Carolina Nomad

When talking about the best restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, depending on the person you’re talking with, you may or may not here the name of Ed Boudreaux’s tossed in the mix. The Asheville barbecue restaurant, known as much for its lively atmosphere as its barbecue, is sometimes a sore spot for barbecue connoisseurs, yet many tourists on vacation in Asheville love it. When on vacation in Asheville or born and bred in the Western North Carolina town, there’s no arguing, Ed Boudreaux’s marches to its own beat, featuring an atmosphere unlike any North Carolina barbecue restaurant you’ve probably ever been to.

If you’re from anywhere but North Carolina, then chances are that you’re probably going to enjoy the barbecue at this restaurant in downtown Asheville. The restaurant features what they call a “sauce bar” and bayou barbecue, which strays from the typical North Carolina barbecue style that people in the south are so accustomed to. With an extensive list of barbecue sauces and styles of pork, Ed Boudreaux’s offers a unique taste that you just won’t find at your standard barbecue restaurant. However, frequenters of North Carolina barbecue restaurants don’t always have the same appreciation for it. What may seem like great barbecue to vacationers, is low on the totem pole among the North Carolina barbecue giants. If barbecue isn’t your food of choice, then don’t worry, there’s plenty of other great southern and bayou entrees to choose from and an extensive beer list with many local microbrews.

No matter what side of the fence you fall on with this barbecue restaurant in downtown Asheville, everyone agrees that Ed Boudreaux’s offers an upbeat ambiance and nightlife that gives any place in Asheville a run for its money. To be blunt, barbecue restaurants, especially in North Carolina, simply aren’t known for their ambiance. You’re lucky if you go to a North Carolina barbecue restaurant after 8 p.m. and it’s not closed. However, things are just getting lively at Ed Boudreaux’s come 8 p.m.

If you’re walking through downtown Asheville on a weekend night, you usually just have to follow the sound of beating drums and strumming guitars to find your way to Ed Boudreaux’s. Most weekend nights feature different local bands. If you’re looking for something more low-key, the Asheville restaurant has you covered, with singer/songwriter nights on Thursdays. With 100s of beers and lively entertainment, this isn’t your typical barbecue restaurant, yet Asheville isn’t your typical town.

Photo from dockaos on Flickr.

Today I’m following up on a post I did a few weeks ago on the best children activities in Columbia, SC. Kid-friendly activities can often be a challenge to find, but Columbia offers many different options for locals and travelers to the area. Similar to many cities around the nation, the South Carolina city follows many others in featuring a hands-on interactive children’s museum. Columbia’s EdVenture, is a new attraction to Columbia, with activities that kids of all age groups are certain to love.

Like I said, there are many kid-friendly activities in the South Carolina metropolis, but the Edventure Children’s Museum may just rank number one among the best children activities in Columbia, South Caroilna. The modern-day museum is highlighted by its hands-on activities that cater to kids of all ages. The Columbia children’s museum accommodates children as young as two years old, with exhibits such as the backyard exhibit, which lets children act like they’re camping. Children who are a little older may enjoy more advanced activities at the Columbia attraction, such as the world’s tallest kid, Eddie, or the imagination station, which gives children the opportunity to be a rock star, news anchor and many other things that children dream of being.

There are many other interactive and seasonal exhibits that highlight this kid-friendly Columbia attraction. If you’re a local, then you may consider one of the Columbia children museum’s programs, such as the after-school or scout program. You can also throw a birthday bash at the children’s museum in Columbia, with special children activities and catered food. Members get a discount on many of these services.

Although this is one of the best children’s attractions in Columbia, you’ll actually have to fork out some money for your family to enjoy the museum. Admission is $9.50 for adults, while members of the Columbia Edventure Children’s Museum get in for free. I recommend going late on a weekday afternoon or early on the weekend, when you stand the best chance of missing the peak crowds and school trips.

A few weeks ago I took a calculated risk by attempting to come up with the best barbecue restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina. Restaurants included what I thought featured the best barbecue the city had to offer. Coming up with the best restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina is challenging enough, but deciding on the best barbecue restaurants is all the bit harder. Well this week I’ve stepped up to the plate once again to take on a challenge that is equally difficult, if not more so. Below, I’ve come up with the 5 best seafood restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina. Like my Greenville best barbecue restaurant list, I expect opinions to drastically vary. So what’s your take on the best seafood in Charleston?

