Mother/son holiday reunion
 

Help! We have 4-5 days and are looking for ideas for a place to go within relatively short and easy travel distance from Fayetteville / Ft. Bragg, NC.

I'm traveling from the West Coast (so the airport has to be easy to get to and from) and hope to spend the holidays with my 27-yr. old son, just returning from 15 months overseas with the U.S. Army.

Neither of us know this area of the country well. Any thoughts are appreciated!

What a wonderful reunion it will be. Thank your son for his service.
Here are some suggestions not too far from Fayetteville (a moderately wretched place in my experience and one best left behind for the holidays):
Charleston, SC
Wilmington, NC
Outer Banks, NC
Southern Pines, NC

What are your interests?

Welcome home, Son!!!!!

PS use the airport at Raleigh Durham if you can get a direct from the West Coast. There is a regional airport in Fayetteville but the flights are limited.

How about Myrtle Beach, SC? It's less than three hours from Fayetteville by car for your son, and there's a big airport for you. And since it's not beach season, you can find some ridiculous rates down there.

Also liked the Charleston suggestion, although that's closer to four hours from Fayetteville.

Just curious, why would you go to Myrtle Beach when it's NOT beach season?

Thanks for your replies!
We would enjoy discovering the Gulf area...way away from Fayetteville, which we've both seen. We are outdoors people, so geographic beauty is appealing, or, a quaint downtown of some sort where we can walk and talk...just visiting after 15 months will be nice. He will be coming off of three days of travel halfway around the world, so he won't be into marathon driving. In that case, he'd rather fly. A b&b might be fun.

Ideas that came up:
Wilmington, NC? Charlotte? Orlando?Charleston? Hilton Head? Nashville?

Black Mountain, NC is a neat little area. It has a cute downtown with restaurants and art galleries. The Biltmore isn't too far away. We stayed at the Arbor House and loved it - great B&B set on a small lake with beautiful mountains in the background.

Orlando and Nashville would both be quite a distance from Fayetville. If you are looking for gorgeous beaches, outdoor hikes, and quaint small towns consider the Outer Banks. Base in Nags Head and enjoy the beautiful area. It will be too chilly for swimming, but fine for walking.
Charleston has a lovely walkable downtown and easy access to beautiful beaches.
Best wishes for a wonderful reunion!

Thanks, all so much. And Happy Holidays!

sf, I can think of a few reasons.

1) If the OP's son has been stationed overseas, he may just enjoy sitting by the ocean, walking, relaxing. Swimming is not the only reason beachgoers enjoy the beach :) (Same would be true for posters who recommended Outer Banks.)

2) Restaurants, shopping, and golf if you're into it.

3) You don't need to stay in a beachfront hotel -- you can also go camping (again, if you're into it).

4) Location -- it's basically the closest "getaway" from Fayetteville.

Although, since the OP mentioned quaint downtowns -- I'd lean more towards Charleston.