Joan

Visiting from Ireland at Thanksgiving. We will be going to Wilmington one wekend. Can you suggest a trip for the other weekend. What kind of weather can we expect?

Gretchen

You could go up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive down to Asheville in the mountains.

ncgrrl

Weather should be nice. Highs in the 50's or 60's with a crispness in the air. The autumn leaves will have past by Thanksgiving (though it might not be a 'colorful' year due to the drought).

The Blue Ridge and Asheville are a wonderful place to visit. If you don't want to drive that far, how about visiting Old Salem in Winston-Salem. Or visit the potteries of Seagrove, NC (near the N.C. Zoo). Or golfing at Pinehurst.

In Raleigh you should try to visit the Raulston Arboriteum. Also try to visit the campuses at Duke and UNC while in the Triangle area.

And Fearrington Cows. The Village of Fearrington, about 10 miles south of Chapel Hill, has belted galloway cows. The village also has some shopping and restaurants.

Fun, free and nearby: Try to locate the bald eagles at Jordan Lake.

dan woodlief

I would agree with the recommendation to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway area. That way you get to see the mountains and coast of North Carolina. Another idea is the Outer Banks - maybe Nags Head/Cape Hatteras areas; lots of lighthouses, large dunes, little towns and some touristy areas, and the Wright Brothers memorial where the first fligth took place. You don't have to stay in North Carolina either. If you are interested in history at all, consider a trip into Virginia - Richmond, Petersburg, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and other areas are about as close (or closer) as the NC mountains.

NCer

The mountains are a good 5 hrs. from Raleigh, which eats up the weekend pretty well. Suggest Williamsburg (about 3 hrs. or less) for a taste of colonial era America and some pretty good food. They make a big deal about Thanksgiving (so don't book for that day) and Christmas, should be gearing up for Christmas if you go the 2nd weekend... very pretty.

NancyNC

Not ALL mountains are 5 hours from Raleigh. We regularly go to the Boone area in the northern mountains and it is ~3-1/2 hours. Boone and Blowing Rock are great towns and Thanksgiving offers several Christmas parades and other activities in the area. We will be there ourselves, as usual, spending Thanksgiving and cutting down our fresh Christmas tree to take home. We love it - the High Country is special!