1. Hyman’s Seafood. Certainly not the king of seafood restaurants in Charleston, this one may come with the biggest controversy. Many tourists to Charleston love the restaurant, while many locals beg to differ. If you want your standard Charleston seafood restaurant experience, then I recommend giving Hyman’s a try.
2. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant. This Charleston establishment is usually near the top of most people’s list. Recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Hank’s certainly stands as one of the best seafood restaurants in Charleston, if not the best, as it’s been rated as the best by the Charleston City Paper for the last 10 years. A little more upscale than most, you receive hearty, but fresh portions that you just won’t find at your token Charleston seafood restaurants.
3. Charleston Crab House. This isn’t your chain crab house like, Joe’s Crab Shack, but a genuine Charleston crab house that can’t be beat. Though some may disagree, I chose the Charleston Crab House for its seafood, but also it’s environment, which can’t be beat, with comfy dockside dining and beautiful views at sunset. Of course their snow crab and Low Country crab cakes are there specialty, but they offer an excellent fish selection including their special Mahi Mahi.
4. Coast. If you’re just coming off the beach or going out with some friends, then Coast might be your best bet. Similar to the Charleston Crab House, Coast offers a fun ambiance in a restored warehouse. Although it can be noisy on the weekend when it draws a younger crowd, the Charleston seafood restaurant boasts many eclectic and spicy selections you won’t find at some of the other seafood restaurants in the area.
5. Boathouse Restaurant. There’s just something about the name “Boathouse” that has character and charm to it and that’s just what this Charleston seafood restaurant has to offer. Like many of the other Charleston seafood restaurants on this list, the Boathouse has a unique ambiance about it, and separates itself from other local establishments with its outdoor raw bar. If you’re vacationing for the weekend, let me recommend the Sunday Brunch, which few Charleston seafood restaurants do. A Charleston favorite, you’ll have to drive outside of the city to get to it.

When it comes to discussions of the best restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina, you’re usually going to find at least one of Table 301’s restaurants in the mix, if not all of them. Each of Table 301’s Greenville, South Carolina restaurants offer a little something different. Started in 1997, this business has grown to now include 4 restaurants in downtown Greenville.

What many may call the staple of the four restaurants is Soby’s, which was also the first restaurant opened in 1997. Soby’s stands out from many of the other restaurants because it is great for almost any occasion, whether for a business lunch meeting, romantic date or just drinks. Located just around the corner is Soby’s on the side, which is the casual version of Soby’s, predominantly offering breakfast and lunch options, such as sandwiches, pastries and salads.

Lazy Goat and Devereaux’s are the more fine dining side of Table 301’s Greenville restaurants. The Lazy Goat features a unique ambiance that is likened to a tapas bar you may find at a New York City restaurant. The menu features a wide-range of tapas and entrees, from various cheeses to fresh meat. It’s ideal for eating with large groups, but also offers an intimate setting. One of the best fine dining restaurants in Greenville, Devereaux’s is the luxury suite of Table 301. It features unique dishes and small portions with an intimate atmosphere. If you’re wanting to throw some money down and impress a significant other, then this is the Table 301 restaurant to do so.

Unlike many area restaurants, what sets Table 301 apart as one of the best Greenville restaurants is their event and catering services. Since all the restaurants are in downtown Greenville, it can be tough to make it often to one of Table 301’s establishments. To make it easy, you can have Table 301 cater for your party or business lunch. If you have a big business event, consider letting one of Table 301’s restaurants host the event. The Greenville Social Media Club is just one local organization that uses Table 301’s catering services on a regular basis.

So if you’re looking for something different this weekend, consider one of the Greenville restaurants Table 301 offers. My personal favorite featuring delicious southern cuisine is Soby’s. However, if you like a sleek atmosphere and style you might would find at a New York City restaurant, then consider the Lazy Goat.

