Many people are cutting back on travel due to the economy, I know we canceled our normal Florida Spring Break trip because of uncertainty in the construction industry.We have been looking for something to do for a couple of days or a long weekend. Something family friendly AND wallet friendly!
While at Blissdom 2009 (are you sick of hearing about that yet?), I met a few folks who had great things to say about Asheville, NC. The Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a special “micro site” called CoolAshevilleSavings.com. It is FILLED with money saving tips, lists of FREE things to do, special offers, and coupons you can use during your trip. They even have a list of the hotels with FREE breakfast. That’s the only kind of hotel I want to stay at.
Here’s a sampling of just a few FREE or inexpensive family activities:
- As part of the creation of Biltmore Estate, Chief Forester Dr. Carl Schenck created the first forestry school in America – now the Cradle of Forestry. Hands-on exhibits and learning opportunities are abundant in the Forest Discovery Center. It’s free on Tuesdays for everyone and free for youth 15 years and younger throughout the year.
- The Pisgah Center of Wildlife Education features exhibits about wildlife and habitats in the North Carolina mountains. You can even feed some of the mountain trout!
- You will want to visit the Mast General Store in downtown Asheville. The kids (and adults) will love the old fashioned candy in the candy barrels.
- Water Fall Adventures
One really cool promotion is the Go Blue Ridge Card. It is like all pass card. For one low price you get admission to top attractions like (there are many many more in addition to these!):
- Biltmore
- Whitewater Rafting
- Smoky Mountain Jet Boats
- Grandfather Mountain
- Chimney Rock Park
- Linville Caverns
- Tweetsie Railroad
- Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville
- Wine Tasting
The Blue Ridge card also comes with a FREE full color guidebook, VIP savings on shopping & dining. You can purchase 2, 3, or 5 day passes depending on how you are visiting.
Bargain Tip: You can purchase Go Card are available in other cities. So check out smartdestinations.com before you plan your next trip.
I have a funny story about the Biltmore. Many years ago, my parents and I were on our way home from a family reunion. I really wanted to go to the Biltmore after seeing pictures my mom had taken on a previous trip with just her and dad. My dad would not backtrack so we could go. So needless to say, to this day, I have still not seen this beautiful palace.
We are still undecided as to our travel plans. Maybe will do nothing over Spring Break. Kind of flying by the seat of our pants this year! For more insider tips about Asheville visit the Asheville Travel Blog.
So what is in it for you?
Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau is going to give one lucky reader (2) Go Blue Ridge Cards and piece of Appalachian Pottery, a local artist shop. You will get your pottery before your trip – so get a little piece of Asheville before you leave.
How to Win?
Easy Entry: Visit Explore Asheville, sign up for their E Newsletter, and post a comment on what you would look most forward to doing in Asheville. (While you are at it – sign up for their RSS feed too! Trust me, you will want to do this to get all the latest scoop from their blog! It is updated regularly with ongoing happenings and seasonal events!)
Bonus entries (Up to 4 additional entries):
- Leave me a comment with a budget travel tip.
- Blog about this giveaway.
- Grab my button. (It is on my sidebar)
- Subscribe to my free newsletter via email or RSS. (You don’t want to miss out on any deals/giveaways!!!)
- Digg, Technorati, Twitter, Stumble, etc. If you twitter, be sure to include me (@bargainbriana) in the twitter so it see it.
Leave a separate comment for each extra entry. It is very important that you leave a separate comment for each additional extra entry.
Ends around 3/6 at 11:59 EST. (As long as you can still comment you can enter!) Winner, chosen by random.org, will be announced on the Giveaway Winners Page by 03/07/09 and I will contact you. (If winner doesn’t respond to my email within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.)
Want to win more? Enter to win the rest of my current giveaways!
I look forward to visiting North Carolina and seeing all of their historical attractions!
I signed up for the E-newsletter. I would love to visit Biltmore, especially during the Christmas holidays.
I’m a subscriber via Google Reader.
When traveling, save money on dining by taking your own snacks, staying in hotels with free breakfast, and eating a large meal at lunch when prices may be cheaper and you’ll have the chance to walk off some of those calories.
Pack snacks! This helps reduce the urge to pick up a bag of chips here and a soda there. Helps with reducing your travel budget!
I’m a subscriber
I signed up for the newsletter. I’ve briefly visited Asheville in the past and love to walk around and look in the unique shops.
Cheap travel trips-always pack your own food. We generally only eat one real meal per day when traveling and always order water!
Definetly bringing your own snacks and drinks in the car. Prices are so high at gas stations. Also my husbands mother came up with a cool idea for road trips. By a bunch of fun toys or books at the dollar store and then every hour the kids get a new surprise to keep them happy and busy through out the trip!
We’re headed that way soon so this would be great!
My tip?
We make sure to get a hotel room with a fridge so we can bring some groceries for breakfast and lunch. Then we can feel better about spending more on nice dinners. :)
My tip? Visit relatives and stay with them and take day trips around the area they live in. If someone offers their home to you– take them up on the offer!!
Also travel to places on the off season when possible. Camping is also inexpensive! Also always visit the State Welcome Center for coupon books- early bird dinners can be really cheap!
signed up for the newsletter would love to visit here and stay in the great outdoors
angelas last blog post..giveaway: music cd for kids
travel tip is hit the grocery store and buy snack food as well as take an electric skillet with you to fix meals instead of eating out
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blogged about the giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-travel-idea.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
angelas last blog post..giveaway: music cd for kids
button on my blog
shopannies@yahoo.com
angelas last blog post..giveaway: music cd for kids
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shopannies@Yahoo.com
angelas last blog post..giveaway: music cd for kids
I have always wanted to go to the Biltmore, I also would love to take the Historical Trolley Tour, I took a similar tour when we were in Savannah Georgia, it was great. It was actually a good starting point so that we then knew what to look for when we were walking around.
I signed up for the newsletter and also for the tourism package. Thanks
I live in NC close to Asheville but not close enough to visit all the time. I have always wanted to go to the Biltmore. I have heard such great things and during the Christmas season they decorate it beautifully and I want to go see that.
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We have been to Asheville several times and would love to go again. Asheville is beautiful in all the seasons. We would visit Biltmore again, tour the winery there, eat at the Deer Park Inn, and for the first time we would take a trolley tour!
My budget travel tip is to use the Internet ahead of time to get the lowest prices possible. Research the areas you are traveling in before you go. Either request or print paper or Internet coupons and literature from attractions, restaurants, and hotels. If you stay in a chain hotel, join their loyalty club and get points toward free stays or other free items like gasoline cards. Look online for the cheapest gasoline along your route and plan your stops accordingly. Of course stop at the Visitor’s Centers at the various state lines for a free, clean and safe place to use the facilities, get maps, coupons, and literature on attractions – sometimes they even have free small coffees and sodas for the visitors. Have a great inexpensive trip!
I am a subscriber!
ACK! My family lives an hour from Asheville. I’d LOVE to win this. We’re up there at least a few times a year. I signed up for the Newsletter. What I’d most like to do in Asheville is go back to Biltmore. I haven’t been since…..oh gosh, 1997 or 1998 when I took a field trip with one of my Community College classes. I keep meaning to get back every year, especially at Christmas, but haven’t made it yet.
My budget travel tip? Stay with family!!! Our only vacations are the ones we take to NC, and we stay at my Grama’s. The first day we’re there, we plan out our menus for our stay and hit the grocery store. One day we’ll venture on to bigger vacations, but for our growing family this helps us get away and save a TON of money!
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