I stayed at Laura's place after a 5 day intensive ceramics class in a nearby town. The sweet, calm and quiet room was just what I needed. Laura's house is in a friendly neighborhood of small wood frame homes, most of which have front gardens fulls of flowers and there are large leafy trees everywhere. I took several walks around the neighborhood just for pleasure. Downtown Asheville is an easy 15 minute walk and Laura left impeccable directions for the best route. For food shopping, Trader Joes is about 10 minutes away on foot. I also walked to the local Conservative Synagogue on Saturday morning and found a lovely and warm congregation there.
I was on my own at the Air BnB, as Laura and her daughter were away for the weekend. Nonetheless, Laura's warm and hospitable attitude was easily felt from afar. She checked in on me, made me feel welcome and her home has a welcoming feeling even when empty. Like most New Yorkers, I got nervous about being "in the middle of nowhere" by myself. No car alarms, sirens, voices of people talking loudly on their phones or music blaring to keep me safe! But I quickly eased into the calm vibe of the neighborhood and enjoyed how quiet it was. No problem at all. I recommend Laura's place and think it is a sweet spot for anyone who wants to be near downtown Asheville, but tucked away in a cozy and quiet family home.