Hubs and I were invited to vacation with my friend Ned and his family at their lake house on Lake Murray in South Carolina this past Fourth of July. We had not been in years but knew it would be a few chill days of fresh air, sunshine, and poor-to-no cell phone reception. Additionally, I have wanted to visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina for a decade+, and I thought we could stop there for a visit while in the area. My dad has also wanted to take my stepmom back to Biltmore for years, so we decided to meet up with them for a long weekend before heading to the lake house.
I did not know much about Asheville, so I spoke with a few folks familiar with the area. One friend held his bachelor party there so his crew could hit up some of the 25+ craft breweries. Another spent her days driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, picking blueberries, collecting river rocks, and bird watching from her grandpa’s front porch. Biltmore recommendations ranged anywhere from “stop by for a few hours” to “give yourself a few days.” Ultimately, we did as much as possible in Asheville and then as little as possible at the lake house. Here are the highlights of our trip.
The Biltmore Estate – I was told the house was busiest first thing in the morning so we went in the afternoon, and it was still packed. We paid for a guided tour but felt it was not worth the extra money. We were rushed thru without time to see anything as long as we wanted, I had very few opportunities to ask questions, and it was so packed it was impossible for the group to navigate the house together. I suspect better advice would be to go in the afternoon and avoid the Fourth of July week altogether. The fam and I agreed we would be willing to return if we went on an off day and were able to work at our own pace.
Honestly, the best stuff we did on property was outside the main house. The gardens, paths, and Conservatory around the main house were phenomenal. We stayed in Antler Village. The first night we walked thru an adorable temporary model train exhibit, ate ice cream, listened to live music, and watched fireflies. The next morning I got up before everyone else, bird watched, walked around the petting zoo, and watched the horses. Hubs and I walked thru a cool rock tunnel to get to a wine tasting. We had nice meals at two of the estate restaurants – reservations recommended. Driving around the estate itself was scenic and wonderful.
The Biltmore Village McDonald’s (and Other Restaurants) – When it comes to food, hubs and I are game for anything from the greasiest greasy spoon to the fancy pants-iest of restaurants. We ran the gambit during this stay and did not have a bad meal. The restaurants on the estate were nice and featured food grown on-site. I adored the funky and cramped breakfast we had at Biscuit Head. It has a JAM BAR that was totally my jam. We hit up Wicked Weed for a tasty lunch and beers, and later on we had a leisurely Mexican meal in the Biltmore Village. Yes, I know this is a weird side note, but the Biltmore Village McDonald’s is the fanciest McDonald’s I have ever visited. There is a small water feature on the wall, a display cabinet with knick knacks, classy furniture, and a roped-off stage in the corner that houses a player piano complete with classical music on playback. Next time – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and the Funkatorium.
The Blue Ridge Parkway -> North Carolina Arboretum – My stepmom is an avid gardener, so I thought she might enjoy the North Carolina Arboretum. It was a great stop! My favorite things were the awesome and surprisingly elaborate bonsai garden and the quilt garden with flower beds planted in a repeating quilt patch pattern. We drove a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to get to the arboretum which I highly recommend even if you do not have a destination. Who does not need a little Blue Ridge Mountain therapy?
The Grovewood Village – I read about the Grovewood Village online and thought it would be an interesting stop and a nice way to get into the mountains. The antique car museum was small but fun for the car enthusiasts in our group, and the old wooden building in which they were housed was as interesting as the cars themselves. Personally, I enjoyed the art gallery and the variety of unique custom art for sale. As an aside, the GPS took us past the Grove Park Inn which is in the same complex and is something straight out of a fairy tale. This Arts and Crafts gem is on the National Register of Historic Places, and we were told the view of the mountains from the lobby was phenomenal.
Asheville Pinball Museum – The Asheville Pinball Museum was my personal must-do activity, and I would be there every weekend if I were local. It had a nice range of pinball and retro arcade machines, and the machines were in good condition. The vibe was super cool; even the bathroom was funky in a positive, retro kind of way. I also liked that you pay an entry fee and can play as much as you wish, so I did not have to bother with quarters or change machines. They roped off the entrance when the place was at capacity, but it still became a might bit crowded. Etiquette tips – play each game completely before you move on, and put your drinks in the cup holders affixed to each machine.
Lake Murray Lake House – We finished our vacation week at Ned’s family lake house in Prosperity, SC, Ned and family included. I love Ned and his family, and I always have so much fun when we are together. We made a mandatory stop at Shealey’s Bar-B-Que before we went to the house which basically meant we put away enough bar-b-que, fried chicken, and cornbread to justify three days of napping. The lake house is an idyllic getaway situated on Lake Murray with plenty of windows and deck space for everyone to enjoy the lake view. For three days, we napped, swam, fished, birded, ate junk food, played board games, and generally lazed around. Showers optional. Longer than three days, and I would have become a fixture.
All in all, our week in the Carolinas was fantastic. We had the perfect mix of a/c and the outdoors. Asheville turned out to be a quirky little town with great food, a random smattering of art deco buildings, and wonderful mountain vistas. We had not been to Prosperity in years, and there is no better way to recharge the battery than a few days of napping and fresh air. Recommend!
