![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5CI3cAXndGm7fAJcqrYWLU86Ja4v2QpLD4HWp03qIuSjyRtYRhehVbcKexuInrpx1YWoKPSjaEnI3PcfJhRY1PS3TAsT6jCpaGQVx0cnM2klf5RFYxNSRf_bFSOjExnsCKwErSDZX9tE/s800/IMG_5005.JPG)
Last weekend, my husband and I took a little jaunt to North Carolina. Go on, cue
the music. He had to go to Charlotte for work, so I used it as an excuse for a little getaway. After he took care of business, we drove over to
Asheville for the rest of the weekend. Have you been to Asheville? It reminded me a lot of Austin. It is a really cool little town with a hippie vibe. Think art galleries, book stores, euro style street cafes, somebody playing guitar around every corner...you get the idea...immediate relaxation.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyCgXjliMjOZISo62AtJvUT7h0GXgmJzaZwjS0oBW-Dou7EB1C84deXsbHwUS1Icepz3CCp360B8XiLsedpsRWREwsTZ0aab8wq61Yp1-Qm9yn7LZZl-vbQLV-X13gKDssCSvUI5ZljT0/s800/IMAG0203.jpg)
We had a late lunch at
Modesto. Oh. my. yum! Mussels Diavolo done perfectly! Oh, and the maitre d' sings Italian opera on the doorstep, no biggie....yeah, I could have sat here all day!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMocE7HHZX5PH4C1EeIrNp2lB9Prh04lVYiBXWS0cGja7v91UZuD0Yx1QdTLFQygOjLnM7y7N70E7RXLF-QV8YluQ9nMFr9oO7-EgceUKXVvlR0RgCku6heX5LrcjNwnvjX6slImuEsYM2/s800/IMAG0195.jpg)
Walkin' the streets of Asheville.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWKDbD3ZC-OK-cwGYEN2gIDP9J4Sd8mTJjbdOzm3lLMb4x_3QXfYBHkLOEN1zBUlN50eSUuvApUJlCruxcJD6P_nArvo3KWQagRVQ16pupsaTA7COwD3dTRaw0bfsXygOV-2lt1HrqkNR/s800/IMAG0199.jpg)
We stopped at
Mayfels for dinner. Yep, "black and white stripped awning...we are eating here" I'm pretty sure that is how this restaurant was picked :-)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFKp_MggpTk7ngdx2U0GwoyvhYeM3U5KWjpT23i9Vq1Guexy7fzGvviYl-oizHpT9OIXVY_JZzndaow1sSIFbsbgWy-Mu5Uc2tgtr05Qn4TIgub-Cp8Ng-fqubAlxNmEl12Q0kFh2OwBU/s800/IMAG0200.jpg)
Fried green tomatoes with spicy red pepper aioli and goat cheese...wow, these were good. I had butternut squash soup. Perfect with the crisp mountain air!
The next day we drove a short 10 mins to see the
Biltmore Estate. I thought I was going to have to drag my husband, screaming and kicking, but he was surprisingly down to check it out too.
Extraordinary wealth at it's finest.
I walked around barefoot on the front lawn...had to bring a little bit of that Texas class, y' know.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstkLqAmb-rJyt2_Wt4D4pXHRMTz3JWivvp48UOV2zwmSVpuBmW_rzoTdInD5r8N-au5wruG214ySSj9JoCtRrpgIWpOOYyNxUBiQyOOZUz19-O_SrezJObIEMMTeXBQ6FUPEBFzHHG5mY/s800/IMG_4976.JPG)
Frank partaking in acting like we lived there :-)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOwL8EyyALYbiZIV5OgYKkDTTiLDB5FyOHZ5QvakSPsv470kABuhBT_e_UFOPCid-zqULrYnqYXUUOxLMYCo41qFJy88URzSHJUgH7tHOmGXZrUngugiNyD2WdqAjgcs7adhLl8O8aUrT/s800/IMG_4977.JPG)
Gargoyle!
Me and the hubs.
I couldn't get enough of that herringbone ceiling. I looked at it forever!
That's quite a view you've got there Mr. Vanderbilt.
Some of my favs...
The leaves were just starting to change...so pretty.
I saw these little guys on our forest walk out and couldn't resist.
The Biltmore is pretty cool. If you are into that kind of thing I recommend checking it out.
I hope you are having a great week!