When deciding where to stay in Asheville, North Carolina, you'll want to consider the area's unique collection of bed and breakfasts. Known for their personalized experiences, home-cooked meals, historic architecture and warm hospitality, bed and breakfasts provide a home away from home while you're exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains.
While these accommodations are alluring throughout the year, during the holidays bed and breakfasts truly sparkle. Inn keepers go all out with elegant and classic decorations, transforming these cozy homes into a winter wonderland of lights, hand-decorated trees and meaningful heirlooms.
With the help of the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association, we're giving you an inside look into these stunning decorations and sharing the personal stories behind them. From a Christmas tree that was hand-picked from a neighbor's farm to a mantle that has been decorated for two decades in honor of a personal friend, discover the special touches that make the season bright at Asheville area B&Bs.
Photo Tour of Holiday Decorations at Asheville Bed and Breakfasts
1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House
The entire staff at the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House works together to decorate trees, hang dozens of bows and place something special in every room of the house. As they do, classical Christmas music plays, fireplaces crackle and the aroma of pineneedles and freshly baked pies fills the air. The team also hangs thousands of shimmering outdoor lights to add to the holiday cheer of their lovely Queen Anne Victorian home in Asheville's historic Montford District just north of downtown.
Abbington Green Bed and Breakfast Inn
Abbington Green continues its Christmas decorating traditions, transforming the exterior of the house and the gardens with a stunning display of lights, wreaths, lighted angels, and stars. The festive spirit extends to the interior, with holiday trees and décor gracing all guest rooms as well as the common areas. In the foyer, you'll find a special antique star that was gifted to the Inn by Innkeeper Cherie's college roommate, which now shines brightly atop the foyer tree.
Bent Creek Lodge
The centerpiece of the decorations at Bent Creek Lodge, located near the North Carolina Arboretum, is a live Christmas tree. The 9-foot tree in the photo above was among the decorations in 2020 and was from the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville. The tree is adorned with an angel. The red and white theme features tin snow flakes, handmade wooden stars and a vintage rocking horse sitting under the tree. The crimson and white theme touched off a bit of a friendly rivalry between Randy the owner (an Alabama fan) and the assistant manager (an Auburn fan). To help even the score, Randy told the assistant manager he'd hide an Aubie the Tiger mascot replica in the tree rather than the tradition of hiding a dill pickle. The rest of the lodge features white lights and red berries or bows tied in with yards and yards of greenery.
Carolina Bed and Breakfast
Big "Charlie Brown" Christmas lights brighten the front of the gorgeous Arts and Crafts home of the Carolina Bed and Breakfast in the historic Montford District. The lights are put up by Jess and John Averette of Winter Star Holiday Lighting -- who have become like family to the innkeepers. The Averette's team holds safety paramount, using ropes and harnesses attached to the chimneys so they can reach even the highest roof peaks and windows in this three-story inn to hang the lights. It normally takes two days to bring the lights to life but this year an all-female crew did it in one day. The decorations continue inside where you'll find beautiful sparkling Christmas trees in all the rooms.
Cedar Crest Inn
Each year, Cedar Crest Inn begins decorating its Mansion, Carriage House and Guest Cottage to coincide with the beginning of the Candlelight Christmas Evenings celebration at Biltmore. Cedar Crest was built around the same time as Biltmore. In fact, the original owners of Cedar Crest, William Breese and his wife, even hosted holiday parties and gatherings with the Vanderbilt family. Now, each year, the staff members at Cedar Crest come together at the beginning of November to decorate. Everyone on the team has a hand in decorating the beautiful 9-foot tree (seen above) that resides in the Mansion. The tree features more than 200 ornaments! You'll also see the Christmas villages that have been with the Inn for more than 20 years.
Engadine Inn and Cabins
At Engadine Inn and Cabins, located just west of Asheville in Candler, Christmas is the inn keepers' favorite time of the year. You'll experience holiday decor throughout the inn, "garland for days," festive fireplace mantles and a Christmas village. But at the heart of it all is a Christmas tree featuring 1,200 Santa ornaments collected during the inn keepers' 38 years of holiday decor shopping! At 10 feet tall and as wide as six feet, the magnificent Fraser fir is also adorned with 3,000 twinkling lights.
Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast
While red and green are prominent holiday colors, decorations in other colors can be just as festive. The Wible Suite at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast has a mantle that hosts shades of blue, green, and gold to coordinate with the magnolia print. Innkeepers Dan & Diane were married in 1989 -- that's when they purchased a Christmas angel tree topper. Every year, the angel tops their live Christmas tree in the foyer having survived moves through four states and two rewiring “surgeries” during its more than 30-year history!
Princess Anne Hotel
At the Princess Anne Hotel just blocks from downtown Asheville, the inn keepers have always seen Christmas as a time for family. Years ago, they stopped giving gifts to each other to make sure they put the focus on valuing their time together. Their tree inside the hotel represents loved ones passed, loved ones who are struggling and loved ones who they haven't met yet. Gazing at the tree is almost hypnotic and meditative. By keeping their celebrations simple, they say they put the emphasis on remembering the reason for the season.
Wildberry Lodge
Each year, the owners of Wildberry Lodge, located just northwest of Asheville in the community of Leicester, pick out their fresh, live tree from their neighbors -- The Cole's. The tallest tree they've ever received was 17.5 feet tall and required six people to carry it off the mountain and stand it up. Once the tree is up, it's time for everyone, including their four-legged friends, to relax by the fire.
