USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA: THE TAR HEEL STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable information about wonderful vacation destinations. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

The article below offers an enchanting viewpoint on North Carolina.

Affordable and Luxurious Great Smoky Mountain Vacations

Joy Lynskey

When many hear of a Smoky Mountain Vacation they may picture rustic cabins, hunting or animal watching, perhaps a lazy walking trail or two, and a whole lot of peace. While peace is plentiful in many areas of the Great Smokys, there is also a plethora of highly active entertainments that will leave you with a thirst for adventure long after you make your way back home.

Affordable Smoky Mountain Family or Solo Fun

If your family is on a budget and perhaps not able to splurge on a more luxurious vacation this year, that doesn't mean you are condemned to creating a stay-cation to appease the family unit. Activities that could cost nothing, or very little can include:

• Biking on some of nature's most beautiful trails
• Fishing
• Hiking lovely trails made safe for pedestrians and bikers
• Tubing

In addition, front-country and back-country camping, as well as group campgrounds are available all throughout the Smoky Mountains. So if you live in a region nearby, a Smoky Mountain Getaway may not take so long to get away to. Camping fees in all campgrounds are affordable beginning at $14USD for frontcountry camping and starting around $35USD for group campsites.Rentals for equipment such as bikes or tubes are also relatively affordable but you do have the option to bring your own. This much free outdoor entertainment in one locale reduces fuel cost and time spent much more appropriately on a hiking trail instead of a highway.

Luxurious Great Smoky Mountain R & R

If you are looking for that ultra-relaxing vacation, and the need for some self-imposed cabin fever, you can find cabins all over the Great Smoky Mountains that can house the most basic of necessities, to the most lavish amenities imaginable.Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are both quite famous for their cabins that can accommodate a romantic couple's generous requirements to entire group's abundant needs.If you are planning to live it up, be sure to include on your itinerary a few of these awesome vacation activities:

• ATV Trail Blazing
• Boating
• Golfing
• Horseback Riding
• Kayaking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Wineries and Breweries
• Zip Lines
• Auto Tours

Although indulging in these activities may come with a bit more cost than the Great Smoky's more affordable options, the experiences will supply you with a limitless feeling of excitement, and long lasting memories of outdoor adventure that will last for years.

A Smoky Mountain Wedding Affair

Second to Vegas in choices of places to marry, the Great Smoky Mountains offers the chance to tie the knot in beautiful chapels all over the area. Couples can also marry in the National Park or even the privacy of their own cabin or cottage.There are many locations in the National Park that are popular for Smoky Mountain Weddings.

• Primitive Baptist Church
• Methodist Churches of Cades Cove
• The Mountain Top of Your Choice

It is important to remember to always request an application for a permit to have a ceremony in one of the natural churches or any historic structure in the park. If you are considering a Great Smoky Mountain Wedding, make sure to call the Park Rangers Activities Division at 423-436-1266.All visitors should keep in mind that the structures in the park are all natural. These wooden structures do not allow any usage of candles or lamps for your ceremony.

Live Entertainments

You can expect to find live musical entertainment in places like Bryson City, Cherokee, Stecoah, Dillsboro, and Franklin. Live bands playing everything from blues, jazz, and country entertain crowds every night with top performers such as Trace Adkins and others who enjoy their Smoky Mountain tours as much as those who choose it as a vacation destination.

Dining and Shopping in the Smokys

The Great Smoky Mountains offers dining and shopping opportunities like no other place on earth. The Native American Craft Shop in Cherokee, North Carolina offers visitors the chance to view the Southeast's largest collection of crafts hand-fashioned by Native American Cherokees who own and operate the establishment.Regardless of the length of your vacation here, you will surely treasure every moment spent in the Great Smoky Mountains for a lifetime. Unforgettable beauty and adventure await you around every turn, and over each soaring majestic mountaintop.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I'm from North Carolina, so I am really picky about my fried chicken.

 Mary Helen Bowers

Travel to experience life and create amazing memories!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA: THE TAR HEEL STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places.  When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina's capital, makes up the southeast corner of the famous Research Triangle, with Durham and Chapel Hill at the other two points. The state's second-largest city is a vital center of high-tech business and education.

Unlike many cities that grow up around ports or stations, Raleigh was planned specifically to be the state capital. At its center stands the beautiful North Carolina Capitol building, a fine Greek Revival-style landmark, from which wide, oak-lined streets radiate.

This careful geometry makes exploring Raleigh quite straightforward. In this pleasant city, there's a unique mix of Southern heritage and unpretentious manners; elite academia and boisterous university life and athletics; and the fast-paced, sleek sophistication of Triangle professionals.

Raleigh is often lumped together with nearby cities Durham and Chapel Hill. Although the three are only about a 30-minute drive from one another, they are different communities. Durham was once one of the most thriving African-American center’s in the country.

