Blue Ridge Mountain Culinary Creative Connection

I'm a Creative Writing Coach and expert travel planner who has merged my passions into crafting creative experiences for others. I've taken great care in researching and creating this trip to be a memorable experience that gets you writing, while also engaging your creativity through food and nature. You won't need to worry about planning a place to stay, how to get there, what to do, or what to eat, and you will have free time to relax or do what you want. On our first day, you will be picked up from Charlotte airport (CLT), or a hotel close to the airport if arranged in advance. The car will pick up each trip mate and drive you to our somewhat remote country lodge in the small town of Newland. You'll find your full bed in a private room and a welcome self-care kit. One bedroom has the option for sharing a room with one twin bed and one queen with one other person for a discount. We will unwind with Hors-d’œuvres, and drinks prepared by our private chef before our welcome dinner commences. The first night is all about relaxing and resetting to get in a creative headspace. On the second day, we will start with breakfast prepared by our private chef followed by our first writing workshop. After the workshop, our private chef will lead a 2-hour cooking lesson. You will have the chance to taste what you’ve made at lunch then relax with an afternoon of free time. Each night we will have Hors-d’œuvres and drinks prepared by our private chef before our delicious dinner. On our third day, we will take a day trip to Asheville where we will brunch at a local favorite restaurant and explore the town. On our way back from Asheville, we will have a late picnic lunch at Crabtree Falls with plenty of time to explore the area. We’ll finish the day with a private cocktail lesson taught by our chef before we enjoy dinner. On the fourth day, we will have our second and final writing workshop before heading to Grandfather Mountain State Park to do the Nuwati Trail hike. This is classified as an easy hike. We will have another amazing picnic prepared by our chef while at the park. We will have free time once back at the lodge before starting our final dinner prepared by our chef. On the fifth day, we will have two rounds of one-on-one creative coaching sessions, one earlier in the morning and one in the early afternoon with a fabulous Farewell Brunch in between. There will be an option to take a ride to the airport midday after the brunch, or to leave around 3pm at checkout time. This is meant to accommodate those who may have earlier flights. You may also be dropped off at a hotel nearby the Charlotte airport or the train station if this is arranged well in advance. This should give you an idea of what will happen during your getaway, and I’ll provide a more detailed itinerary and a suggested packing list shortly after booking. Please read the posting carefully before booking to ensure that this trip suits your needs & let me know any questions you have. This trip does have the activities/events fully planned with scheduled free time. I also plan trips with more loose itineraries if that's something you're looking for. ** Important note: We will be having all meals except for our brunch in Asheville prepared by our private local chef. The chef will be curating a menu prioritizing local ingredients. The chef can accommodate special dietary needs if given advanced notice. Common allergies, vegetarianism, veganism, medical dietary needs, and religious dietary needs can be accommodated. Please let me know when you book so that I can do my best to ensure the food is safe for you. **

We will be sharing a tranquil, rustic lodge made from reclaimed 100+ year old timbers nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain town Newland, North Carolina that has already been confirmed with the property owner. This home has a wood cabin feel with nearly 5,000 square feet, 2 fireplaces, a pool table, a full bar with old saloon vibes, and a firepit, all sitting on more than 5 acres of beautiful, serene nature. The home also offers a grand piano and a hot tub. There are 5 bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms in the home. Most rooms have full beds, and one room has a twin and a queen. The first person to book and pay in full will receive the primary bedroom along with the private ensuite bathroom. The other tripmates will share the additional bathrooms. Tripmates who wish to share the room with two beds should let me know so that I can work out giving you a discount. I will send a link to the property listing which has plenty of photos and information once booking is confirmed to avoid sharing the owner's images publicly. *Video credit belongs to the creator. *