Hit the road this summer for a weekend up in cool Asheville, North Carolina.

Leave the clunker at home and rent a brand new compact car for the drive north from Alamo. Rentals cost $20 a day from the Atlanta airport through Sept. 30. Make a 24-hour or more advance reservation.

Cars at this special rate can be picked up from 9 a.m. Thursdays and return by the same pick up time on Monday. Rental must include a Saturday overnight stay.

Naturally, a trip to Asheville must include a peek at the goings-on at the Biltmore Estate. With your admission ticket, enjoy special summer evening concerts on July 23-25, 30, 31 and Aug. 1.

Also, the Flower Carpet event will be held Aug. 14-30. More than 100,000 colorful plants decorate a space nearly a quarter of an acre. Admission is included with daytime tickets. An Insider Tip: One of the best views of the garden is from inside Biltmore House from the windows of the newly-opened Louis XV Suite.

During the summer, kids of ages 10-16 are admitted free to the Biltmore Estate when accompanied by adults.

Other ways to save on admission is to purchase tickets after 2 p.m. A ticket is valid for the remainder of admission hours and the next day is free. Or, upgrade your one-day ticket to include a second day for $10.

Don't miss a visit into Asheville, one of the South's most vibrant and charming towns.

Places to stroll include Woolworth Walk - an art and craft emporium - where more than 150 local artists are displaying and the historic Grove Arcade for shops, eateries and a fresh market.

And on weekend nights during the summer, enjoy a free Shakespearean performance of the Montford Park Players - North Carolina's Longest Running Shakespeare Festival.

Just minutes from town is Asheville's River Arts District - once a place of ugly warehouses - but today transformed to a hip working arts district and an area dotted with restaurants, pubs, live music venues.

And when it's time to treat yourselves, stay at the way upscale Grand Bohemian Hotel - a Tudor inspired boutique hotel recently opened in Biltmore Village, steps from the gates of the Biltmore Estate.

The Art of Romance package includes Superior room accommodations with Egyptian-cotton bedding, luxurious faux fur throws and pillows, posh four-fixture bathrooms, luxurious bathrobes and slippers, spacious closets, hand-carved furniture and original artwork. Techies will enjoy Bose CD clock radio, cordless phones, wifi, LCD TV, and e-concierge services.

Also included in this steal-away package is a welcome beverage of choice (red, white or sparkling wine), a $100 dining credit to the gourmet Red Stag Grill and gourmet room service breakfast for two (tip not included). Per night room rates for a Saturday night from $429. Add a Friday night stay for $299.

If these rates are simply too rich for your budget, at least have a look at this gorgeous hotel via the Internet. You just might find a reason to go after all!

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com