Today, its main attraction is Duke University, one of the top schools in the United States and home of the Blue Devils, another sports powerhouse. Although revitalization efforts are underway, its downtown areas have sadly suffered in recent decades.

Meanwhile, Chapel Hill is a lovely college town, with beautiful old homes, endless coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants, enjoying a decidedly liberal leaning. It is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, another top American educational institution, and the beloved Tar Heels, a force in college athletics.

Known as the 'Smithsonian of the South', there are a few renowned museums and an excellent performing arts scene. Ultimately, Raleigh is a perfect destination for those seeking to experience a bit of Southern history and culture without giving up the attractions and conveniences of a big city.

Getting around in Raleigh

While it is possible to walk in Raleigh within certain districts, especially in the central downtown area, a car is highly recommended. Raleigh is a big and spread out city, although navigating the area by car is relatively straightforward.

The GoRaleigh, Cary Transit (C-Tran), R-LINE, and Wolfline bus systems provide riders with an extensive network of local routes. When in need of a taxi, it is best to call ahead for one, as it can be difficult to hail taxis on the street.

Sightseeing in Raleigh

The nightlife scene in Raleigh has become much livelier in recent years, a far cry from its reputation as a somewhat sleepy hideaway in the town. Its diverse historic districts and neighborhoods cater to many different tastes.

The area surrounding the Capital is the center of government, business, and history. Despite its daytime bustle, it remains a lovely spot for a stroll amongst grand museums and a leafy square. Nearby Oakwood is full of exquisitely restored 19th-century homes and gardens.

With its old-fashioned lampposts and cobbled streets, Moore Square is another city oasis. By day, visitors can lounge in the park and must rub for good luck the giant copper acorn sculpture, in honor of Raleigh's nickname, the 'City of Oaks'.

By night, Moore Square comes alive with upscale bars and restaurants, as do pedestrian Fayettesville Street and the chic Warehouse district, popular with Raleigh's hip crowd. Shoppers should head for the posh shops of North Hills or the boutiques of Cameron Village.

Those in search of a more colorful atmosphere will find it on Hillsborough Street and in the NC State University district, where a jumble of undergrads, professors, and tourists mingle in coffeehouses, restaurants, and casual pubs. NC State is North Carolina's largest university. It's a leader in intercollegiate sports, often overshadowing its strong reputation for research.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Shrimp and grits is a dish that I enjoy from North Carolina. It's one of those dishes that is so rich in flavor and texture.

Ayesha Curry
 

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” NORTH CAROLINA

DURHAM: THE BULL CITY

BY  CLAY LARROY

Traveling is great personal interests because it will make a more open-minded person when it comes to inter acting with people. It also made it easier to understanding as to why people act the way they do in their own society and in a society as diverse as the U.S. It has long been said that travels “broadens the mind”. Now new evidence proves that jumping on a plane will not only make you smarter, but more open-minded.  When you need to plan a vacation contact me!

Durham is a colorful, creative, and entrepreneurial community of 273,392 that welcomes 7.8 million visitors each year. Durham occupies a prime location in the heart of North Carolina and is a nexus for learning, achievement, creativity, research, and industry. Whether you're a resident, visitor, group planner, newcomer, journalist, or consultant, these official stats, facts, and images will provide new perspectives on Durham.

Al Buehler Cross Country Trail 
Durham
More than three miles of gravel jogging and walking trails around the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Course. Named for Al Buehler, former Duke track coach and six-time ACC Champion.

More than three miles of gravel jogging and walking trails around the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Course. Named for Al Buehler, former Duke track coach and six-time ACC Champion.

Brightleaf Historic District, Downtown
Durham
Anchored by namesake Brightleaf Square, which includes turn-of-the-century brick tobacco warehouses with world-class

Bull City Carriage Company
Durham
Horse-drawn carriage (4 occupants) offers 20-30 minute tours around the Brightleaf district and Duke’s East Campus. Operation hours from 6:00 pm-11:30 pm Friday/Saturday nights, weather permitting. Main pick up point is corner of Main Street and Gregson Street in front of DeVine’s. Cost is $9 per person or $15 per couple; kids are free.

Bennett Place State Historic Site
Durham
Bennett Place is a historic site where the largest Civil War Confederate troop surrender occurred. Visitors to Bennett Place are taken back in time to April 1865 where Major General Sherman and General Johnston met at the farm of James and Nancy Bennett near Durham to negotiate the terms of peace that effectively ended the American Civil War. View the reconstructed Bennett Farm, which includes a visitor center and museum that features a theater presentation and living history reenactments. Bennett Place is free and open to the public and visitors are invited to enjoy nature trails and a picnic area.

B.N. Duke Auditorium
Durham
Built in 1937, historic auditorium hosts concerts, festivals, lectures and performances.

