Asheville with Kids: Western North Carolina Nature Center

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On the Monday after we arrived in Asheville, Andrew took a little time to himself and I headed to check out the Western North Carolina Nature Center (check out the live otter cam on their site!) with the boys. It was a bit overcast and drizzly that morning, so the choice was a deliberate one; there is a nice indoor area with a small river creatures room including snakes and salamanders and a little log tunnel the boys enjoyed playing in. But the rain held out, so we headed outdoors to explore. DSC_0082DSC_0083DSC_0095

This center is dedicated to conservation of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and all its biodiversity. And such a beautiful place it is! There are black bears, red wolves and gray wolves, foxes, river otters, raccoons and skunks and vultures, owls, hawks, and wild cats, deer and coyotes, among others. The boys particularly enjoyed the goats, even though we see those guys all the time in St. Louis. Go figure!

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There is a really nice board path which winds around in the woods amidst all the animals, then a paved path that leads to two climbing structures in Arachnid Adventure, which includes many hidden giant black spiders in the immediate area. Also there is a small hiking trail through the woods which is covered in thousands of acorns that are perfect for little collecting hands. My bag was mysteriously full of them by the end of the day! DSC_0106DSC_0117DSC_0118

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It was quiet and peaceful, and I imagine you could make a whole day out of visiting this place.

P.s. — There’s a vending machine of Appalachian stuffed animals… don’t blame me if you get sucked into that one, I sure did!

Chimney Rock & Rocky Broad Riverwalk

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On a beautiful warmish day of our trip, we headed to Chimney Rock Park, ranked by USA Today Travel as one of the 10 Best High Places in the World… obviously, we wanted to check it out! We parked for free near the Rocky Broad Riverwalk entrance, where there are plenty of cute little souvenir shops and restaurants, and headed down to the water before heading on to the park. The water was a main attraction for the boys; Andrew and Milo rock-hopped for a long time and there was much pouting when we moved on from that activity! DSC_0245DSC_0247DSC_0254DSC_0272DSC_0274

I stayed close to Emil and Oliver, who just couldn’t keep up! But they really enjoyed the river and the many climbing spots.

Next, we headed back to the car to drive the rest of the way up to Chimney Rock Park. There is an admission fee, but it wasn’t too pricey, and it was really worth it once we got up there. We passed a beautiful field and picnic area on the way, which had a huge rock climbing wall (it was closed when we visited, but looked like a lot of fun) and an indoor nature center for the kids.

Once we reached the highest lot, we parked and split up. Andrew and Milo climbed the stairs while I took Emil and Oliver up through the elevator, manned by a friendly staff member. The elevator ride was short, but if you go on a day with big crowds, you could end up waiting for the elevator for quite a while. Plan accordingly!

Once we reached the top, we met Andrew and Milo on top of the Chimney, which is technically a 250-foot monolith and is luckily fenced in, as the point is at an elevation of 2,280 feet and the wind gusts up there can be a bit scary (I had a nightmare that night of Emil being swept off a cliff after one of those wind gusts)!

It was a beautiful view — they estimate you can see for 75 miles on a clear day. Hand-holding recommended…DSC_0296DSC_0300DSC_0306

Seriously!

We took the stairs back down, and it was beautiful.

Once we were back to the car, we decided to picnic and play in that field. It was another great view from there.
DSC_0320DSC_0332DSC_0324DSC_0328DSC_0330And three very tuckered out boys played in the field before we headed back for the day. Such a great place to visit, I highly recommend it — especially if you’re in the business of wearing out kids!

West Asheville (Favorite Breakfast Joints)

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While in Asheville, we made it a point to eat out plenty. We had heard such great recommendations for restaurants, but the only problem was, with three boys aged 7 and younger, it’s not always easy to eat out at a new place. But one meal always seems easier with the kids: breakfast. So we tried three different breakfast places (one of them we went to twice!), and were really pleased with all!

The first was Sunny Point Cafe in West Asheville, where the indoor atmosphere is diner-like, but the outdoor space is all garden. We were warned to stay away on the weekends, as the crowds can make for a long wait. So we headed there early on a weekday morning and were seated right away (though it was still pretty crowded). The boys enjoyed carrot pancakes with sorghum cider syrup. They were certainly healthier and heartier than the usual pancakes, and though I consider our boys to be picky eaters, they all ate every last bite. I had the Huevos Rancheros, which were delicious — make sure you’re hungry if you order this one, it’s the perfect meal if you’re about to embark on a nice long hike as it sticks to the ribs!

