Amtrak and Greyhound in North Carolina
Mar 10th, 2003, 05:20 PM
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Amtrak and Greyhound in North Carolina
We are trying to gather some information and sources that will help an acquaintance from UK make some travel decisions. What would you want a woman to know who has never been to North Carolina and wants to possibly explore part of the state on her own by train and/or bus? We are trying to gather some information and sources to help her make some decisions. She will have about a week for her travels in late April/early May.
What has been your experience with Amtrak service between Charlotte and Raleigh?
Greyhound bus seems to be the best way to make connections in the mountains. Judging from the Greyhound website, some routes are short on distance, but long on time. She does not plan to rent a car.
Safety is a major consideration; good location of terminals; access to decent, reasonably-priced lodging; and interesting things to see and do at each stop are what we are looking for. Thank you for whatever advice you can share.
What has been your experience with Amtrak service between Charlotte and Raleigh?
Greyhound bus seems to be the best way to make connections in the mountains. Judging from the Greyhound website, some routes are short on distance, but long on time. She does not plan to rent a car.
Safety is a major consideration; good location of terminals; access to decent, reasonably-priced lodging; and interesting things to see and do at each stop are what we are looking for. Thank you for whatever advice you can share.
Mar 10th, 2003, 05:43 PM
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I wish I had great answers for you and your UK friend. Having lived in NC all my life, I'm embarrassed to say that I know very little about taking the bus between cities here, except I used to take the Trailways bus between Raleigh-Charlotte what *seemed* like all the time; it took forever to make the 2.5 hour drive.
The Charlotte-Raleigh Amtrak trip seems ok, from what I hear. Other than that, I would strongly recommend that she rent a car to see the rest of the state, rather than the bus.
Is there a reason that she's hesitant to drive?
Where is she interested in going? The mountains--Asheville, Hendersonville, etc., are beautiful and easily accessible from both Charlotte & Raleigh (closer to Charlotte). IN late April-early May, the weather could be warm or uncomfortably cold, but I'd bet on it being relatively cool and gorgeous with spring flowers and trees blooming. The beaches are closer to Raleigh; the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area is about 2 hours from there, and the more upscale Bald Head and Figure 8 Islands. Emerald Isle is a popular beach, close to Raleigh, and not far from ferries to the Outer Banks. The South Carolina beaches are closer to Charlotte, in particular, Myrtle Beach, although this is not a place I'd aim for unless I was about 15-18 years old.
The Charlotte-Raleigh Amtrak trip seems ok, from what I hear. Other than that, I would strongly recommend that she rent a car to see the rest of the state, rather than the bus.
Is there a reason that she's hesitant to drive?
Where is she interested in going? The mountains--Asheville, Hendersonville, etc., are beautiful and easily accessible from both Charlotte & Raleigh (closer to Charlotte). IN late April-early May, the weather could be warm or uncomfortably cold, but I'd bet on it being relatively cool and gorgeous with spring flowers and trees blooming. The beaches are closer to Raleigh; the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area is about 2 hours from there, and the more upscale Bald Head and Figure 8 Islands. Emerald Isle is a popular beach, close to Raleigh, and not far from ferries to the Outer Banks. The South Carolina beaches are closer to Charlotte, in particular, Myrtle Beach, although this is not a place I'd aim for unless I was about 15-18 years old.
Mar 10th, 2003, 09:00 PM
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Greyhound is indeed the best way to get to the mountains at the moment.
In Hendersonville, the bus station is not in a good part of town, but that shouldn't be a problem provided the bus arrives during daylight hours. It probably won't be a problem for it to arrive at night either, because the station is within quick walking distance of downtown, but unless your friend plans to stay in a little bed and breakfast inn (provided she plans to see Hendersonville at all), she'll have to take a cab to the hotels out along Mitchelle Drive and Sugarloaf Road. That's where all the chains are located.