Carolina Theatre of Durham
Durham
Part of the Durham Civic Center Complex, the renovated, Downtown historic Beaux Arts Carolina Theatre features Fletcher Hall, a 1,016-seat auditorium and two art cinemas.

Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum
Durham
National Historic Landmark where Washington Duke started his successful tobacco empire. Duke family’s mid-1800s home, tobacco barns, original factory, and museum showcase the beginnings of the modern day tobacco industry.

Duke Forest
Durham
7,060-acre teaching and research forest of Duke University with a variety of ecosystems represented.

Duke Lemur Center
Durham
An ideal tour for families and friends, learn about the similarities and differences between lemur species and what makes lemurs some of the most fascinating animals in the world. Visitors will typically observe about 10 different species of lemurs. Bring you camera, as you will be amazed by these wonderful creatures! Ask about our behind-the-scenes and walking with lemurs tours, too. Please note that tours are by appointment only and reservations are required.

Duke University Chapel
Durham
Built in 1930, the cathedral-like centerpiece of Duke’s West Campus soars 210 feet and is one of the last great collegiate Gothic projects Built in 1930, the cathedral-like centerpiece of Duke’s West Campus soars 210 feet and is one of the last great collegiate Gothic projects in the United States. Features the Flentrop Organ (5,200 pipes), 50-bell carillon, and stained-glass windows. Numerous chapel services and recitals each week.

Great Indian Trading Path
Durham
Famous Piedmont fur and deerskin trading route through what is now Durham. Used by European explorers, hunters, and settlers after 1670. Passes Arrowhead Inn (circa 1774), Stagville and Hardscrabble Plantations, dating to late 1700s.

Historic Durham Athletic Park
Durham
Former home (1926-94) of the famous Durham Bulls and film location for the movie “Bull Durham.” Now a Minor League Baseball training lab and home to the NCCU Eagles; the Bulls play a mile south in Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

James E. Shepard House
Durham
Built in 1925 for N.C. Central University founder James E. Shepard. Served as the official residence of the university’s presidents through the early 1980s and hosted such luminaries as W.E.B. DuBois, Phillip Randolph, Marian Anderson and Mary McLeod Bethune. A grant from the National Park Service and private donations helped fund a $685,000 renovation of the property, which displays interactive exhibits on the life and work of Dr. Shepard and serves as a space for small gatherings.

North Carolina Collection at Durham County Library
Durham
Durham and North Carolina historical documents, maps, records and photographic archives.

Selena Warren Wheeler Collection - Stanford L. Warren Branch
Durham
Collection of African-American cultural artifacts, history, and literature. Located in the second African-American library in North Carolina, originally established in 1913 in the basement of the old White Rock Baptist Church.

Wheels Family Fun Park
Durham
A full-service family entertainment center open 7 days/week, with skateboarding park, race course for remote-control cars (RC Speedway), go-karts, mini-golf, batting cages, indoor roller-skating, and an indoor playground. The skateboarding park offers a mini half-pipe, bump-humps, rails, spines and other skateboard-related features ($15 per day; $9 for members). Mini-golf: $3 per person.

REFERENCE SITES
http://durhamnc.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

http://www.visitnc.com/

I'm writing a new love story, set in eastern North Carolina. Surprise, surprise, huh?

Nicholas Sparks
 

      Enjoy life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA: THE TAR HEEL STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling is the kind of activity, which almost all the people love. For someone it is an opportunity to relax and abstract from everyday busy life. For others it is interesting to observe the way people of other cultures and mentality live. Some people consider it to be the best way to have fun and always try to visit as many clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes as possible for their wallets and time limits. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

North Carolina thrills you with swashbuckling pirates and spectacular mountain highways, sensational beaches and a gamut of historic sites.

White sand and surf lure sun worshipers and adrenaline junkies to the state's 480km (300 miles) of barrier island beaches; surfers paddle out to ride the renowned swell at Cape Hatteras; hang-gliders launch off dunes the size of small mountains at Jockey's Ridge; and wild horses roam the beach at Corolla in the Outer Banks.

If flopping on the sand doesn't do it for you, try North Carolina's historic attractions. Think Europe has the stately home market tied up? Think again. Built in the late 1800s, Biltmore House is the USA's largest home and is reminiscent of a French château. Or you can head underground at Reed Gold Mine, site of the country's first documented gold discovery. The state's oldest town is Bath, but you're more likely to find traces of Blackbeard here than Jane Austen.

Come autumn, convoys of sightseers cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 406km (252-mile) scenic drive through mountains and dense forests, to snap the state's kaleidoscopic colors. 

But North Carolina's pièce de résistance is its world-class ice climbing. While you can stand and gaze at plummeting waterfalls in summer, hacking your way up them with crampons and an ice axe is a sure-fire way to crank up the adrenaline. Starshine, a 60m (200ft) route on Whitesides Mountain, is considered one of the gnarliest.

