see the Biltmore at Christmas however we went to Asheville over spring break and I'm still not recovered from the drive up and down the mountain.
As poppydog mentioned Boone is closer. I would like to see that as well.
We've gone to Boone for the weekend -- it's beautiful and is a closer (and easier) drive than Asheville -- which is a great place to visit but as twingles said it just seems like a harder drive. If we head there we like to stay for at least 2 nights if not more.
And, like others have said, totally different weather systems so you can expect some good winter weather over Christmas!!
I would love to see the Biltmore at Christmas however we went to Asheville over spring break and I'm still not recovered from the drive up and down the mountain.
As poppydog mentioned Boone is closer. I would like to see that as well.
Biltmore is gorgeous at Christmas. They start the candlelight tours weeks in advance and it's easier to get in on one of those if you don't go right at Christmas. We've been in late November and early December and it wasn't terribly crowded if you do the last tour of the evening.
Kids seemed to really enjoy it, too.
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I would love to see the Biltmore at Christmas however we went to Asheville over spring break and I'm still not recovered from the drive up and down the mountain.
As poppydog mentioned Boone is closer. I would like to see that as well.
Even though Boone is about 1,200 feet higher in elevation than Asheville, I find drive up and back on US 421 much less harrowing than the stretch of I-40 between Old Fort and Black Mountain.
I love the area around Boone and Blowing Rock. It's an easy getaway to cool off during the summer and to experience some winter weather (if that's your thing) during the cold months.
I'm shocked that people mention the drive up I-40 to Asheville. I make that drive all the time, loaded down with bikes and camping gear. It's a 4-6 lane Interstate Highway the entire way. The most harrowing part of it is if I forget to take the cruise control off, and the car is shifting between gears. (Seriously, it's a 55 mph road, and only that because of the speed differential of the trucks.)
All I can says is that if you don't like that, don't ever attempt Hwy 276 going from Brevard to the BRP. (One of my all-time favorite roads to drive, BTW.)
Either one is an easy drive. RDU to Asheville = zero turns. Set it and forget it.
(Not to ignore those who don't like windy roads, but I'd hate for the OP to miss out on Biltmore at Christmas without hearing an alternative POV. Just keep in mind, it is an Interstate with a 55+ speed limit the entire way up the mountain. Not THAT bad...)
going into asheville is a lot less harrowing them coming back to raleigh -- it is the coming back that makes you feel like your car could be flung off the side! :-) I feel like I ride my brakes the whole time - which cannot be good for them! On 421 coming from Boone, there is only one stretch like it that is crazy steep - and you aren't clinging to a side of a mtn to come down it...
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