There is no better place for a splendid dog-friendly vacation than greater Asheville, North Carolina. There is so much to do and so much to see for you and your pooch. And Asheville, paws down is the most pet friendly city in the south. In the city or outside let the fun begin. If dining around is your thing you have a plethora of choices.

Thanks to the new North Carolina dog-friendly dining rule there is no challenge finding a great place to eat. If it is OK with the owner it is OK with the state. Of course we are speaking of dining al fresco and pooches are asked to be on their best behavior.

Many bars do offer inside seating since they don’t have full kitchens to trouble the health department. Asheville recently ended in a dead heat for the best beer town along with Portland, Oregon. So, expect great bars for you to grab a brewsky and yep, Bowser is welcome.

You will also be very impressed with the attitude of the shop owners. They are very welcoming to your pets offering little snacks upon entrance.

Asheville is home to America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate where dogs are welcome on the grounds and in many of the exhibits. Catch some of the most breath-taking views of western North Carolina from this perfect vantage point. Standing next o your pet you can dream of times gone by when the Vanderbilts romped the grounds with their many dogs.

Venture out of town and enjoy Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, raft the French Broad, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike on the Appalachian Trail. So, as you can just imagine in town or in the mountains surrounding Asheville a very dog-friendly adventure is awaiting of you.

Gary and I had a smashing day at the Biltmore yesterday with Ponder. I have bragged how dog friendly the Biltmore had become but nowhere has it been more evident than on the great lawn behind the estate yesterday. Being season ticket holders it seems all the locals go there with their dogs for their daily walk around a wonderfully paved path. It was 40 degrees. (Yes, it seems the moderate winters of Western North Carolina have returned.) Afterwards we found ourselves at Antler Village for an ice cream cone. An abosolutely wonderful day with strong reminders as to why we live here in the greater area of Asheville, North Carolina.

I am still offering one free Biltmore day ticket with every December reservation. Let me hear from you today. There is still room to cuddle by the Ponder Cove fire.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. This is what we woke up to….eight inches and counting. It is glorious here at Ponder Cove. Luckily we made that mad dash to the grocery yesterday as we “ain’ta goin” anywhere. Merry Merry…and if you don’t believe Asheville is the best place to celebrate the holidays, just ask Santa.

How cute is this? Come share your cute pooch with us. Just say POOCH and I will give you a free night for a two night stay. Turkey, Christmas and New Year dates excluded from this offer. xxoo m

Navitat is knocking off 20% to celebrate their big first year. Don’t miss this opportunity to fly through the trees. BOOK NOW

One FREE Biltmore ticket per reservation. Secret code ….CEDRIC. If you know who Cedric is I will pay for the Christmas upgrade.

Enjoy Zip lining at Navitat

If you haven’t been zip-lining then you MUST put it on your list as soon as possible.  This was an awesome day we enjoyed recently. I was proud to report Gary and I were a good 30 years older than any one in our group and we sailed through the trees with flying colors. So, no excuses to anyone who thinks they can’t do it.

In approximately 3 1/2 hours you will enjoy 10 zip lines from 120 to over 200 feet, 2 rappelling experiences, 2 suspended sky bridges and 3 short hikes. You won’t believe the long-range views of the blue ridge mountains that this experience offers.

Last day of the season is November 30.  So, hurry. You don’t want to wait until 2011.

Amazing day at the Biltmore checking out all the dog-friendliness of the estate.We took Buck along as he has an article due for the Dog Travel Network. Little did we know that there would still be remnants of Oktoberfest around. Never pass up a photo op like this one. Stay tuned for the full article soon to come.