Had a travelling holiday some decades back that included some overnight stops in Georgia and the Carolinas, including Asheville. Thought I'd go back and visit via the sim. Didn't realise about Biltmore until I started the sim and saw it as a POI on the world map, so that made it even more of a tempting visit. If we'd known about it on our trip we'd certainly have tried to get to see it. Love those big old mansions - been to the Hearst place twice - money may not buy you happiness (not entirely convinced about that myself) but it can sure buy you a nice place to live.

So, heading off from KAVL, Asheville

Couple of miles north of the airport, on the way to Asheville itself, and there's Biltmore ahead ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltmore_Estate )

On our trip, we stayed in some lodge up in the hills somewhere. Think I would have enjoyed a stay here though.

The town itself is nothing special (I don't mean that in a negative sense, just no major features that I remember)

but it is set in a pretty wonderful landscape

Headed west for a bit, then turned south

off into some slightly wilder territory

Climbing up to get over the hills to the valley containing our destination

Heading in now

3NR3, Transylvania, dead ahead (if I'm allowed to use that phrase here)

The hangars are so tall here because the planes are all stored hanging by their tail wheels. Or so the nice gentleman in the cape told me.

Hope you enjoyed the trip.

cool pix!

Biltmore...a very special place. Visited it in the 80s and it left quite an impression.

John

This post made my day!

Brevard is my birthplace.  Located in Transylvania County, which boasts over 250 waterfalls.  I was born in Transylvania Community Hospital in Brevard and that is on my birth certificate.  Was great fun when my wife of now 49 1/2 years and I went to a county clerks office in Indiana for our marriage license.  At that time  the requirements included proof a blood test.  The clerk looked at my blood test (blood type I believe) and then at my birth certificate and said "you have got to be kidding, is this a joke (Transylvania)?  No, it's for real!

Brevard has become a highly popular destination.  The area is populated with a network of superb bicycle trails and high end bicycle specialty shops.  The trails, some paved, run through portions of Pisgah National Forest and surrounding area, and boasts quite a number of great microbreweries and brew pubs, and a major Oskar Blues brewery.  Their Dale's Pale Ale is my favorite IPA and is available up here in eastern Maryland.

3NR3 is a tiny airport but a great destination for a $100 flight!  BBQ instead of hamburgers.  Not a venue for a twin or turbo prop however!

Edited August 14, 20214 yr by fppilot

1 hour ago, fppilot said:

This post made my day

Hey, glad to have triggered that! I envy you that birth certificate. Don't think we hit Transylvania on our trip, I would definitely have remembered that, but we did spend a couple of weeks driving up from Orlando to Asheville with stopovers in places like Daytona, Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington and Charlotte (I think). Really liked the Carolinas, lovely scenery. I definitely plan to do some more exploring in those areas in the sim. But then I say that about everywhere!