Looking for some city action? Famed for its NASCAR racing, Charlotte is also home to the US National Whitewater Center and the outstanding Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Raleigh meanwhile boasts over 40 free attractions, including the terrific North Carolina Museum of Art.

Where to stay in North Carolina

Hotels

There is a wide range of accommodation in North Carolina, from large chain hotels in the major cities to budget-friendly bed and breakfasts. Hotels in North Carolina include many of the large famous brands as well as independent boutique hotels, guesthouses and budget motels. There is also a good selection of camping grounds in North Carolina as well as vacation rentals and resorts with hotels and extensive facilities.

Things to see and do in North Carolina

Biltmore Estate

Tour George Vanderbilt's elaborate 250-room Biltmore Estate (www.biltmoreestate.com) located in the western Blue Ridge Mountains town of Ashville. The estate includes a winery with a visitor center, tasting room and shop where bottles of the local vintage are sold.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Travel along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway (www.nps.gov/blri), which winds 755km (469 miles) along the spine of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains from Tennessee to Virginia.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

View the attractions along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (www.nps.gov/caha) including the Outer Banks ponies, Bodie Island, and the candy-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the nations tallest and most famous.

Carowinds

Go for the adrenaline rush on thrilling rides at the state's biggest theme park, Carowinds (www.carowinds.com), 10 minutes south of Charlotte. It pays tribute to the film Wayne's World with a white-knuckle, wooden rollercoaster ride called Hurler, which soars riders through eight inversions.

Crystal Coast

Explore the Crystal Coast area (www.crystalcoast.com), which includes the deep-sea port of Morehead City, the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, and many beautiful beaches.

Durham

Visit Durham, known as 'The City of Medicine'. The city is home to the world-famous Research Triangle Park, where over 150 research and development facilities are based (www.rtp.org), and Duke University (www.duke.edu) with its lovely chapel and gardens.

Fireman's Museum

Visit New Bern's Fireman's Museum (www.newbernmuseums.com), formed by the two oldest continuously operated fire companies in the USA. Included in the exhibits is 'Fire Horse Fred', who pulled the fire-hose wagon for 17 years. He died in 1925 while pulling the fire wagon to a false alarm.

Morehead Planetarium

Journey through the Morehead Planetarium (www.moreheadplanetarium.org) in Raleigh where more than 100 of the USA's astronauts trained before venturing into space.

Mount Mitchell

Hike, drive, ski or camp in the magnificent North Carolina Mountains, including Mount Mitchell (2,040m/6,684ft), the highest peak in Eastern America. Two hundred peaks in the Appalachian Mountain chain reach more than 1.6km (1 mile) high.

New Bern's Tryon Palace

Tour the restored New Bern's Tryon Palace (www.tryonpalace.org), built in the 1760s as the first permanent capital and home for the Royal Governor of North Carolina.

North Carolina Museum of Art

View the works by Botticelli, Monet, Raphael and Rubens at the North Carolina Museum of Art (www.ncartmuseum.org) in Raleigh.

Old Salem

Step back in time in Old Salem (www.oldsalem.org), a preserved and restored 18th-century Moravian village. Attractions include the Old Salem Visitor Centre offering tours of the districts, the St Philips Moravian Church (the oldest extant African-American church in North Carolina), the Old Salem Toy Museum and the restored Herbst House.

Raleigh

In Raleigh, explore the North Carolina Botanical Gardens (www.ncbg.unc.edu), containing almost every plant found in the state.

Tweetsie Railroad

Enjoy a ride on the Tweetsie Railroad (www.tweetsie.com), a steam locomotive that carries passengers through mountain passes and a frontier village close to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial

Across the river from Wilmington's Cotton Exchange, tour the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial (www.battleshipnc.com), and walk the decks of this famous WWII battleship. Her story is told on summer nights in 'The Immortal Showboat', a spectacular sound and light show.

Wilmington

Visit Wilmington, North Carolina's largest seaport, and once the site of sailing ships bringing treasures from around the world. The Cotton Exchange (www.shopcottonexchange.com), a 19th-century structure converted into shops and boutiques, once exported more cotton than any other port in the world.

Wright Brothers Memorial

Stand on the windswept beach at Kitty Hawk and see where the Wright brothers made the first powered flight off Kill Devil Hills in 1903. The event is commemorated at the Wright Brothers Memorial (www.nps.gov/wrbr) at Kitty Hawk.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

My favorite memories growing up in North Carolina were hunting and fishing with my father and brothers. There, I developed a deep appreciation for protecting land and waterways. There, I learned outdoorsmanship.

Louis Bacon
  

Travel to experience memories that will last a lifetime!