Team tours: Where to get your group on in Asheville

Don’t look down: Orbitz Senior Market Manager Robin Gallagher scales a sky bridge over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

By Robin Gallagher

Having just planned a team meeting in Asheville, N.C., I was worried how my colleagues – a diverse group representing several nations, regions and ethnicities – would receive the tiny mountain town. As it turns out, I couldn’t have chosen a better location.

We are, after all, in the business of travel, so it made sense to get people moving and experience local flavor. Let me just say – there’s no team bonding like walking across sky bridges or zip lining across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Those of us who have been lucky enough to zip line in different parts of the world all agreed: It was an equally unique and exhilarating experience as any. And getting to the site was easy, too. The site operated by canopy tour specialist Navitat — is only 30 minutes from downtown Asheville.

When our pulses returned to resting rates, we visited Asheville’s most famous icon: The Biltmore Estate, where we ate and sampled wines. We also snuck in a trolley ride through downtown, as well as a few brewery tours.

Our team holed up in The Grand Bohemian Hotel from the Marriott Autograph Collection, a rustic, yet luxe retreat with a boutique feel. Think warm woods, taxidermy, and an art gallery that captures the spirit of the artsy town.

Should you need to plan your next corporate meeting, make it an active one, and head to the mountains.

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Robin Gallagher is a busy working mom with even busier boys who are 5 and 6. As you can imagine, having family fun while keeping the interest of boys with 20-minute attention spans has become a mission for her and her husband in both life and travel.

Tagged: Family time