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My favorite part of this restaurant was the huge garden in back of and to the side of the cafe. A welcoming place for all, the garden has pathways and even a little space for kids to play. Just be sure to respect the fruits and veggies they are growing there (for the food you just ate) by looking, not touching. DSC_0385DSC_0388DSC_0390

The next spot (and decidedly our favorite) is West End Bakery & Cafe, also in West Asheville. This inviting space has a large play space for the kids, with shelves of well-cared-for books, couches and chairs, and toys. The rug area is open and wide, placed by the front of the bakery where light shines through the windows.
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I can’t say enough about a child-friendly space like this. It makes going out to breakfast so enjoyable! We went with our friends Cat and Garriy, who drove in from Knoxville to visit for the day. Having the space for the kids to play quietly and read allowed for us to have actual grown-up conversations while we waited for our food. And speaking of food, I highly recommend the veggie bagel, which comes with herbed cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and sprouts. It was fresh and light. The other breakfast sandwiches looked really good too. The boys ordered cinnamon rolls, which were massive but not heavy. Happy campers, all!DSC_0516

And of course, we had to try Biscuit Head (also in West Asheville, just down the street from West End Bakery — you really must go to Haywood Road if you want to eat well in Asheville!). DSC_0121DSC_0123DSC_0125DSC_0134

The biscuits are clearly the star of the show here. They are massive, but light and fluffy, and not at all crumbly or heavy. I recommend ordering the fresh fruit plate alongside a biscuit, then trying as many of the house-made jams and butters as possible at the butter bar (above). I also ordered a vanilla latte, which came in a huge cup and tasted like melted marshmallows. Yum. DSC_0141DSC_0151

Andrew ordered the Classic, an egg sandwich on a biscuit with cheese. It looked divine. DSC_0153Another benefit, a separate children’s play area with a small train table and a few books, though looking around, there were children seated everywhere and all seemed happy. We ended up heading here twice, it was so good!

If we had to choose a favorite breakfast place in Asheville, it would have to be West End Bakery because the atmosphere was right up our alley. Plus, Milo read their copy of The Velveteen Rabbit on the comfy couch as soon as he scarfed down his cinnamon roll, and didn’t want to leave until he read every last word. Now that’s a good place!

Asheville: The Cabin (and Getting There)

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Our decision to visit Asheville came from the crazy experience of filming a television show last June. The experience left us wanting more, and we began exploring places to visit where we could have some down-time as a family without the cameras. Friend after friend recommended Asheville after hearing about our desire to explore this community a bit more. Close to the mountains and like-minded people? Check. Awesome downtown area with an emphasis on local farms and economy? Check. A town that makes the arts and music scene a priority? Check and check.

We decided that nothing else needed to fall into place, we just needed to make it happen and set aside some money for a family trip. So months ago, we reserved this cabin for a week and in the backs of our mind, bided our time.

We split the trip out there into two days so we could stop in Ohio to visit Andrew’s mom, stepdad, little brother and sister, and oldest brother Bill and his wife Annie. The cousins were so happy to see each other. It’s a joy to see them pick up where they left off.

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We enjoyed one afternoon and evening with them. It’s always so good to see them and laugh and joke together. I am already looking forward to the holidays when we can pack more visiting in!

But the rest of the drive, oh man. Let’s just say the second leg of our trip took hours and hours longer than expected due to frequent restroom stop requests from Emil and getting completely turned around in the pitch black dark of the mountains on a gravel road… my car sickness in full effect, it was a disaster! But we made it. And dead tired from the trip, crashed into the beds of the dark cabin… and woke up to just complete and utter beauty. DSC_0053DSC_0074DSC_0158DSC_0163DSC_0167

The view of the back yard from inside the old barn

The property was secluded in a serene forest with a mountain creek running alongside and below the house. The sound of the water was so peaceful!

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And of course, the main attraction is always, always, always the water (and mud)! The boys spent much of their time this past week making mud pies, catching crayfish and salamanders, spying on huge spiders, and learning about the local flora, especially stinging nettle (the hard way). DSC_0168DSC_0177

And the joy of making fire. Andrew knows it as an art. Watching him build one even though pretty much everything was wet made me so proud. It’s a skill!DSC_0178DSC_0194DSC_0199

We ate fresh grilled fish one night and the rare treat of a shared steak another… both were perfect! Pretty fun to share that process with the kids. DSC_0203

The house itself was one story, two bedrooms and a loft, just the right smallness for our family of five. Doors and windows opened onto a wrap-around deck high above the trees. There was no television or computer, no need for distractions. I know I say it a lot, but being away from technology has a mellowing effect on me. I have this flawed thinking that being on the internet makes me calm, but it’s actually quite anxiety-inducing if I’m on too long. Being completely removed from it for an entire week, I was aware of how little I thought of it and how little I missed out on in the world. The world, my world, was happening every moment of every day of this trip. It was truly a gift. DSC_0206DSC_0208DSC_0209DSC_0211DSC_0215DSC_0228DSC_0339DSC_0340DSC_0342DSC_0347DSC_0353DSC_0361I think this face says it all.

Next up: where we ate!

Back from Asheville

DSC_0300Hello!

We just returned from a week-long trip to Asheville, North Carolina — it was an amazing week exploring the city, taking hikes, playing in streams and rivers, and avoiding any and all technology (I didn’t even realize my cell phone battery died one day in!). I have to admit, typing on a computer feels eerily foreign right now.

Check in tomorrow for the first round of pictures and our own guide to Asheville, where I’ll recommend some restaurants, kid-friendly activities and hikes, and shops. See you soon!