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Weekend October 17-19, 2014
ANNUAL FALL CRUISE
Can you feel the crispness in the air and the crackle of multi-colored leaves underfoot? Take a deep breath and smell the cleanness of mountain air and peaceful murmuring of a nearby creek. Can you hear the leaves falling ~ No, not yet! It is still summer!
The Allanté Atlanta Car Club and registered guests will be caravanning to Chimney Rock State Park starting at 8:30 AM, Friday morning, October 17th to explore Chimney Rock and its spectacular view of the mountains and the colors of fall. The trip from Atlanta area to Chimney Rock State Park is about 3 and a half to 4 hrs with stops for rest, photography and allowing for heavy leaf-looker traffic. As a side note, this is where the movie "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeline Stowe.
NOTE: Registration for this event is required to participate. The link to the registration form can be found HERE
We will enjoy an Old Rock Café catered lunch inside the Park at their Pavilion. The menu includes: assorted wrap sandwiches, three different salads, their Famous Apple Brown Betty dessert and the Southern Cocktail Sweet tea (or un-sweet if your so inclined), lemonade and water. Cost of the lunch is $12.69/person and group admission to the Park is $12/person, BOTH payable to Allante’ Atlanta Club.
After our visit to Chimney Rock State Park, we will head to Little Switzerland, NC where we will stay at the Switzerland Inn for the weekend. This will be our place for drinks, dinner and entertainment in the evening. Friday night at the Inn in their Chalet Restaurant is their fabulous Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet ($35/person) with all the trimmings. Rates at the Switzerland Inn are $169/night plus tax, etc. for Lodge Rooms.
NOTE: During the popular October “Leaf Season,” all hotel/motel rates are higher and not always available. You will need to make your own reservations at the Switzerland Inn. We have 20 rooms blocked through September 1, 2014. See registration form for details.
The Switzerland Inn is a favorite for car clubs of every make, model and style. If the weather is nice (not too cold, not too hot), we may be able to have an impromptu car show on the slopes of the Inn.
Attractions in Little Switzerland include the artisan shops near the Inn, Emerald Village with cave and mine exploration tours, and an exciting drive on the famed “Diamondback Motorcycle and Sports Car Route.” The Diamondback is 12 miles of “sweeping curves, amazing scenery and cool mountain breezes.” Oh yes, it is loaded with switchbacks, s-curves and two lanes of smooth, well-marked pavement---NC 226A. This will be a great opportunity to show off our Allantés and stretch our driving skills. Based on input from all participants, we will drive the “Diamondback Route”.
We will drive sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway that is spectacular scenery for fall leaf colors with great scenic overlooks to stop and enjoy great opportunities for awesome photography. After we drive the Diamondback and get our heartbeats back to normal we’ll head to Blowing Rock, NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few hours of lunch, retail therapy, casual exploring and parade of Allante’s through the Village. Blowing Rock is a beautiful mountain village with a real small town feel and atmosphere.
We will return to the Switzerland Inn by 5pm to enjoy some rest before drinks and dinner at the Chalet Restaurant at 7 pm where we can order off the menu. After dinner, we can relax by the fire pit on the deck to share our tales of adventuresome driving with other guests (motorcyclists, other car drivers, each other). We will depart Sunday morning after breakfast for home, unless you wish to extend your visit in the NC Mountains.
Be sure to return the reservation form to confirm your participation in our drive, and to participate in the dinner Friday and Saturday nights at the Switzerland Inn (the Inn needs a headcount to sufficiently provide fresh and delicious menus). The Registration Fee of $30 will cover the expenses for your Registration Packet and gifts from your hosting Club, Allanté Atlanta Car Club. For those driving up or down to the Atlanta area on Thursday, we will provide rates and hotels near our rally point for your overnight stay. Additional information will be provide to regitered members as we get closer to the event.
If you have questions please contact us via our website, Allanté Atlanta Contact Page HERE for information. The Atlanta Allanté Car Club is looking forward to hosting friends from Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and beyond. A full itinerary will be emailed to you no later than September 15th and route maps will be provided at our Rally Point and at Chimney Rock State Park for those meeting us there. Unless of course, other arrangements have been made with us directly.
Come join us!!!
Paula Vopelak - Vice President