Help needed! Every other summer, we attend a family reunion in NC. We live in CA. After our time in NC, we like to take a sidetrip. These are the places we've been in the past: DC, NY, VA (C-ville, Monticello, Historic Triangle, Mt. Vernon). Also, this will be our first trip to this area with our son who will be 15 months old. I don't mind researching destinations, but I'm at a loss for where to start. Any suggestions/starting points would be helpful! We haven't explored much of NC in the past, so we're open to that as well. Thanks in advance for your help!

Where in NC is the reunion? How much time before/after do you have for your trip?

And when in summer? If end July or any of August I'd say go as far north in elevation as you can get. It's more than humid here in the summer.

Just off the top of my head, Charleston for history, Chatanooga for the aquarium (though other cities have them too), or a condo at the beach.

The reunion is in the little town of Erwin in mid June. We usually spend 5 days after the reunion on the sidetrip and then head home. Yes, the humidity is a killer! It gets really hot where we live, but we don't have the humidity to contend with. Hubby and I can "gut" through the humidity as we have before, but I know we won't be able to do that with our son. Thanks!

ncgirl's suggestion to go for elevation is a decent one, but it's quite a hike from Erwin up into the mountains -- if you are willing to make the trek, you might enjoy taking him up north to Grandfather Mtn., Tweetsie Railroad, etc., but it's really a trek. Asheville's closer but still a hike from Erwin.

Given where Erwin is, however, have 2 ideas: 1. the zoo in Asheboro -- this is fairly close and not really an overnight sort of deal - day trip. But 2. the beach -- sometimes the Outer Banks are 10-15 degrees (or more) cooler than inland because of breezes or even off-shore showers. Maybe you can go to Wrightsville Beach, which is quite close, and find an airconditioned room/cottage for a little while -- just go to the beach early morning and suppertime if it's really hot -- or go a little further to Ocracoke Island, which is very quiet but the ferry ride's fun -- and there used to be wild ponies, although I think they've been moved.

ncgrrl and Cassandra-thanks so much for your suggestions! I appreciate them very much. Most recently, I've been researching the mountains and Outer Banks as options. The mountains are appealing except I have a huge fear of skinny, windy, 2 lane roads with sheer drop-offs. I'm guessing this is what driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is like.Is that a correct assumption? (In reading, I came across the Nature Center in Asheville and it looked fun.)

I've read quite a bit on OBX and I'm trying to narrow down where to stay. Do we stay in Nags Head or Kill Devil Hills even though it seems more commercial and crowded or Ocracoke where it is less busy? I know that Nags Head is more centrally located and I've read many posts about the traffic during the summertime. Decisions, decisions! It is tough b/c I've never been there before.

Because of the potential mt. drive, I am leaning to the OBX for now. Any other advice is welcomed. Thanks again!

Asheville is a gorgeous place and the Biltmore Estate is an amazing site to visit. I only had a few hours, and I have always wanted to return to explore the grounds and visit the winery.

The Blue Ridge Parkway around Asheville is more gentle than you might expect except for some spectacular stretches a little further away from the city. It's not as "bad" as, say, the drive along the Pacific Coast to Big Sur, and a lot of it meanders among the trees. But yes, there are several places where you are up high, looking far away.

My taste would tell you to avoid anything between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head -- so congested as to be ugly, I'm sorry to say. Ocracoke is the extreme in the other direction -- very quiet, very limited although quaint and pleasant facilities; and be aware NO cottages are beachfront -- it's protected. As I said, the ferry's fun, and it's pretty unspoiled.

For somewhere in between those extremes, think maybe Corolla (but be SURE to read all kinds of caveats about timing and arrival and departure). I have yet to try, I'm sorry to say, the Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, Hatteras corridor. Perhaps someone else can chime in.

Be aware re: OBX, that finding accommodations for less than a week in season is a big challenge, and in any case very costly. Start NOW.

(You can do the edge of the OBX at Wrightsville or the Emerald Coast -- might be more doable.)

For a beach trip, I'd suggest something around Wilmington. There's an aquarium at Ft. Fisher, the USS North Carolina, some city parks the 15 month old cold run around and play, etc. Look for Kure, Wrightsville, Topsail or even Brunswick County beaches.

I wouldn't be scared of mountain roads. You take an interstate highway to Asheville. The Blue Ridge Parkway has lots of scenic overlooks but I wouldn't call it scary. The scariest thing might be all the bicylist using the BRP and I worry someone looking at the scenery won't see them.

I tried posting this a few times last night with no luck...anyway, we've been to Wilmington for a day trip with the NC relatives and my husband toured the ship. This is a fun area! I don't know anything about Topsail Island. I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

I read on a previous thread that S. Nags Head wasn't so crowded. Is this true? I don't remember how old the thread was where I read this info. Would Manteo be a good place to stay? Less crowded?

Since we'll be staying under a week, I figure we'll be doing hotels if we decide on the OBX.

I guess the Parkway isn't such a scary ride. I had visions of the Big Sur drive without the ocean. Sight seeing drivers plus bikers...that does sound dangerous.

Thanks again for your suggestions. I appreciate them!

South Nags Head won't be as crowded, but it's mainly house rentals. A number of hotels in the Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills area. Lots of mini-golf places and ocean front hotels. Jockey's Ridge could be fun for the little one -- go and climb the dune and watch kites.

Manteo also has an aquarium and a downtown-ish area with shops if you're interested. Also the park with the model ship (blanking on name) and some stuff in that area. Also the Elizabethan gardens are kind-of near the aquarium. Manteo is rather small so it wouldn't be too much driving. Not many hotels on Manteo though. The biggest/best might just be the Elizabethan Inn (more hotel). Gets so-so reviews but does have a pool. There are condos near the marina. Maybe you could get a partial week rental?

ncgrrl-the things you mentioned in Manteo were the things that I'd read about and thought would be interesting, esp. for my son. I would love to see The Lost Colony show as well, but I'm not sure my little one could make it through.

Do you think it would be worth it to split time between Manteo and the Kill Devil Hills/Nag's Head area? Since I've read about the traffic being so bad..maybe splitting the time would cut down on the longer day trips and traffic hassles getting from one place to another. Spend a couple of days in KDH/NH with the crowds and then head to a less busy part of the OBX? Our total trip to OBX will probably be 4-5 days in length.

It also seems the closest airport is Norfolk, correct?

Thanks again!

I thought you would fly into RDU for the family reunion. But Norfolk, Va is the closest airport to OBX. From Raleigh, though long, it's an easy drive down highway 64 which is interstate quality in most areas.

I wouldn't change locations during the visit esp. one of only 4-5 days. If you stay in Manteo or Nags Head area, you're kind of central and can drive from there. The worst traffic is on weekends when people arrive/leave from weekly rentals.

With only 4-5 I'd plan more activities in the central area. If the family union is annul, you could go to Ocracoke the next time.

Yes, we are flying into RDU for the reunion as we're headed there first. I was considering flying out of Norfolk to come home, so we didn't have to backtrack to RDU.

Ok, sounds wiser to stay in one centrally located place since the majority of the time we'll be there is during the week. Thanks for that advice!

Reunion is every other year, so we can definitely scout out places to return to and visit next time.

Thanks again. I appreciate the feedback.