Asheville, North Carolina

An Educational Trip for Students in ENG 343: The American Novel

 

October 19, 2002

General
Accommodations
Itinerary
Transportation

Sponsor
Mark Canada
UNC-Pembroke
canada@uncp.edu

Updated October 16, 2002
© Canada, 2002

Introduction

As great writers—and their readers—know, carefully chosen words and finely crafted sentences can transport a person alone in a room to another place.  That’s part of the beauty of a novel such as Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel.  Still, experiencing that place firsthand sometimes can do even more to bring it to life.  Such, I hope, will be the case as we visit Asheville, North Carolina, the city where Wolfe grew up and collected the details, characters, and impressions that make up his novel.

 

This Web site features all of the information you will need to join us on this trip.  Please feel free to bring a friend or family members, including children. 

 

Transportation

 

Driving Time

Approximately 5 hours from Pembroke to Asheville

 

 

We will meet at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, located at 48 Spruce Street in downtown Asheville.  For directions, visit MapQuest and type in your departure point and this address.  Please arrive no later than 3 p.m., the time I have scheduled for our group tour.

 

 

 Accommodations

 

Quality Inn

Comfort Inn, 828.665.6500

Econo Lodge, 828.254.9521

Sleep Inn, 828.277.1800

 

Because of the driving time, my children and I will spend the night at the Comfort Inn in Asheville.  I have included telephone numbers for this hotel and others in the box at the left, in case you wish to spend the night, as well.

 

 

Itinerary

 

Saturday, March 23

3 p.m.: Wolfe house
5 p.m.: Walking tour of Asheville

6 p.m.: Dinner

Sunday, March 24

10 a.m.: Grove Park Inn

11 a.m.: Picnic on Biltmore grounds

We will take in several sites related to the American novel.  After visiting the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, we will take a walking tour of the downtown, taking in sights related to Wolfe and Look Homeward, Angel.  We also will visit the Grove Park Inn, where F. Scott Fitzgerald ad his wife, Zelda, spent time in the early part of the 20th century.  On Sunday, we will have a picnic on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate.