North Carolina - 3 days - new places to explore?
Sep 1st, 2006, 07:34 AM
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North Carolina - 3 days - new places to explore?
We have 3 days (Oct 23-25)to spend in NC before flying out of Charlotte on the 26th.
We will be attending Nascar races, garage tours, going to Myrtle Beach for a few days...any suggestions on where to spend these last few days in NC? We've been to Asheville once, but didn't get to explore much else of the area. Any thoughts on area wineries, sightseeing, handcrafted shopping opportunities, nice place to stay? Any help would be appreciated, as you all helped so much with our previous trip to the area!
We will be attending Nascar races, garage tours, going to Myrtle Beach for a few days...any suggestions on where to spend these last few days in NC? We've been to Asheville once, but didn't get to explore much else of the area. Any thoughts on area wineries, sightseeing, handcrafted shopping opportunities, nice place to stay? Any help would be appreciated, as you all helped so much with our previous trip to the area!
Sep 1st, 2006, 07:52 AM
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There are a ton of wineries w/in close proximity to CLT but more so to Winston-Salem. Old Salem is certainly worth a trip. Try www.ncwine.org or www.greatncwines.com or www.blueridgewinetrail.com. My personal favorites are Ray-Len, Hanover Ridge, Laurel Gray, Shelton, Round Peak & Rallaldini. If you want the not so good ones, I can provide that as well. Asheville is also a good destination & you can actually hit a few (wineries) en route if you choose. I also spend a lot of time in Black Mt. which is near Asheville. If you want hiking & such, Chimney Rock is close to Charlotte as well & is an interesting area (Lake Lure)(www.chimneyrockpark.com) worth spending a few days in. Personally I'd skip MB, but many love it. If you like pottery, Seagrove is about 1 1/2 hours East of Charlotte & there are (last I knew) 80+ potters in the area. www.ncpotterycenter.com or www.seagrovepoteries.com.
Sep 1st, 2006, 07:58 AM
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GoTravel - Thanks for your quick reply!
On our last trip, thanks to poster's suggestions, we did just that & greatly enjoyed it! This trip we fly
into Charlotte, attend races, drive to & relax in MB 4 days, drive & attend races in Martinsville, VA...THEN have 3 days left to spend before leaving from Charlotte. We MAY make a day trip to Charleston from MB again, though...any thoughts on MB weather in mid-October? What to pack?
On our last trip, thanks to poster's suggestions, we did just that & greatly enjoyed it! This trip we fly
into Charlotte, attend races, drive to & relax in MB 4 days, drive & attend races in Martinsville, VA...THEN have 3 days left to spend before leaving from Charlotte. We MAY make a day trip to Charleston from MB again, though...any thoughts on MB weather in mid-October? What to pack?
Sep 3rd, 2006, 10:18 AM
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SAnParis - Thanks for the suggestions; I've already checked out the websites.
The Chimney Rock area looks nice - do you think the Fall leaves will still be nice in relation to that time of year? Also, if spending time along the Parkway, would you book accomodations in one spot & come back to it, or go along in a loop back towards Charlotte?
The Chimney Rock area looks nice - do you think the Fall leaves will still be nice in relation to that time of year? Also, if spending time along the Parkway, would you book accomodations in one spot & come back to it, or go along in a loop back towards Charlotte?
Sep 3rd, 2006, 10:27 AM
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I'm not SAnParis, but I will chime in here ... 
You can never tell about the leaf color, depends if the season runs early or late. On the return, I would keep traveling toward Charlotte ... try a couple of neat B&B's, maybe. You'll want to reserve NOW for October, BTW!
You can never tell about the leaf color, depends if the season runs early or late. On the return, I would keep traveling toward Charlotte ... try a couple of neat B&B's, maybe. You'll want to reserve NOW for October, BTW!
Sep 9th, 2006, 08:44 AM
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If it were me I would head towards the barrier islands. Check out: http://www.southport-oakisland.com/
Sep 9th, 2006, 08:59 AM
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Of course you are guaranteed summer weather in Myrtle Beach in October. It stays in the mid 80s through the end of the month.
The ocean tempurature is still 80 degrees through much of October. It is difficult for the air temps to fall much below that.
