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Asheville, North Carolina
A Holiday Haven
By Lyn Mettler
And to top it all off, if you're feeling stressed, a few hours at the Inn's spa will help you leave that holiday to-do list behind and relax in the cool mountain air. Experience everything from massages, whirlpool baths, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, reflexology and much more.
If you decide to bring the kids along, the Inn has lots of activities to keep them busy while you're getting a little R and R. Every Saturday in December before Christmas, the man in red stops by for a visit, and on select Saturdays, the Inn's holiday mascot, Major Bear, hosts a holiday party featuring a buffet and dancing. The Inn also offers full- and half-day adventure camps for kids and "Kids' Night Out" most weekday evenings.
Those who enjoy handmade crafts and the calm of the countryside will delight in the Craft and Christmas Tree Weekends in North Carolina's High Country, just outside Asheville. The weekend packages allow guests to sample the culture of the region – an area rich in history, crafts, music, arts and more – and take home unique, locally-made gifts.
The weekends include your choice of a variety of activities including visiting an alpaca ranch or a petting farm, which kids will love, as well as touring a winery, meeting a local weaver or potter and more.
Visitors also receive a $25 gift certificate to use at a local artists' cooperative, a handmade wreath, a small grapevine tree, a guidebook on farms, gardens and trails in the area and basket of locally-produced holiday treats. Plus, your family can select and cut a 6- to 7-foot evergreen tree at a local Christmas tree farm.
Craft and Christmas Tree Weekends continue through December 15, 2002 and cost $175. Lodging is not included. For more information, call 1-800-331-4154.