Thanksgiving in Asheville

[lakelandgal70]

Have any of you spent Thanksgiving day in Asheville? Thinking about going next year and wondered if it was over crowded and just plain miserable
And where would you recommend to eat for Thanksgiving dinner. We have to eat gluten free and know there are there are probably tons of local places that wouldn't be a problem. Do they serve Thanksgiving meals at Biltmore? We have been at Biltmore 2x and once was during Thanksgiving but we didn't eat and didn't go into Asheville. I did spend a day in Asheville one summer and it didn't seem too crowded but know peak is fall up there. TIA

 

[TinksThree]

We spend every Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg and we drive to Asheville to go to The Biltmore every year on Thanksgiving Day. To us it is one of the best times to go! We haven't eaten there (except the carriage house's pizza for a snack) so I'm not sure about Traditional Thanksgiving meals but every restaurant on property is open. Everything is operating 100% and we usually spend a full day exploring. It usually isn't overly crowded either. There are lots of people but we have never felt rushed or crowded.

 

[lakelandgal70]

We spend every Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg and we drive to Asheville to go to The Biltmore every year on Thanksgiving Day. To us it is one of the best times to go! We haven't eaten there (except the carriage house's pizza for a snack) so I'm not sure about Traditional Thanksgiving meals but every restaurant on property is open. Everything is operating 100% and we usually spend a full day exploring. It usually isn't overly crowded either. There are lots of people but we have never felt rushed or crowded.

Thanks TinkThree for the response. I just am in love with this area and can't wait to live up there lol.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Check out Grove Park Inn. It is a lovely resort that has everything you would want for a special week-end. They do offer thanksgiving dinner and I would expect a glutton free diet would be easy to accommodate. We have done the Biltmore house that week-end and I dont recall it being crazy busy. It can be quite cold by that week-end and you might even see a snowflake or two. Enjoy. We are about 2 hours from there and its such a lovely place to visit.

 

[TinksThree]

Thanks TinkThree for the response. I just am in love with this area and can't wait to live up there lol.

You are welcome! We love it too and want to move there! My uncle lived in Asheville for 30 years and I think visiting him made me fall in love with Asheville at a young age!

 

[NewRVLady]

We stayed in Ashvillle for several days last Oct
Stayed at Homewood Suites ( Hilton chain)- gorgeousness place- great breakfast

There were several places to eat at Biltmore- some new ones by the stables
I love eating there- my goal a is to see it decorated for Christmas !,

 

[lakelandgal70]

We stayed in Ashvillle for several days last Oct
Stayed at Homewood Suites ( Hilton chain)- gorgeousness place- great breakfast

There were several places to eat at Biltmore- some new ones by the stables
I love eating there- my goal a is to see it decorated for Christmas !,

It is spectacular at Christmas! Amazing really.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Check out Grove Park Inn. It is a lovely resort that has everything you would want for a special week-end. They do offer thanksgiving dinner and I would expect a glutton free diet would be easy to accommodate. We have done the Biltmore house that week-end and I dont recall it being crazy busy. It can be quite cold by that week-end and you might even see a snowflake or two. Enjoy. We are about 2 hours from there and its such a lovely place to visit.

Thanks for the recommendation! My Aunt lives in eastern TN and there are so many things around there and West NC. I get so excited thinking about living up there. To me that is home. Even though I am stuck in Florida lol

 

[pooh6890]

I don't know if things have changed, but the Friday after Thanksgiving is their busiest day all year at the Biltmore Estate. We waited in line for 3 hours in the drizzly rain. It wasn't as bad as it sounds because they made it fun with free hot apple cider, cookies and a jazz bad. We also met a lot of really nice people in line (kinda like we do at DW...)

 

[lakelandgal70]

I don't know if things have changed, but the Friday after Thanksgiving is their busiest day all year at the Biltmore Estate. We waited in line for 3 hours in the drizzly rain. It wasn't as bad as it sounds because they made it fun with free hot apple cider, cookies and a jazz bad. We also met a lot of really nice people in line (kinda like we do at DW...)

Oh jazz band?? That is my favorite type of music. I wouldn't want to be there the day after Thanksgiving lol. Thinking that day will be a day to rest in cabin or bnb. Thanks for the response

 

[Buzzsgramma]

We spent last Thanksgiving in Asheville.....ate at Pack's Tavern...it was an old brewery i believe..its huge and the turkey buffet was some of the best food we have ever eaten...One of us ordered off the menu tho...funny thing we were up early and had to wait for most of the stores to open at 11am...I about fainted and they were not having big sales....some had a percentage off...but not huge...talk about laid back....

We were in Asheville earlier in the week and stayed at a Holiday Inn that we liked alot...very nice breakfast buffet each morning...friendly place...then we drove to Charleston for a few days....then back to Asheville on Thanksgiving..

