Mountains of North Carolina: an artist's paradise
BY DONNA FRECKMAN Special to Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

If you like mountains, great art and can handle hairpin turns with a dash of adventure, have I got a trip for you!

This is not a typical travel piece, but rather a peek into a personal vacation journey that includes tips you will not find in the Chamber of Commerce brochures.

Recently I spent six days motoring around Sapphire Mountain, Highlands and Ashville, North Carolina, with some friends.

HIGHLANDS: Let's start with Highlands and Main Street where bookstores, clothing, shoes, antiques, hardware, restaurants, art galleries and more are spaced so closely that one foot can be in front of the bookstore and another in front of a clothing store. It's crowded, but you just have to hold your ice cream cone close to your chest.

The Ann Jacob Gallery on Main St. was a delightful area filled with wonderful and absorbing art in all genres from artists all over the United States. There was a surprise, the work of Pensacola artist, Elie Barnes, was clearly visible. Elie works in acrylic on canvas with lots of color. She calls it contemporary American. Her work can also be seen closer to home: Destin and Grayton Beach.

her father lives in a cabin nearby in Cashiers and her mother, Diana Barnes, is a wellknown painter living in Pensacola, too. Elie was just finishing up a series of paintings to take to Highlands that represented a trip she took to Egypt.

Ann Jacob, an attractive, youthful 70-year old gave me the scoop about the art around her area. She has been in the business for 40 years.

She says most of the people buying art are those who are building second and third, three and four million dollar homes up in the hills. They are not buying as an investment, but more for the enjoyment of it. "Ever since 9/11 the art world has changed," says Ann. "People want happy, colorful and whimsical paintings. Details: www.annjacob.com or (828) 526-5550.

Here is Tip No.1. Along the Gulf Coast, we are used to bathrooms being readily available. In Highlands, with a few exceptions, there is a public bathroom up a hill and to the left. You want to keep that in mind.

SPORTS PAGE: Time for Tip No. 2. There is a great sandwich shop, the Sports Page, just below the gallery on Main. They have the best food such as Vidalia onion and potato soup and tuna salad with the hint of some wonderful herbs. The desserts, mostly pies and cakes, including chocolate and carrot cake were popular with an unknown dessert to me, rhubarb pie.

Apparently it was a home owned shop as young people waited tables and took orders right along with the adults. One day some folks come up and tied their dogs by the back door to receive fresh water while their owners ate inside. Details: (828) 526-3555.

FINE ART CENTER: If you want a stronger cultural experience, visit the Bascom-Louse Gallery and Fine Art Center located inside the Hudson Library at 554 Main St. in Highlands.

In the summer they offer all kinds of classes for young people, and adults. This year they had "Beautiful, Bountiful Bags" a two-day felt making extravaganza using hand-dyed wools. Another class involved "Painting with a Color Pencil" or making a Diva Doll with all the embellishments. Details: (828) 526-4949.

Other fun things to check out: Instant Theatre Company at (828) 342-9197; Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music, (828) 526-9060 or visit h-cmusicfestival. org. or the yearly Highlands Antique Show, (828) 526-2695.

GREAT SMOKY

MOUNTAINS RAILROAD: One day was spent riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad up the side of a mountain. Departing from Bryson City on the Nantahala Gorge, called the Land of the Noonday Sun by the Cherokee, the train climbs a horseshoe curve before it reaches the shores of Lake Fontana, a 30- mile expanse of water created by the construction of a 480- foot power dam in the 40s.

The early train is filled in the middle section with people dressed in swimsuits waiting to get up to the spot to rent rafts and kayaks so they can enjoy the churn of the white-water as they go down river.

After a layover and picnic lunch, you board the train, everybody switches sides for the return trip down. There's something nostalgic about the sound of a train whistle as it echoes through the mountains.

Tip No. 3. The train offers a schedule of fun trips including the Mystery Theatre Dinner Trains and Wine Tasting Trains. They serve gourmet dinner menus on these special events. Details: (800) 432-4678.

ON TO ASHVILLE: About an hour away was Ashville. Another surprise included all the unique stores where the friendly owners were creating their own work whether it is a new line of candles or clothing or handbags. They had a dream. It made me think of what New York City must have been like in its formative years.

CRAFT FAIR: A special treat would be to attend the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at the Asheville Civic Center, www.craftguild.or or (877) 283-1243. There will be one October 19-22.

BILTMORE ESTATE: My favorite stop is the Biltmore Village, which does include the Biltmore Estate tour and activities. You can explore the art and architecture of America's largest home and see how the Vanderbilt's and their employees lived. 1(877) BILTMORE or Biltmore.com.

BILTMORE VILLAGE: My absolute three favorite galleries are the New Morning Gallery, (828) 274-.2831 and right next door, the Bellagio, (828) 277- 8100 and further up, The Blue Spiral I, (828) 251-0202.

New Morning Gallery is filled with pottery with traditional and non-traditional glazes, glass, jewelry, paintings and rooms with furniture that are fun and often funky.

You enter New Morning at the lower level that contains things related to outdoors and the garden. Tip No. 4. There is an elevator to take you to the main floor, which helps avoid a steep row of steps.

In Bellagio, the quality of art to wear was amazing. I almost wanted to whisper as I walked from room to room. There are vases and home accessories and jewelry available. But you might need to bring your bo-bo slush fund to get a special unique item. One year I got an Oriental scarf in my favorite colors of beige, black and cream.

The Blue Spiral I located at 38 Biltmore Ave., presents contemporary Southeastern fine art and crafts through 30 annual exhibition in a three-level, 14,000 sq. ft. setting.

For a July trip, the weather was warm during the day, but not humid, and cool at night. One night we burned a log in the fireplace.

As my thoughts leave this part of North Caroline, the mountains and the waterfalls full of serenity were equally as much fun as the hustle and bustle of the creative arts.