I had taken four photo disks before I even rang the doorbell and was ushered in by Frank. He took me on the tour and I was entranced by the home. The rooms were all about 4 times as large as I was used to and each smoothly flowed into the next.
 | My room was the Dorothy Parker Room. All the rooms are named after poets. It has a king size bed, telephone with built in data port, TV/VCR with remote, and an alarm clock. There was a gas fireplace I used all night long. Large windows overlooked the famous Thomas Wolfe House and I had a private bath. There were 2 dressers with a total of 15 drawers for clothing and a beautiful rug on the floor. |
After taking photos around the inn, we visited the cottage and Ralph's orchid greenhouse. This is the first time I'd seen one at a B&B. It certainly created a different amenity. It provides a place to grown the orchids, orchids for the guest rooms, for the inn and for decorating for breakfast. It also is a tour with a sitting area for guests to spend idle time enjoying the flowers. Ralph has plans to use it as a classroom to educate others about orchids and other plants. For instance, all ten plants that draw butterflies are at the inn. Wouldn't you like to know which ones they are? Email Ralph!
I was so taken by the inn that I decided to forgo dinner and take pictures instead. Ralph arrived and we met briefly, then he was busy unpacking new plants for the greenhouse and I returned to my picture taking. I noticed there was so much for guests to do at the inn. There are videos, books, CDs, cassettes and a real juke box waiting in huge common areas on the first floor. As I took photos, I worked my way up to the second floor and my room. After downloading the day's photos and watching a video, I drifted off to the warmth of the fireplace.
Tea was waiting outside my door when I awoke and soft music was playing as I entered the formal breakfast room. It all started with orange juice and tea and a compote of apples, walnuts and raisins. It was warm and had whipped cream on top. Next came a mushroom tarragon souffle with kiwi and orange slices and an orchid. For "dessert" was chocolate cloud torte with orange caramel sauce. (Cindy missed this one - ha ha!!!!) Frank had outdone himself. I felt like a king as we discussed the B&B trade in Asheville.
I took another quick tour through Ralph's orchid greenhouse to see the plants he had acquired the previous evening and then had to head back to South Carolina. Folks.....this inn is a prize among B&Bs. Plans include waterfalls and so much more. Check out their Website and let them take care of every detail and enjoy!
A Winding Road * (formerly Cruising America) * 2408 Becker St., New Braunfels, TX 78130 * 850-292-1599 * freedom04@awindingroad.net