The ocean tempurature is still 80 degrees through much of October. It is difficult for the air temps to fall much below that.
Sep 9th, 2006, 12:02 PM
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HotWheels -- wineries in NC are concentrated roughly between Martinsville and Charlotte area in the Yadkin Valley. Richard Childress has his winery there I believe. You can detour through N. Wilkesboro and pay your respects at the speedway there and maybe run into Junior Johnson. Or if you've never been to Bristol, take Hwy 321 from the Charlotte area to Boone/Blowing Rock and then 421 on to Bristol and tour the speedway before heading to Martinsville. Or vice versa.
Oct 2nd, 2006, 06:16 AM
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Sorry I never got back to this link...Leaves are supposed to be good this year, however, if you don't have a place to stay in the Mts., it will be difficult to find one. You could do Chimney Rock as a day trip, it isn't far. Or loop back towards CLT & probably find a place to stay further north (Mt. Airy or Winston-Salem) perhaps.
Oct 2nd, 2006, 06:25 AM
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I suggest you don't drive all the way to Winston Salem looking for lodging. Stop in Pilot Mountain, NC. It's a half hour off the Parkway.
There are two great choices:
Dr. Flippen's b and b in downtown Pilot Mountain. Very cute and the owner is a first rate chef.
[email protected]
http://www.drflippins.com
Toll Free: 336-368-1183
Another excellent option is to stay in the converted tobacco barns at the base of Pilot Mountain.
436 New Pilot Knob Lane
Pilot Mountain North Carolina,
[email protected]
http://www.pilotknobinn.com
Local: (336) 325-2502
Pilot Knob Inn B&B offers cabins and honeymoon suites, Jacuzzis for two, fireplaces, lake with rowboats.
For more information about Mt.Airy and Pilot Mountain check www.visitmayberry.com (Home of Andy Griffith and proud of it!)
There are two great choices:
Dr. Flippen's b and b in downtown Pilot Mountain. Very cute and the owner is a first rate chef.
[email protected]
http://www.drflippins.com
Toll Free: 336-368-1183
Another excellent option is to stay in the converted tobacco barns at the base of Pilot Mountain.
436 New Pilot Knob Lane
Pilot Mountain North Carolina,
[email protected]
http://www.pilotknobinn.com
Local: (336) 325-2502
Pilot Knob Inn B&B offers cabins and honeymoon suites, Jacuzzis for two, fireplaces, lake with rowboats.
For more information about Mt.Airy and Pilot Mountain check www.visitmayberry.com (Home of Andy Griffith and proud of it!)
Oct 2nd, 2006, 06:56 AM
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If you are going to visit Chimney Rock and the Lake Lure area, here are a few wineries you might enjoy checking out. They are about a 30 minute drive from that area. Go south of Chimney Rock until you see signs for Route 9 South. Turn right onto Route 9, headed towards Columbus/Tryon.
When you cross Route 74, you are almost there.
Here are driving directions and links to the winery's web sites.
http://www.rockhousevineyards.com
Cross Route 74 on Route 9 south.
South 2.2 miles to Turner Road.
Turn left on Turner Road and drive 1.5 miles to vineyard entrance.
http://www.greencreekwinery.com/visit.php
Travel south from 74 on Hwy 9 for 3 miles.
Turn right on Landrum Rd. (Hwy 14) and drive 1 mile.
Turn right on Gilbert Rd.
Green Creek Winery is 4/10 of a mile on the left at 413 Gilbert Rd.
You'll be in Polk County, which is a beautiful, out-of-the-way place with pretty scenery. Explore a bit. There are rolling horse farms, old plantations and things like that on one end of the county, then stunning views of the foothills on the other end. There are lots of little antique shops along the way, and the town of Tryon…"the friendliest little town in the south"…hosts some great little stores.
There are several nice bed and breakfast places in Polk County, and lots of interesting places to eat. Polk County is about 45 miles south of Asheville, right on the border with South Carolina.
For more wineries,
http://www.nc-mountains.org/wineries.htm
When you cross Route 74, you are almost there.
Here are driving directions and links to the winery's web sites.
http://www.rockhousevineyards.com
Cross Route 74 on Route 9 south.