In Asheville, the Greyhound station is located on Tunnel Road, a long walk from downtown, but one that can be done. It would be a much better idea though, to catch one of the Asheville Transit Authority busses, and take that to the transit center downtown. From there, it's easy walking to lodging choices, including a pricey boutique hotel (Haywood Park Hotel), an upscale high-rise (Renaissance Asheville Hotel), and two lower end choices (Best Western Asheville Biltmore and Days Inn). I'd recommend the Best Western from those two lower end choices.
Asheville's a more walkable city than Hendersonville, plus there's more to do there anyway. Hendersonville makes a nice daytrip from Asheville, or if you're more interested in a relaxing destination, Hendersonville fits the bill. I'd imagine your friend would be more interested in a place like Asheville though.
Unfortunately, being without a car in Asheville, while a viable option for residents, will limit your friend from seeing some of the best sites, like Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Hickory Nut Gorge, and the state and national forests. Thankfully, the city itself has plenty to see and do, especially with your aquaintance not spending all that much time in the state. I doubt she'll even have time enough to see all that's worth seeing in downtown Asheville, actually!
In Hendersonville, the bus station is not in a good part of town, but that shouldn't be a problem provided the bus arrives during daylight hours. It probably won't be a problem for it to arrive at night either, because the station is within quick walking distance of downtown, but unless your friend plans to stay in a little bed and breakfast inn (provided she plans to see Hendersonville at all), she'll have to take a cab to the hotels out along Mitchelle Drive and Sugarloaf Road. That's where all the chains are located.
In Asheville, the Greyhound station is located on Tunnel Road, a long walk from downtown, but one that can be done. It would be a much better idea though, to catch one of the Asheville Transit Authority busses, and take that to the transit center downtown. From there, it's easy walking to lodging choices, including a pricey boutique hotel (Haywood Park Hotel), an upscale high-rise (Renaissance Asheville Hotel), and two lower end choices (Best Western Asheville Biltmore and Days Inn). I'd recommend the Best Western from those two lower end choices.
Asheville's a more walkable city than Hendersonville, plus there's more to do there anyway. Hendersonville makes a nice daytrip from Asheville, or if you're more interested in a relaxing destination, Hendersonville fits the bill. I'd imagine your friend would be more interested in a place like Asheville though.
Unfortunately, being without a car in Asheville, while a viable option for residents, will limit your friend from seeing some of the best sites, like Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Hickory Nut Gorge, and the state and national forests. Thankfully, the city itself has plenty to see and do, especially with your aquaintance not spending all that much time in the state. I doubt she'll even have time enough to see all that's worth seeing in downtown Asheville, actually!
Mar 11th, 2003, 06:57 AM
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Amtrak is often late in the U.S. I took the train many years ago from Durham to Charlotte. I think the train was about an hour late. The train made many stops, that is why the routes are short on distance but long on time. And there is only one train scheduled in each direction a day. Sometimes the connection time is lousy (like 2:30 a.m.). Outside the Raleigh-Charlotte route, you will need to find other transportation.
Within cities, public transportation may/may not go where she wants at the times she wants to go.
Within cities, public transportation may/may not go where she wants at the times she wants to go.
Mar 11th, 2003, 07:47 AM
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Try www.tpitours.com. They are out of Asheville and offer different excursions. Tours on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore House, Cherokee, and others in the mountains are available. April/May is a great time of the year in the mountains.
Mar 11th, 2003, 08:23 AM
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The Amtrak station in Charlotte is not in a good area, however the bus depot is closer to town and to the businesses. Hotels in downtown Charlotte are expensive -- out of the center are much more reasonable.
The train service in the US is nothing compared to Europe -- the rails in the US are very limited. When we moved to Charlotte from NJ, I looked at taking a train -- it would have taken me several hours more by train than driving (and it wasn't cheap).
NC by train or bus isn't the best way to go. If the fear of driving on the "wrong" side of the road bothers her, you might want to re-assure her that most highways in the US are divided and the hours she'll spend on the highway will help her adjust.