Our DD & hubby and the 2 adult kids and us...were scouting out the area...we want to get out of northern Ill within the next year or two..we are N.C bound...

 

[lakelandgal70]

We spent last Thanksgiving in Asheville.....ate at Pack's Tavern...it was an old brewery i believe..its huge and the turkey buffet was some of the best food we have ever eaten...One of us ordered off the menu tho...funny thing we were up early and had to wait for most of the stores to open at 11am...I about fainted and they were not having big sales....some had a percentage off...but not huge...talk about laid back....

We were in Asheville earlier in the week and stayed at a Holiday Inn that we liked alot...very nice breakfast buffet each morning...friendly place...then we drove to Charleston for a few days....then back to Asheville on Thanksgiving..

Our DD & hubby and the 2 adult kids and us...were scouting out the area...we want to get out of northern Ill within the next year or two..we are N.C bound...

Oh thanks that sounds like a great place to eat. I am always scouting that area out lol. Trying to get hubby to seriously think about leaving Florida. Only thing I like down here is WDW hahahaha

 

[NewRVLady]

We went WEdnesday
The most interesting part was they were JUST decorating the 42 foot tall tree in the banquet hall!

It was the SECOND tree
One tree put up in Nov and a fresh one in Dec (the 35 other trees are artificial)

It was cool seeing how they hang the lights-a few guys up in the Organ/choir loft with long poles and hooks to arrange the strings of lights-and small scaffolding for the big ornaments-finished in 2 hours-!!

 

[lakelandgal70]

We went WEdnesday
The most interesting part was they were JUST decorating the 42 foot tall tree in the banquet hall!

It was the SECOND tree
One tree put up in Nov and a fresh one in Dec (the 35 other trees are artificial)

It was cool seeing how they hang the lights-a few guys up in the Organ/choir loft with long poles and hooks to arrange the strings of lights-and small scaffolding for the big ornaments-finished in 2 hours-!!

I was up around the area this Thanksgiving. Hadn't planned on going up there but my Aunt was going to be alone and we decided I should head up. Wish I had time to check out Biltmore. Have seen it once right after Thanksgiving and it was really beautiful.

 

[LJC1861]

Thanksgiving is a lovely time to visit Asheville!!!

Both the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn are beautifully decorated for Christmas and all restaurants on both properties are open and serving. Make reservations early, as prime times go quickly at both places. Also know that at Grove Park, the Buffet is offered in the Blue Ridge Dining Room as well as in the Grand Ballroom. The Blue Ridge Dining Room is usually reserved for hotel guests, and the ballroom is for day guests.

Also at the Grove Park Inn is the spectacular National Gingerbread Competition Display. The pieces on display are almost not to be believed, and are all edible and 75% gingerbread. I compete each year, so you will see my piece on display if you visit. Know this.....the display is NOT open to the public on Thanksgiving day unless you have a confirmed dinner reservation. They will check names at the gate, so don't even try to just say you have a reservation to get on property to see the display. You WILL be turned away. The display is open to the public Sunday-Thursday only. If you wish to visit on Friday or Saturday you must have a dining or spa reservation.

Asheville itself is full of fantastic restaurants, but many are not open on Thanksgiving itself. Pack's Tavern is, and there is a very good German restaurant in South Asheville called Black Forest that is also open on Thanksgiving. Reservations are a must, and need to be made early as it is VERY popular.

Stores in downtown might not be open on Thanksgiving day, but on Black Friday downtown will be HOPPING. The Mast General Store is a must do if you want a great shopping experience for just about everything from clothing, to outdoor gear, gifts, old timey candy and toys and other fun stuffs. There are many unique galleries and shops that are very reflective of the funkiness that is Asheville.......African drum stores, stores that sell crystals and healing stones, stores that sell products made in developing countries, etc. It is an easy town to walk in and around. When you do, make sure to make time to stop in at either the Chocolate Fetish or the French Broad Chocolate Lounge for some delicious chocolate made on site. I am partial to the Chocolate Lounge and their liquid truffle. Yes, liquid trufflle......hot chocolate, that is made from a truffle and is incredible!!!!!

This year there are two light shows in town. Shadrack's Winter Wonderland at the Western NC Ag Center and a new one at the NC Arboretum. Both are fantastic and both start right around Thanksgiving. Shadrack's charges by the carload and is a drive through and the Arboretum is a walk through and charges per person.

As you can see....there is TONS to do in this awesome town and I have only touched on a fraction of the many things. Let me know if you need/want any help in planning your trip.

Linda, your trip planning expert. LOL

 

[NewRVLady]

Thanks Linda!

Darn-I wish I had known about the Gingerbread display