Asheville Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

Asheville Chamber of Commerce 

36 Montford Avenue  Asheville, NC 28801

828.258.6114 

Our first stop was the Asheville chamber of commerce and visitor center which has tons of free literature, brochures and maps. We grabbed two bags full then hopped on the Gray line Historic trolley for a very informative tour of Asheville. "I did this when I was in Rome and found it to be the best way to see a city".

There is free parking at the visitors center so you can leave your car there with no worries and hop on the trolley.  I don’t think we could have figured out Asheville in our short stay without taking this tour so I highly recommend it for first time visitors.

What days do the tours operate?

Tours operate daily, seven days a week. March though December except Easter, Thanksgiving, Asheville Holiday Parade (November 23rd, 2013), Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Day and during Bele Chere Festival (July 26th - 28th, 2013).

How long does the tour last?
The tour (one complete loop) lasts approximately 1.5 to 1.75 hours.
There is an additional 15 minute stop at Asheville's new 'second to none' Visitor Center.
Or, take advantage of the hop-on/hop-off privileges, and make a day of it!

What does the tour cost?
Adults $21; Children (5-11 years) $10; children under the age of 5 ride free.
AAA and AARP members save $2 per adult fare.  Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.  Family Special (2 Adults + 2 Children) $46 total.

How and where can I purchase tickets?
Tickets are available at the Asheville Visitor Center, most tour stops, and at the front desk of many area hotels, inns and B&Bs.

NO TICKET?  NO PROBLEM.  BOARD THE TROLLEY AT ANY STOP AND PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS DURING THE TOUR.

Tickets may be purchased with cash or traveler's checks at all ticket locations.  Credit cards (American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover) are accepted at the Asheville Visitor Center and most, but not all other ticket locations.

Where can I catch the tour?
You can catch the tour at any of the 10 stops.  If you are driving to catch the tour however, the Asheville Visitor Center, located at 36 Montford Ave. just off I-240 at exit 4C, is the best place.  Free Parking and restrooms are available.

What does unlimited hop-on hop-off privileges mean?
You are welcome to ride the tour all the way through as a traditional bus type tour, or take advantage of the 10 different stops to explore and learn about the city.  Our RED trolleys come around to each stop at regular intervals outlined in the schedule, depending on the season.

Is the ticket good for two days?
Yes.  For one low price you can take full advantage of our hop-on hop-off feature by using the
RED trolley to tour the city for two consecutive days.  The pass is non-transferable.

Why is this tour Asheville's most popular?
For many reasons!  We offer a second day free, expanded departure schedule (seasonal),
risk-free money-back guarantee ~ but really our customers say it best.  See for yourself!

Additional Information:
AAA and AARP member discounts apply to adult fare passengers, and only upon presentation of a valid membership card for the Historic Tour.  Not valid in combination with any other discounts.

It may, under certain circumstances, be necessary to cancel a tour or change the tour route, stops and/or schedule of service,
without the benefit of prior notice.  Every effort will be made to minimize such occurrences.

The way to Asheville, NC

So this is the way we went ,Google, Maps says 10 hours but it took a little bit longer, I guess I drive slow. My dad wanted to take 95 down but Rt 81 South was a better choice because I think its more scenic plus there was absolutely no traffic. And yes we did run into some rain !!!


1.Take the Interstate 287 N ramp to Morristown/Mahwah
0.3 mi
2. Merge onto I-287 N
19.4 mi
3. Take exit 21B on the left toward I-78 W/Easton Pa
1.5 mi
4. Merge onto I-78 W
Partial toll road
Entering Pennsylvania
106 mi
5. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Interstate 81/Harrisburg and merge onto I-81 S
Passing through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia
Entering Tennessee
470 mi
6.Take exit 57A to merge onto I-26 E/US-23 S toward Asheville/Johnson City
Entering North Carolina

73.5 mi
7. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Downtown/Patton Avenue and merge onto Patton Ave
1.1 mi
8. Turn right onto Broadway
39 ft
9.. Take the 1st left onto N Pack Square
79 ft

Asheville, NC

Road trip to Asheville North Carolina.

Fast forward to last week,

I figure if I plan on retiring in a few years then I’d better start looking for another place to call home. Nothing personal but I don’t really like living in New Jersey. To many people, to much pollution and I should probably stop it there before I get carried away.

Anyway........ I’m into the great out doors; I love hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and more then anything I can really appreciate breathing fresh air, and I just cant get enough of that stuff here in the so called “Garden State” So the first chance I get, I’m out.

I've been looking around for cool places to live and North Carolina, Tennessee and New Hampshire have all caught my interest, So I plan on using my vacation time for road trips out to these states to see what they have to offer.

So the jeeps ready, new engine, new tire, just gassed her up and she’s ready to go. My first road trip will be to Asheville North Carolina.

The New Job

I f these blogs seem a little out of order that’s because they are, the new job gives me little free time to blog or anything else for that matter, so I’m trying to play catch up. 

Let me rewind back to April............

I’m loving the new job !! Way less stress then working behind a desk all day, “which I think is no life for a man”. Men were meant to roam the earth , hunt and build things......... not to sit inside all day pecking at a computer.....its just not natural. I didn't realize just how unhappy I was until I started working with my hands again. 

“art takes time and time is money”

OK, so I haven’t blogged in a real long time, but this does not mean that I've lost my passion for my art. Oh no not at all. I've only come to the conclusion that the Kinks were right “art takes time and time is money”so I’m putting myself on a low budget so to speak..

I need more money !!! So I can buy more time!!! to become an artist!!!  WTF

I’ll sum it up in two words “Retirement Pension”!

I've been working at the same joint for 29 years now and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My game plan is simple  a) retire b) move to and affordable state with a thriving art community and c) devote myself to my art full time. Sounds like a good plan right, just wish it were that easy.

Problem is, the desk job I have now doesn't offer much over time, and pension numbers can increase quite well with over time, so when I sat down and did the math, it was clear that I was going to have to step out of my comfort zone to accomplish this goal.

So when a job came up in my department that offered a lot of over time, for the sake of my art......I had to take it .....The job that I took was a 24/7 truck road mechanic.