Obama's Asheville Vacation

After word got out that President Obama and the First Lady were planning a vacation in Asheville, no one knew where they would pop up. The reality of having the Obamas here in our city was very exciting. Would they dine privately and limit any public outings? Absolutely not!

After Air Force One landed at the Asheville airport, the First Family arrived at 12 Bones Smokehouse for a casual lunch. The President must love this place since he ate there previously when campaigning in 2008. The line is usually around the block and the place is only open for lunch till 4pm. After some good food and sweet iced tea, the motorcade then proceeded to I-240 and traveled up Charlotte Street to the Grove Park Inn, where 10 other presidents have vacationed previously.

They hiked the mountain-to-sea trail, and over the weekend the President enjoyed playing golf while Michelle got in some tennis and spa time. The local paper posted a picture of a woman hiking the same trail as the First Family and stopped in her tracks when she came face to face with the President and the First Lady. She noted she had encountered some agents along the way that politely asked to scan her, check her camera, etc. But the hiker had no idea that around the next bend she would have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "Are you who I think you are?!" She was staying at a B&B in Weaverville and the following morning's breakfast conversation must have been quite entertaining as she shared her day's experience!!!