It’s probably somewhat disconcerting to see luxury and kids coupled together in the same sentence as it is in the title of this post. Although many luxury hotels don’t prohibit children, it’s often implied that they would rather not have to babysit your kids. Not to mention, you probably don’t want any additional charges to your hotel bill such as a $1,000 charge for a hand-crafted vase your kids dropped and broke as they were using it for a bowling pin. However, in the last year as the hospitality industry has felt the crunch of the economy, they’ve opened their arms wide for families traveling with children. The Queen City, which is typically known as a kid-friendly town, offers many luxury hotels in downtown Charlotte that accommodate to families with children.

I recently contributed to the family travel website called Trekaroo, in which I highlighted the five best kid-friendly luxury hotels in Charlotte. These hotels varied, in how they all offered something different for families traveling with children to Charlotte. Some of the services of the Charlotte luxury hotels included babysitting services, an arcade, a kid’s travel package and free dining. I included one budget hotel on the list, which was the Holiday Inn, but the other four Charlotte hotels were luxury, including the Westin and Omni hotels in downtown Charlotte. You can view the complete list with brief reviews here.

Trekaroo was highlighting the best of what North Carolina had to offer for kid’s and their families, so they featured several other resources and tips for North Carolina travel. Below I’ve listed some of the other North Carolina travel tips that were included.

• Best Activities for Kids in the Piedmont Triangle

• Places to Hike with Kids Around Charlotte, North Carolina by Roses and Brambles
• Cheap Things to Do in Charlotte, NC with Kids by Charlotte on the Cheap
• Fun for Dudes, Both Kids and Bigs Near Charlotte, NC by A Dude’s Guide
• Snow Tubing and Sledding Hills in North Carolina

One of the many challenges of planning a vacation is that of planning your accommodations. Your lodging of choice can often make or break your vacation. Asheville is no exception to this, as the North Carolina city has a wealth of great accommodations, but also has its hotels that leave much to be desired. Further challenging is finding cheap accommodations in Asheville. You’re definitely not going to find it at the Grove Park Inn and it can be difficult to find it anywhere near the Biltmore Estate, yet cheap Asheville hotels and other lodging doest exist. Below I’ve listed a few cheap lodging options in Asheville.

Asheville’s Bella Luna Inn, is actually located right outside of Black Mountain and is one of my favorite accommodations in Asheville. The bed and breakfast is a cozy house located a few blocks from downtown Black Mountain, offering a delicious, and unique breakfast each morning that you just won’t find elsewhere. Come during the mid-week, and get your rate for 15% off. That’s breakfast, a room and evening wine for less than $100 a day!

If you’re either young, backpacking or just need something quick and easy to lay your head, then consider Bon Paul and Sharky’s Asheville Hostel. Yes, we actually do have hostels in the U.S. If just with yourself, you can enjoy rates for as low as $22 per night. However, if you’ve never stayed at a hostel, make sure you educate yourself before making reservations.

If you really want cheap hotel accommodations in Asheville, coupled with a secluded vacation, then you may consider the Montreat Assembly Inn. Housing teenagers during the summer for camps, the Montreat Assembly Inn offers guest rooms in dormitory style for less than $100 per night. The Asheville hotel is especially convenient if you’re traveling with a large group.

Although these are just a few cheap accommodations in Asheville, you can always check your favorite hotel and bed and breakfasts’ websites often to see about special deals and last minute offers.

It seems like the list of online travel operators just seems to grow and grow, with each having their owns pros and cons. You probably have your own personal preference, whether it’s Priceline, Kayak, Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and so on. I recently came across another travel operator called Travelgrove, which follows in the footsteps of the leading travel operators around the world.

Although you’ll find a little something different at all the many online travel operator websites, one thing usually remains the same, and that is that the website design and layout usually is starkly similar from site to site. That is exactly the case at Travelgrove as well. When arriving at the home page, you’ll find the same basic tools and features you would find at any online travel operator and meta-search engine. You’ll notice you can see last minute travel deals, search multiple sites for the lowest price, view travel guides (Charlotte travel guide) and search for specific packages, such as cheap flights to Charlotte.

One unique feature you’ll find at Travelgrove that you don’t always find at other travel operators and meta-search engines is a social networking presence within the website. Although many travel operators leverage social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Travelgrove on the other hand has created their own social network on the website. There are a couple different entry points to the social networking side of the  site from the home page, including a link to the travel guide section, which houses reviews, photos and user profiles, a travel forum on the home page and an advertisement in the header that promotes their travel community contest, where users can win prizes for their reviews and travel tips. The forum is a good place to start when planning a trip because it gives you instant access to answers that you just can’t find on other websites. I would encourage use of the forum because although there are a number of posts and good questions, there haven’t been as many replies as you would expect from a typical forum.

