Music: nearby is Brevard and there is rock and roll at The Orange Peel in downtown Asheville. Did you know that Asheville has its own symphony? You never know whats happening in Asheville's Civic Center. And you should check out the dance scene here. There are many festivals, so take a look in the next section for more music and fun.

Festivals: Throughout the year there are many festivals in the area. One of the best is LEAF , with two happenings. One in October and one in May. The very big one is Bele Chere, which happens the last weekend in July. Join the 350,000+ people that flock to downtown Asheville each year for three days of Bele Chere. Eight stages provide performances by 100 local and national musical acts. Lots of food, great art and crafts, and many other activities make Bele Chere a fun event for all. November 4th through 7th is the very exciting Asheville Film Festival.

Outdoor Activities : This is the place to take a gentle walk and see great flowers and trees, all nicely labled: the NC Arboretum. Hiking in Graveyard Fields is always a welcome afternoon, as well as the ever-popular Sliding Rock.

To take a raft trip check out the offerings at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Taking a walk at the Biltmore Estate is one of the reasons people flock to this area. Also only a short drive from the cabin is Lake Lure - the perfect little town. Whether you are walking the grounds, or walking inside, it is magnificent. Your host can give you directions to spectacular hikes just ten minutes away from the cabin. One of the best area maps for hiking is here. Also, if you're looking for adventure sports in Lake Lure, the Lake Lure NC Adventure Company is great.

Food / Drink:There are many great places to eat, no matter what you like. Downtown Asheville is Rosetta's Kitchen and the Laughing Seed Cafe. Be sure to check out the Asheville Pub Crawl! Also be sure to check out the local Fairview paper for some very close ideas.

Arts/Crafts: There are so many places. Nearby is the Willow Wisp Farm Studio. Then peek at the Southern Highland Guild. Perfectly wonderful, handmade items.

Spiritual leanings: There is a plethora of spiritually centered places in the area. Some are the Zen Center , also check out the Jubilee! Community and the Unity Center.

Asheville:
General Information about the area:
The first place to go would be the chamber, to get maps and learn all about the area. Then, if you are interested in more information about Asheville, head to the city's page. For information on businesses located just outside the city, visit the Greater Asheville Chamber of Commerce. There are 2 news sources that have wonderful up to date club and activity information, the daily paper and the alternative weekly paper . There is also a web site with updated happenings here.

Downtown buying attractions:
A wonderful building holding a plethora of exciting shops and eateries is the Grove Arcade. A great independent bookstore/cafe is Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe. Her sister store is a jammed packed used bookstore,that sells the NYT and has over 2,000 magazines, and is just two blocks away. Asheville is full of crafts. There are wonderful, creative artists at Blue Spiral. A delicious selection of art can be found at New Morning Gallery.