Planning Your Time

Because the areas within the Piedmont are fairly compact, it makes sense to tackle them one at a time. Downtown Raleigh, with its expanding array of restaurants and hotels, makes a good base for exploring Durham and Chapel Hill on day trips. Take on Charlotte and the Triad separately. In Charlotte, Uptown is centrally located and provides plenty of entertainment, dining, and lodging within walking distance. The Sandhills, which covers the area from Asheboro southeast to Fayetteville, is more diverse and a bit more cumbersome. Staying in one of the luxurious resorts in Southern Pines or Pinehurst would put you close to the pottery region of Seagrove. Give yourself more driving time when exploring this part of the state.