Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi is only 33 miles from there. The Western North Carolina Nature Center is just about 3 miles from the Swannanoa exit of I-40. Ther is an Fold life center on the Prkway at Ashville. Get a local or National Forest Map, and head up one of the gravel roads (many in good shape) to check out the beautiful streams and hollers (they call them coves, not hollers. Ashville is a fun town to poke around in. I've been to Biltmore Estate, but the gardens are quite reknown. Or head east a few miles to Black Mountain - another little gem - and drive out to Montreat. We are in the middle of a rather long term drought so I don't know what that will mean for fall color, but mid to late October is usually peak time, Shining Rock is not too far and is stunning.

Nuff said?

Janie