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Here at The Residences at Biltmore we know visitors to the Western North Carolina region are often on a budget. Whether you are in search of a romantic mountain getaway an Asheville vacation rental or a luxury hotel in Asheville we provide exceptional customer service, beautiful accommodations and travel vacation planning resources you won’t find anywhere else. Asheville is a unique city that prides itself on offering visitors and residents alike a superior quality of life found only in the heart of Appalachia. One rare characteristic of our beautiful city is the number of free activities available throughout the year. Of course the comfortable climate, typical of the summer here, makes for even more exciting opportunities with the increase in outdoor events in and around downtown.

Free Events You Don’t Want to Miss on Your Asheville Vacation!

The 36th Anniversary Season of Shakespeare in the Park Brought to You by The Montford Park Players

The Montford Park Players Shakespeare in the Park is North Carolina’s longest running Shakespeare festival and the fastest growing outdoor theater in the country. This season brings performances of Antony and Cleopatra, Henry VIII, As You Like It and Doctor Faustus. The Montford Park Players will also be beginning a new series entitled “The Asheville Shakespearience”, which features a collection of scenes considered the best of Shakespeare and the Southeast premier of The Upstart Crow, a play about the life of none other than William Shakespeare himself. Performances are scheduled throughout the summer until August 30, 2008. All productions in the park are free to the public. Financial contributions to The Montford Park Players can be made to appropriately designated staff and all proceeds from the concessions stand go to support this wonderful program. Visit MontfordParkPlayers.org for dates, times and location.

Asheville Botanical Gardens: Explore Southern Appalachian Mountain Native Plants, Trees, Flowers and More!
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville include approximately 700 species of vines, trees, ferns, mosses, flowers, shrubs, lichens, herbs, grasses and more. Although peak wildflower season lasts from April to mid-May, in the Botanical Gardens there is something in bloom every season. In the ten acres that makes up the Asheville Botanical Gardens there is a meadow, a half-mile walking trail, a woodland ridge, a wildflower cove, bridges, picnic tables, streams, a springhouse and a gazebo. Admission to the Botanical Gardens at Asheville is free from dawn until dusk. Pets, radios and sports equipment are prohibited. A small visitor center houses the Garden Path Gift Shop, a well-stocked library and meeting rooms. Guided tours can be purchased for a whopping $3 and educational programs on a wide variety of subjects can be attended often for under $10. For more information on visiting the Botanical Gardens visit AshevilleBotanicalGardens.org.

Celebrate Mountain Heritage at the Shindig on the Green During Your Asheville Vacation
Shindig on the Green is brought to you by The Folk Heritage Committee and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation. In the past, Shindig on the Green has been held in City County Plaza, but in 2008, while the city of Asheville completes new park construction, Shindig on the Green will be held on Saturday evenings from 7 – 10 pm in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. July and August events are scheduled currently for July 5th, 12th and 19th and August 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. Shindig on the Green and The Folk Heritage Committee are dedicated to preserving and presenting the musical heritage of the Southern Appalachians. Admission to all performances is free. For more information visit FolkHeritage.org.

Taste the Flavor of Asheville at the Pritchard Park Drum Circle
If you are interested in a more spontaneous evening then spend your Friday night, from 5 - 10 pm, in Pritchard Park for Asheville’s Open Drum Circle. For more than 8 years drummers from around the country and throughout Western North Carolina have visited downtown Asheville in order to spontaneously come together and create a powerful blend of Reggae, Latin, African, Rock, Indian and Native American beats. Unable to resist the drums myriads of dancers of all ages begin to gather and let their bodies move to the beats. Taste the flavor of one of Asheville’s most popular community gatherings and soak in the free spirit of music! For more information visit the Asheville Drum Circle Myspace Page.

Free Tuesdays at the North Carolina Arboretum…A Perfect Idea When Family Vacation Planning
Located conveniently next to one of Asheville’s most famous free activities, The Blue Ridge Parkway, the North Carolina Arboretum is a gorgeous collection of trails open to hikers and bikers, educational programs, entertainment, tours and special events. The trails range from easy to moderate to difficult and inside the main building visitors can find a delicious café and gift shop full of information on native plants, hiking trails, wildlife and more. Entry into the NC Arboretum property generally costs a parking fee of $6 per car, with additional fees for commercial vehicles and busses. Every Tuesday the parking fee for cars is waived all day. Tours, special events, educational programs and exhibits may incur additional fees even on Tuesday, but most are extremely affordable and many are free as well. The Arboretum is also pet friendly with designated trails for visitors of the canine persuasion. Just remember to keep all dogs on a leash. For more information on Segway tours, the Bonsai Collection, Bamboo exhibitions and more visit NCArboretum.org.

You’ll Find Something For Everyone For Nothing At The Grovewood Homespun Shops
The Grovewood Homespun Shops once housed the famous woodworking and weaving enterprise of Biltmore Industries and shares a rich history as old as one of Asheville’s most well known historical sites, the nearby Grove Park Inn and Spa. The Homespun Shops sit on over 10 acres of gorgeous mountain grounds and is home to the Grovewood Gallery, Grovewood Studios, Grovewood Gardens, the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, The North Carolina Homespun Museum and the Grovewood Café. The museums offer wonderful information and exhibits on North Carolina history, especially in the Asheville area, and antique cars. The Grovewood Gallery, housed in a renovated 1917 English style cottage, shows 9,000 square feet of handmade American crafts created by over 500 artisans. Visitors will find ceramics, glass, jewelry, furniture and garden sculptures featured throughout. Admission into the Homespun Shops is free for all ages.If you’d like to grab a bite to eat give Grovewood Café a taste and enjoy fresh ingredients and Nouvelle Southern Cuisine in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Reservations are suggested.

At The Residences at Biltmore we are committed to making your Asheville mountain vacation everything you dreamed it would be. Don’t forget to peruse the rest of our web site for more information on local events, summer vacation planning tips, ideas for family vacation planning and always feel free to contact one of our friendly Travel Concierge to find out more details, directions or tickets to events anywhere in downtown Asheville.

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