Asheville North Carolina and Smokey Mountain Area

Last year for the fourth of July holiday I flew to southwest North Carolina with a friend for an extended weekend. This area of North Carolina is very scenic and there is a lot to enjoy. The trip was primarily to get away from work for a few days, satisfy my craving to spend time outdoors, get some exercise, and enjoy the regions activities.

The trip down was relatively uneventful. We started out flying low to enjoy the countryside on such a nice summer day and to take a scenic tour through the Hudson River flight corridor. This controlled airspace exclusion, intended to allow transition through the busy and extensive New York airspace, allows a scenic flight by Manhattan at an altitude below building tops. When reaching the Appalachian Mountains in Western Maryland and Virginia higher altitudes were necessary to find smother air and to climb above the cumulus clouds that were building to become afternoon thundershowers.

An attraction along the way, and definitely worth a visit, is Luray Caverns in Luray Virginia. We did not stop during this trip but I have on other occasions. It is a convenient destination for pilots because the Caverns are within walking distance (a couple of miles) of the Luray airport. Airport personnel will also drive visitors to the Caverns and return later for pick-up.

The Biltmore Estate is a significant tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. This was the summer home of George Washington Vanderbilt. It sits in the heart of the Smokey Mountains and at 175,000 square feet is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The home is open to the public and quite impressive, as are the grounds including hiking/biking trails, horseback riding, an Inn and a winery that produces remarkably good wines. A tour of the home includes the winery tour and wine tasting. Leave a good day to explore the home and grounds if you plan to visit. There is plenty of space for picnicking as well as a restaurant at the winery.

Another interesting sight not far from Asheville is Chimney Rock Park. Chimney Rock is a 315 foot monolith above Hickory Nut Gorge, soaring to an elevation of 2,280 feet. The park includes hiking trails, caves, and waterfalls. The most scenic and famous is Hickory Nut Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in North Carolina plunging 404 feet from a granite cliff. This waterfall has appeared in several motion pictures the most famous being “The Last of the Mohicans”. Of course this area is loaded with scenic hiking trails, waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smokey Mountain National Park.

A number of photos from the trip follow. Additional photos chronicling other excursions I've enjoyed with my aircraft are viewable in my previous posts and the archives.

---

Downtown Manhattan as seen flying through the Hudson River Visual Flight Rules Corridor




Lady Liberty reminds us of the freedom we enjoy which makes this trip possible


Aerial view of Ellis Island


Entering the Appalacian Mountains in Western Virginia/Maryland








Clouds formed a carpet of white in some places


Stalactites inside Luray Caverns


These stalactites are reflected in a pool of water making it look like stalagmites are growing upward to meet them




Stalagmite


This organ uses the stalactites as "pipes". Tiny electronically triggered hamers tap on various formations in respsonse to key presses to generate the tones.


The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, home of George Washington Vanderbilt






A portion of the Biltmore's formal gardens


Several views from the Blue Ridge Parkway






A hiking trail atop the Smokey Mountains


Waterfall at the end of the trail


The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through many tunnels like this one near the peaks of the Appalacians


This sign marks the peak of Mt. Mitchell but the leg is optional


Chimney Rock and Chimney Rock Park






Looking down on Lake Lure from the top of Chimney Rock


A view of the Smokey Mountains from one of the parks hiking trails




The Chimney


A hiking trail in the park that ends at the waterfall in the next picture


Hickory Nut Falls, North Carolina's tallest waterfall, at 404 feet, and seen in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans"


Almost home, cathing a return trip view of Manhattan this time at night