Looking for a mountain escape for a weekend? Hey, maybe not even for the whole weekend but just a “daycation” not far from home? Well, look no further than the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. We trekked up the interstate for the hour and a half drive just before Christmas to take in the majesty of the holiday decorations and feast on a sumptuous Sunday brunch buffet, complete with champagne and mimosas!
Naturally, the Grove Park Inn is a find in any season, but for Christmas it is positively stunning with the centerpiece Christmas tree, roaring stone fireplaces, and countless Christmas trees lining the hallways. One of the main draws to this season is the National Gingerbread House Competition for adults and kids alike. This was especially meaningful for us because our former second grade teacher’s class earned second place in the competition!
But the big event for us was the Sunday brunch in the Blue Ridge Dining Room, aptly named for its amazing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Reservations this time of year are essential as this brunch is extremely popular. Offered from 12:00-2:30pm, the $ 38 per person price tag gets you access to 3 rooms brimming with food and desserts, including a carving station, raw bar, and made to order omelets. A word to the wise: watch out for the sodas! Tea is complementary, but the kids’ drinks were $ 3.50 each!
My favorites were the French toast, the cheddar grits, and the dessert bar. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the shellfish-we had some grit in the oysters. Then again, we are a tough bunch when it comes to our oysters! (Spoiled)
The moral of this “daycation”: you MUST try the Grove Park Inn Sunday brunch–it’s an event all to itself!
