Lodging in Asheville?

We are going to spend a day or 2 in Asheville. We have been before and stayed in B & B. This time I'd like to stay in hotel right in the center of things. I'm just wondering if anyone here has stayed right in the heart of things in Asheville and can recommend a place to stay or to avoid. I'm currently looking at Trip Advisor also.

Stayed at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel for a work event this past spring -- modern, clean, pleasant, convenient to downtown.

Does convenient mean I can walk to the shops and restaurants?

Yes, walkable to downtown restaurants and shopping. Don't miss Malaprop's Books!

not sure what your travel plans are, but we flew into Greenville, SC, rented a car and drove up to Asheville, about an hour and a quarter. Greenville is a direct flight from Newark on United.

We are driving down. We have discovered that we love stopping in Virginia on the way. I-81 goes through the Shenandoah Valley and can cross over to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will do a short visit in Asheville--about a day and a half. Then we are driving to Atlanta to see family. Thank you!

Actually, I've been considering Aloft. It's a bit pricey, but we'll only be there for one night. The description from the TA reviews make it sound funky.

I've never been there, but the Grove Park Inn in Asheville hosts an annual conference (in February) for craftsman style artisans, because it is a unique craftsman style hotel. The New York Times called the event the most important one in the country for "arts and crafts" collectors.

We were in Asheville many years ago. We stayed at the Grove Park Inn and it was lovely but we did have to drive everywhere.

Grove Park Inn is amazing, though far from the downtown stuff. The conference I attended was actually at the Inn, tho I stayed at the Renaissance. Totally worth driving over to the Inn to walk around and have a drink on the terrace.

According to advice on Trip Advisor, Grove Park Inn is worth the drink on the terrace. My daughter is on the autism spectrum, but likes to be independent of us. She likes little shops, so if we are in the center of everything, she can go out on her own, and get back to the hotel on her own if she burns out really fast. We visited Asheville once before and really liked it. Would even consider retiring there if I could let go of having the Manhattan vibe nearby. Also wondering if for living there it would be too crunchy granola for my taste.

Four Points by Sheraton... on the edge of downtown and competitive pricing... stay there a year ago while some renovation was in progress... would stay there again.

I have occasionally gone to the terrace of a restaurant I otherwise could not afford in a hotel I cannot afford, usually for dessert and coffee. One such memorable experience was on the terrace of a Ritz-Carlton in the Palm Springs area (Rancho Mirage?) at sunset, high on a hill overlooking the valley.

Depending on the day you'll be there, you may want to give Grove Park a try. We are doing Asheville/Charlottesville in August--I happened to do a search on Hotels.com and up came three nights (Sun-Wed) for $159/night. After picking myself up off the floor, I booked it--we may be staying in a broom closet, but hopefully it will all be good!

We will be staying at the Renaissance. If it is as close to shops etc as I think it is, it will give my daughter the ability to be on her own when she wants to be. That also gives us a break from her. We will be there early next week. I am looking forward to it.

Here's the view from my room at the Renaissance. Have a great time! (and seriously, don't miss Malaprop's-- great bookstore)

Stay with the Gants!

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/wolfe/OldKyHome.htm

Hmmm...I never read Thomas Wolfe. Maybe I should get a copy. I think the Renaissance is across the street from the house. We do have a high room with a view. I love the Blue Ridge Mountains. If I were with some history lovers I could really have a ball. But, I like the town also.

Look Homeward, Angel is free on Project Gutenberg.