Getting There

Asheville is located in western North Carolina, on interstates I-40 and I-26.

The Grove Park Inn (at 290 Macon Avenue) is approximately 15 to 20 minutes (30 miles) from the Asheville Airport (AVL) (driving instructions). The best way to get to the hotel is to make arrangements ahead of time with a shuttle service, costing approximately $20 per person each way. Cabs are nearly impossible to find and aren't recommended, as they are somewhat unreliable in the small town. You may make arrangements directly with Sky Shuttle at (800) 582-7868 within the United States or (828) 253-0006, or you may contact the concierge at the Grove Park Inn for other options at (800) 438-0050.

For discounted airfare, contact Nationwide Travel at (800) 486-2846 or (714) 847-1788 and ask for Marjorie or Carol. Mention that you are with UPA.

About Asheville

From mountain lookouts, Asheville almost disappears into the thickly forested folds of the mountains of western North Carolina. Three mountain chains - the Blue Ridge, the Great Smoky, and the Black - dominate the region around Asheville, making this a realm where nature prevails.

Here you will find a verdant forest with whitewater rivers, towering waterfalls, and dozens of peaks that soar higher than a mile. But from certain lookouts, you can see another sight: man-made turrets that soar from a mountaintop, the towering touches of the largest private home ever built in the nation: Biltmore Estate. Enjoy a variety of recreational activities, such as hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Asheville also offers a wide range of shopping, including manufacturers' outlets, galleries, antiques, and mountain crafts. Sightseeing is available at the world-famous Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Pack Place, Chimney Rock (setting for part of the movie The Last of the Mohicans) and a Cherokee Indian reservation, to name a few.