Many online travel operators and travel meta-search engines can often be overwhelming because they’re offering so much. The benefit of that is it means you don’t have to visit multiple sites to plan your trip. Below are some more features of Travelgrove’s website:

• Last minute travel deals, such as flights for as low as $100 and hotels for as low as $25 per night.
• Travel deal alerts, which notify you of flight prices that drop to your price range.
• Travel guides and reviews for cities around the world
• Travel affiliate for website owners who want to sell Travelgrove’s packages and deals on their own website.

I encourage you to take a look around Travelgrove’s website and get a feel for it to see if it offers features that your typical online travel operator doesn’t. One last feature to note is that they have sites in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Italian and German. Travelgrove has a leg up on many competitors who aren’t offering a completely translated version of their website for other languages. I will tell you that you may have to really look for certain features of their website. For example, I love reading the first-hand experiences and opinions of travel blogs; however, I didn’t find Travelgrove’s blog until I scrolled all the way down to the bottom and saw a link for it.

2010 some are calling the year of the travel deal, so at least consider using Travelgrove for your travel planning this year.

This was a sponsored post.

Now if there is one group of best list that divides families and friendships, it is that of the best barbecue restaurants. Nobody can seem to agree on what the best barbecue restaurants ever are, and especially in the south. There’s so many factors like whether it’s North Carolina barbecue or western barbecue or if it’s vinegar or water based. Yet despite the criticisms, I’ve taken it on myself to pull together a list of the 5 best barbecue restaurants in Greenville. What you will find here, is my take on the best Greenville barbecue restaurants. What you won’t find here, are any large chain barbecue restaurants like Sticky Fingers. Without further adieu, here are the five best barbecue restaurants in Greenville.

1. Henry’s Smokehouse. Few argue that this is one of the best Greenville barbecue restaurants. Featuring a couple locations around Greenville, it has mouthwatering smoked barbecue that just seems to rise above. Nationally acclaimed, the Greenville restaurant has been featured in publications such as Southern Living. Henry’s another entrees aren’t bad, and if nothing else, you can’t beat their greasy fries to go along with the smoked barbecue. You may even consider catering with Henry’s for the holidays and getting a smoked ham.
2. Smokin’ Stokes. Certainly not on the top of everyone’s list of best Greenville barbecue restaurants, Smokin’ Stokes features a certain flair you just won’t find anywhere else. Unlike any barbecue restaurant you’ve been to, this Greenville restaurant featured barbecue that’s marinated with a Cheerwine flavored barbecue sauce. It may not sound appealing, but after your first taste, you’ll be singing a different tune. Beware, their hours can sometimes vary because of their barbecue competitions, so your best chance is lunch during the week.
3. Bucky’s Barbecue. The Greenville restaurant could be at the very top of my list, if it wasn’t for the fact that they don’t serve fries. This is the biggest complaint for many patrons, as you can tell by driving by and noticing that Henry’s has significantly more patrons dining in. However, since we’re talking barbecue, Bucky’s does have some of the best in Greenville. If you’re catering, Bucky’s might be your best bet.
4. We’re Pigs Barbecue. If you’re a true barbecue connoisseur and just can’t do without your North Carolina barbecue, then check out We’re Pigs Barbecue restaurant in Greenville. The restaurant features several different styles of barbecue, but your best bet is the North Carolina barbecue sauce. Similar to Smokin’ Stokes, it also has a special Cheerwine barbecue sauce. Compared to some of the other Greenville barbecue restaurants, We’re Pigs is open for dinner.
5. Tom’s BBQ. I chose this Greenville barbecue restaurant to round out the top 5 predominantly because for what you’re getting, you just can’t beat the price. One of their lunch specials includes a pork sandwich and two sides for $4.75. For a little something different, consider one of their barbecue baked potatoes.

Depending on who you talk to, 2010 is being tagged as the year of travel. There are tons of travel deals and giveaways and it looks like these trends will continue for at least the first half of 2010. If you don’t have any plans for traveling, then it maybe it’s time to start making plans for the first half of the year.

