Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Guide to Asheville & Hendersonville: Including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Hendersonville, NC Times-News, in its August 2nd, 1998 issue, had the following comments about The Ultimate Guide to Asheville and Hendersonville. "Well priced (at $14.95) for a book of its size and scope, The Ultimate Guide is thoroughly researched, organized for easy use, and illustrated with many of Pantas' own gorgeous pen and ink drawings. Because it is written by someone who actually lives here, The Ultimate Guide has a sense of caring, commitment and completeness that is often lacking in regional guides written by visiting authors. Pantas has divided The Ultimate Guide into five sections: "Getting Acquainted "(with the Asheville-Hendersonville area): "The Best of Asheville, Hendersonville and Flat Rock" (accomodations, dining, attractions, galleries, etc): "Asheville" (city facts, history,...): "Hendersonville and Flat Rock" (city facts, history,...): "Western North Carolina" (exploring the areas around Asheville and Hendesonvillee -natural and cultural attractions). Guidebooks, in general, are geared to the short-term visitor and newer residents. Since Asheville and Hendersonville are replete with both catergories, The Ultimate Guide should attract and keep a large and enthusiastic readership. Author Lee Pantas certainly deserves a nice, big shiny star for his fine coverage of our area and all that it has to offer.

Much too much information to be really useful, because most of it is pretty superficial. How can it be otherwise, when the author has crammed every possible thing he can think of into a book that can't accommodate so much information? The book is also poorly organized/structured, and with such a large amount of material, good organization is critical. The multitude of cross-references is extremely annoying -- the reader shouldn't have to keep flipping around the book to find information on one subject. The author's drawings are very nice, but on the whole the book looks like it was not professionally produced (just looking at the cover gives me a headache.) If you want a book on Asheville, you're much better off with something less comprehensive that has more depth. (E.g., a lengthy list of attractions or restaurants or other things that provides little or no description doesn't do me any good . . . ) Try "The Underground Asheville Guide" as an alternative -- it's a little too cute, but ultimately more helpful . . .

Pantas lists activities, events, galleries, antique shops, kid stuff, historic info, architectural tour info, and so much more....There is something for everyone in this tome. And, though it focuses on Asheville and Hendersonville, this book touches on the major attractions in surrounding areas as well--perfect for day trips or even longer side excursions.

My only complaint is that, if readers do choose to tour outside the book's focus, they'll have to look elsewhere for dining and lodging options as this text only includes that information in for Asheville and Hendersonville.

My wife and I had bought several books about Western North Carolina before we found Mr. Pantas'. After spending the last week reading over the information inside the book, all I can say is that we did ourselves a dis-service in purchasing all of the other books. I have never seen a more comphehensive and detailed outline, before this book, about a place I was scheduled to visit and potentially relocate too. The "pictures" are great and I hope to see more of his works of art while in Western North Carolina. The Ultimate Guide is a an extraordinarily valuable research tool.

Pantas' guide book offers a wide range of topics to suit every interest: outdoor/indoor team sports, camping, antiquing, historic walks and driving tours, kid activities, drama, music, food, lodging....the list goes on. The guide tackles Asheville & Hendersonville - the largest WNC cities - and also includes the major surronding attractions like the Great Smokies National Park, Cherokee, Maggie Valley, etc.

The accompanying drawings, made by Pantas, in pen and ink are exquisite and make this tome as much an art book as an information source.

Whenever available, Pantas includes websites and/or email addresses to suit virtual trip planners such as myself. These resources even make it an excellent tool for the local that wants to find out more about what's just down the road in their own WNC communities.

The only failing of the book is that it doesn't cover surronding areas of Asheville/Hendersonville very well in the accommodations and dining sections. The counties in which these cities are situated have many fine accomodations and restaurants all within a short drive of their county seats (15 miles or less). He should also consider including restaurants and accomodations near the outlying attractions so that people taking a day trip to one of the places he suggests that is not so close to Asheville will know where to eat or where to stay if they're too tired to drive back the same day.

One other small thing is Otherwise, the book is beyond reproach.

I bought The Ultimate Guide To Asheville & Hendersonville before we went on vacation. The book was very helpful, highly informative and I must say that our vacation was better because of it!!

A great book, we have used the book to plan our trip, from the UK to Asheville, we are now looking forward to the trip, and experiencing sights and tastes of north carolina,

Not having been to North Carolina previously, we are heavilly dependant on research material, of which this book is great.

Another review will be made after testing the book out, but if Asheville is as good as the book, then we should have no worries.

I really enjoyed the way Mr. Pantas was so descriptive with the land marks & area.There seems to be so much to see & do in the western part of NC. The book is very informative, and easily read.The sketches are very realistic. I bought the first edition on a visit to NC two years ago,& needless to say I had to have the new second edition this year. Thank you Lee James Pantas for giving me the insight of a very lovely part of our country. My husband & I were able to explore the section of that area very easily through yur book.

Sincerely,

Roylene Rosell