Our trip was short but worth it. Our last morning was spent wandering a bit more in the downtown area and exploring the River Arts District. We met a man early in the day with a very cool painted van and he encouraged us to hit the arts area.

Which means we did come home with some art … which is good, we need more art.

I’ve been wanting to visit Biltmore for more than 20 years, ever since I did a piece on the 100th anniversary of the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1995. I don’t know why the Gilded Age fascinates me so much, but it does.

I was unaware of how technologically advanced Biltmore was for its time – fully plumbed and electrified during its construction, it also has a steel understructure designed to make it fire-proof.

It’s still pretty ostentatious, but the views are … well … yeah, I get why he built this here.

It too us a while, but we finally made it to Asheville, North Carolina, for our postponed anniversary trip. We had scheduled a trip up here several years ago, as well, but didn’t make that one, either.

Nice to finally be here, wandering the streets. We were told it’s like an adult Athens … not far off, the feel is similar with cleaner light and less trash.

I wonder who chooses what magazines end up at the checkout counter.

The Mrs. and I wandered several hours up into the mountains, meeting friends for lunch in Blue Ridge, Georgia. We’d never been, many things to see along the way if you’re looking.

Time on campus, a breakfast downtown and a walk down Spring Street, the reason the university is where it is. Even if the spring is now hidden.

Evening scenes around the neighborhood, as bucolic as we think it is there’s still signs of the mechanics of suburban life.