South 2.2 miles to Turner Road.
Turn left on Turner Road and drive 1.5 miles to vineyard entrance.
http://www.greencreekwinery.com/visit.php
Travel south from 74 on Hwy 9 for 3 miles.
Turn right on Landrum Rd. (Hwy 14) and drive 1 mile.
Turn right on Gilbert Rd.
Green Creek Winery is 4/10 of a mile on the left at 413 Gilbert Rd.
You'll be in Polk County, which is a beautiful, out-of-the-way place with pretty scenery. Explore a bit. There are rolling horse farms, old plantations and things like that on one end of the county, then stunning views of the foothills on the other end. There are lots of little antique shops along the way, and the town of Tryon…"the friendliest little town in the south"…hosts some great little stores.
There are several nice bed and breakfast places in Polk County, and lots of interesting places to eat. Polk County is about 45 miles south of Asheville, right on the border with South Carolina.
For more wineries,
http://www.nc-mountains.org/wineries.htm
Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:06 AM
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HotWheels - If you are wondering what the scenery around Chimney Rock is like, it is where most of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" was filmed. You can walk out onto the top of Chimney Rock and see for over 40 miles on a clear day.
Lake Lure was the setting for the movie "Dirty Dancing". If the boat tours of the lake are still running, you might also want to spend an hour on the lake getting a guided tour that features a little of the area's history.
Lake Lure was the setting for the movie "Dirty Dancing". If the boat tours of the lake are still running, you might also want to spend an hour on the lake getting a guided tour that features a little of the area's history.
Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:49 AM
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Stevebarr - I've not visited any of the wineries you mentioned, can you tell me a little about them ? Particularly the varietals. Thx. If you do go to Chimney Rock, watch the "Last of the Mohicans" prior. The last half hour or so & particularly the last chase scene are pretty amazing, after you've seen what they were dealing with.
Oct 2nd, 2006, 10:34 AM
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Here's a link to the offerings at Rockhouse Vineyards:
http://www.rockhousevineyards.com/rhv3wines.html
I am not sure what varieties are offered at the Green Creek Winery. Both are small, family-owned and operated vineyards. The Green Creek one just opened for business in 2005.
Although I live close by, I have not had the opportunity to visit either one yet, although I did get to sip some samples of the Rockhouse wines at a music festival a while back. Quite tasty.
Polk County is a tiny little area with a small population. We consider three cars at the same stop sign at the same time to be a "traffic jam". People still smile and wave as they pass you going the other way on back roads.
One feature of the area is that we have what has been called "the world's smallest thermal belt". The warm air from South Carolina meets the foothills of North Carolina here, and the cool air coming off the mountains traps the warm air beneath it. This gives us relatively moderate temperatures year-round, and makes it perfect for vineyards and horse farms.
It's a very quiet place with small-town flavor to it. Guests of mine have even been known to take photographs of the grocery store parking lot because the mountains right behind it are so awesome after a rain, with mists rising up from their peaks.
If you want a laid-back pace of life for at least part of your vacation, Polk County is a little hidden gem in the foothills of North Carolina.
http://www.rockhousevineyards.com/rhv3wines.html
I am not sure what varieties are offered at the Green Creek Winery. Both are small, family-owned and operated vineyards. The Green Creek one just opened for business in 2005.
Although I live close by, I have not had the opportunity to visit either one yet, although I did get to sip some samples of the Rockhouse wines at a music festival a while back. Quite tasty.
Polk County is a tiny little area with a small population. We consider three cars at the same stop sign at the same time to be a "traffic jam". People still smile and wave as they pass you going the other way on back roads.
One feature of the area is that we have what has been called "the world's smallest thermal belt". The warm air from South Carolina meets the foothills of North Carolina here, and the cool air coming off the mountains traps the warm air beneath it. This gives us relatively moderate temperatures year-round, and makes it perfect for vineyards and horse farms.
It's a very quiet place with small-town flavor to it. Guests of mine have even been known to take photographs of the grocery store parking lot because the mountains right behind it are so awesome after a rain, with mists rising up from their peaks.
If you want a laid-back pace of life for at least part of your vacation, Polk County is a little hidden gem in the foothills of North Carolina.
