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.