As you plan your trips, you’ve probably heard about all the items you absolutely can’t forget to pack, but you probably haven’t heard about all the items you shouldn’t pack. Below, I’ve listed the 5 things you absolutely shouldn’t pack. Whether you’re taking a second honeymoon to Paris or taking a tropical vacation on the sandy beaches of the Carolinas, leave these things at home.

1. Fanny Pack. Do I really have to tell you that you should leave that faded fanny pack at home that hasn’t missed a trip since you bought it for your first trip to Woodstock? Fanny packs just scream “american tourist” and they really don’t do anything but weigh you down, plus they just aren’t fashionable. Instead, invest in a backpack or small travel back you can throw over your shoulders. It needs to be something that isn’t cumbersome and will hold you up while traveling.
2. Neck Wallet. I remember the first and last time I wore one of these was when I was 12 years old and was taking a family trip. I was told that this was the best things that I could have as a traveler, but instead quickly discovered that it was the worst. I might as well have been wearing a license plate around my neck as a pendant. The neck wallet is very cumbersome and can be downright uncomfortable, especially in warm climate.
3. Zip-off pants (Recommended by @travelerlauren http://lonelygirltravels.com). As quickly as these became a fad, they even quicker became a fashion no-no. The zip-off items are praised because of their versatility, yet what do you do when you unzip them in the middle of the warm afternoon? Do you just casually stuff them in your fanny pack?
4. Zinc Nosecoat. Maybe you’re not familiar with the name, but it’s the sunblock you only rub on your nose and upper cheeks, except it doesn’t rub into your skin, but instead makes you look like an offensive lineman with green or pink face paint on. Although this may be good for you, it’s imperative that you find something that doesn’t show like Zinc Nosecoat. One advertisement actually said that it makes you look cool. Go figure.
5. Hawaiian shirt. Who doesn’t own a hawaiian shirt? And just because you own a hawaiian shirt doesn’t mean you should pack it on your vacation. That’s the one thing that belongs at a thrift store, but the one thing nobody wants to give up.

We’re in North Carolina this week discovering the best luxury hotels in Charlotte. Now although Charlotte is the largest city in North and South Carolina, it still doesn’t offer the same quantity of luxury hotels that you may find in a city like New York. However, Charlotte offers many luxury accommodations. Below is my round-up of the 5 best luxury hotels in Charlotte.

1. Ballantyne Hotel. The Ballantyne Luxury Hotel in Charlotte is hands-down the best all-around luxury hotel in the queen city. The luxury Charlotte hotel features all you would expect from luxury accommodations, including a golf resort, tennis, spa, fine dining restaurants and plush rooms. If there’s a Charlotte hotel you want to spend your vacation, then this is it.
2. Ritz-Carlton. You’ll find few “best” hotel lists that don’t have a Ritz-Carlton on it. This luxury hotel in Charlotte continues its award-winning hospitality and top-of-the-line accommodations. Standing at 18 stories tall with 146 rooms, the luxury hotel in uptown Charlotte offers many luxury amenities, including a bi-level wellness center and Aqua Lounge with a swimming pool and spa. You can always count on a luxury experience from a Ritz-Carlton.
3. The Westin Charlotte. Like the Ritz-Carlton, you can usually expect a first-class experience at just about any Westin location around the world. Located in Uptown Charlotte, the hotel is known for its beautiful architecture that stands out in Charlotte and its luxurious interior decor. Every room in the Charlotte hotel offers a beautiful view of the city.
4. Omni Hotel. This luxury Charlotte hotel is another example of a hotel with unique architecture in Charlotte. The hotel is known for being geared toward business travelers. with its first-class business services and location just a couple blocks from the Charlotte Convention Center. Contrary to many luxury accommodations, the four-diamond Charlotte hotel offers many services for children, including various activities and games to help keep children busy.
5. Dunhill Hotel. Although the Charlotte hotel may not have the same unique architecture as some of the other luxury hotels in North Carolina, the Dunhill is a suitable alternative for luxury accommodations in Charlotte. The hotel is rich in history, as it dates back to the early 1900s. The Dunhill offers a historic and luxury experience that many of the other luxury hotels simply can’t provide, since they are but one of many hotels of a larger brand.