Current Covid infections (Dec 22 2021) are high at 42 per day per 100,000 population. For your safety, you should get vaccinated before visiting Madison county.

Note that Buncombe county requires a face covering when inside a public space. Biltmore Estate and Asheville are in Buncombe county.

A modern cabin 40 minutes from Asheville. Enjoy this 180 acre retreat. City or country adventures. This is a private cabin which up until a few years ago was only used for short visits in the country by our immediate family living in Asheville. You should feel as if you are guests in a well loved vacation home which was custom built and has been tastefully decorated with quality and comfort in mind. Note that there is another house on the property, but you can't see it from the cabin.

You will have access to logging trails above the cabin that are good for hiking. There are wonderful views from up there. Take the road by the creek upstream until you come to a fork. Take the path to the left to access the trails. There are two creeks on the property with one providing particularly easy access for wading in the pure, cold mountain water.

Many attractions are within 20 minutes, including the town of Hot Springs with its historic mineral springs spa. The Depot music hall (Marshall) on Friday nights is free with local bluegrass entertainment. Mainstreet Marshall also boasts several art galleries and quirky restaurants. Rafting and horseback riding are close by as is the French Broad River. Skiing and snow tubing at Wolf Ridge are fun winter activities.

Nearby Asheville is fantastic and was recently named by National Geographic as one of the 220 best cities in the world! Don't miss the Biltmore Estate, the fabulous Grove Park Inn or funky downtown Asheville.

For groceries, stop at Ingles Grocery on your way to the cabin. It's about a 10 minute trip.

MARSHALL

The Depot - Music on Friday nights.

https://www.zumascoffee.com/ - a favorite, also has live music certain nights

https://www.facebook.com/The-Sweet-Monkey-Bakery-100664950005328/ - Sweet Monkey is great too!

https://www.stardinerwnc.com/ - Fine Dining. This restaurant has been featured in the "Our State" magazine. Need reservations.

https://oldmarshalljail.com/zadies - This is a special place for me. My grandfather was sheriff for 32 years and "lived" at the jail. The jail has been renovated into a hotel and restaurant. The restaurant is called "Zadie's" in honor of my great grandfather Zadie Ponder, and the adjacent market/bar is also named after him. If you decide to go, let me know and I will see what the owner can do for you.

HOT SPRINGS - 20 minutes toward the TN border
Try to get a reservation at the Hot Tubs - natural springs

http://www.theironhorsestation.com/ - Very enjoyable. This used to be an old hardware store owned by my grand-father, the sheriff, but was renovated by a group from Atlanta.

https://www.facebook.com/Smoky-Mountain-Diner-153411231377293/ - Smokey Mt. Diner. Got good reviews but I have not been there.