[jblecher]

I just checked the Owner's Circle and my car has arrived at the performance center in South Carolina. I'm not scheduled to pick it up there until March 18th. So frustrating... 18 days and counting...

I'm going to pick up the car on Monday the 18th, then drive to Asheville Monday night. I'm going to take the Blue Ridge Parkway north to Floyd VA on Tuesday night and then to Charlottesville on Wednesday night. Picked out a couple of really nice B&Bs for the nights, so it should be nice. Going with the girlfriend.

Anyone have any good advice on things to see or do on the way up north along that route?

I can't wait!!

tick tock, tick tock.

330xi

 

[Chris330Ci]

I'm right there with you...my car gets into Charleston on Monday and I'm scheduled to take delivery at the Performance Ctr on March 22nd..! It's brutal

As for tips, Asheville is quite a ways west from me, so I don't really know the area. And like yourself, the chick will be riding shotgun while manning the camera. Make sure you take plenty of pix..!
:thumb:

 

[nate]

Your car will be used for skidpad testing

 

[fuz]

I have ~15 days left, so it's almost as bad for me....

Been waiting since the 9th of Jan.

http://www.mechafreq.com/site/misc/bmw_fuz.jpg

 

[Cyclone]

I just checked the Owner's Circle and my car has arrived at the performance center in South Carolina. I'm not scheduled to pick it up there until March 18th. So frustrating... 18 days and counting...

I'm going to pick up the car on Monday the 18th, then drive to Asheville Monday night. I'm going to take the Blue Ridge Parkway north to Floyd VA on Tuesday night and then to Charlottesville on Wednesday night. Picked out a couple of really nice B&Bs for the nights, so it should be nice. Going with the girlfriend.

Anyone have any good advice on things to see or do on the way up north along that route?

I can't wait!!

tick tock, tick tock.

330xi

Along the route there are the following:

Grandfather Mountain - They have a zoo, mile high swinging bridge and other such goodies.

Mount Mitchell - Highest peak east of the Mississippi. They offer some light hiking to a gorgeous lookout point.

In Asheville itself, there is the Biltmoore House - A HUGE mansion with like 115 rooms, gardens, winery (where they let you taste the wine), and other such tourist goodies. Very beautiful and probably worth a look. Its expensive though. Last I heard the tickets were in the $25/person range! This time of year its probably a little nippy.

Chimney Rock & Lake Lure - Lake Lure has a boat tour of the lake. Very pretty area and they show you the place where they filmed that movie...damn...drew a blank. (The Patrick Swazzy movie that made him famous. He was a dancer, etc? Oh well..anyway, it was filmed on this lake) Chimney Rock has some cool little mountain shopping places and some light hiking trails to a beautiful water fall and up to the top of the Chimney Rock. Pretty cool view from here.

You should stay in Little Swizterland on the way back! Its a beautiful small Swiss replica village with a NICE hotel (or is it a B&B? I can't remember) that over looks the mountains. If you can, I'd try my best to stay here. I remember it looking VERY nice and romantic.

All of that is within 30-45 miles of Asheville. You could probably call the Asheville Chamber of Commerce and get all the information about the stuff I mentioned.

Hmm...that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Its been a while since I've been home (moved to TX about 5 years ago), so I can't remember a lot of the mountain tourist spots. Enjoy and take LOTS of pictures! I wanna see what the mountains look like since it's been so long.

 

[CaliJeff]

WhoooHooo you lucky bastid.

Cyclone has some good suggestions, but do go out of your way if you have to, DO NOT miss running the dragon. It's a Z3 homecoming favorite route. (And a measley 91 miles out of Asheville) Get dramimine for your passenger. Enjoy and congrats on the new car.

http://dealsgap.com

I don't know if it will be open when you are there
http://www.tapocolodge.com/

:thumb: :thumb:

P.S. The movie was "Dirty Dancing" don't ask.:tsk:

 

[Chris330Ci]

Your car will be used for skidpad testing

:yikes: I think I would cry if that were true..!

 

[Cyclone]

Re: WhoooHooo you lucky bastid.

P.S. The movie was "Dirty Dancing" don't ask.:tsk:

hehe...Yea, that's it. For some reason I drew a blank and couldn't remember the name of it. Thanks!

 

[legend700]

'Running the dragon' is a great idea. The first time I tried it in an SHO with three passengers (two of them my parents, big mistake). Had to turn back half way up; ran out of Dramamine! Should be a blast in a new bimmer. After that run consider your car broken-in. You can than do the rest of the trip with your cruise control on. Just kidding. Have used that thing once, just to test that it was actually in working condition.
Not an ideal time for the Blue Ridge, but without leafes you have a better view of the curves ahead.
Hope you have a chance to see Monticello when in Charlottesville. Try to miss as many of the Interstates as you your time allows.