The train service in the US is nothing compared to Europe -- the rails in the US are very limited. When we moved to Charlotte from NJ, I looked at taking a train -- it would have taken me several hours more by train than driving (and it wasn't cheap).
NC by train or bus isn't the best way to go. If the fear of driving on the "wrong" side of the road bothers her, you might want to re-assure her that most highways in the US are divided and the hours she'll spend on the highway will help her adjust.
Mar 11th, 2003, 11:31 AM
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I don't mean to be pessimistic but I am. Seeing NC--or almost any other part of the country by train or bus is just about impossible. And I do not think the buses are particularly safe--or I should say pleasant to ride. The stations are in poor parts of towns.
I think a more satisfactory way of seeing the country would be to arrange tours from cities she arrives in by air.
She might like to choose a coastal town such as Wilmington, fly to Charlotte and then Asheville.
I think a more satisfactory way of seeing the country would be to arrange tours from cities she arrives in by air.
She might like to choose a coastal town such as Wilmington, fly to Charlotte and then Asheville.
Mar 11th, 2003, 11:34 AM
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Thank you for all your responses so far. Please keep on giving your opinions and ideas. I have told my UK friend about this site so she can read your replies. If any of you have had recent experience with Amtrak's Charlotte-Raleigh route, please make your recommendations. Thanks!
Mar 11th, 2003, 06:19 PM
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I've taken the train roundtrip between Raleigh and Charlotte and would not recommend it to anyone -- and certainly not to a woman traveling alone. The train station in Charlotte is bad part of town and I felt very uncomfortable there. Cops with narc dogs were waiting for my train at both stations.
Taking the bus is totally out of the question.
Taking the bus is totally out of the question.
Mar 12th, 2003, 06:12 AM
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How about "motorcoach tours"?
Unlike the intercity bus services, they often go directly to attractions, or with only a few stops ... and usually sightseeing is the purpose of the trips. I've even used them for 1 way transportation (although there's no discount given) and to see whatever attraction the motorcoach was going to.
Perhaps some of our NC readers can suggest companys they know of?
Unlike the intercity bus services, they often go directly to attractions, or with only a few stops ... and usually sightseeing is the purpose of the trips. I've even used them for 1 way transportation (although there's no discount given) and to see whatever attraction the motorcoach was going to.
Perhaps some of our NC readers can suggest companys they know of?
Mar 12th, 2003, 06:44 AM
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Oh, dear, I'm afraid mass transit is not our strong suit here -- as in any other geographically large and predominantly rural state.
If your friend has a little money and a strong stomach, she might want to consider the little commuter planes to get her from place to place, e.g., Raleigh to Charlotte to Asheville, and then make her way around locally.
The suggestion of finding tours is probably a good one, and a quick "google" on "carolina tours" yielded this website, among others: http://www.takeafuntrip.com/grpcatli...cfm?specloc=13. I would recommend she try the American Express office and see what they can come up with.
But I will finally agree with others who encourage you to encourage her to try driving. Having worried about doing it the other way (used to driving on the right, had to get used to driving on the left), I can sympathize, but she will have, as "Chaton" said, lots of open, divided-highway driving to get used to it (nothing like London driving, believe me) and in the process will see a LOT more than she might otherwise.
If your friend has a little money and a strong stomach, she might want to consider the little commuter planes to get her from place to place, e.g., Raleigh to Charlotte to Asheville, and then make her way around locally.
The suggestion of finding tours is probably a good one, and a quick "google" on "carolina tours" yielded this website, among others: http://www.takeafuntrip.com/grpcatli...cfm?specloc=13. I would recommend she try the American Express office and see what they can come up with.
But I will finally agree with others who encourage you to encourage her to try driving. Having worried about doing it the other way (used to driving on the right, had to get used to driving on the left), I can sympathize, but she will have, as "Chaton" said, lots of open, divided-highway driving to get used to it (nothing like London driving, believe me) and in the process will see a LOT more than she might otherwise.
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