TEDDY’s RATING: 
I asked that question every time I visited Asheville, North Carolina. On the way to Well Bred Bakery in Weaverville, I always saw the signs to “Vance Birthplace.” But I never took the time to actually go there until my last trip. And I have to say, Zebulon B. Vance’s birthplace is an interesting historic site.
If you’re a native to North Carolina, you probably know who Zeb is. The third of 
eight children, Zebulon Vance practiced law in Asheville and at age 24 was elected to his first public office. His mountain upbringing helped him achieve success. He was a man of the people, promoting basic human rights, and was “a champion of local self-government and individual liberty.”
He was a well-known political leader during the Civil War and after. He was elected governor of North Carolina three times and was also a three-term senator for the state. He was known as the “War Governor of the South,” helping out soldiers and their families during the difficult years of the Civil War.
The birthplace site, in the Reems Creek Valley near Weaverville and off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a collection of buildings furnished with household items representative of the period of 1795 through 1840 when the Vance family lived there.
The Vance family home has five rooms, an unusually large size for the time period. Also on site are a corn crib, springhouse, smokehouse, loom house, slave house and tool shed. The visitor’s center has exhibits about the famous Vance family and a short film about the life of Zebulon. Throughout the year, there are special events at the site where costumed interpreters demonstrate life of the early settlers in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Zebulon Vance’s time.
What I found most interesting about the site was how you really felt transported back in time to the late 1700s when the Vances lived in the log home. We had a guide take us through the house and explain what life was like at that time. The guide was very, very knowledgeable about the time period and the site itself. You could almost picture the family by the hearth, women sewing, men chatting, children playing.
The Vance Birthplace historic pioneer farmstead is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9am-5pm. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Dates of Visit: May 2012
http://www.nchistoricsites.org/vance/vance.htm
If you enjoyed this post, you might like my other blog: http://ilovebritishtv.com
When you walk in, you’d think you were in a restaurant in downtown Asheville or even a much more metropolitan city. The décor is a “whimsical blend of artifacts and artful spaces,” as their website says and the menu is made up of American, European, and Mediterranean cuisine.
them inviting and fun, and like nothing you’ve probably ever seen before.
For entrees, the tortellini with chicken was light, creamy and totally delicious with a parmesan carbonara sauce, prosciutto and peas. And as the menu says, the tender braised boneless short ribs with asiago stone ground grits were “to die for.” We rounded off the meal with their luscious Italian lemon cake.
me in the most was the mountain éclair. Your normal chocolate éclair is about five or six inches long and filled with a bit of cream. This is not your normal éclair. This one is about six inches in diameter and filled with an ocean of cream. Super yummy. We get one, or two, every time we visit Asheville.
Sweets include: baklava, tiramisu, crème brulee, carrot cake, sour cream lemon and cranberry pound cake, chocolate raspberry bars, cinnamon streusel cake, key lime tarts, chocolate fudge cake, various cookies and now a mini version of the mountain éclair.
their collection of signature artisan breads including challah, wheat, demi baguettes, Italian batard, olive oil and rosemary, and sourdough.
On the positive side — the landscaping around the property is very nice. One of the
beds has a pillow top mattress, so it was very comfortable. And the owners, who are very friendly, provide some food in the fridge (milk, eggs, cereal, coffee) in case you arrive too late to do any shopping. The owners have also stocked the cabin with plenty of brochures about the area and easy to read maps. And Abner’s Cabin is very affordable. We shopped around and you couldn’t get a two bedroom cabin of this size for the price. It was less than $100 a day (plus tax) if you stay seven nights. And there are no extra fees, unless you bring a pet.
